Strange F.O.L.K.
Thirty years into their career, Crispian Mills & Co have delivered Wormslayer, an uncompromising record that is a compelling reaffirmation of a band that has always thrived in its own psychedelic universe, simultaneously rooted in classic rock tradition and unbothered by prevailing trends.
The record opens with “Lucky Number”, a commanding psych-rocker built on swirling guitars, a driving rhythm and Jay Darlington’s rich Hammond organ, which feels confident rather than nostalgic. Singles like “Good Money” and “Charge of the Light Brigade” echo this restless creativity, combining ’60s psychedelia with funk-leaning bass grooves and theatrical, metaphor-rich storytelling that walks the line between satire and mysticism. The former’s narrative, reportedly about identity and perception in life (or the music business), gives the song a playful yet contemplative edge.
The album has a rich stylistic palette. Tracks like “Little Darling” drift into gothic crooning territory with a sultry, nuanced delivery, while “Broke as Folk” showcases a pastoral, almost folksy warmth that speaks to resilience and introspection rather than mere pastiche, and contains unapologetic nods to The Doors and Pink Floyd.
Mid-album cuts like “Be Merciful” offer soulful calm amid the kaleidoscopic arrangements, and the more playful “Shaunie” brings a light-hearted counterbalance to the record’s weightier themes. The acoustic-leaning “Day for Night”, and the dreamlike, transcendental “The Winged Boy” (which sounds like The Edge is playing in places) further expand the album’s emotional spectrum, much like “Govinda” did back in the 90s, making Wormslayer feel more like a journey than a sequence of singles.
The sprawling title track, the album’s longest at well over seven minutes, with its layered textures and mantra-like drive may not click on the first spin, but they reward listeners willing to listen for longer. It’s one of the record’s most ambitious and richest moments, inviting interpretation about transformation, struggle and inner confrontation. Closing with “Dust Beneath Our Feet,” the record ends on a warm reflective note. The track humbly winds down the album and feels like a quiet exhale after the journey that precedes it.
Wormslayer is an album rich in ideas and sounds, pop-sensibilities flirting with avant-folk, glam, soul, and hard-edged psych-rock, all held together by Mills’ enigmatic vocal presence and lyrical curiosity. For long-time fans, it’s a reaffirmation of why the band mattered in the first place; for newcomers, it’s an evocative entry point into the band’s catalogue, though the band’s genre shifting might surprise them. Ambitious, colourful and immersive.
5/6 | Anne-Marie Forker
Release date: 30 January 2026