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Crooks (or Crooks UK) was a post-hardcore band from Cheltenham, United Kingdom. Formed in 2009, the band experienced various early line-up changes, eventually settling into the members Josh Rogers (vocals), Alex Pay (guitar), Jacob Dutton-Keen (bass), Rob Barnett (guitar) and Jake Fogarty (drums). This line-up released their debut Nevermore in 2012. That year, Fogarty and Barnett departed from the band, replaced by Jack Batchelor and Oli Bendall. They released the second EP Still in 2014, quickly followed by their debut full-length album Are We All the Same Distance Apart (2015). Crooks’ music was based in the sound of bands involved in the wave, however eschewed that movements emphasis on screamed vocals, by often incorporating clean singing. As they progressed, they increasingly leaned into singing and their post-rock influences, helping to define the dreamcore movement. In 2016, the band cancelled some live performances due to Rogers sustaining vocal injuries. That year, they released the single “.Nevareht”, announcing it would be a part of an EP. It was never released, and the band disbanded without announcement by early 2017.

History

2009–2012: Formation, demo and Nevermore

Crooks was formed in Cheltenham in 2009 by vocalist Josh Rogers and guitarist Alex Pay. After several line-up changes, the band consisted of Rogers, Pay, bassist Jacob Dutton-Keen and drummer Jake Fogarty.[1] On 1 October 2011, they released their four track demo tape.[2] On 29 February 2012, they released the single “Stand Against”,[3] which was followed on March 2, by the band’s debut EP Nevermore, released through Venn Records.[4] Between 16 and 26 March 2012, they co-headlined a tour of Belgium, Austria and Germany with Welsh band Foxxes,[5] on 1 October, they released a documentary covering the events of the tour.[6] Between 12 and 17 June, they co-headlined a tour of Spain, again with Foxxes,[7] which they released a documentary about on 29 July.[8]

In 2012, Fogarty departed from the band, his role was filled by Jack Batchelor.[1] At the time, the band had three tour dates to fulfill in mainland Europe, after which the band was planning to disband.[9] Following the tour’s first date, in Sint-Joris-Winge, Rogers approached Batchelor and asked him whether he’d like to continue the band and not disband, which Batchelor agreed to.[10]

2013–2015: Still and Are We All the Same Distance Apart

A two-track EP was released on July 14, 2014, under the name Still via the record label Venn Records.[11] Between 20 November and 7 December, they toured Europe with Being as an Ocean and Vanna.[12]

On April 9, 2015, Headphone Music, the subsidiary of the record company Equal Vision Records signed the group.[11] On 11 April 2015, they released the single “A Few Peaceful Days”.[13] On 19 October, they released the single “Above Me”, by this time guitarist Rob Barnett had been replaced by Oli Bendall.[14] They two single were a part of their debut album Are We All the Same Distance Apart, released on October 30 of the same year.[11][15] Rogers contributed guest vocals to Heart in Hand‘s album A Beautiful White, released on 21 November.[16] Between 3 and 22 May, they toured the United Kingdom alongside Such Gold and Transit.[17] Between October and November 2015, the group was the opening act for Palisades and headliner Our Last Night on their Younger Dreams Europe Tour. The tour started in Russia, with stops in Belarus, Germany and Hungary and ended in Belgium.[18] In February 2016, the group played three concerts with Glassjaw as the opening act for Coheed and Cambria. Immediately afterwards, the group plays their first headlining European tour with Boston Manor in the opening act.[19]

2016–2017: .Nevareht and disbandment

During February 2016, the band toured mainland Europe with support from Boston Manor.[20] However, on 26 of that month, they postponed the remaining dates, due to Rogers sustaining vocal injuries.[21] They subsequently postponed their March 2016 tour.[22] Between 2 and 6 March, they headlined a tour of the United Kingdom, supported by Solemn Sun, Milestones and Omaha.[23] On these dates, Punktastic writer Jess Tagliani was “Obviously wary of damaging his throat”, despite Rogers’ vocals being “strong and sure”.[24] On 14 October, they released the single “.Nevareht”, with a hint reading “1850”.[25] Pays revealed in an interview on 17 October, that the single would be a part of an upcoming EP, which would be a sequal to the topics explored in Nevermore.[26]

