Animal Animal – To Kill A Thespian (2026)
With their confident, energetic, and engaging live shows, alternative rock foursome Animal Animal have quickly established themselves as a musical force to be reckoned with. Performing alongside like Teen Mortgage, headlining Clare Culture Night, and co-headlining Roisin Dubh’s Gig4Gaza, the group are well on their way to winning hearts and stamping their name on the Irish music scene. We came across Animal Animal last month with the well-received track ‘Velvet Hammer’, and they head across our virtual desk once again with ‘To Kill A Thespian’.
Taken from the ten-track album, Wrong Party, ‘To Kill A Thespian’ reflects that distinctive hard rock tone Animal Animal is becoming known for; however, as with ‘Slasher’ and ‘Blood Simple’, there is something diverse about ‘To Kill A Thespian’. Another drag back to the 1990s/2000s alt-rock scene, but seemingly lighter, easier on the ears, and mellifluous within a heavy, hard-hitting tone. Guitarist Sean Kenny shares:
“’Thespian’ is one of the more musically complex songs on the record. Rob and I were heavily inspired by Japanese jazz fusion and anime openings at the time, so we were pretty hard set on writing something in the same vein. By the time we went to record it in Narrow Door Studios, we had a clear vision of the soundscape we wanted to achieve… Admittedly, ‘Thespian’ is the most difficult song to perform live for all four of us, but somehow still the most fun.”
Produced by Alessandro Vinci, with Stephen Kerrison (mastering) and Tom Peters (mixing), ‘To Kill A Thespian’ is like the balm for a scraped knee. When you rip the plaster off, the cut still has a reddish tinge, but the concoction of Robert Ryan and Kenny’s guitars, Eoin Purcell’s bass guitar, and Ryan Killowry’s drums just, well, makes something smooth and bold set to make you feel… better, in a way. Even with its piercing bass, swift guitars, and pulsating, crashing drums, Animal Animal hits you in the feels with an air-guitar-playing-get-up-and-dance sensation – and that soothing to calm the storm (and the cut).
Fun and made for both stadiums and intimate live venues, ‘To Kill A Thespian’ and Animal Animal are highly recommended!
Find out more about Animal Animal on their Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Jawdropper Music.
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