Sniffin’ Around — Drug Dog’s long-awaited debut album

Sniffin’ Around crackles and crashes with a deep love for imperfection. But who’s been waiting? Besides the band itself—Elisa (vocals and bass), Antti (guitar), and Jussi (drums)—a steadily growing crowd of blissfully grinning club-goers have fallen under the spell of the band’s infectious volume and raw energy. As one live reviewer put it: “It crackles, it crashes, it rattles like hell—and I love every second.”

“Complicated Times Need Simple Music!” is the trio’s motto. But simple doesn’t mean limited. Blue Bear label founder Kare Karhu has compared Drug Dog to The Stooges, Wire, Captain Beefheart, Hurriganes, and Velvet Underground. Producer Teemu Korpipää described the sessions with amused confusion: “Sounds like Pixies playing Danzig.” The album was recorded straight to tape at 22-Pistepirkko’s Altai Studio using a trusty old Tascam. With noise veteran Korpipää keeping the meters firmly in the red, the result is a loud, gloriously chaotic rock record that never loses its pulse. Amid the chaos, quieter moments emerge, allowing Elisa’s nuanced, emotionally rich vocals to shine. Drug Dog knows how to bark and bite—but sometimes, it just stares back with eyes that see too much. Approach this record at your own risk.