The House Flies Embrace the Darkness of “Derelict Crawl”
What keeps moving when everything around it feels abandoned? What kind of place makes you question whether you were ever meant to belong there in the first place? “Derelict Crawl” seems to answer both questions without offering much comfort. It moves forward because standing still feels even worse.
The House Flies make that tension the heartbeat of their latest single, a dark and tightly wound introduction to their forthcoming album, Lions and Ore. Released September 4, 2026, “Derelict Crawl” finds the Moline, Illinois band leaning into a forceful post punk pulse, thick guitar work and a sense of repetition that gradually becomes almost hypnotic.
At the center of the track is the refrain “We don’t belong,” a deceptively simple line that gives the song much of its emotional weight. Rather than dressing the feeling up, The House Flies allow it to linger. Images of dial tones, worn leather, oppressive summer heat and physical exhaustion add to the unease, creating a world that feels weathered without ever becoming lifeless.
Alex Riggen’s vocals sit naturally inside that atmosphere, while the guitars give the arrangement its rougher edges. The quieter passages are equally important, creating breathing room before the song pushes forward again. That contrast gives “Derelict Crawl” a sense of movement beyond its steady rhythm, suggesting a band becoming increasingly confident in how much space and repetition a song can carry.
As the first glimpse of Lions and Ore, the single works particularly well because it does not attempt to explain everything that is coming. Instead, it opens a door and leaves the listener wondering what waits on the other side. The album arrives November 6, with the current four piece lineup of Riggen, Burnie Eckhardt, Ozzie Woods and Nick Pompou shaping its broader sound. For listeners drawn to darker guitar music, “Derelict Crawl” offers a compelling entry point into The House Flies’ world.
Comments