Conor Furlong - Deranged Monster Review: A Loud, Dark Alt-Rock Monster

By Chris Kennedy | Published 21st August, 2026

Dublin singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Conor Furlong is certainly not short of ideas. Blending alternative rock, dark pop and dreamy, synth-heavy textures, Furlong has been steadily building towards his upcoming album Descent, releasing a string of singles along the way.

Tracks including Killer, How Do You Sleep At Night? and You Won’t Break Me have already given us a taste of what to expect. Now, with Descent due for release in September 2026, Furlong is back with perhaps his most unapologetically loud track yet - Deranged Monster.

Deranged Monster Is Dark, Loud and Seriously Swaggering

From the opening seconds, there is something slightly unsettling about Deranged Monster. A catchy, shoegaze-inspired guitar line sets the tone before the spoken-word vocals arrive, immediately giving the track a darker and more sinister edge.

Then the guitars kick in.

And when they do, Furlong doesn't hold back.

The track explodes into a huge wall of layered electric guitars, with a snarling, rough-edged vocal delivery adding even more attitude. Beneath the noise is a deceptively simple chord progression, while an infectious guitar riff following the chorus gives the song another hook to grab onto.

It feels deliberately raw and uncomplicated - and that's exactly what makes it work.

A Little Lou Reed, A Little Pixies and Plenty of Noise

Furlong describes Deranged Monster as the most straightforward rock song on Descent, with Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground serving as a major influence.

That comparison makes plenty of sense. There is a dirty, droning quality to the track, with its minimal chord changes and repetitive groove creating a hypnotic feel.

There are also noticeable shades of Pixies in the mix, particularly in the melodic guitar riff, twisting guitar sounds and the sheer wall of noise that surrounds the song.

It's an interesting combination, but Furlong manages to make those influences feel like ingredients rather than a blueprint.

Perhaps the most divisive element will be those spoken-word verses. They're certainly unexpected, but they add to the slightly unhinged personality of the track. And, considering the subject matter, that off-kilter approach feels entirely appropriate.

Dumb and Loud Is Exactly the Point

Furlong himself admits that Deranged Monster is something of a throwaway track. But that doesn't mean it's lacking ambition.

Quite the opposite.

The song is designed to be dumb, loud and played loud. It's the kind of track that probably makes the most sense when the volume is cranked up and the guitars are filling the room.

There's also a darker idea lurking underneath all that noise. Furlong says the song's subject matter centres around a demagogue and his cult followers, which adds another layer to what initially sounds like a straightforward rock'n'roll bruiser.

It may not be subtle, but subtlety was never really the point.

Final Verdict

Deranged Monster is a wonderfully messy, swaggering slice of alternative rock. The combination of shoegaze guitars, spoken-word vocals, distorted riffs and Velvet Underground-inspired droning gives the track a distinctive personality.

Furlong has clearly decided to have some fun with this one, and the result is a track that feels raw, rebellious and deliberately excessive.

With Killer, How Do You Sleep At Night?, You Won’t Break Me and now Deranged Monster already out in the wild, Furlong has given us plenty to get excited about ahead of Descent.

The single, Deranged Monster, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: Conor Furlong