Whilst a new Slaughter And The Dogs album always fills me with excitement, it’s also tinged with a touch of trepidation. Having written some of punk’s biggest anthems means that any fresh material comes laden with expectation and will be judged against albums and singles that helped shape and define punk, an almost impossible standard to obtain. Thankfully, it appears that Slaughter And The Dogs have no trouble in constantly raising the bar and latest album, White Heat, finds them operating at a whole new level. Featuring a selection of tracks that are hot to touch, this is an album that evidences a band at the top of their game and a contemporary force.

If there were any doubts to Slaughter And The Dogs’ vitality then they are immediately blown out the water by opening track ‘Get A Life’. Introduced by a muscular riff, ‘Get A Life’ sticks its size 9 boot through the speakers and is the kind of track that’ll set up home in your living room. It’s a confident way to make an acquaintance and works precisely because the band aren’t relying on former glories; whilst it’s instantly identifiable as a Slaughter And The Dogs track, it has a vibrancy which orientates their compass towards the future. However, the band haven’t torn up their roots and a cover of The Velvet Underground’s ‘White Light White Heat’ follows and evidences a proto-punk past. Yet the band are wise enough to impart their own personality on proceedings; it’s no mere facsimile (we have the original for that), Slaughter And The Dogs’ version bringing the inherent groove to the fore whilst retaining its energetic core.

White Heat is an album built around the riff and as such has a punchy, pugnacious feel. Tracks like ‘Shut Your Mouth’ are the musical equivalent of a bare knuckle boxer; they radiate danger and seethe bad attitude, but are entertaining nonetheless. When solos do appear they’re succinct and to the point; in tune with the album’s aesthetic, there’s no excess fat or fluff on this album, it’s lean and ripped and down for the fight. But White Heat is an album that refuses to be pigeonholed, it’s constantly shifting gears with the jaunty ‘City Of Rain’ seemingly tailor made for the live environment and the anthemic ‘Stay’ having effortless chart-bothering potential.

There’s a few surprises up the album’s sleeve (such as the cardiac-inducing stop on ‘Blink Of An Eye’) but it’s White Heat’s constant flux which makes it the type of album that can be consumed in one sitting, its shapeshifting and ensures things never become staid, all of which conspire to make White Heat, white hot.

• White Heat is released via Cadiz Music on 4th September 2026.

Track List:

1. Get A Life
2. White Light White Heat
3. I’m Too Much
4. Shut Your Mouth
5. City Of Rain
6. Be Yourself
7. Love Inside
8. Stay
9. Blink Of An Eye
10. Light Me Up
11. Save Me

Bonus Tracks:

12. Calling Out To You
13. Lust