PETROL GIRLS (uk/aut)

Time is supposed to mellow us, but for Petrol Girls, it has distilled their feminist politics into an ever-stronger cocktail. Fitting, considering their logo has been a flaming Molotov cocktail since day one. Since forming in 2012, the band has been known for their fast, chaotic punk, which directly targets a wide range of political issues, from sexual violence to immigration policy. In recent years, their sound has evolved in a more nuanced direction. Their 2016 debut album, „Talk of Violence,“ was an explosion of pure political rage, while on 2019’s „Cut & Stitch,“ singer Ren Aldridge explored familiar themes from a more personal perspective. Now, with their last offering, „Baby,“ released in June 2022 via London independent label Hassle Records, the band is forging a new path. This time with a healthy dose of impertinence.