If you thought you could pigeonhole ‘GLOW’ into a specific style, think again. Shooting Daggers‘ latest single marks a step away from their usual fast-paced hardcore sound, favouring a slower, heavier and more atmospheric style. The bass is given clear prominence, bringing them closer to Nothing or Unwound than to anything in their previous work. The style leans towards post-punk with hints of noise rock; more interested in tension than speed.
Sal takes the lead from start to finish with a more restrained vocal style that fits well with the track’s melodic sections, standing out against its tension and the driving rhythm of the bass. ‘GLOW’ sounds closer to Petrol Girls or Gouge Away in their most controlled, raw moments than to the riot grrrl fury Shooting Daggers are better known for. And it is here that the track finds its most magnetic personality.
‘GLOW’ captures the moment of reclaiming personal and physical power in the face of social repression. It is the idea that femininity, radiance, and sensitivity are not signs of weakness but forms of resistance. Shame is transformed into luminous energy.
“This track is about denouncing gender roles and respecting gender identity. Self-liberation, embracing femininity and fighting internal misogyny. Feminine isn’t weak, and masculine doesn’t have to be stereotypically strong.”
Shooting Daggers
Refused‘s Dennis Lyxzén‘s contribution is almost like spoken word, with that unmistakable old-school hardcore touch. Their voices alternate, overlap and complement one another, sustaining a dynamic that challenges the notion that strength comes in only one form. The fact that Lyxzén, someone who has never needed to conform to any traditional notion of toughness, shares this space speaks volumes. While GLOW points the way, Shooting Daggers are broadening the definition of strength.
The track is taken from their forthcoming mini-album The Real Life Thing, out 5th June via New Heavy Sounds, and there is clearly more to discover.
Upcoming shows:
May 4th Punks For Palestine 2026 (New Cross Inn)
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