The Groggy Dogs Talk New Album, Hometown And More

May 14, 2026 | Interviews

Words by Glenn Sargeant

Feature Image Photo Credit: Fátima Caballero Photography

Spanish rowdy pirate crew, The Groggy Dogs, return with their fiercest album to date, “No Grog, No Glory,” a battle cry of punk, ska, and metal-fueled sea shanties out now.

Who is in The Groggy Dogs, how did you meet and what do you play?
The Groggy Dogs is formed by me, Cap’n Mauro, Charlie the Cook, Fatima the Voodoo Witch, Lucas the Deadman, Seba the Buccaneer and Naoki the Castaway. Some of us are lifelong friends, some have played together in other projects for years, and others just appeared out of nowhere. We are basically the ska punk band that Blackbeard would have dreamed of having.

What is your earliest musical memory?
Listening to an old The Best of Queen cassette when I was about 8 years old.

When did you begin songwriting?
I’ve been playing in bands since I was 13, but I’d say real songwriting started around 10 years ago in other projects.

You have your new album ‘No Grog, No Glory’ on 23rd April 2026. How did you want to approach the making of the album?
We wanted something more raw, with more ska and more punk than our previous releases. We also wanted to push our pirate point of view and really make our own kind of sea shanties.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?
It was recorded at home. After all these years, we’ve built up some pretty solid recording gear. I handled the production.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
A lot of late-night recording and mixing sessions… probably too many to remember properly.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
Nothing fancy, cheap Chinese mics and our own instruments. We believe the power is more in the music than in the gear. That said, one of the tracks features a hilarious MIDI Caribbean steel drum that somehow sounds amazing.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your
a) happiest: One Last Toast. A drunken farewell with the crew, pure celebration.
b) angriest: The Sea for the Free. Our take on empires through the lens of an 18th-century pirate.
c) most reflective: Go to Sea No More. A classic that lets us slow things down a bit.

Was it a difficult album to write?
Not really. The ideas came quickly and we knew what we wanted. Lyrics are always the hardest part, but the crew brought great instrumentation that really elevates the album.

Who designed the album artwork?
We worked with Chuz from PerroLoko Games. He’s a board game designer and a great visual artist, as well as a close friend. He also used to play trumpet with us in another project, although he’s not too keen on showing that side of himself.

One of the tracks is ‘One Last Toast’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
It’s basically instructions for my funeral. It came from a reflective moment where I thought about how it would go if it happened now. I don’t want people crying, I want my crew drinking and celebrating. It’s all hypothetical though, nothing bad going on.

The track is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?
We wanted something simpler than our previous videos, still raw like the album, and a bit low-profile. Just something people can enjoy and have a laugh with. It was directed by Fatima, our fiddle player.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
Seville: Hot, loud, chaotic, traditional, alive.

How do you look after your voices?
We don’t. Somehow it still works.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026?
Yes, we’ll be playing across Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
That the crowd is drunk and completely exhausted from dancing.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
We’re not too picky. If it sounds good and survives the show, it’s good enough. I personally use a €90 multi-effects pedal live and in the studio and it sounds great. Also, I won’t go anywhere without my PRS SE guitar.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
Treasure Island, but turned into a full ska punk soundtrack.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
Dropkick Murphys, classic ska bands, NOFX… No specific recommendations, every piece of music has something valuable in it.

What makes The Groggy Dogs happy and what makes you unhappy?
Happy: Food and beer.
Unhappy: Lack of food and beer. The crew gets tense.