Rotterdam’s Iguana Death Cult has returned with a new LP called ‘Guns Out‘, an album that sounds exactly like what would happen if a group of Dutchmen decided that the only way to survive the apocalypse was to outrun it while playing surf-punk at triple speed. Released on Greenway Records, this quartet of musical madmen has apparently abandoned the polite, artsy leanings of their previous work in favor of being the loudest people in the room again. It is a frantic, sweaty evolution that captures the specific anxiety of 2026, serving as the perfect collection of songs for anyone who wants to feel like they are being chased through a neon-lit alleyway by a very talented, very aggressive street gang.
The musicianship here is irritatingly tight, with Tobias Opschoor’s riffs cutting through the mix like a serrated knife through a stroopwafel. Jeroen Reek’s vocals manage to sound both deeply distressed and oddly charismatic, which is a difficult balance to strike when you are essentially screaming about creative renewal over Uri Rennert’s relentless drumming. The band has clearly spent too much time touring with the likes of OSEES and Frankie and the Witch Fingers, because they’ve absorbed all the high-octane energy and none of the “taking a break to breathe” nonsense. It is an exhausting listen in the best possible way, like a double espresso shot delivered via a brick to the forehead.
If you’re looking for highlights to justify your inevitable vinyl purchase, look no further than these three tracks. First, “I Like It, Its Nice” serves as a wonderfully sarcastic anthem that pairs groovy rhythms with a remixed sheen that feels like a fever dream. Then there is “Swinging At Ghosts,” a song that perfectly encapsulates the album’s theme of mental strain by moving at a pace that suggests the ghosts are winning. Finally, “Reckless Running” clocks in at under two minutes, which is exactly how much time you’ll need to realize that this album has sunk into your brain and is now a part of your rock n’ roll-loving soul. It is a raw, punchy record that needs to be part of your life and for the everyday low price of $27.98 this little vinyl baby can be yours.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/iguanadeathcult/
https://iguanadeathcult.com/
https://iguanadeathcult.bandcamp.com/album/guns-out