As one half of Crocodiles, the San Diegan duo who first garnered a buzz with the release of its 2009 debut, Summer of Hate during a wave of lo-fi shoegaze revivalists, Charles Rowell has mostly dabbled in varied forms of rock, whether that be the hazy sonics of that debut or the fast and loose punk-pop of latter records like 2023’s Upside Down in Heaven.

But with his latest project, Crush of Souls, he has largely eschewed the six-strings for synths. Their latest, Lézire (Avant! Records), is the most fully realized record under the moniker. Digging deep into a gothic aesthetic that recalls not only such luminaries as Sisters of Mercy but contemporaries like Cold Cave, the record is a decidedly darkened affair, as song titles like “World Tears” and “Souls Apart” might indicate. But the record’s icy tones belie an emotional undercurrent, that while predictably melancholy, is no less moving. Meanwhile, the lilting melody of “Cult of Two” would almost be upbeat were it not for Rowell’s lyrics about lost love, and “No Soul” is built on a danceable, throbbing pulse and a repeated sax squawk that cuts through the gloom. And “PSSS” is completely infectious (think Depeche Mode fronted by Peter Murphy). Just the same, Crush of Souls does wallowing well, particularly on “You Rose Up,” which features the bellow of Harry Howard (of These Immortal Souls and Roland’s brother). Lézire is a record that transcends the possible trappings of its MO to be something striking.