International Women's Day Music Thread

[greendemon]

As I never got around to doing a follow-up last year to my favourite female-fronted acts of 2022 Advent Calendar, and it's International Women's Day, I thought I'd create a thread here to celebrate some of the best guitar-toting girls and growly gals I didn't mention in the 2022 edition.

I'm basically going to spam post these over my lunch break with little to no introduction (yes I know, you'll believe it when you see it...). As I say, I'll be keeping this to relatively new acts (or older acts with new music out) so won't be mentioning anyone I already posted about here.

Starting with the crushingly, painfully obvious one...

[greendemon]

The Last Dinner Party



London-based all-female five-piece group founded in 2021. Critical and/or Haven Darlings, now with a #1 debut album to their names. Described as indie/rock but the excellent Prelude to Ecstasy takes in an impressive range of genres and influences.

Lots to like on their album but this one is fast becoming a favourite:

[greendemon]

Sprints



Another newer act, this Dublin garage-punk four-piece was founded in 2019 and is fronted by lead singer and guitarist, Karla Chubb. Again, they had an album out earlier this year which was very good. My favourite is still probably 'ADORE ADORE ADORE' which blew me away last year but then I forgot they existed Great band, not so memorable band name. Their recent tour sold out before I got a look in but I'd love to see them live.

[greendemon]

NewDad



Another Irish act, founded in Galway in 2018. Purveyors of highly atmospheric, woozy, shoegazey indie, I've been following these guys for a couple of years and was very much looking forward to their debut album, Madra, which again came out early this year. Still a little undecided on if it lived up to the (admittedly sky-high) expectations I had of it but it is very good.

[greendemon]

OK part of my lunch break involves actually making lunch, so will be back in a bit with probably the last of the stonkingly obvious indie acts...

[o]

Loving your choices so far, all acts I've liked in 2023 and 2024

[TheThorne]

Same like them all to varying degrees

[greendemon]

Ham and cheese toastie down, it's time to crack on with...


Crawlers



Founded in Liverpool in 2018, this grungy pop-rock band just released their debut album, The Mess We Seem To Make, in February. I admit this one caught me off guard a bit as while I enjoyed all the singles, I was not expecting to love the album as much as I do! A definite highlight of the year so far.

[greendemon]

it's OK, you won't like this one


Svalbard



Bristolian post-hardcore/black metal band founded in 2011. I was late to them, having not initially taken to their older material, but their fourth album, The Weight Of The Mask, came out in late 2023 and was a standout release for me last year. One of my absolute favourite bands at the moment, I have now seen them twice including last weekend in their hometown

[greendemon]

oh wait, I forgot an obvious indie act...

boygenius



A band who probably need no introduction here, this supergroup consisting of American singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus has been around since 2018. I have to say I didn't love last year's universally-praised debut full-length, the record, as much as seemingly everyone else, but I can't really fault the music at all and the way their voices harmonise is undeniably gorgeous. Sharing my favourite thing I've heard from them to date - not an original song but just beautiful.

[greendemon]

Myrkur



Solo black metal/post-metal project helmed by Danish musician, Amalie Bruun (who prior to this fronted an indie band called Ex Cops). I've been a fan of Myrkur pretty much since its appearance in 2014 and have loved all her albums, although the most recent, last year's Spine, is the weakest so far - I think it was TheThorne who declared it to be 'Enya with guitars' It does have its moments where the fusion of synthpop and the heavier, darker elements work quite well, but I'd love the next album to be heavier.

[greendemon]

Spiritbox



Canadian four-piece formed in 2017 and fronted by Courtney LaPlante. Another band probably familiar to more than a few of you, I had never paid them much attention until the single 'Rotoscope' in 2022, but their EP The Fear of Fear towards the end of last year was a bit of a banger. I love the heaviness of 'Cellar Door' but will share 'The Void' since it's also stunning.

[greendemon]

Last one for now but I'll be back a bit later to spam you all with more!

[greendemon]

Black Honey



Another band you will all know, especially if you took part in Haven Factor Express! Black Honey are a four-piece indie-rock band formed in Brighton in 2014, and fronted by Izzy Baxter Phillips. Their latest album A Fistful of Peaches came out last year and is terrific. Sharing this one as it wasn't used in HFE, and it's also my favourite.

[greendemon]

The Hellfreaks



Hungarian hardcore/alternative metal band formed in 2009 - so not a newer band, but one I didn't know of until early 2023. Now on major metal label Napalm Records, their most recent album, Pitch Black Sunset, is a short and sweet half-hour record packed full of addictive alt-metal-infused hardcore punk bangers.

[greendemon]

The Warning



Mexican rock band formed in 2013 and consisting of three sisters, Daniela, Paulina, and Alejandra Villarreal Vélez. They are pretty huge internationally, but not so well-known in the UK. No-nonsense, tuneful heavy rock that will appeal to classic rock fans and is undeniably catchy. Their latest single 'S!CK' is pretty... well, sick.

[greendemon]

Dream Wife



This UK-based all-female indie/punk three-piece has only been around since 2018 but I feel like the last person to have heard of them. Their third album Social Lubrication last year was pretty great. Lead singer Rakel Mjöll has an incredible voice, maybe an acquired taste but perfectly suited to their sound.

[greendemon]

Hot Milk



I'm kind of cheating with this duo as one's a dude but Han does most of the singing so I figure I can get away with it. Another act some of you may remember from recent contests, this Manchester pop-punk/rock duo have been around since 2018 but only released their first full-length, A Call To The Void, last year, and it is very good indeed. This is by miles the best thing on there imo.

[greendemon]

GAUPA



Swedish five-piece heavy rock/stoner band fronted by Emma Näslund who has got the most incredible voice, like a more bluesy Björk. I haven't posted about them too much on here although their last album, Myriad, made my chart in 2022. This one is a banger, a bit like a heavier Mysterines now that I think of it.

[greendemon]

Greywind



Another duo, Irish sister-brother group, Greywind, have been around since the mid-2010s. They started out as an emo band but after releasing their debut album, Afterthoughts, in 2017, which I loved, there had been little sign of new music until very recently when new singles in a much more pop-punk vein started appearing. New EP is out next week!