Amyl And The Sniffers Prove Some Mutts (Can’t Be Muzzled)

by | May 31, 2024

In the middle of a whirlwind festival schedule, in a week that began with Bearded Theory and will end with Primavera Sound, Amyl And The Sniffers have somehow found time to shake up London Town. The Scala feels more than sold out, with punks old and young packed onto balconies and stairs, as we eagerly hope to catch a glimpse of the Melbourne pub rockers (while, of course, pretending to be totally jaded to the whole experience).

Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala

Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala (Paul Lyme)
Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala (Paul Lyme)

“Get rowdy!” Frontwoman Amy Taylor doesn’t need to command us because as soon as opener Control drops, the pit is open for business. Live, Amyl And The Sniffers are far less discordant than their records suggest, tapping into old school punk energy in their glorious nastiness like The Stooges meets The Vines with a bitter twenty first century bile. As Got You’s buzz saw riff and coarse gang vocals give way to a gorgeous drum-backed bridge, Taylor skips dishevelled above the chaos of her own creation, her voice the acid lynchpin of the Sniffers sound.

What elevates Amyl And The Sniffers above similar punk acts is how they’re both as unsubtle as a hammer to the face and incredibly crude, but simultaneously retain a sense of fun and refreshing relatability. “I think world is so sick. We need a nurse to make it better,” says Taylor with a sly grin as she removes her oversized trench coat to reveal her costume before launching into new song Facts with it’s shredding guitar like a pneumatic drill and sneering backing vocals which just dare you to answer back. Compared to the sheer volume of swearing from the band, I’m Not A Loser comes across as almost sweet. Taylor’s rapid vocals become more unhinged with each line, the pit hanging on her every word. Fan favourite Security sparks a universal shout-along with our arms up as we twist and flail. If anything, the song is slightly slightly softer live, the narrative more sympathetic as Amyl And The Sniffers raise the drum volume and turn the bass into leftover alcoholic sludge. Below Taylor, strutting like Debbie Harry with a wolf cut, a proper old school pogo pit explodes, while up on the balcony someone breaks out their air guitar.

There’s more than a few surprises in their very fast-paced set, as if furiously cramming twenty songs into ninety minutes wasn’t enough. Despite usually making music rooted in reality, Taylor’s brief climb onto a soapbox is as simple and effective as everything else that we hear from the stage. “Keep learning! Lift everyone up who’s trying to learn!” She shouts, her accent broad.”Free Palestine!” Her hair whips around her face as the rapid-firing Maggots begins and a crowd surfer raises his hands in euphoria. Time seems to be running fast and infinitely slowly as the song fills the air. Starfire 500 is another unexpected moment, the tone changing to almost seventies metal as Dec Martens and Gus Romer duel on guitar and bass for a long, galloping instrumental breakdown, the echoing guitar tones on Capital could almost be post-punk in their darkness. Knifey has an unpredictable prettiness live as Taylor channels goth-punk despair and frustration into murderous sonic droplets.

Most importantly, Amyl And The Sniffers remind us that being angry at the world and finally getting the chance to let it out can be so much fun. From new track U Should Not Be Doing That’s stomping boot beat, dark determination and sweary sarcasm like a bottle thrown against a wall to the moment Hertz‘s guitar ripcords into a free fall solo, we’re furious and loving it. Only hours after the show finishes at the Scala, the band announce a major UK tour for November this year and you can bet anything you like that every single one of us at the show tonight will be at the Roundhouse this autumn for another shot of Amyl And The Sniffers.

  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala
  • Amyl & The Sniffers @ Scala

Live review of Amyl And The Sniffers at Scala in Kings Cross on 27th May 2024 by Kate Allvey, photography by Paul Lyme

Bruce And Bongos – Dickinson Is The Alchemist At Kentish Town Forum

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing