Following a string of successful single releases throughout 2024, Wingz of the Monkey have released their second EP, ‘Jägermeister Love and Cigarette Kisses’. This new EP follows their 2023 debut EP, ‘ Ape Allegations’ (read or review here). The new EP includes the three singles previously released throughout 2024, plus two new tracks, ‘Sarcastic Sympathy’ and a cover of the Fugazi track ‘I’m So Tired’.
Opener ‘The Accuser’ makes a huge statement with its whipping wah-wah guitar riff, pounding drums, and singer Pat’s unique drawl. It’s a brilliant start and a sign that the band hasn’t lost any of the magnificence and fierce nature that the first EP delivered.
It seems hard to top the brilliance of ‘The Accuser’, yet the feedback-drenched recent single ‘The Dog’ does just that. The hard-rock frantic punk energy is infectious and hits the listener like a blast of The Stooges. There is no end to the riffs these guys pull out of thin air, and when performed with such precision, they are taking the piss to be this talented.
The monster stomper ‘Stood Up’ finishes the three previously released singles. It fits nicely with the previous two tracks, full of the band’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll decadence, especially the fretboard-scorching guitar solo. The rampaging choruses are no stranger to the band’s fans and anyone who has caught them live playing this standout track. The bombastic live shows and sweaty stage energy have been captured remarkably well on this EP.
While the first three songs plough the usual WOTM furrow, one of the unreleased tracks, ‘Sarcastic Sympathy’, slows things down, taking the EP in another direction. Recorded back in October 2023, when the band was awarded a residency as part of the Green House Project, it shows a more mature side to their songwriting and a more thoughtful approach to song arrangement.
There is a hint of blues creeping into their sound on this track, especially with Jeep’s guitar parts, and although Pat’s cigarette rough vocals still feature, it’s more of a smoothed delivery. That is until the track is ramped up and usual service is briefly resumed. The band loves playing this song live; it is singer Pat’s favourite WOTM track to date. The EP title comes from a lyric in this song, too. Bassist Logan adds, “We love the dynamics of the track, the rise and fall and the dramatic ending; the song just keeps giving”
The final track, ‘I’m So Tired,’ is a Fugazi cover. However, the band has put a healthy WOTM stamp and crafted a song very much their own, something that shows the strength of their talent. “This was pretty much a first take in the studio, too, because the band was so tight,” Guitarist Jeep remarks. The track feels like an anthem, and the band just had to release it.” Ed adds, “It made my girlfriend cry when she first heard it.”
The addition of ‘Sarcastic Sympathy’ and ‘I’m So Tired’ was the making of this EP. It’s only the band’s second EP release, yet the growth between the first ‘Ape Allegations’ and this one is impressive enough to make bands twice their age jealous. A band so young to pull out songs like these early in a career is something else entirely. With ‘Jägermeister Love and Cigarette Kisses, ‘ the band has cemented their position as one to watch and back up the show and glitter their live shows deliver with some solid substance.
Check out the bands cover of I’m So Tired, below:
Find out more via the bands Facebook page
Read our interview with the band here
