Fat Dog return with their second single ‘All the Same’
One of the buzziest bands to emerge in 2023 was undoubtedly Fat Dog. Another talent plucked from The Windmill in Brixton, the venue is starting to feel like a left-field fame-making machine as The Last Dinner Party and Picture Parlour also came up from the same stage that introduced the world to Fat White Family, Black Midi and more.
Before they even formally released a song, Fat Dog did the rounds on the festival circuit. This is a perfect example of how word of mouth can still boost a band to notoriety. So when ‘King Of The Slugs’ was released in August, the pressure was high as all eyes and ears turned towards that debut.
Far Out summed the track up perfectly writing, “Containing all the frantic, agitated energy of their onstage presence, ‘King of the Slugs’ comprises seven minutes of caustic noise.” Capturing the energy the band has fostered at their live shows and festival slots, the song went down a treat.
But now, with a new one, can ‘All The Same’ live up to it? Festival season is long over, the industry is only just waking up after Christmas, and it’s cold out; no one wants to freeze in a venue smoking area, and this all adds to the hefty weight.
However, ‘All The Same’ feels like the perfect antidote to all that. Unlike the audio and sensory overload of ‘King of the Slugs’, which felt like an introductory crash course to their vibe, this new cut is far more manageable and effortlessly listenable. With major 1980s club energy, they’re leaning more into the post than the punk here with flavours of Depeche Mode or Bauhaus abounding.
Condensed into a bitesize three-minute package, ‘All The Same’ somehow manages to feel even more daring than their debut by simply being more playable and engaging, embracing the format of pop. Refusing to be cloistered by their swift reputation as a wild live band, this new track delivers something polished, catchy and danceable. Not only is it a track you’d want to hear the band play live, but you’d want to hear it on a dancefloor or blasting out of your home speakers.
If ‘King of the Slugs’ was designed to prove they could live up to the hype, ‘All The Same’ feels like a statement that they can outlive it. It feels like a song with more staying power as the band lets the frenzy die down a little and settles into who they’ll be as they carve out their recorded legacy.
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