CrashCarBurn has been a force in South African rock music for a decade with its catchy and hard-hitting rock anthems bringing endless joy to festival-goers and rock enthusiasts throughout the country.
The band has a large fan-base, mainly attributed to the variety in the band’s music, which caters to old and new fans alike.
The band consists of Garth Barnes (vocals and guitar), Brendan “Bugsy” Barnes (drums), Etienne Janse van Rensburg (bass) and Jaco Brittz (lead guitar and backing vocals). Here are my top 5 most underrated songs.
5. So Young
“They say we’re so young, so why does it feel like I just can’t go on?” The opening lyrics to So Young which is found on CrashCarBurn’s debut album, This City Needs a Hero, showcases the themes of youth and identity with this hard hitting track. The guitars and drums of both Barnes brothers make this song flow effortlessly and build up tension before the bridge with a quick guitar riff. The bridge of the song is one of more memorable parts, where the song builds up spectacularly with softer guitar parts and a build up of drums. This all ends in an explosion of instrumental magic that is sure to get listeners headbanging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaExwSAOhPg
4. Green Eyes, Blue Skies
This song probably has one of the better-written choruses in CrashCarBurn’s catalogue and truly one of the hidden gems on the band’s second album, Long Live Tonight. This song focuses on relationships and taking chances and standing up after falling down.
The song has a number of positive lyrical moments such as “In darkness we find ourselves, you just need to have that faith, you just trust and believe,” which add to the theme of following your dreams and establishing your identity.
3. A Quiet Place To Hide
The heavy and fast guitar intro to this song is what makes it stand out from any other CrashCarBurn song.
The pounding snare drum in the verse adds to the thunder of the song before the catchy chorus kicks in: “If they break us down, we will get right back up again.” This is supplemented by a punky guitar riff before the breakdown starts – something that would not be out of place in a hardcore song. The diversity in this song makes this one of the most under-appreciated anthems.
2. Get Up and Fly
This is one of the saddest and slowest songs that this band has written, which deals with the death of a loved one.
The opening lyrics, “You always had the biggest dreams, from the ground we’d watch you float above the trees, and “I choose to remember you with the sun on your face,” are fantastic lyrics in the verses that build up to the heart-wrenching chorus: “Get up and fly away, heaven needs you now, I know you wanted to stay, but heaven needs you now.” The combination of the piano interlude, snare drum beat and guitar solo at the end of the song creates a fitting end to this great song.

1. Get Away
“Get Away” is classic CrashCarBurn with a fast-paced guitar intro opening the song, setting the scene for ongoing rapidness. The riff after the first chorus is also one of the best parts of the song, together with the pummeling breakdown in the bridge of the song. When Barnes sings “this could be the last day of your life,” a face melting barrage of rock sets in – one of the highlights of this band’s discography. The mix between quiet and loud vocals as well as rhythmic and melodic instrumentation are what put this song in the number one spot.