9/10
When they first broke through with their stunning debut single 'King Of The Slugs' near the end of last year, it was clear that Fat Dog were built differently to everything else doing the rounds at that time. Delivering the now iconic line “It’s fucking Fat Dog, baby” before exploding into a thunderous and pounding industrial-rock-inspired belter, the band's legacy has only gone from strength to strength in the months since. And after a heady run of dynamic offerings in recent months, they now look to assert their dominance with their eagerly-awaited debut album 'WOOF', a record that ventures further afield than we could ever have imagined.
Bringing together this wildly diverse array of influences that borrow from art-rock, post-punk, psychobilly, and even techno, 'WOOF' sits as one of the more unique yet enjoyable releases of this year so far. Creating this incredibly broad and varied aesthetic that always looks to add a sense of intense vibrancy as it plays, Fat Dog have followed up the buzz surrounding them with some brilliantly innovative efforts, all further pushing the boundaries of their aesthetic as often as possible.
Right from the very start, 'WOOF' looks to lure you in and never let you go, enchanting us with its tenacious and unbridled energy. It's loud, fast, and simply too exciting to ignore. 2024 is now the year of the Fat Dog.