Album Review: Crocodiles – Upside Down In Heaven

The Grim Reaper’s Jams

Upside Down In Heaven is a whole lot of fun. Crocodiles have provided listeners with something that’s wholly their original vision. It’s not too glamorous, nor is it too flashy; it’s punk rock galore for about thirty minutes, but that’s not to say, even in the slightest, that this album is boring. 

Beginning with the title of each respective track, the creativity is on point. If one were to read their names alone, not listening to the music itself, then they might notice that there’s lots of swagger here. But if they choose to allow their ears a taste of something new, they won’t be disappointed, because of how cool and stylish the overall sound is on every last track. 

“Love Beyond the Grave” lays the foundation for what’s in store: a variety of rock that’s similar to what dominated the airwaves in the early 2000s. This song would likely even be able to smoothly work in the background of a montage of a high-school movie, one that gets into the struggles of teenage life. And during a time in which so much music, regardless of genre, is aiming for such newness in its sound, Crocodiles bring their audience back to the old ways of doing things, and all thus becomes a trip down memory lane, with a little room for nostalgia to sit in the cabin. 

The lyrical content by itself should be enough for those on the receiving end of what this album is shooting for: a celebration of unconventionality as a whole. Many of the tracks address ideas and themes related to love — its implications, shortcomings and all. Plus, the commentary on biblical topics isn’t minimal, either, as Crocodiles digest the complexities of heaven and hell, as well as all things in between, and how things such as romantics exist in the midst of all that chaos. 

This album can be categorized as truthfully being what rock’s always supposed to be. Everything tickles the atmosphere of what rock once was, too. The spirit of its bohemian roots and its rebellious nature are captured perfectly, making the entirety of anyone’s listening experience something truly meaningful. 

All in all, Upside Down In Heaven is a love letter to things beyond infinity. This time around, Crocodiles are misfits on a mission, and it would appear that they’ve given lovers of punk rock something to rally behind, an album-long anthem that’s capable of lasting for years to come.