Sandcrawler’s latest release is more than a five-track compilation of heavy riffs and gruff vocalism. It’s a call to action.
“Unsafehouse,” the Gainesville metal band’s latest EP released Jan. 9, finds the band locking in its sound. But more importantly, it voices the band's grievances toward the state of the country — and pleads for others to take a stand.
“‘Put up a fight, don't stand aside,’” said Will Williams, the 33-year-old vocalist and songwriter, repeating the lines in the record’s opening verse. “If you do, you're writing your death warrant.”
Williams said he wrote the EP out of a place of aggression, and his lyricism largely targets what he describes as injustices caused by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The new release also explores issues like class injustice and the rise of fascism.
Similarly to “Amongst the Rats,” the band’s first EP released in November 2024, “Unsafehouse” features more theatrical themes, too.
“Burden,” a song from the debut record, is about “Lord of the Rings.” The new EP references the film “The Crow” and explores the Greek legend of the River Styx. After all, 35-year-old drummer Jeremy McGuire said the band members are nerds, as evidenced by their “Star Wars”-inspired name.
While several tracks may be based on movies or mythology, the themes align with the perspectives and opinions of the band, McGuire said.
For “Unsafehouse,” the band returned to Gainesville’s Studio Nublar to work with 41-year-old audio engineer Chris Chaires, who has operated the in-house recording studio for over 20 years.
Chaires, who engineered, mixed and mastered both the band’s EPs — and plays in The Mermers with Sandcrawler bassist Tony Farah — said the band’s work ethic separates it from other groups he’s come across.
The band members arrive at the studio prepared, with song tempos mapped out and the energy to record take after take until they get it right. Chaires recalled one session where guitarist Rob Paradise recorded his parts for eight hours straight.
“They want to get stuff done, and they want to do it right, and they want to do it well,” Chaires said. “I think that reflects in the music. You can hear the workmanship.”
Because the band records perfect takes, its music requires little editing and postproduction, he added. That means the final product captures Sandcrawler’s live and natural sound. McGuire uses his own unique curation of cymbals in the studio, and the guitarists play on classic, heavy amps as they would on stage.
Having worked with Sandcrawler on “Amongst the Rats,” Chaires said “Unsafehouse” presents a new dynamic. On the EP’s last track, “Corvid,” there is a notable contrast between the band’s characteristic growly vocals and heavy riffs and a new, stripped-down acoustic style, with vocals Chaires described as “anguishy.”
Though Williams’s lyricism is hard-hitting and addresses serious themes, Chaires added he’s a real softy off the mic.
“He sounds so gruff and so intimidating on the record, but he's actually such a funny, sweet teddy bear,” Chaires said. “In between takes, he's just doing all sorts of silly voices and doing bird calls and telling little jokes.”
Though the band likes to goof off in the studio, Chaires said, it's obvious all the members are seasoned musicians, and on “Unsafehouse,” they leaned into maturity and solidified their style.
McGuire has been with the band since it began as an instrumental duo, and he said the group is emerging at a peak time for local hardcore music. Sandcrawler is already working on new music and trying to take advantage of the scene’s resurgence.
That scene, he added, is crucial for bands like Sandcrawler to creatively express their disgust with their world around them.
“I feel very grateful that the band has given us, as people, a platform to talk about these things, and I hopefully think that it empowers other people to talk about them,” he said. “Because unfortunately, silence only benefits the oppressor.”
Contact Isabel Kraby at ikraby@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isabelgkraby.
Isabel is a general assignment reporter for The Avenue and is starting her first semester with The Alligator. She is a junior journalism student and transferred to UF from Daytona State College after her freshman year. When she's not writing for Ave, she loves going to concerts, crocheting and designing spreads for Rowdy Magazine.
