SINGLE REVIEW: danger dog – (d)anger Dog

their heartfelt yet playful song-writing, laced with groove and energy, both scratches an itch for long-time midwest emo fans, and acts as a wonderfully accessible point to enter the genre

The finest midwest from the westmid(lands) is back.

Currently based out of Merseyside, last year was a big year for four-piece danger dog. Between releasing their sophomore single ‘What If We Get Sick of Each Other’ and playing shows with local rising stars Crawlers and math rock legends tricot, danger dog have steadily began to build a cult following. It’s easy to understand why; their heartfelt yet playful song-writing, laced with groove and energy, both scratches an itch for long-time midwest emo fans, and acts as a wonderfully accessible point to enter the genre for those curious about it.

This trend continues with the band’s latest track ‘(d)anger Dog‘. The band’s heaviest track to date, this brilliantly cathartic little cut deals with heartbreak and infidelity, weaving together jangling guitar melodies, pummelling riffs and percussion, slick basslines and skramz styled vocals. It’s a stark contrast from the bouyant playfulness of ‘Big Z Surf Memorial‘ and the delicate melancholy of ‘What If We Get Sick of Each Other‘, showcasing a band with a real understanding of how to best utilise their skills to deliver different emotional sucker punches.

The choruses in particular stand out on this track, with the noodling guitar lines giving way to chunky riffs, all of crackling with a danceable energy that summons you to the pit. Vocalist Harry Hemming provides an utterly visceral performance throughout, their vocals delivering the quirky lyricism with a pained ache that carries through their screams. All of it culminates in a fantastic, explosive breakdown in the dying moments of the track, as Hemming declares ‘you said you loved me/then you went and fucked my best friend‘ in a display of heart-breaking, confused desperation.

It’s no surprise that danger dog are becoming so increasingly well-loved within their local scene; not only are they brilliantly charismatic performers, but genuinely talented musicians who perfectly balance whimsy with complexity, conjuring a sound that is firmly midwest emo, but distinct enough from the bulk of the genre to mark them as something special in the scene.

Start practicing your two-step; it’s danger dog’s world and we’re just living in it.

For Fans Of: Free Throw, saturdays at your place, tricot, American Football, Equipment, Buds.

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify