Those who have witnessed Shooting Daggers live, and invested in early releases, may not be prepared for Love & Rage. Taking their fierce hardcore, and feminist, queer agenda, as a springboard, the trio have thrown the doors open to new punk rock perspectives. Littered with memorable moments, and tracks proving a steely determination to walk their own path, this is an action packed twenty-one minutes.
Full of bruising numbers expressing the dual sentiment of the title, it only takes one listen to A Guilty Conscience Needs An Accuser to hear it: bordering on slowcore the track builds until waves of melody push the song towards a nineties indie aesthetic.
Tunnel Vision, hints at the fuel driving this group forwards: ‘It’s stronger than me, I can’t beat it. Big energy carries me on’. And, judging by the velocity and choppy rhythms of Smug there’s no let up in their maximalist songwriting.
Leaving a lasting impression of how far the group have moved, the title track comes together in a shoegaze/hardcore sandwich, throwing big hooks to firmly embed in your psyche. Then, the biggest revelation is saved for last, as the album rolls away on a sea of piano and yearning words.
