Dark electronic trio Crypts combine thick synth noise with skittering hip-hop rhythms and menacing vocals to craft a sound as engaging as it is eerie. The project began in Seattle as programmer Bryce Brown approached former These Arms Are Snakes frontman Steve Snere to provide vocals for his home-modified synth and drum machine-based music, and expanded to a full band with the addition of visual artist Nick Bartoletti. Crypts completed their first album in February 2012 and signed to the Sargent House label. The band offered its first video, "Fancy," and follow-up track "Territories" by summer, in advance of its debut album, Crypts, which was produced by Erik Blood (Shabazz Palaces) and arrived that September. ~ Chrysta Cherrie