The intellectual sparring over old vs. new could go on ad infinitum. In the heart, however, there’s much less debate. There’s just no depth quite like the patina of time. The fresh thrill of novelty is a fleeting thing. But the halo of the classic? Eternal. And there’s only so much soul to be gotten from egg punk.
Orlando band Sick Dogs — the duo of Ryan Rawtone (vocals, guitar, bass) and Patrick O’Neal (drums, background vocals) — know this sweet spot. There’s no experimental muss or fuss in their well-worn punk rock. Leave all that oblique shit to the eggheads. Sick Dogs shoot it straight. They care about being true, not hip. And there’s no truth like the timeless glory of rock & roll.
Sick Dogs are punks from the rock, not hardcore, side of the tracks. It’s the sound of the streets, not the arty underground. And thus, their new self-titled album is a salvo of anthems equally suited to a pub or a pit.
This eponymous sophomore album, their first in over three years, is the most chiseled look for Sick Dogs to date. These nine songs roll tough and triumphant with more muscle than ever before. It’s a nonstop mainline of stout blue-collar heart that drinks at the same bar as the Dropkick Murphys. There’s even some big AC/DC rock swag in here for good kicks (“RNR Don’t Play by the Rules”).
Nowhere on this record are there any trendy distractions. There’s no pop corn or overwrought extremity, just good old-fashioned rock that hits hard but doesn’t try too hard. So round up the crew and line up the pints.
Besides major streaming platforms, Sick Dogs is also available on limited-run opaque blue vinyl, CD and name-your-price download on Bandcamp. And it sits atop TLU’s Spotify playlist.
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This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2025.