CD "The sound of trouble" - Iggy Pop, BBC 6 Music The Station House is a recording studio based in a repurposed Victorian police station in Leeds. Garage rock band Split Dogs quickly discovered it also boasts one of the country's finest VHS collections. Fueled with classics like 'Heavy Metal', 'Nightmare on Elm Street', and a Tina Turner live tape, the Bristol based four-piece went to work capturing their sophomore album, 'Nice N' Rough', with producer Jonah Falco (High Vis, Rifle, and drummer of Canadian punks Fucked Up) and engineer James Atkinson (formerly of seminal hardcore band Vorhees). The 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. Front-person Harry Martinez delivers a larger-than-life, undeniable rock 'n' roll performance, injecting the band's reputable live energy straight into the vocal booth. Despite the glam rock glimmer, the music possesses depth and soul that can easily be missed. Album opener 'Be Somebody' reminds the listener to shine in whatever they do, 'Speed Demon' highlights the importance of tuning out the noise that can plague mental health, while the Danzig-esque 'Suffer' tackles the lasting shadow of parental abuse. Overall the message is clear: go out there and live your life how you want to. 'Nice N' Rough' is playful yet pure, steeped in honesty and the soundtrack to all your future best days.
