Ängel bare their teeth on new single ‘Dog Bark’

Sweden’s most colourful rave rock duo is back and sharpening their teeth. Ängel — the glam-drenched, drag-performing force of nature made up of Nico Teen (Nino Aquilon) and Samme Fatale (Samuel Granholm) — just dropped their new single Dog Bark, and it’s exactly as ferocious as it sounds.

Rave Meets Rock Meets Rage

If you’re not yet familiar with Ängel, here’s your crash course: they’re a Swedish duo pulling from the DNA of DAF, Peaches, and Gina X, smashing the drama of rock into the pulse of the club and performing it all in drag. It’s cathartic, it’s queer, it’s loud — and honestly, it slaps.

Dog Bark plants its flag squarely in the territory of male aggression. The track draws inspiration from the bull terrier — a breed engineered to be fast, tenacious, and relentless — and the song carries that same energy. There’s even a lyrical nod to Lord Gladiator, the first modern bull terrier. At its core though, Dog Bark is about resilience: standing your ground no matter how loud someone barks at you.

“The song explores male aggression and draws inspiration from the bull terrier — a breed developed from bulldog and terrier stock. It was bred to be both fast and relentless, suited for vermin control and blood sports. The lyrics include a nod to the first modern bull terrier, Lord Gladiator.“

Going Analog

Dog Bark also marks a notable shift in Ängel’s sonic approach. Working alongside producer Yosef Madar at Sockerbruket Sounds in Gothenburg, the duo recorded to tape and leaned into analog equipment — a move that gives the track a funkier, grittier texture compared to their previous work. It’s still unmistakably Ängel, but with a little more grit under the fingernails.

Who Are Ängel?

Nico Teen and Samme Fatale have been in each other’s orbit long before they started making music together. The idea of fusing drag and rock was their launching point — a way to honor the legacy of glam rock while carving out space in a contemporary queer rock scene. Since kicking things off in autumn 2022, they’ve performed at the Gothenburg Film Festival closing party, West Pride, The BB Tour, Waves Vienna, and Viva Sounds. They’ve got two singles, music videos, and a four-track EP under their belts — and a debut full-length album currently in the works.

The future’s looking loud.