[1] The folIow-up to the band's lukewarmly received second album, 2015's Little Victories,[2] Spitting Image was recorded In Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Ethan Johns throughout November 2016.

[3] The band toured some small venues around Ireland in order to road test material for the album before they began the main recording sessions.

[3] Guitarist Josh McClorey cited Nirvana as an influence on "Heavenly Soul" from the subsequent Almost True e.p[4] On 25 April 2017, the band released "Oh Cruel World" as the first single from the album, which was announced and named alongside the video.

[12] The bands first major live performances following the release of the album were in support of the Killers and Elbow at Hyde Park, London during the 2017 BST festival in July.

[13] Shortly before embarking on their U.K tour, they released the Almost True EP, composed of unreleased songs from the Spitting Image sessions.

The band were forced to prematurely cancel their remaining U.S shows in early April 2018 after drummer Evan Walsh was ruled unfit to perform.

[50] Stephen White of the Last Mixed Tape rated the album 7/10, saying that it was "Solid" if "not a little unremarkable", noting their songwriting skill but being disappointed that they have released another "throwback" record, saying that it "leaves them sounding like just another by-the-numbers rock ‘n’ roll band (which they aren’t)".

All tracks produced by The Strypes except where noted[54] Spitting Image became the band's least commercially successful album, despite receiving more positive reviews than its predecessor.