Angry Strings – Devil At My Door (2025)
Daubing at the vintage bluegrass sounds of Bluegrass Album Band, The SteelDrivers and Old Crow Medicine Show, Switzerland-based group Angry Strings pays tribute to the genre. Yet, just as there is vintage flair to their music, they bring an innovative twist kicking a contemporary edginess into the sound. Drawing together the talents of Che Horgan (vocals and guitar), Lukas Halter (banjo), and Lukas Kurmann (vocals and double bass), Angry Strings is a mish-mash of genres, styles and inspiration. Join us as we delve into their debut single, ‘Devil At My Door’.
With hard rock inspiration, traditional bluegrass and roots in Americana, ‘Devil At My Door’ pushes bluegrass to its limits with unconventional eclecticism. From the first note, Angry Strings thrust you into a sonic hurricane with winds rushing by at breakneck speed; honestly, I’ve not heard a banjo pick at that pace in all my life. Tossing you from pillar to post, the combination of soaring guitar matches a pulsating double bass with Halter’s banjo swooning about your head, and Michael Black’s harmonica adding a cheeky twist.
The blistering track – for that is the only way to describe its vivid vibrancy – ‘Devil At My Door’ is not bluegrass; it is not Americana; it is an inimitable sensation that is Angry Strings and no one else. Interestingly, while the instruments spin you in a soul-stirring chaotic rush of sound, there is a soothing quality at its core. Moreover, the vocals offer warmth within the frenzied execution. Truthfully, not only have I never heard bluegrass played so rapidly, but I wonder how Black and Horgan said all those words in a few minutes.
One aspect I find intriguing is how the melody in all its tumultuousness aligns so perfectly with the single’s theme. Tackling “the theme of self-mortality and one’s own fear of it…”, the buzzing force of ‘Devil At My Door’ expresses vulnerability and fragility but also understanding and resilience.
As their debut, ‘Devil At My Door’ is our introduction to Angry Strings. Crazy, chaotic, a blast of “Oh hell, what was that”, and a leap of fun with a bright grin at the end, Angry Strings is unforgettable.
Find out more about Angry Strings on their Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify.
Listen to more Americana music on The Other Side Reviews Americana playlist:
