Gutterblood: Good Dogs Will Never Die

(Gutterblood Records)

LP | DL | Streaming

Out Now

A new album from Edinburgh’s Gutterblood delivers an indictment of a brutal inhumane system using a varied range of musical styles incorporating elements of post-punk, dance, stoner rock, reggae and punk. Gets the thumbs up from Nathan Brown.

I was emphatic that Gutterblood’s hilarious take down of the new monarch, Gardyloo, was single of the year for 2023. Their Hard Gandhi 10″ was a glorious celebration of the politics of the gutter. I declared the message of the digital single 24 vitally important with its timing, as well as eerie and atmospheric. So, yes. This is going to be a positive review.

There is a distinct groove to Gutterblood provided by the prominent bass lines and drumbeats. Add to this a guitar that positively shimmers with post punk echoes then cuts in with noisier sounds and you have the basis for a varied, interesting, album. Gutterblood also borrow from reggae in places, understanding the importance of leaving gaps between the music rather than saturating every available second. Dub siren, space-rock whoops and synths provide an occasional “punk meets dance” vibe.

24, with its haunting start, driving post punk rhythm, experimental echoes and hard hitting words opens proceedings. It reminds me of the early to mid 90s when bands were fusing punk rock and dance beats. The Great Escape has a touch of The Pixies in the space between the sedate bass, thumping drums and the string bending guitar. Soliloquy also thumps along, but with a nod to Sabbath, and doom rock.

Good Dogs Will Never Die has a steady pace, dub echoes, space whoops, and floaty backing singing with a vocal drawl that gives this the feel of Velvet Underground collaborating with Gong at Black Ark. Blue Light Fantastic has more of the whooshing space effects while the wailing guitar embellishes a driving punky tune, but it is the words that are the centre of attention in this song. Dub siren heralds the arrival of New Man which descends into a heavy crushing stoner riff-fest.

This varying soundscape is the vehicle from which Gutterblood tell stories. They have a narrative approach to the horrors of this crumbling inhumane system. It is told through the people living in it, being relentlessly crushed.

There is the story of Maymana Jarada who was murdered by Israel at the age of 24. The Great Escape introduces two inhabitants of Gutterblood’s native Edinburgh with distinctly opposing views. The desperate story of what happens to a young mother when the money runs out unfolds in Blue Flash Fantastic. The systematic criminalisation of people living in poverty, and the role the police play in it, is laid bare.

The music of Gutterblood manages to cover many bases without sounding contrived. The album somehow sits together coherently yet is hard to pin down to one “sound” other than “alternative”. It’s expertly delivered by people who have pushed well beyond the confines of the punk bands like Gin Goblins and Oi Polloi in which they perfected their craft. Fans of post-punk and experimental music should check this out as I think it will scratch that itch. Anyone who got caught up in the heady days when punk and rave first collided will love this, as the groove combines with the politics.  Theirs is a revolution you can dance to.  Emma Goldman would’ve approved.

The 12″ version has a full colour sleeve and lyrics insert in a limited pressing of only 200.

Digitally available via Bandcamp from Friday 26th September 2025.

Friday October 10th 2025 is release date for 12″ Vinyl & all other digital platforms – but pre-orders are available now at a discount.

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Words by Nathan Brown. You can read more from Nathan on his Louder Than War archive over here.