An Autumn For Crippled Children, simply put, are one of post-black metal’s most prolific – and mysterious – bands. Having released eight full-lengths since their 2010 debut album Lost dropped, the band is also mysterious – offering very little information about even the identity of the band members. In fact, one of the few things we know about the collective is that they’re from the Netherlands.
The band’s mysterious nature doesn’t mean they deserve to be overlooked, though. While their discography is pretty expansive, their newest song, “Melancholia”, is a good starting point if you’re unfamiliar with the band. Combining their trademark shoegaze, post-rock, and black metal influences to create something special, it’s a good snapshot of what you’ll find on their upcoming album, out via Prosthetic Records on May 21st. Give it a spin below.
Speaking on Melancholia, the band comments: “Melancholia: A persevering feeling running through all of our lives on a daily basis, and we are sure in other peoples lives too. Combined with a longing for times gone by and people we miss, it can all be overwhelming sometimes. But still most of us soldier on. In a way the song is about this, but also that it’s a crucial part of being human and being alive.”
Recorded, mixed and mastered within the confines of the band, AN AUTUMN FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN remains a project shrouded in mystery and the band is yet to perform live. Their reclusive nature doesn’t detract from the alluring nature of their output – if anything the anonymity adds to the mystery and intrigue. Inspired by the originators of black metal and the gothic doom of the 1990s, AAFCC have created something that pays homage to its roots but remains forward thinking. For fans of Deafheaven and Alcest, there’s plenty to uncover with As The Morning Dawns…
Traversing familiar topics such as love, life, death and eternal existential quandaries, AAFCC combine bleakness and hope, love and death – creating an unforgettable, majestic collection of songs. Recorded over a longer period of time than usual, each track got individual attention and was crafted as a stand alone element of the greater whole. They might not give away much about themselves, but they leave their mark on every one of these eight tracks.
