There is a certain point where rock ‘n’ roll stops being something you listen to and becomes something you feel in your soul and bones. Split Dogs have spent the last few years hammering that point home, touring relentlessly and dragging their riotous blend of garage punk, ’70s boogie and full-throttle rock ‘n’ roll everywhere they go.
Split Dogs – Nice N’ Rough
Release Date: 25 September 2026
Words: Matty Hunter
Now, following 2023’s self-titled debut and 2025’s Here To Destroy, the four-piece return with Nice N’ Rough and thirteen tracks, 32 minutes and 35 seconds of absolute pedal-to-the-Metal mayhem.
Produced by Fucked Up’s Jonah Falco, it releases on 25 September 2026 via Venn Records, and it is the sound of a band who have found the sweet spot in their sound, crafting it over the years.
And make no mistake, Split Dogs are having an absolute blast doing it. Since forming around half a decade ago, Harry Martinez, Mil Martinez, Chris Hugall and Suez Boyle have built themselves a reputation for kicking out the jams with an infectious lack of restraint, even catching the ear of punk royalty Iggy Pop, who dubbed them “the sound of trouble” on his 6 Music show.
“We’ve not lost what we were,” guitarist Mil said, “but we’ve evolved and tightened the screws, cleaned it up, made it a little slicker. The songs are more thought-out, and everyone’s had a hand in them. The lyrics are brutal and funny, like great rock’n’roll is supposed to be.”
Nice N’ Rough takes everything that made Split Dogs so much fun and tightens the screws, bolder, brassier, slicker, but never polished to the point of losing its teeth.
Be Somebody kicks off, and it is the album’s second single, released back in May. A catchy, simple riff powers the track forward, while the chorus is equally infectious and very singalong. The punk influences are immediately apparent, but the closing 45 seconds bring an AC/DC-esque riff into proceedings that is seriously memorable.
It makes for a great opening number and immediately sets the tone for what is to come.
Born Too Loose is up next, with Chris Hugall’s drums a particular highlight throughout on a very fast-paced number that barely gives you a minute to catch your breath. There is a Sex Pistols feel about this song, especially in the rawness of it, while another singalong chorus makes it incredibly easy to get swept up in. At just two and a quarter minutes, it flies over almost as quickly as it arrives.
Track three, Breaker, is even shorter at just a minute and a half, but Split Dogs manage to pack plenty into its brief runtime. It is very punky once again, with a riff that is catchy as hell and that now familiar fiery punk-rock sound firmly in place. Despite being so short, it does not feel out of place on the record and instead continues the momentum perfectly.
Get The Look is the grooviest track yet and sees the band proudly wearing their rock ‘n’ roll influences on their sleeves. Harry Martinez’s vocals particularly shine here, especially when a scream arrives that is very similar to that of Tom Araya’s delivery on Angel Of Death. The pacing is excellent, and it makes for a really good track that shows there is more to discover about Split Dogs as the album progresses.
Speed Demon is very akin to the Bon Scott-era of AC/DC sound, particularly during its early stages. There is also the interesting inclusion of a harmonica, which adds another layer to the sound without taking away from its stripped-back character.
Harry’s vocals are high and raspy here, sounding fantastic against the riff, and after a few listens through the whole record, this has become my favourite track. Just under three minutes long, it is an absolute belter.
Leave It Alone reiterates the fast-paced, stripped-back sound that Split Dogs have established, with a distinctly ’70s punk feel running through it. A mesmerising riff powers the song along and, once again, the band demonstrate how much energy they can squeeze out of relatively simple ingredients.
Shake Sum Action follows and keeps the speed firmly intact, with an earworm of a chorus that is practically impossible not to sing along with and includes amazing musicianship.
Rock ‘N’ Roll Business, the lead single and the first released from the record back in March, brings Harry’s accent out particularly strongly in their delivery. There is also a chaotic piano embedded into the lightning-paced track, adding to its wonderfully unhinged character.
The chorus feels made for audience participation, with another huge singalong moment and a tongue-in-cheek style that suits the band perfectly.
Mamma Said brings a heavier guitar sound than much of what has come before it. At just under four minutes, it is the longest track on the album, but it retains your interest throughout and feels like one that you simply have to crank the volume up for.
There is something here that feels like Amyl And The Sniffers would be proud of, while all of the instrumentation comes together to make this an excellent musical number.
The album’s fourth and final single, Suffer, was released in July and initially sounds like a completely different beast. It starts with a slow, doomy riff that is very Black Sabbath-esque before breaking back into the speed that has been prevalent across the album shortly afterwards.
The pacing goes up and down throughout, and I really dig what Split Dogs have done with this one. It takes you on a journey rather than simply sticking to one pace from beginning to end.
Next comes I Wanna, which features backing vocals that complement the song particularly well. This is a perfect example of the fast, visceral and completely no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll that Split Dogs have built their sound around. It does not overcomplicate things, instead delivering exactly what you want from a band operating at this speed.
The penultimate track Dirty Denim changes things slightly, with Harry’s vocals sitting lower, gravelier and raspier than they have elsewhere on the record. The high energy remains firmly intact, though, and there is still plenty of attitude packed into the track. That in-your-face drive is something that has been evident across Nice N’ Rough, but this song really brings it to the forefront.
Everything comes to a close with Power Out, a punk-rock rager that sounds tailor-made to soundtrack some serious slam-dancing. I can already see this one translating incredibly well to the live setting, with sections to dance, clap, sing along to or simply enjoy as the band tear through it. It makes for some conclusion to a record on which Split Dogs have crafted expertly.
Nice N’ Rough is an amalgamation of genres in uncomplicated form. Loud, fast, filthy and fun, what Split Dogs do very well on this record is short, punchy songs. And after listening to this album, you would be hard-pressed to find a reason why they should stop doing their thing.
This is a band in the form of their lives, constantly on the road and showing no signs of slowing down.
With a rebellious attitude and a whole lot of swagger, Split Dogs are firmly at the top of their game. They have clearly worked very hard to make this great album, and you can tell.
Split Dogs release Nice N’ Rough on 25 September 2026. Pre-orders are available from lnk.to/nicenrough.
Split Dogs – Instores
25-Sep-2026 UK Leeds Crash Records
26-Sep-2026 UK Glasgow Blitzkrieg
27-Sep-2026 UK Liverpool Rough Trade
28-Sep-2026 UK Coventry Just Dropped in
29-Sep-2026 UK Bristol Rough Trade
30-Sep-2026 UK Nottingham Rough Trade
01-Oct-2026 UK Rough Trade East
