Hardcore is alive, well and living in Baltimore. Daughters of the city War On Women have been churning out their personal brand of gritty ‘riot grrrl’ punk since their formation in 2010 from the ashes of many of the city’s established rock acts. Now on the back of the release of EP ‘Improvised Weapons’ back in 2012, the band are now set to dispense their full length debut onto the world through Bridge Nine, and they are far from happy with the way that it has been spinning.
Musically though much crisper than their previous efforts, ‘War On Women’ is an 11 track hurricane of scruffy riffs, breakneck drums and underlying distortion. From frenzied opener ‘Sevilla’ and the anthemic ‘Second Wave Goodbye’ to the pulsating snottiness of ‘Youtube Comments’ and poignant call to arms building of closer ‘Diana La Casadora’, the band never take their foot off the pedal and in the process create a sound that hits like a crowbar straight to the ankle.
Aside from their sweat-drenched musicianship though the band really come into their own with their honest and brutal lyrical content that hits just as hard as their riffs. From unjustified sexual consent to rape denial to the ever relevant abortion debate the band leave no stone unturned when voicing their iron fisted opinions and commenting on societies dismissing of feminism.
Demonstrated with so much bile soaked angst it cannot be ignored, these are issues that exist on a day-to-day basis for women but many turn their attention away from for the sake of not ruffling feathers. War On Women have not only ruffled the feathers, they have plucked the bird, taken a bite out of it and squirted the blood right into eye of society. Where many would hide behind metaphors and self made boundaries, they have smashed down any preconceived notions and built their own path of righteousness that should be applauded.
What War On Women have forged is one of the first really important releases of 2015. An album filled with hostility and honesty built on red-hot passion and smoldering resentment against a world that has fucked over many and made itself a lot of powerful enemies. With a quick witty tongue and strong ear for a raw riff, the band has created a piece of art for the revolution that sprouts all the things that the masses don’t have the guts to say. In a scene full of posers, wannabees and trolls, bands like War On Women are and will continue to be vital, refreshing and, in a perfect world, a platform for much needed and necessary change.
4/5
War On Women by War On Women is out now on Bridge Nine.
War On Women links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Jack Rogers (@JackMRog)