Crooks disbanded without announcement.[27] Rogers soon began an emo rap solo project under the name Sullii[28] and Dutton-Keen began a career in music production[27] In 2021, Fogarty joined Creeper.[29]

Musical style

Critics have categorised their music as post-hardcore,[30] emo,[31] screamo[32] and melodic hardcore.[33][34] Already Heard noted their fluidity of genre, stating “we’re left wondering what Crooks are meant to be. Are they melodic hardcore band? Are they alt rock? Do genre labels matter? Well no, but Crooks still leave us confused.”[35]

Their music was largely based in bands who were a part of the wave, however eschewed its emphasis on screamed vocals, instead incorporating melodic clean vocals.[36] They were a forefront band in the 2010s dreamcore movement, which was based around the YouTube channel Dreambound, where bands merged screamo and melodic hardcore with post-rock.[33] As the band progressed, they increasingly leaned into post-rock.[33] On their sole album Are We All the Same Distance Apart (2015), Rogers largely abandoned any screams. In a 2016 interview with Punktastic he explained: “It was totally my decision… All the guys were progressing so rapidly and becoming such good musicians and I was just shouting. It felt like I was not giving enough of myself to the band and that wasn’t fair.”[37]

Their music made use of emotional lyrics,[38] high-tempo driving rhythms[39] and atmospheric elements.[40]

Nevermore was a concept album based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe, which also inspired the later single “.Nevareht”.[26] On “.Nevareht” and the unreleased EP it would have been a part of, they were influenced by Pvris and Brand New.[41]

They have been cited as an influence by Thornhill.[42]

Members

Final line-up
  • Josh Rogers – vocals (2009–2017)
  • Alex Pay – guitar (2009–2017)
  • Jacob Dutton-Keen – bass (2009–2017)
  • Jack Batchelor – drums (2012–2017)
  • Oli Bendall – guitar (2012–2017)
Former members
  • Jake Fogarty – drums (2009–2012)
  • Rob Barnett – guitar (2009–2012)

Discography

Studio albums
  • Are We All the Same Distance Apart (2015)
EPs
  • Nevermore (2012)
  • Still (2014)
Demos
  • Demo (2011)

