{"id":25263,"date":"2024-09-17T09:16:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=25263"},"modified":"2024-09-17T09:16:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:16:54","slug":"split-dogs-are-here-to-destroy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpmonline.co.uk\/?p=25263","title":{"rendered":"Split Dogs are ‘Here To Destroy’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bristol Punk Rock \u2018n Rollers Split Dogs return with new single \u2018Monster Truck\u2019 out now via Venn Records<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New album \u2018Here To Destroy\u2019 set for release on February 28th<\/sup> 2025 \u2013 pre-order <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Rock\u2019n\u2019roll revivalists Split Dogs are not here to make 15 second viral videos, they\u2019re not here to sell you a lifestyle, they\u2019re here to destroy. Born from the frustration of seeing music become commodified and soulless, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez had the idea to form a band as far back as 2015, with the name \u2018Split Dogs\u2019 pulled from the classic zombie film \u2018Return of the Living Dead\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In South London, a young Martinez would hear Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Dire Straits on the car radio while his father drove him to school. At home he would invade his older brothers\u2019 record collection which leaned towards the harder sounds of punk and heavy metal. Meanwhile in the Black Country, Harry\u2019s mother instilled a love of Northern Soul, Slade and rock\u2019n\u2019roll, with stories of nights out at Club Lafayette and family singalongs at home. According to Martinez, \u201cOur sound is a culmination of all those early influences and, to be honest, it really shows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t until 2022 that Split Dogs officially arrived on the scene with bass player Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. Already a prominent figure in the queer punk scene, Suez played the first ever Rebellion Festival at the tender age of 16 with her band The Walking Abortions. Up until that point, drummer Chris Hugall, an old friend of Martinez and former member of ska punks Mouthwash (signed to Rancid\u2019s label Hellcat back in the day), was only on hand to help design artwork. It wasn\u2019t until 2024 Hugall joined the band full time cementing the current line-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The raucous live shows and infectious lyrics saw the four-piece make a name for themselves among the punks of Bristol, a scene that has always welcomed LGBTQ+ and marginalised people. As word spread, so did the gigging, and soon enough Split Dogs were playing to sold out rooms in mainland Europe, eventually grabbing the attention of UK label Venn Records (Gallows, Bob Vylan, High Vis).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Here to Destroy\u2019 was recorded over three days at Middle Farm Studios by producer Peter Miles. All tracks were laid straight to a 16-track reel-to-reel tape machine, no autotune, no effects pedals, no computers. To add to the music\u2019s authenticity, the album was recorded live, with Harry singing along in a vocal booth. No cutting and pasting, just nailing takes. According to Martinez, \u201cIt was a blast! We fully immersed ourselves, sleeping in a small apartment below the studio, cooking meals and listening to Pete\u2019s extensive record collection\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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