Punk News Reviews

Album Review: The Menstrual Cramps say ‘We’re Not Ovaryacting’

The Bristol agitators say it like it is, on this vinyl & CD reissue of an early recording!

Formed and based in Bristol, UK, The Menstrual Cramps have applaudingly never held back with their righteous manifesto. They are proudly, self described as a “DIY, loud, queer, anti-fascist, pro-choice, intersectional and feminist” band, who would be sure to get the average Daily Mail reader into a gammon-flavoured frothy mess.

We’re Not Ovaryacting‘ is actually the band’s first online album, recorded at home in true DIY fashion back in 2017, and this vinyl and CD reissue is their second release on the prolific Grow Your Own Records label.

The band have had various online recordings released on Alcopop! Records ( ‘Kiss The Pitch‘ single and ‘ACAB’  EP). Their ‘Free Bleedin‘ compilation album, released on Grow Your Own Records, won the LOUD WOMEN People’s Choice Award in 2018. It also managed to get into the Top 50 Louder Than War Albums Of The Year listings too.

The Menstrual Cramps have been making quite a splash on the live circuit recently, so it’s nice to have these early recordings released on hard copy. These refreshingly raw recordings have been remastered and the results are impressive.

Amusingly and wittily entitled ‘We’re Not Ovaryacting‘, the band certainly don’t muck about in the lyric department on the album, that’s for sure! Its opening track, ‘My Bush Ain’t Ur Business‘, tackles hang-ups with female body hair to great effect. Hashtag Sad Penisis another great track, and ‘Frack Off‘ and ‘Cull The Tories‘ are both self- explanatory.  

The Menstrual Cramps at Glastonwick Festival 2024 - photo by Sonny Tyler

The whole album is a big two fingers up to the world, from a new generation of punks, and a very accurate feminist swing at patriarchal society. This reissue package also comes complete with a 32-page lyric booklet, and these catchy recordings are a great precursor to the band we know and love today!

We’re Not Ovaryacting‘ is available now from Grow Your Own Records on CD, vinyl and digital download from HERE

Catch The Menstrual Cramps supporting Amyl & The Sniffers on 25th October at Alexandra Palace, London, UK
and at Manchester Punk Festival on 5th April next year, at various Manchester, UK venues!

1. My Bush Ain’t Ur Business.
2. Hashtag Sad Penis.
3. Frack Off.
4. Make Girls Feel Good.
5. Mansplain’.
6. Cull The Tories.
7. Another Sesh.
8. This Isn’t What You Expected.
9. Lying Cheatin’ Fucking Scumbag.
10. JC Our Saviour. 

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