The Broken Creels; Austerity Kills Aberdeenshire four-piece deliver a politically charged gut-punch 4/5
The Broken Creels don’t hedge their bets. Austerity Kills arrives with its fists clenched — a track that doesn’t just raise its voice, but refuses to lower it. Known for their blend of alt-rock and Americana with a psychedelic edge, the Aberdeenshire four-piece shift gears here, turning their sound into a vehicle for protest. It’s not a reinvention, but a sharpening.
The arrangement is taut and deliberate. Jangly guitars and a tense rhythm section drive the track forward, with flashes of My Morning Jacket and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in its melodic DNA — though The Broken Creels trade dreaminess for grit. There’s a build-up to each chorus that feels like a held breath, and while the live setting might lean into the groove, the guitars make sure the tension isn’t lost. They cut through with intent.
Colin Clyne’s vocal delivery is measured but heavy with purpose. There’s no theatricality, just a voice that carries the weight of exhaustion and fury. The lyrics are direct, unvarnished: Body count rising / Government shirk / A broken society that no longer works / Tired beyond tired, people had their fill. It’s protest without posturing — more lived-in than dogmatic, more weary than righteous.
Recorded at Aberdeen’s York Street Studio with long-time collaborator Steve Curtis, the production is clean but not clinical. There’s polish, yes, but it’s wielded with restraint. The mix allows space for each element to land — especially the chant-ready refrain: “They’re killing lives, Jesus Christ, don’t they know that austerity kills.” It’s the kind of line that sticks, not because it’s catchy, but because it’s true.
Austerity Kills doesn’t ask for sympathy. It demands attention. And The Broken Creels sound more than ready to hold it.
The Broken Creels Track: Austerity Kills
Release Date: 12.09.2025
Band Members: Colin Clyne (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Daz Alexander (drums), Brian Black (bass), Tom Ward (guitar/keys)
Songwriters: Clyne, Alexander, Black, Ward
Recording: York Street Studio, Aberdeen
Producer/Engineer: Steve Curtis Mixing & Mastering: Steve Curtis
