Photos by Sharon Steele – Formed in Perrystown, Dublin, The Scratch are a force of nature that defies easy categorization, triumphantly blurring the lines between traditional Irish folk storytelling and the blistering velocity of heavy metal. Born from the ashes of the tech-metal outfit Red Enemy, the band—featuring Daniel “Lango” Lang (cajón, percussion, lead vocals), Conor “Dock” Dockery (guitar, backing vocals), Cathal McKenna (bass, backing vocals), and Gary “Snakeskin” Regan (guitar, backing vocals)—originally swapped their electric rigs for acoustic instruments and a wooden box just to rediscover the pure joy of playing. What started as a viral busking phenomenon quickly exploded into a cross-genre movement, earning them a fanatic cult following across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and North America.
Known as one of the most ferocious and unforgettable live acts on the modern rock circuit, The Scratch seamlessly transition from lightning-fast metal chops to tender, tear-jerking folk melodies. Following the critical acclaim of their self-released 2020 debut Couldn’t Give a Rats and their Sony Music sophomore record Mind Yourself (produced by James Vincent McMorrow), the band has relentlessly scaled new heights. From selling out multi-night residencies at iconic venues like Dublin’s Olympia Theatre to storming major festival stages at Download and Reading & Leeds, and touring alongside Celtic-punk legends the Dropkick Murphys, they have proven that their raw, uncompromising sound belongs on the world’s biggest stages. Armed with their boldest, heaviest material to date on their album Pull Like a Dog, The Scratch continue to charge forward with a simple, instinctual mantra: amps up, filters off, and total dedication to the craft.
