When the Swedish new-wave indie band Cat Princess disbanded in 2020, founder, songwriter, and guitarist Rocky 3000 suddenly found himself a free agent in the Stockholm music market. To stay in shape during the transfer window, he started playing with friends Joakim Almén, Patrik Eklund, and Markus Ljungholm — who, back in 2019, had been doing IDLES and Broncho covers just for the fun of it.
When Alpha Pet’s first song, “Concept of Power,” practically wrote itself during a rehearsal, covers were abandoned in favor of a new sound — one initially echoing the post-punk of Manchester circa 1977.
With Rocky’s arrival, the focus quickly shifted to their mutual obsession: The Clash. But as satisfying as it is to unleash your inner Joe Strummer, it’s always more fun to create something of your own. Since then, the band — whose sound has been compared to everything from a guttural Swedish TV criminologist to Talking Heads and The Fall — has signed to Rama Lama Records, toured extensively, and released a string of bombastic rock singles.
On their new single, the gothic “Mall of Death,” Alpha Pet continues to sketch out their singularity while showing a deep appreciation for their roots. The band’s individuality does not need to be forced, or at least it never feels as such. “Mall of Death” is a naturally infectious yet cosmically crafted slice of post-punk with emo undertones that emphasize the cartoonish nature of Rocky 3000’s acrobatic vocals. These vocals maintain a warm demeanor throughout this punchy single, as the lively guitars and thudding drums maintain a welcoming simplicity, almost as if Alpha Pet is trying to lure you into their lair of minimalism. The invitation is enticing, as 3000’s vocals throw splashes of unfamiliar colors that drench this sleek instrumentation in an experimental cloak. “Mall of Death” successfully separates Alpha Pet from their peers while nodding to both contemporary and nostalgic nuances of rock music, introducing the band as fearless yet keenly aware.
“I’m really happy with how simple we managed to keep it. It’s so easy to keep adding stuff. Jocke (bass) and Patrik (drums) did a great job with the extra space they got. Recording the vocals, it felt like the words just bounced on that rhythm. I hope you can hear how fun we had recording this one”, says Alpha Pet’s singer and guitarist, Rocky 3000.
