Riding in on the wave of post-punk dominating the Midwest lately (either affectionately or derogatorily dubbed “egg punk,” I’m not quite sure which—nor would I think a punk cares) alongside groups like Snooper, Uranium Club, and Stuck is Cincinnati’s primary delegates to the scene, The Serfs. After initially introducing their coldwave-y aesthetic on their 2020 debut Sounds of Serfdom they’re already on the verge of releasing their third collection next Friday titled Half Eaten by Dogs.
And while early singles “Club Deuce” and “Electric Like an Eel” present the LP as a lightly gothy homage to the Hi-NRG movement in the ’80s, the record’s third single sounds plenty eggy (poached?). “Beat Me Down” is synth-punk at its most frigid and minimal, with trancy backing keys matching the vocals’ sneering lyrics. Shares the band, “For all the sycophants who feed on disdain and contempt; may you go hungry while this one’s coming through the stereo.”
Check it out below, and expect Half Eaten by Dogs to arrive October 27 via Trouble in Mind Records.
