Hardcore and more, from a band who are unafraid to cross musical genres, and easily have the chops to do it well!
Formed in 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland, War On Women‘s name is the band’s ethos straight from the get-go. For well over a decade, the hardcore group has stood at the frontlines of advocacy, communication and change, shaping songs in reaction to headlines, news pieces and current events around intersectional communities, with the intention of raising awareness and conveying a response based in humanity rather than division.
‘Time Under Tension‘ is their fourth studio album, released on 8th May via Smartpunk Records, inluding single releases ‘Precious Problem‘ (their first new music in five years), ‘Messages Unsent‘, ‘More Than Muscle‘ and ‘Serve‘. War On Women is a band with abundant conversation points, life experience, thoughtful insight, and grit, which they are happy to share with conviction. Their words have never been more timely…
It’s War On Women‘s lives outside the band that allow for new perspectives and understanding that not only balances intersectional perspectives, but sonic dynamics that both rage and inform. Vocalist Shawna Potter is an author, advocate, and Intimacy Coordinator; guitarist Brooks Harlan designs and fabricates guitar amps; bassist Sue Werner is a senior programming analyst at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Data Intensive Engineering and Science; and guitarist Jenarchy is a Rock Camp Director. Drummer Dave Cavalier also fronts heavy psych-rock band Black Lung as a singer/guitarist.
Opening song and first single, punk banger ‘Precious Problem‘ is about the actions of an abusive partner. It highlights how they seldom take any accountability, painting themselves as victims of everything in their lives instead, because really it’s all about control; “You don’t wanna solve the problem, you just wanna have the problem.”
‘Spun Sugar‘ hits HARD. Expanding upon the previous track, the web of lies spun by those who protect abusers will snap and run down the drain. The sentimental and intense ‘Messages Unsent‘ tells the story of waking alone on a rail journey, when death has separated two people who love each other “Once I had something to lose, That’s when the fear set in, Of death, and messages unsent”:
There’s tons of top guitar work on ‘More Than Muscle‘, a rocker of a song about the way the partiarchy encourages men to keep women down. “I’m more than muscle. I’m more than muscle, They show you the world, then take it away.” The song is strong and positive, ending with “What is freedom? She has no fear.”
The beautiful ‘Serve‘ features Cranberries-esque vocals from Shawna, with superb drumming by Dave. A lyrical twist upon the ‘serve and protect’ oath of the police officer, the conflict between loving a lazy, unmotivated partner and the necessity of letting them go for your own sanity and well-being is explored.
The pace picks up again in ‘Shapes‘, a bass-driven, chaotic banger exploring the shadows to be found within our mental health as we struggle to break free of the bonds oppressing us.
It ‘Feels Good‘ to feel bad in this fuzzed-up, headbanging, stomper of a track! A song about getting angry, something women are discouraged from doing, yet Shawna lets it rip on this number.
There’s certainly a sense of menace in ‘Malevolence‘, a song about the violent acts of the bigoted and prejudiced, condoned by the current far-right government. Another angry one, and justifiably so. ‘Balance‘ opens gently but still with an air of warning. “I believe in balance” sings Shawna, after describing situations of coercion and manipulation. Look out for karma!
‘The Movie Fear Starring Reese Witherspoon‘ is a fast-paced counter to the lies men tell women, something often used in films and dramas to boost the storyline. “It’s our little secret, – ‘Til it just ends.”
Last and longest track on the album, ‘Hunger Stones‘ begins with an electronic / dub intro, before Shawna’s melodic turn of voice sweeps over us. “Have we learned nothing? What we learned we forgot” as it’s “too late for this warning.” A stark yet compelling conclusion to ‘Time Under Tension‘ from a band who are unafraid to cross musical genres, and easily have the chops to do it well.
War On Women have traveled the world, appearing at iconic festivals including Download Fest Australia, Riot Fest, and the Vans Warped Tour. They’ve also toured alongside legendary acts such as Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Jawbreaker, Subhumans and more. Catch them on tour from July this year across the US with Sparta, and then in Europe – dates and tickets HERE
Shawna has turned decades of experience tackling sexism and harassment in music venues into a clear and concise guide for public spaces of all sorts, after training night clubs and community spaces in how to create safer environments for marginalized people. Get her excellent and highly-rated Making Spaces Safer e-book HERE
‘Time Under Tension‘ is avaialable on coloured vinyl from Smartpunk Records in the US HERE, from Devil Dog in the UK HERE and from Thirty Something Records in the EU HERE. The digital download is HERE, and you can stream the record – see links below.
1. Precious Problem
2. Spun Sugar
3. Messages Unsent
4. More Than Muscle
5. Serve
6. Shapes
7. Feels Good
8. Malevolence
9. Balance
10. The Movie Fear Starring Reese Witherspoon
11. Hunger Stones
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