From shrimps to surfboards, Viagra Boys reinvents what “good music” can be
If you had told me 6 months ago that one of my top artists on Spotify would be a Stockholm-based, shrimp-obsessed, post-punk group by the name of Viagra Boys, I probably would’ve laughed it off. You might even be laughing me off right now, but if you give them a try, you may find yourself in my shoes before you know it. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Viagra Boys are making waves internationally, and I can guarantee they’re unlike anything you’ve heard before.
According to frontman Sebastian Murphy, he met his bandmates in 2015 while giving a stunning performance of Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” at a Karaoke bar. They hit the scene with “Research Chemicals,” a single that would be featured on their 2016 debut EP, Consistency of Energy. The track is loud and abrasive, with grotesquely detailed lyrics depicting the side effects of heavy experimental drug use. It’s enough to make your skin crawl and yet…I love it, and I’m not the only one. To this day, Research Chemicals is a favourite among fans.
The band went on to put out a few more singles and EPs before the release of their debut album ( my personal favourite project of theirs), Street Worms, in 2018. If you give the album a listen, I’m sure you’ll find yourself asking, “What is this???” at least once or twice during its half-hour runtime. I know I did. But between distorted saxophone solos, absurdist lyrics, and Sebastian Murphey’s distinct vocals, it’s clear that that’s exactly what the band wants you to ask.
Take the album’s lead single, “Sports,” for example. The song starts with Sebastian monotonously listing different sports over a simple drum beat. “Baseball, basketball, volleyball,” get the picture? As the track continues, more “sports” are listed, including, but not limited to, “Surfboard, ping pong, rugby ball, weiner dog.” The chorus reiterates the song’s complex subject matter as Murphy repetitively chants “sports!” (just in case you missed it) until we’re led into the second verse, in which even more sports are described! “Beachball, volleyball, cigarettes, weiner dog down on the beach, barbecue.” For all intents and purposes…this is not a very good song, and yet it is their most successful to date, and one of my favourites. This song perfectly demonstrates the band’s ability not to take things too seriously.
This carefree attitude is found in a lot of Viagra Boys’ work, but I think it’s really brought to life in their most recent album, “Viagr aboys.” This album is the first released under their independent record label Shrimptech Enterprises. Murphy stated that the goal for this project was to work with “a little bit of everything” and create something “a bit simple and stupid.” And while this description may be accurate, I think that’s exactly what makes the album so fantastic.
Lyrics in its lead single, “Man Made of Meat,” touch on a myriad of topics, including “wheelchairs motorised by electric motors made by goblins in a factory overseas,” “drinking hotdog flavoured water on a popular TV show called Tub Girls,” and, of course, subscribing to your mom’s OnlyFans. It’s beyond absurdity, it’s over the top, shrimp-flavoured maximalism, and I love every second of it.
The album continues with overwhelmingly high-energy tracks like “The Bog Body,” “Pyramid of Health,” and “Uno II”, until suddenly drawing back in “Medicine for Horses.” This track is slow, with Sebastian performing its reflective lyrics with a raw, almost pained tone in his voice. Despite the stark drop in energy, the lyricism and musical composition leave you with no doubt that this is a Viagra Boys track, and one of their best to date.
The band kicked off their “Infinite Anxiety” tour with 2 shows in Vancouver this September. As the tour continues, shows around the world are selling out. It seems like people can’t get enough of Sweden’s strangest punk band, so you might wanna keep an eye out to see what they do next. I know I certainly will.