Out Now: Dog Lips – Danger Forward & Caleb Flood – Hot Tub Music For Frogs
Hailing from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Dog Lips deliver a raw and relentless blend of punk, hard rock, and new wave on their sophomore album, Danger Forward. Channeling the urgency of Mission of Burma, the swagger of Thin Lizzy, and the abrasive edge of Wipers, the band carves out a sound that’s both chaotic and controlled. These nine tracks tear through themes of warped Americana, B-movie delirium, and the absurdity of modern life, punctuated by the unrelenting drums, confrontational vocals, and sleazy riffage. It’s an album that refuses to sit still. Dog Lips are brash, unapologetic, and wired for maximum impact.
Recorded in just three days at Rhode Island’s Big Nice Studio with producer Bradford Krieger, Danger Forward captures the band’s live intensity with minimal polish and maximum grit. The sessions were fast, loud, and volatile, resulting in a sound that feels like it’s teetering on the edge of collapse. Razor-sharp guitars, pounding rhythms, and sneering vocals collide in a way that’s both immediate and gripping..
Since forming in 2022, Dog Lips have been a wrecking ball on the East Coast DIY circuit, sharing stages with like-minded miscreants and leaving audiences battered and buzzing. Danger Forward is the next logical step, a bigger, meaner, and more focused statement from a band that thrives on chaos. Whether you’re a fan of garage-tinged punk, pub-rock hooks, or noise-laden hardcore, this album doesn’t just demand your attention it grabs you by the collar and bites down hard.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we also have Caleb Flood‘s newest work “Hot Tub Music For Frogs“.
His new record showcases his intricate playing and penchant for ethereal compositions. All proceeds benefit RVA Community Fridges, Caleb’s commitment to community support comes from his own need to rely on these resources over the last year. His music draws from years of collaboration with notable Appalachian musicians, shaping a sound that is both technically refined and deeply rooted in tradition.
“I didn’t really sink in to playing more fingerstyle stuff until I moved to Richmond and was living alone” says Caleb “but I’d say that this record is mostly influenced by my time living in Blacksburg VA where I had the fortune to work with some great Appalachian players like Mike and Cara Gangloff, Matt Peyton, and Kaily Moon Schenker.”
Recorded in a stripped-down setting with longtime collaborator Tyler Newbold, the album captures Flood’s precise songwriting through an intimate, minimalist production approach. The process highlights the intuitive creative partnership between the two musicians, honed over years of playing together. This will be Caleb’s first purely instrumental release and stands as an interesting turning point for the artist.
“I recorded this record with Tyler Newbold, who is in Cold Toast with me. We recorded it in our practice space with a pretty simple setup” states Caleb on the recording process for the album. “He was infinitely patient with me tracking some of the songs many times, and I love working with him. Maybe it’s because we have been working together for so long but I feel like it’s just magical when somebody shares your sonic intuition to a degree where you can relax and just focus on the performances.”