Unapologetic & off the back of some shows with Amyl, Shooting Daggers return with a rager of a release laced with Sals signature βblehβ & a fuck tonne more attitude. The band have truly found their confidence the last year, adding backing vocals, sound effects & tasty little sound bites to their repertoire.
Fast & unforgiving, & a call to watch them burn, ‘No Exit’ gives form to the perfect nod to entrapment under the patriarchy & the inability to manoeuvre around overinflated male dominance. Expressing fury at the pressure put on woman & non-binary people to βplease mens eyesβ & use every waking minute to humour the whims of the patriarchy, Sal succinctly outlines the anguish faced by many, citing that weβre all βjust fighting to existβ. With powerful breaks & sk8 worthy thrash sequences, this is one heck of an opener for what becomes a very forceful release.
Whilst ‘No Exit’ centres on the imposition of male dominance, the bands latest single release ‘Liar’ focuses more on the survivors response. Examining the crevices of internal victim blaming that we all find ourselves in & the external silencing of those who have been in receipt of abuse – the song brings to the forefront the full survivor story that is often lacking in abuse rhetorics.
With an innate decry βI will write your name across the walls of the city, abusers like you shouldnβt be in communities (. . . ) I will not remain silent, I will not shut it outβ the song illuminates that too often we end up carving out our own spaces on the sidelines, talking in & amongst each other rather than finding the centre stage where we belong. Shooting Daggers are here to enforce that thatβs not the case anymore. & we donβt need your fucking scene.
The band headlined KNMs first ever show Not Your Galentineβs Day where we held an art gallery examining the ways that survivors of abuse have been treated once they have spoken out about their experience. With an undoubted reclamation ‘Liar’ is an ode to self re-creation. We WILL build our scene. & we will not stop believing in ourselves or the power of our community.
The jewel in the top of the band’s highly abrasive crown always has & always will be ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’. Complete with Daria style breaks & echoes of the roles we are led to play – fantasy, sexy doll, fool & all the while a free therapist, the song denotes how women & non-binary folk are often depicted as everything & nothing all at once.Β
‘Carnage’ is a deep, heavy, & intrusive track – almost along the lines of Blom meets a b movie, while ‘We Will Live’ brings an entire pace change with a super slow entry. Maybe when the band say βslow your growthβ this is what they mean. ‘We Will Live’ expands with every second & every listen & is the living embodiment of catharsis & fury.Β
‘You Canβt Kill Us’ takes us back up a notch with a huge sense of urgency. Without a doubt an ear filling anthem that sounds like it was recorded in a cave. The sister song to ‘We Will Live’ is full, anthemic, a fucking war story & a call to arms. This track is 100% over before you are ready (this song could go on for 9000 years & it still would not be enough) & does everything it needs to do & more.
The EP closes with a re-record of ‘Missandra’ – heavy AF & the bands name sake – βI shoot daggers out of my eyes. I am someone, I am someone, I am someoneβ. If Shooting Daggers are remembered for anything it should be this track.Β ‘& you dare call me missandra’ – is the worldβs most prevalent ultimatum to menβs rights activists & red pill rioters. A powerful & important close to a fucking masterpiece.Β
Mixed with some old favourites, the rest of the EP does not disappoint. This release is Cool. Calm. Collected & Furious. With far more 00s metal influences than weβre used to with this band but god damn that shit is welcome. Shooting Daggers are set to go far, miss this band & youβll be eating dirt.Β
The EP is about anger, ownership & collective rage. & as each of us allows this 7 track wonder to seep into our souls, weβll feel reignited to take our rightful space in the world. As we navigate the hostile misogynistic tightrope of our daily lives, weβll be backed by the knowledgeable echo of Missandra βItβs my way to survive. Donβt you DARE tell us we canβt reactβ.Β π₯πΎ
Shooting Daggers play a release show on the 20th atΒ the Shacklewell Arms with secret guests!
Pre-orders for the EP can be found here.
For more on Shooting Daggers go read our interview with them baby!
π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π
π I want more Release Reviews
π I want more Rumour Has It
π Take me the hell Home
You may also like
-
π ADULTS ON THEIR FAV QUEER ICONS π
-
π BODY FARM chat with us about people with uterus rights, working from home & taking up space π
-
π DRY SOCKET DISCUSSES MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HARDCORE SCENE π
-
π«§π GENDER WARFARE TALK QUEER CULTURE, CULT LIKE PRISONS & SARAH HARDING ππ«§
-
β¨π€ awakebutstillinbed on positivity in the scene, being awake but inevitably still in bed & hoping they don’t get CHOMPED π€β¨