Rob Crow of Pinback is officially back with You’re Doomed. Be Nice., the first album to be released since his near withdrawal from music. In his past solo work Crow performed, recorded, and mixed everything himself, but his new project Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place is a collaboration with close friends, including a member of Crow’s old band Heavy Vegetable. The album was also recorded and mixed by Ben Moore of Hot Snakes, a further departure from Crow’s past individualistic recording style.

In tune with Crow’s discography, You’re Doomed. Be Nice. features lots of intricately entwined guitar parts that stagger, stop, and go — the urgent delicacy of “Light On,” for instance. Though the guitars are heavy on melody, their rhythm is confrontationally juxtaposed with confessional lyrics that explore Crow’s frustrations and anxieties, such as “You don’t scare me, I was born scared” in the smartly titled “Quit Being Dicks.” Crow considered pulling back from music because of his unease with the toxicity of the industry, but coming out of this gloomy place, he has cultivated emotional, witty, new music in You’re Doomed. Be Nice. that encapsulates his struggles and faces them head on. Stream the whole album below.

You’re Doomed. Be Nice. is out 3/4 via Temporary Residence Ltd.