References

  1. ^ a b Episode 16: Jack Batchelor – Crooks UK / Slomo Casino (podcast). Stoddcast. 15 December 2023. Event occurs at 11m35s. Retrieved 2025-12-23. In the second year of sixth form he [Jacob Dutton-Keen] got to know like everyone else from Crooks… Josh and Alex that started the band, they’ve had many, many members since… I went off to uni… I joined them just into first year, the Christmas of first year… they needed to someone to fill in [after their old drummer] Jake Fogarty.
  2. ^ Kamiński, Karol (28 February 2012). “CROOKS – [DEMO] (2011)”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  3. ^ Kamiński, Karol (29 February 2012). “CROOKS – Stand Against [SINGLE] (2011) – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  4. ^ Kamiński, Karol (27 February 2012). “CROOKS – Nevermore [EP] (2012) – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  5. ^ Kamiński, Karol (18 January 2012). “FOXXES / CROOKS tour dates – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  6. ^ Kamiński, Karol (1 October 2012). “FOXXES / CROOKS European tour 2012 documentary – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  7. ^ “FOXXES / CROOKS June tour dates [UPDATE] – IDIOTEQ.com”. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  8. ^ Kamiński, Karol (29 July 2012). “CROOKS / FOXXES Spanish tour diary – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  9. ^ Episode 16: Jack Batchelor – Crooks UK / Slomo Casino (podcast). Stoddcast. 15 December 2023. Event occurs at 13m10s. Retrieved 2025-12-23. All that I thought I was doing, when I stepped in to do three shows in Europe with them was essentially gonna be Crooks’s last shows… it was always very busy in Europe.
  10. ^ Episode 16: Jack Batchelor – Crooks UK / Slomo Casino (podcast). Stoddcast. 15 December 2023. Event occurs at 21m25s. Retrieved 2025-12-23. After the first gig we did in Sint-Joris-Winge in Belgium, Josh came outside and spoke to me and was like “Oh, we said this was probably gonna be the last dates we’d do but we just wanted to see if you really liked it and wanted to carry on?”
  11. ^ a b c “Crooks UK join Equal Vision imprint label”. Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  12. ^ Kamiński, Karol (30 July 2014). “BEING AS AN OCEAN / VANNA / MY IRON LUNG European dates – IDIOTEQ.com”. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  13. ^ “Crooks UK drop new single, sign to Equal Vision”. The Music. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  14. ^ Magazine, Alternative Press. “Crooks UK (Equal Vision Records) stream new single, “Above Me”“. Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  15. ^ Brian Leak: Alternative Press: Crooks UK (Equal Vision Records) stream debut full-length
  16. ^ Sievers, Alex. “Album Review: Heart In Hand – ‘A Beautiful White’“. The Music. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  17. ^ Yando, Hanna (13 April 2015). “Crooks UK Sign to Headphone Music / Equal Vision; New Music Video”. SwitchBitch Noise. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  18. ^ Brian Leak: Alternative Press: Our Last Night announce European tour with Palisades, Crooks
  19. ^ Sven Reuter: Powermetal.de: CROOKS: TOURDATEN FÜR 2016 VERÖFFENTLICHT
  20. ^ “CROOKS 23.02.2016”. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  21. ^ “CROOKS brechen Europa-Tour ab; Shows werden nachgeholt!”. MoreCore.de (in German). Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  22. ^ Tipple, Ben. “Watch Crooks and Boston Manor in dance battle”. www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  23. ^ “Don’t Miss Crooks’ UK Shows In March!”. Kerrang!. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  24. ^ Tagliani, Jess. “LIVE: Crooks / Solemn Sun @ The Garage, London”. www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  25. ^ “Crooks return with new track, ‘.NEVAREHT’“. www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  26. ^ a b Alex Pay (17 October 2016). Interview with Alex Pay of Crooks. The Beijing Punk Show with Tom White (Podcast). Event occurs at 5m. Retrieved 27 March 2026. Nevermore our first release, so to speak, was based around, was based around sort of an Edgar Allan Poe poem lyrically, so it only really made sense to drop it [“.Nevareht”] as a nod to that release.
  27. ^ a b Johnson, Mark (23 May 2019). “FESTIVAL REVIEW: The Great Escape 2019 – Saturday”. Bring the Noise UK. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  28. ^ Matulaityte, Giedre. “10 European emo rappers who should be on your playlist”. Alternative Press. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  29. ^ Loughran, Joe (17 September 2021). “MUSIC INTERVIEW: Creeper”. Bring the Noise UK. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  30. ^ Finney, Graham (18 January 2016). “Crooks (UK) – “Are We All The Same Distance Apart?” [Album Review]”. V13.net. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  31. ^ “Hear new Crooks song “The Raven”“. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  32. ^ “10 bands who are leading the screamo revival”. Alternative Press.
  33. ^ a b c Stewart, Ethan. “MELODIC HARDCORE’S STUNNING MID-2020S RESURGENCE”. Pop Matters. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  34. ^ Krause, Maik. “Music Monday: Diese Bands müsst ihr 2025 kennen”. MoreCore.de (in German). Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  35. ^ Reid, Sean (28 August 2015). “Live Review: Hevy Fest 2015 – Port Lympne, Kent – 14/08/2015 – 15/08/2015”. Already Heard. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  36. ^ “Crooks UK Are We All The Same Distance Apart”. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  37. ^ Tipple, Ben. “Crooks: “We don’t listen to music like us.”“. www.punktastic.com. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  38. ^ Meese, Toni (31 October 2019). “A Decade Of Noise: Our Favorite Albums From 2010-2019 – Part IV”. Everything Is Noise. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  39. ^ Hassan, Maryam. “BEST OF APRIL 2015”. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  40. ^ “Live Review: 2000 Trees Festival 2016 – Upcote Farm, Cheltenham – 07/07/2016 – 09/07/2016”. Already Heard. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  41. ^ Alex Pay (17 October 2016). Interview with Alex Pay of Crooks. The Beijing Punk Show with Tom White (Podcast). Event occurs at 12m. Retrieved 27 March 2026. When we were recording “.Nevareht”, we were massively listening to stuff like Pvris, that was kind of the sound we wanted to go for… Pvris, Brand New, loads of bands like that
  42. ^ van Duppen, Matt. “AMA: Ask Thornhill Anything!”. Retrieved 26 December 2025. They’re the artists that made me want to play in bands… Just read your name properly haha also Crooks. Wish they’d come back soon