cruel buddy’s H.A.N.D. is an exhilarating listen that leans hard into its indie DNA.
H.A.N.D. is an album by cruel buddy. It was released on April 12th, 2026.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
H.A.N.D. rushes into existence with its opening track “Halcyon Light.” The sound of marching-band-tier synths piercing through dense layers of ambience makes for an exciting opener, despite the vocals almost being inaudible.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
The vocals are a lot clearer on “My Tears Ran Dry,” one of the album’s two tracks over four minutes long. Lyrically, we get a repeated verse inviting the song’s object to “spend the night,” but the stark honesty in the vocals gives the lyrics the kind of life only left-field indie tracks like this can. Pair that with the lone guitar supporting cruel buddy’s vocals piercing through another thick coating of ambience, “My Tears Ran Dry” is an inviting follow-up to a thrilling opener that’ll pique your interest enough to have you continue with the album.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Drums
Songwriter
Engineer
“Addicted, addicted, I don’t even mind.” This track’s a catchy blues tune.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
“Without you, I’ll be so down.” The guitar melody on this track gives it its spellbinding finish.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Drums
Songwriter
Engineer
“It’s a brand new day of living in my head.” “Brand New Day” alternates neatly between moody verses and lightly exhilarating choruses.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
The hypnotic quality of this track’s instrumental and mixing, paired with cruel buddy’s whimsical vocals delivering lyrics with a hint of bitter realism, results in another superb moment on the album.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
The energy is picked up carefully on “Little Soldier,” resulting in a wake-up feeling from the light high of its predecessor.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
Every track leading up to “Plain to See” has felt like such a breath of fresh air, but that feeling is magnified almost two-fold on this track. It pairs rusty percussion with moody guitar melodies and thought-provoking lyrics that come at will.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
The alternation between stimulating and grounding offerings on this album continues amusingly with the heartwarming “My Best Friend.”
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Songwriter
Engineer
H.A.N.D.‘s penultimate track is a slightly moody synth-based delivery of introspective sentiments that maintain a steady rhythm embellished with a healthy dose of melancholy.
Show Track Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Drums
Songwriter
Engineer
“And I′d like to send a message to the wind.” I choose to take this as an explanation for the aggressive use of ambience throughout this project, not that I needed it anyway. You can barely hear cruel buddy’s vocals on this closing entry, but the overall vibe of the track is tranquil beyond compare. A fitting closer.
Brace yourselves: this mixing on this album isn’t exactly “studio grade.” If that’s a turn-off for you—which, as a potential fan of indie music, it ought not to be anyway—then this project isn’t for you. If you couldn’t care less, however, you are in for a treat. It’s great that even in 2026, with increasing pressures on artists to compete for relevance not only with other artists but artificial-intelligence platforms, we can still get projects like this potent with thrilling experiences buried beneath non-standard sounds and production styles.
Overall, cruel buddy’s H.A.N.D. is one of the best releases, indie or not, that I’ve heard all year.
Show Album Credits
Performer, Primary Artist
Drums
Songwriter
Engineer