Molly Vulpyne: Houndstooth And The Hum
(FOAD Musick)
Vinyl | CD | Cassette available here
Released 6 March 2026
4.5 out of 5.0 stars
Dublin firebrand Molly Vulpyne finally releases her debut album along with her punk brothers from Paranoid Visions and The Steve Ignorant Band, a melting pot of modern punk rock with a twist. Wayne AF Carey reviews…
About the band:
Molly Vulpyne Band formed in 2024, when what was meant to be “just one gig” snowballed into recording an album and playing a rapid-fire run of festivals and gigs across the UK and Ireland. After releasing her solo EP Amortise in 2024, Dublin based songwriter Molly expanded her sound with a full band featuring Irish punk veterans Peter Jones (Paranoid Visions), Jay Bagnall (Paranoid Visions, Steve Ignorant Band), and Tony Carberry (The Lee Harveys).
I first met Molly back in 2023 outside Yes in Manchester whilst interviewing Meryl Streek before his gig and I instantly knew there was a future front person in the making after seeing her twice on stage at Meryl gigs providing backing vocals and appearing in his earlier videos. Since then I’ve seen her command Rebellion Festival a few times with full band sets and acoustic gigs, especially a great packed out performance in The Old Vic with her family in attendance. It’s not a surprise she has bonded with punk stalwarts Paranoid Visions on her debut album outing.
It’s a great record from start to finish with the building brooding Hook kicking in with great crisp drums and a dirty guitar riff complimented by the drawling rock vocals which have hints of PJ Harvey and Courtney Love without the screaming. A banging entrance full of punk melody. it Don’t Fit starts like Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box, flipping into a fiery piece of rock that’s tight as fuck. It’s about that feeling of not fitting into the 9–5 world or the artistic one either, and not knowing where your place is. Inertia Right Hand Man is an early single from the Amortise EP back in 2024 which I described as ‘a beautiful tune with a psych acoustic guitar riff, while Molly’s vocals are an uncanny hybrid of Courtney Love (Doll Parts) and Kristin Hersh at her best. It just drags you in and hypnotises you.’
I Wanna Be Your Filter is an Irish tinged tune that merrily flirts with fast paced country, powerful drums and some great guitar dynamics all melding together with Molly’s signature vocals that have every right to be her own unique sound and fuckin’ are. 14 is a mellow number, gliding in with echoing acoustics and vocals and another hint of Hole’s mellower moments coasting throughout and mourning her Grandad. Sad and beautiful. My Expiry is a protest against societal pressure and the weight of expectation, a driving punk number, tight as fuck and a belter of a chorus, stopping and starting like all great punk rock tunes.
Ripe is brilliant with it’s slow start building into a rock bastard and Molly’s poignant lyrics stating “I will never rest” which has a great hook and ear gnawing dynamics that are part and parcel of any great band with punch. Ur A Fad is fucking mental, a fast paced rocking bastard that packs a punch with pace, a nod to those in the music industry who value style over substance and ego over art. Molly says “I think the punk community have welcomed me because I typically don’t fit into any box and that is fine by me!” Closing track Ode To Your Farewell mourns a best friend (I’ve heard another story…), a crunching punk number that rocks like fuck and ends the album like a fireball of rage. Punk rock at it’s best and a testament to the power of Molly Vulpyne and friends. There is a hidden track of spoken word but you’ll have to buy it to hear that one. Stunning.
See Molly Vulpyne Band live at the following dates:
Sun 12 April DERBY Hairy Dog w The Darling Buds
Thu 07 May LONDON The Lexington w Interrobang (rethink the hum tour!)
Fri 08 May BRIGHTON The Hope & Ruin w Interrobang (rethink the hum tour!)
Sat 09 May STAMFORD Voodoo Lounge w Interrobang (rethink the hum tour!)
Sat 27 June COALVILLE Victoria Bikers Pub
6 – 9 August REBELLION FESTIVAL BLACKPOOL
Sat 26 Sept NEWCASTLE The Rigger
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Words by Wayne Carey, Reviews Editor for Louder Than War. His author profile is here
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