Gritty Rockin’ Pink

Released just in time for the Fourth of July, Dream Wife returns kicking and screaming with their second studio album So When You Gonna with energetic melodies and laced with feminist themes.

Debuting in 2018 with their self-debut album, lead vocalist Rakel Mjöll, bassist Bella Podpadec and guitarist Alice Go have been met with positive feedback in their band’s short lifetime. Thematically, Dream Wife focuses on current-day issues of feminism, sexism and sexual objectification through their lyrics, and have displayed during performances their view on the matters, with their “bitches-to-the-front” policy in which they allow women to take the front of the audience and mosh in commemoration.

So When You Gonna opens with the explicitly screeching punk tune of “Sports!.” It’s the highlight track of this new album giving that feminine, colorful punch of independence, action and badassery. Rhythmically sassy, “Hasta La Vista” is soothing with solid plucky strums and laxed vocals that make for a chill intermission just before the rockin’ wails of “Homesick” that provides core values of traditional punk rock. Acting as a howling and empathetic transition, “Validation” scores a fading melody before the sweetened guitar strums of “Temporary” that splashes something somber and enlightening with Mjöll’s sugary vocals.

With an acoustic melody, “U Do U” is down to earth with rewarding, hard-riffed strums here and there to keep things to a pumped degree. With a thrash and crash, “RH RN” follows up with peaking vocals and smashing symbols to bop to. “Old Flame” hits the grungy scene with elated choruses and repetitive sly verses for what sounds like that of a tune of salty remembrance. Self-title of So When You Gonna, “So When You Gonna,” screeches in with hard strumming and thrashing percussions with fierce feminine energy as expected for said album.

Cranking down the notch by a degree or two, “Hold On Me” is enticing with soft vocals and laden guitars transitioning and queuing a near end to this album before “After the Rain,” that solos Mjöll’s vocals with a somber piano backdrop to conclude the album.

So When You Gonna displays ingenious punk melodies with strong feminist core values that highlight female strength through music. With such energy and canny songwriting Dream Wife is a promising up-and-coming band, if not already, with a greater works and projects in the future.