Hotgirl’s new EP Blast Off lands with a fuzzy thud today, and it’s an all-killer, no-skip, guitar-slinging catharsis fest straight out of Dublin’s burgeoning punk/alt scene. If you’ve ever screamed into a pillow, cried at a bus stop, or dramatically deleted your ex’s number (only to re-add it later), this one’s for you.
Fronted by Ashley Abbedeen, Hotgirl don’t waste a second getting loud, raw, and gloriously messy. From the cathartic eye-roll of ‘In Your Head’ to the raging-till-the-wheels-fall-off energy of ‘On The Brink’, this is a band that sounds like they mean business — and a bit of chaos.
‘Sisyphus’ delivers existential dread with a chugging groove, while standout track ‘The Stink’ is a sweaty punk romp with a riff that’ll stick to your skin like spilled beer in a moshpit.
There’s a palpable sense of Hotgirl really coming into their own here – a band not just thrashing through feelings, but sculpting them into shout-along bangers. Abbedeen’s lyrics slice through heartbreak, self-doubt and emotional upheaval with the kind of honesty that feels like both a slap in the face and a warm hug. And the whole thing is slickly produced by Neil Kennedy (Milk Teeth, Creeper), without sanding down the edges.
Already earning their stripes supporting Sprints, Pillow Queens and Lambrini Girls, the band’s ascent is looking sharp – with a London headline gig coming up on 23 April at The George Tavern, we’d suggest grabbing a ticket now.
Hotgirl have blasted off, and you’ll want to be strapped in for the ride.