The speed-riff of the opening bass line to ‘The Scent of Roy Keane’ sounds like bombers off in the distance. 12 seconds in and they drop their payload: a pell-mell assault of fuzz-warped bass and guitar over an acrobattering of drums. This is definitely faster-faster-thrill-thrill, and if it doesn’t quicken your pulse seek medical help.
Cardiff’s SHLUG are Ethan Poole on bass, Francis James on drums and Ellis Acton-Dyer on guitar and vocals and Ellis says of the track that it’s “written in a point of adolescence (and) tackles masculinity along with the question – what really turns a boy into a man? Is it through protein shakes? Or is it by pissing all over the seat? Either way, you decide. Just get the conversation going.”.
Chuck the chemically enhanced propulsion of Motörhead into a blender with the swagger of Iggy and The Stooges and out pops SHLUG; a perfect vehicle to channel all the anger and emotion that Ellis says was needed as a way of “making myself feel better“. Well, by the power of Grayskull they must be drinking aviation fuel to get this kind of velocity and I swear I heard the sound barrier break halfway through the song. I’ve come across tracks before that required you to fasten your seatbelt seat before pushing play but ‘The Scent of Roy Keane’ needs to you to put on a pilot’s pressure suit just to be on the safe side. Whenever the album comes out, I might need to book a week off to recover. Outstanding!
SHLUG socials: Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
THE SCENT OF ROY KEANE – Lyrics
I touch myself watching sky sports news in the dark, does that make me a man?
Fear the worst when the wolf whistles howl at you from the white transit van.
Steve Harvey got nothing on me.
Piss on the floor, piss on the seat. On your legs, all on the seat
Piss on your feet just for luck
Gravy granules and the Screwfix manuals, what separates a boy from man?
Steve Harvey got nothing on me though.
I’m a great Dane, I’m a great Dane I swear. I’m a great Dane, I’m a great Dane I swear
I touch myself watching Sky Sports news in the dark, does that paint you the scene?
The punditry and the commentary makes the sweat seep right through your jeans.
I piss on the floor, piss on the seat. On your legs, all on your feet
Piss on your sheets just for luck
Bleeding radiators and all these protein shakers, what separates boy from man?
Steve Harvey got nothing on me though.
I’m a great Dane, I’m a great Dane I swear. I’m a great Dane, I’m a great Dane I swear
I’m the greatest Dane, the greatest of all, I swear. I’m the great Dane, great Dane, oh I swear
Great Dane. Great Dane. Great Dane.
Review by Paul F Cook
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