Photography by Helena Janssen

George Ward
George Ward

Freelance journalist based in Bristol. Can be found at the Grain Barge, Rough Trade or in his tiny basement bedroom writing for CLUNK.

Post-Punk band Squid return with another experimental single, this time accompanied by a video game and news of a 2024 US Tour

It is so refreshing to have Squid back on the scene making music. Their debut album ‘Bright Green Field’ was an experimental post-punk treat with danceable beats, off-kilter riffs and Ollie Judge’s bizarre but exhilarating vocals. 

Now, with this second single, Squid head further down the darker road they seem to be taking for their new record. ‘Undergrowth’ starts off in typical Squid fashion, with a groovy drum beat. It is then joined by a riff, equally disturbing as it is charming. Effect-laden sounds roar in the background throughout. 

As it progresses, the track devolves, becoming more and more demented. It is a sinister track but not obviously; it grows on you like a fungus crawling outwards. Judge’s vocals have never sounded better, with the chorus, “ergonomic for the rest of our days, I’d rather melt melt melt melt…” filled with the absurd poetry that we have come to love from Squid

As well as this new single, the band have announced a North American tour, adding to the huge number of dates below. And, strangely, we even have a video game version of ‘Undergrowth’, in which you venture into a strange world while soundtracked by the single.

The new album ‘O Monolith’ is out on 9th June via Warp Records.

Play the new game here.

Listen to ‘Undergrowth’ here: 

Catch Squid at the following: 

Focus Wales, Wrexham – 5th May

8 Festival, Vilnius – 16th June

Beyond The Pale, Wicklow – 18th June

Rock Werchter, Werchter – 30th June

Fusion, Larz – 2nd July

Standon Calling, Hertfordshire – 21st July

Truck Festival, Oxfordshire – 22nd July

RALLY Festival, London – 5th August

Paredes De Coura, Portugal – 16th August

Green Man, Brecon Beacons – 16th August

Into The Great Wide Open, Vlieland – 2nd September

Die Kantine Biergarten, Cologne – 5th September

ROCKHAL, Esch Sur Alzette – 6th September

Ancienne Belgique, Brussels – 7th September

TivoliVrendenburg Ronda, Utrecht – 8th September

KNUST, Hamburg – 9th September

Voxhall, Aarhus – 11th September

VEGA, Copenhagen – 12th September

Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin – 13th September

UT Connewitz, Leipzig – 15th September

Mascotte, Zürich – 16th September

Santeria Toscana 31, Milan – 19th September

Sala Apolo, Barcelona – 21st September

Ram Club, Valencia – 22nd September

Sala Copernico, Madrid – 23rd September

Rock School Barbey, Bordeaux – 24th September

Élysée Montmartre, Paris – 25th September

Le 106, Rouen – 27th September

SWX, Bristol – 13th October

SWX Bristol – 14th October

Town Hall, Birmingham – 16th October

O2 Academy, Leeds – 17th October

New Century, Manchester – 18th October

Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow – 21st October

Boiler Shop, Newcastle upon Tyne – 22nd October

Troxy, London – 1st November