Bristol Punk-rockers Split Dogs are breathing life back into British punk, and it couldn’t be more exciting! The four piece, made up of vocalist Harry Atkins, guitarist Mil Martinez, bassist Suez Boyle and drummer Chris Hugall, are on a mission to rebuild and remind us of music’s essence, and second album ‘Here To Destroy’ is here to do exactly that.
Back in 2015, vocalist Harry Atkins and guitarist Mil Martinez decided to form a band, taking on the name Spilt Dogs, which they pulled from the classic zombie film ‘Return of the Living Dead’. However it wasn’t until 2022 that Split Dogs emerged onto the Bristol punk scene, with bassist Suez Boyle joining the band in 2023. By this time, Suez had already cemented herself into the queer punk scene, having played the first ever Rebellion Festival at just 16 years old! Drummer Chris Huggall then joined the band full time in 2024 after having previously helped design artwork for the band, which completed the current Split Dogs lineup.
The infectious energy that powered their live shows combined with their powerful lyrics saw Split Dogs quickly find themselves an integral part of Bristol’s punk scene, a scene that provided a safe space for LGBTQ+ and marginalized people. Fast forward to today and the band are about to release their anticipated second album, under new label Venn Records. Titled ‘Here to Destroy’ and with the cover featuring the band in front of smashed up cars, it’s evident from the get go that Split Dogs aren’t here to be quiet.
Opening track ‘Stay Tuned’ proves just that, sounding like something straight out of the 1970s with fast paced guitars and vocals. It solidifies the fact that Split Dogs aren’t here to be in the background, they are here to destroy. With lyrics that call out modern society such as "The future's here/ But we don’t need it/ Burn it all down/ Hit factory reset", it is the perfect way to open the album.
Third track ‘Animal’ starts with incredible fast drums and guitar riffs, with group vocals coming in at the chorus to shout ‘Animal’ as Harry Atkins sings "You lock me in your cage, You’re gonna see the animal". It’s incredibly catchy and a song that is bound to be incredible when performed live. ‘Monster Truck’ and ‘Be a Sport’ also both feature incredibly catchy guitar solos, fully showcasing the talent of guitarist Mil Martinez.
The album closes just as strongly as it opened with the song ‘All In’, which keeps up with the strong vocals, guitars and drums, which have remained consistent throughout the entire album. Atkins has a powerful, unique voice which adds to the overall atmosphere of each song, with group vocals also a running theme throughout which consistently heighten each song.
It’s extremely impressive when you find out the album was recorded over only a three day period, with no autotune, no effects pedals and no computers, the vocals were also recorded completely live, with no cutting and pasting. With Harry Atkins saying they wanted the album to have a "real 1970s rock n roll" feel, the decision to record the album completely live has certainly paid off!
Split Dogs have successfully managed to capture the essence of '70s punk rock, whilst putting their own twist on it. If you’re a fan of classic British punk rock then Split Dogs should be at the top of current bands you need to check out! With their live shows not being something you want to miss, Split Dogs will be heading out on a UK tour next month, with dates across the UK and Europe.
Upcoming shows include:
28/02 Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham
01/03 The Grace, London
02/03 Daltons, Brighton
07/03 Rough Trade, Bristol
18/03 Supersonic, Paris
20/03 Café Central, Bruxelles
21/03 La Zone, Liége
22/03 Café The Jack, Eindhoven
23/03 Poppodium Volt, Sittard
09/07-12/07 2000 Trees Festival
Score: 8/10
‘Here To Destroy’ will be released on February 28th 2025 via Venn Records.
Words: Olivia Hermans
Photos: Split Dogs
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