Now, more than ever, political protest is necessary, and that is precisely what the recently formed all-femme San Francisco band, The Love Bombs, have set out to prove. Their debut single, ‘Authoritarian’, is a powerful punk protest against institutional violence, abuse of power, and the fascism of the Trump era. Its message is as clear as a raised fist: ‘We won’t stop until you’re gone.’
Rooted in a garage-punk sound reminiscent of The Distillers and the Detroit Cobras, the track wastes no time for subterfuge. The repeated chant of ‘Authoritarian’ functions as a mantra, something to be screamed rather than sung, driving a rhythm built on power chords and heavy distortion. The melody sharpens into something closer to a street slogan: ‘Fuck ICE, fuck Trump, you racist, sexist, fascist scum’. There are echoes of Against Me! and the more recent The Muslims here, as well as the DIY ferocity of Bikini Kill‘s riot grrrl movement, but The Love Bombs feel very much of this moment.
What will The Love Bombs offer us next? I, for one, will be rocking out to ‘Authoritarian’ until they give us something new.
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