Catching Spiders is one of those albums that seems to appear without buildup and then quietly refuses to leave your rotation. Released through Little Rockets Records, the debut full-length from Sunderland’s Ugly Criers lands with the confidence of a band that knows exactly what kind of record it wants to make. Emotional melodic punk, built on feeling first and volume second.
The album opens with urgency, immediately establishing its tone. The early tracks lean into driving rhythms and layered guitars, setting a foundation that feels familiar to fans of emotionally charged punk without sounding derivative. There is energy here, but it is never reckless. Everything feels intentional.
Several songs throughout the record stand out for their balance between melody and tension. Tracks like “kick down the ladder” and “can I have a hug?” lean heavily on lyrical honesty, pairing introspective verses with choruses that hit hard without relying on speed. These songs showcase the band’s strongest trait: writing hooks that feel emotional rather than anthemic.
Mid-album cuts such as “What have you done” slow the pace slightly, allowing the lyrics more space to breathe. These moments highlight the band’s connection to heartland-style punk. Not soft, not acoustic, but reflective. The emotional weight comes through repetition and phrasing rather than dramatic shifts.
There are also faster, more urgent tracks scattered throughout the record, where the guitars sharpen and the vocals push harder. Songs like “bilk” and “Oh Jacqueline” bring in that Against Me! Mixed to early Gaslight Anthem style to early urgency, blending frustration and personal anxiety without turning the message into slogans.
What makes Catching Spiders especially strong is consistency. Even the quieter tracks carry melodic hooks that stick immediately. There are no obvious filler moments. Each song feels like it earns its place, contributing either emotionally or dynamically to the album’s flow.
Lyrically, the record circles themes of burnout, distance, self-doubt, and the struggle of trying to remain hopeful while feeling stuck. The writing avoids clichés, favoring small details and understated lines that feel personal rather than performative. It is easy to hear why comparisons to Against Me! and The Menzingers come up, not because of sound alone, but because of the emotional transparency.
Production plays a big role in the album’s impact. The mix is clean but not sterile, allowing the guitars to ring and the vocals to feel present without flattening the emotion. It sounds polished, yet unmistakably human.
By the time the final tracks roll through, Catching Spiders feels complete rather than exhausted. The album never spikes for attention or tries to manufacture big moments. Instead, it relies on strong songwriting, repetition, and emotional continuity.
Catching Spiders is not flashy. It is not loud for the sake of being loud. It is the kind of melodic punk album that grows quietly, track by track, until you realize every song has been stuck in your head for days.
A release that arrived unexpectedly and ended up becoming one of those records you keep coming back to, not because it demands attention, but because it earns it.
