Animal Animal – Velvet Hammer (2026)
Born from the ashes of various bands, Animal Animal came to life in 2020 when Robert Ryan (lead vocals and guitar), Saul Kenny (guitar and backing vocals), Eoin Purcell (bass guitar), and Ryan Killowry (drums and percussion) drew together to create something… well, different. Tinged with the air of old-school grunge and indie-rock, Animal Animal found a space for fans of Radiohead, Muse, and Grizzly Bear. Yet, if you hit the play button on their Spotify today, you find the band spans the spectrum of indie-rock, capturing the air of Radiohead with the force of The Smashing Pumpkins and the raw brilliance of Queens of the Stone Age.
Known for their confident performances and moving melodies, Animal Animal are a growing name in the Irish music scene, and their 2023 EP, St. Sinclair’s Love Affair, brought their ruggedness to audiences. Skip ahead a few years, and the lads bring us ‘Darius’, ‘Easy Company’ and ‘Velvet Hammer’. Each of the 2026 singles retains a sentiment of grungy indie-rock, yet they also hold something harder, stronger, heavier, and more purposeful.
Produced by Alessandro Vinci, with mixing by Tom Peters and mastering by Stephen Kerrison, the latest single, ‘Velvet Hammer’, is one of those songs that would feel equally comfortable blaring from your car radio on a drive home, banging out in the background on a lively Saturday night, and pouring out to a live mosh-pit at a grungy live music venue. The crashing drums smash in the background, while a bold bass holds the wheel and scorching guitars soar through the melody. Interestingly, just as feistiness lingers in the tune, a cohesiveness exists, making things smooth, sleek and well-rounded.
This is my introduction to Animal Animal, but after a single listen it’s clear that the band plays with authority; they demand attention, and by gum, their melodies will grab you. As my last song for the week, I am thrilled to end this day and begin the weekend with Animal Animal. Here’s looking forward to their upcoming debut album, Wrong Party.
Find out more about Animal Animal on their Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Jawdropper Music.
