Split Dogs – Here To Destroy – Review Punk77 09.02.2025
Here To Destroy is the second album by Split Dogs released in late February 2025. It comes flying out of the speakers like a freight train and takes no prisoners. It’s pure Punk Rock with equal emphasis on both words
1. Stay Tuned
2.Monster Truck
3.Animal
4.Be A Sport
5.Meg
6.Lafayette
7.And What?
8.Precious Stones
9.All In
Everything has been upped. The songwriting, arrangements, lyrics (with wry social observation and daily life) and backing vocals have all dramatically improved. The other thing that I think gives it an edge is they have managed to pull in loads of references from 70’s rock to pub rock, punk and street to the 2000s along with bits of Status Quo and Motörhead delivered at a speed and groove The Lurkers were great at. When that’s tied to Harry’s distinctive vocals and delivery then it’s a winner. It shouldn’t be, but it is!
The recording at speed has also really helped in that it successfully captured the energy of the band live and their sound, so that the songs are fizzing, earthy, direct and raw. There’s a real 1977 feel and comparison to those punk mini classics roughly and quickly recorded back then but also to those more earthy rockers Status Quo and Slade who all delivered popular hook-laden bangers.
Picks And What?, Lafayette and Be A Sport – the latter not least for adding a Cockney Rejects ‘East End’ snippet, featuring a cowbell and mentioning tupperware in the lyrics.
And What?
Oh fuck I need a change
No holiday in 3 years
I’m stuck in Groundhog Day
Get Me out here
Before I go insane
It’s a rained the whole summer again
Playing shows just to keep me sane
No Fuckers standin’ in my way
Get Me outa here
If you ain’t got the balls
Don’t chuck on them overalls
You like to scream and shout
Round here you hold no clout
Big shot Cool off Odd socks
And what!
You’ve got it all
But your fucking miserable
Thick as thieves
But they ain’t my g’s
My backs against the wall
You like to scream and shout
I’ve gotta tune you out
Big shot Cool off Odd socks
And what
It makes me sick
The very sight of it
Take it out side
Not on my watch
Make yourself scarce
On your bike son
All the mouth
But you keep your brains down south
Monster Truck
Baby baby what you want from me
Too much of something ain’t enough when you’re green
You’re still looking why you looking for me
I’ll show you what you want but you got nothing on me
Take a picture pretty easy to see
You blew it when you left it all down to me
I don’t come and go like the breeze
I’ll show you want
But you got nothing on me
Keep stepping
But you better not tread on me
Keep stepping
Just keep on stepping
Keep stepping
But you better not tread on me
Fit to fight
Are you fighting fit
You’ve seen a lot
But can you handle this
Left in a daze
With a flurry of fists
Don’t worry guys
He’s a pacifist
Your bullshit’s just rudimental
Take a deep breath
Stand front and central
Sounding off about what you did
Brown nose
Wanna suck on shit
Keep stepping
But you better not tread on this
Keep stepping
Just keep stepping on
Keep stepping
But you better not
Tread on me
Keep stepping
Just keep stepping on
Keep stepping
But you better not
Tread on me
You suck, you really suck
Mad man I’m a monster truck
The only downside is by the time Meg drops that will be 5 tracks out of 9 so not much left for you to explore. That said you’ve got them all one disc now so no excuses.
The Split Dogs have delivered a cracking, visceral (look it up!) original rock’n’roll record. Now go and see them live to get the full in your face experience!
Buy it from Venn Records | Bandcamp
TalkPunk
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