War on Women continue the movement

The feminist punk train has no stops in sight. Over the last few years, this outspoken genre (can’t imagine why) has tackled ideas of feminism, sexual harassment, abuse and other political ideas. War on Women do this phenomenally and their newest release Capture the Flag is no exception.

The Baltimore, Maryland hardcore punk crew represents their city’s hardcore well, shadowing the hardcore grooviness shown in other Baltimore band Turnstile. This is shown almost instantly on the album’s opener “Lone Wolves.” Hard hitting drums and fast-paced guitar pieces trash into this track as the lead singer, Shawna Potter showcases her impressive scream. Although her lyrics are tough to understand, the production isn’t the issue there — perfectly mixed for a hardcore album where it’s not too distorted and janky like G.L.O.S.S.

“Dick Pics” isn’t about what one might expect from a feminist band. This track actually celebrates the sexuality that will never be followed up upon within sexual encounters on the phone and questions whether these relationships are meaningless. The album stays on this path until “Pleasure & The Beast” starts off slower than most of the tracks, almost reminiscent of a Metallica riff, but kicks into another hardcore track contrasting the beauty and the pleasure a woman gets from the beast, whatever beast she could be referring to is a little abstract.

“Predator in Chief” brings up topics of sexual abuse and misogyny. The title most definitely refers to our current President with harsh lyrics like “I don’t care whos in office / There’s more of us so you already lost / So fuck this fucking rapist.” A stern callout that shadows the callouts of so many other women during the #metoo movement, making this album very culturally relevant to today’s landscape.

“YDTMHLT” proclaims the message of “you don’t tell me how to live.” In the song, it refers to sexual orientation as well as the punk lifestyle. It proclaims independence and has one of the more impressive screams from Potter on the album. The album closes with “The Chalice & The Blade” which perfectly encapsulates the tone of the album — confrontational, yet groovy. The interlude in the middle of the track that has Potter’s whispers over unbelievable instrumentals really make the album to a satisfying close.

The future is female and War on Women capture that sentiment wholeheartedly, calling out injustices and misconceptions against women while sticking to a brutal hardcore sound that remains catchy throughout Capture the Flag.