Ones To Watch: Haggard Cat

Haggard Cat are Matt Reynolds (vocals/guitar) and Tom Marsh (drums).

The history of Haggard Cat stretches back in 2011 when Matt and Tom were one-half of genre-straddling hardcore rockers HECK (formerly Baby Godzilla). The two musical kindred spirits decided to form a side-project so they could hit the road and play gigs free from the constraints of their day job, yet, crucially they retained the stratospheric intensity that HECK were renowned for. This explosive energy is perfectly typified by last March’s excellent single ‘The Patriot’; a riff-heavy and unpredictable rock stomper that comes to a dizzying and crashing conclusion.   

Following the untimely demise of HECK after four studio albums in August 2017, Tom and Matt have now been able to channel 100% of their efforts into Haggard Cat. No longer a mere side-project, the duo are now a finely honed behemoth in their own right, and with their more melodious yet equally fiery sounds, are primed to leave their own indelible imprint on the music world.

Having played live extensively throughout last year, 2018 so far has seen Haggard Cat unleash a trio of riotous tasters of their debut studio album ‘Challenger’, which lands on Friday (20th April) via Earache Records. January’s ‘American Graffiti’ is a lyrically potent, muscular and dirty rock beast that paved the way nicely for the aptly titled ‘Bone Shaker’ – played on both Wyatt’s New Rock Show and MOJO Rocks with Phil Alexander, the tremendous tune is accompanied by a Japanese Kabuki Theatre inspired music video that took Matt and Tom 28 days to put together. With latest ‘Challenger’ offshoot, the raw and angular ‘Bad News (Travels Fast)’, keeping up the ante, Haggard Cat are now poised to embark on a fresh headline tour throughout April and May where they’ll be bringing their beguiling sounds to the masses.

Check out the incredible ‘Bone Shaker’ video here:

See Haggard Cat at the following shows:

APRIL 2018
Huddersfield The Parish – 25th
Bolton The Alma Inn – 26th
York The Crescent – 27th
London Sebright Arms – 28th
Milton Keynes The Craufurd Arms – 29th – free gig

MAY 2018
Newport Le Pub – 1st
Bristol Mother’s Ruin – 2nd – free gig
Newcastle Little Buildings – 3rd
Nottingham Jam Café – 4th
Lancaster The Bobbin – 5th
Sheffield Record Junkee – 6th
Corby The White Hart – 11th

JULY 2018
2000Trees Festival – 12th to 14th

AUGUST 2018
Boomtown Fair – 9th to 12th

You can keep up-to-date with Haggard Cat by visiting their official website and following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you like what you hear, you can also pre-order 'Challenger' right here.