I just received the news that this new single had dropped a few days ago and it had been a very long time since I heard anything about this band.  Long enough in fact that I had to go back and try to figure out what songs I may have listened to from them in the past.  That search took me to the 2013 album Disposition and the track “Therapy” which rang a familiar bell.  It holds up after all of this time and is worth checking out on their Bandcamp page.  My research also brought up mention of a couple EPs that I tracked down on Apple Music (2014’s Cope and 2015’s In Search of Better Places) which look to be the most recent releases from the band other than a couple of singles in the late 2010’s.  The song “Stay Dead, Stay Down” off Better Places really struck me due to its stark musical composition and lyrics.  

This new single “Afterlife” comes in mellow with a catchy melody over a heavy drum and bass giving a bit of a solemn feeling that echoes the lyrical message of loss in the first verse.  The song does not stay in that somber groove though as the chorus has an energetic message of hope and reunion.  The bridge is a soaring crescendo of vocal and guitar that crashes over into prominent but desolate keys that ride out the remainder of the track.  This is an interesting and engaging song that marks a solid comeback for The Crash Years.  

Vote here to nominate this for my best of 2026 list: 

Musicians on this are: Joel Cox (vocals, keys), Will Watkins (drums), Tyler Brantley (guitar), Clinton Reed (guitar, bass), Clayton Welborn (guitar)

Streaming link:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thecrashyears/afterlife-2

Please let me know your opinion also in the comment section below

Interested in more info on this Artist?

https://www.instagram.com/thecrashyears

Just a few ideas if you have the time:  purchase music when you can as streaming does not pay much even times a thousand, support and get to know your local community, live well and be a good neighbor 🙂