Born in the rundown townhouses of Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s underground, Cruelly came with a sound that’s raw, serrated, and alive. Their music swings between guttural riffs with screeching feedback with melodic harmony accompanied by vocals just as versatile. Over the last few years, they’ve moved with the pulse of the local scene, inspired heavily from bands across Aotearoa. That connection bleeds into their live sets, where the edges stay rough and the energy stays volatile. Fresh off the co-headlined Eyegum Scenic Tour with Ōtepoti band Pearly*, Cruelly are tunnelling further into their next evolution. Whatever comes next, they’re pushing toward new territory with the same grit that’s put them on the map.