SINGLE REVIEW: Shortdaughter – Rat Race / Tyrant

‘…a band thatare a testament to the importance of community within arts…’

Emerging earlier this year as a collaboration between vocalist and disability activist Red Longson and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Wilson, Manchester’s Shortdaughter have spent several months sculpting themselves into their true form. Now joined by Rayne Williams (Auraboros), Josh Park (Dumbo), and Jake Broughton (Sparrowhawk, Feign), this grassroots supergroup play their debut live performance at Liverpool’s No Play Fest, and have released a double-single to accompany it.

‘Rat Race’ sees Longson exploring her experiences as a disabled person within a relentless capitalist system that would grind her to dust if it was to have its way. Guitars thrash about with the most delightfully disgusting tone, whilst Longson’s playful yet viciously aggressively riot grrrl styled vocals meld perfectly with the scorching screams of Wilson. The breakdown in the track’s climax pulls grunge and shoegaze elements into the mix, as a wall of screeching sound crashes about the listener with pulverising weight.

‘Tyrant’ commences with a sample from the only Harry Potter media worth interacting with, the YouTube legend that is “Your a wizard Harry”, before ripping through one minute of pure, unfiltered aggression towards the black mould lich queen of TERF island herself. The directness of it all is brilliantly, refreshingly cathartic, as the track vaults forwards with old-school hardcore punk flair.

Shortdaughter feel destined to become cult favourites of the UK alternative and heavy scene; unapologetically weird enough to scare off those who like their music diluted and palatable, but whimsical enough to stand out from much of the heavy world’s copy-paste masses. Through and through, this is a band that are a testament to the importance of community within arts.

For Fans Of: Wednesday, Lure In, rozemary, NewDad, Upchuck

Featured photo credit belongs to Alexander Heff (@shotbyalexanderheff).

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