Split Dogs Unleash New Album “Nice N’ Rough”

Split Dogs are back with their new album, Nice N’ Rough that is out today via Venn Records, the Jonah Falco (Fucked Up) produced album commits their riotous ramalama to wax with a ferocity hitherto only hinted at, serving fire-breathing, butt-shaking notice to all comers that this is Split Dogs’ world, and all the other rock ‘n roll groups are only renting space in it. Their mission statement is deceptively simple, to play rock n’ roll. It’s an ethos they’ve followed since they first formed in the wake of the Covid lockdowns of 2020. Both guitarist Mil Martinez and front woman Harry Martinez had rock n’ roll histories of varying notoriety: Mil had played in bands since he was sneaking onstage at the Bull & Gate as a 13-year-old, while Harry played in bands as a teenager, before jetting off to locations like Australia and Las Vegas, where they performed in the Evil Dead musical and danced burlesque, honing their voice and stage chops.

But by the time Covid hit, Mil hadn’t played music for a decade, having long ago hung up his guitar to start his own tattoo shop in Weston-super-Mare. Rock’n’roll dreams rarely go gentle into that good night, however, and when, shortly after they’d got together, Mil and Harry screened the zombie classic Return Of The Living Dead, where medical warehouse employees discover a medical specimen of a split dog that later becomes reanimated. Both thought it a killer name for a rock’n’roll group, and set it aside for possible future use. Fast-forward to lockdown, and with Mil and Harry’s tattoo parlour shuttered for the foreseeable, Mil strapped on his guitar and started writing his first new tunes in years. As soon as people were allowed to meet in person while masked, the duo banded together with some local musicians to flesh out their concepts. This first lineup played one fiery show before Harry realised they were pregnant with the couple’s child, necessitating a swift hiatus for the embryonic Split Dogs. However, 10 months later, a month after giving birth, Harry and Mil returned to the stage with a new lineup and Split Dogs claimed this dragstrip we call rock’n’roll for their own, with no plans of returning it. 

This lineup quickly fragmented as those early weekend warriors baulked at the commitment Mil and Harry were going to lavish upon Split Dogs, but in time bassist Suez Boyle and drummer Chris Hugall stepped aboard. Suez, who has one of the five Split Dogs tattoos Mil has inked upon fans, was formerly a member of 90s punk juveniles The Walking Abortions and met the group after their performance at the Griffstock Festival, picking up a vinyl copy of their eponymous debut and a place in the band in swift succession. Chris was an old friend of Mil’s, who’d drummed in Mouthwash in the 90s but hadn’t touched a drumkit in 10 years, and was pursuing a career in film directing when Mil called. Chris didn’t just bring his heart-attack drums to the group; he’s also used his professional skills to up their promo video game. Where Here To Destroy was recorded while the new lineup were still feeling their way, with Mil and Harry in the throes of early parenthood, Nice N ‘Rough is bolder, brassier and even more fun, with lyrics that are brutal and funny, like great rock n’ roll is supposed to be. The end result is thirteen thumping tracks featuring lightning-fast guitar licks, raspy hooks and cues from greats like Plasmatics, New York Dolls, Motörhead and The Stooges.

2026 has already seen Split Dogs complete their own UK headline tour, before multiple festival appearances, a headline German tour in July and a string of upcoming instore performances this month and an EU tour with Canadian rockers Danko Jones in October. You can view Split Dogs UK instore tour dates and purchase tickets here.