The evolution of Swampmeat Family Band continues apace. When the Birmingham outfit released their incendiary third album, Muck, three years ago, it marked the culmination of the kind of vision that frontman Dan Finnemore had always had for them; having returned from the U.S. after a spell as a key member of Philadelphia rockers Low Cut Connie, he was burning with ideas and inspiration, channeling a renewed creative energy into a new-look version of the garage band he’d formed, as simply Swampmeat, with drummer T-Bird Jones in 2006. Muck certainly felt like a family affair, one that saw the group expand to a five-piece and broaden their musical palette, boldening their bolshier side with brass, lending their forays into country some authenticity with the addition of pedal steel and, by welcoming vocalist Joni Coyne into the fold, providing Finnemore with a new foil. The new accoutrements came together to form the basis of Swampmeat 2.0, a slicker, sharper band anchored by Finnemore’s handsome arrangements and melodic sensibilities. Polish Your Old Halo continues Finnemore’s hot vein of songwriting form with Muck and capitalises upon that album’s creative momentum, without being afraid to try new things and remove old ones; the brass and strings that made it on to Muck have been left to one side, propelling Finnemore’s writing to the fore. The freewheeling blues rock that came to define their last album is still alive and well. But there’s also progression, something particularly evident in the album’s bookends; ‘Do It All’ brings the curtain up with juddering, synth-led punk energy, while closer ‘Plant Your Feet Correctly’ is a swooning acoustic cut, initially envisioned as having a string section but now presented in vulnerable, bare-bones fashion.
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Zoh Amba Sun
Smalltown Supersound
August 22, 2025 -
Scorpions From The First Sting (Gold; Amazon Exclusive) [2xLP]
Bmg
September 26, 2025 -
Pile Sunshine and Balance Beams
Sooper Records
August 15, 2025 -
Ludwig Göransson Sinners Score [2xLP]
Mutant
September 26, 2025 -
Conan Gray Wishbone (Black Cat Edition)
Republic Records
August 15, 2025 -
THROATCUT. RESILIENCE. (Red/Black Marbled)
Arising Empire
August 8, 2025 -
Dean Wareham That's the Price of Loving Me (Desert Haze Tan)
Carpark Records
August 15, 2025 -
Drain ...is Your Friend
Epitaph
November 7, 2025 -
Slow Crush Thirst
Pure Noise Records
August 29, 2025 -
Backstreet Boys Millennium 2.0 [2xLP]
Legacy Recordings
July 11, 2025 -
Acumen Nation Transmissions From Eville (30th Anniversary)
Distortion Productions
October 10, 2025 -
Greywind Severed Heart City
Frontiers New Recordings Physical Only
September 19, 2025 -
Golomb The Beat Goes on
No Quarter
July 25, 2025 -
Mike Polizze Around Sound
Paradise Bachelors
July 25, 2025