Mathcore? Mathcore.
Yet another brand-new project birthed from Wax Vessel alumni, girlsbeinggirls is a project that will undoubtedly attract a dedicated fan base the moment it’s announced, with hordes of fanatics eagerly refreshing the site with the hopes of getting their hands on “the best sig”. Affiliation aside, girlsbeinggirls comes as a bit of a surprise. Yet another project set to join the ranks of the ongoing mathcore revival, along with the likes of Gnostician and Turtle Tea Party, girlsbeinggirls look to enhance the movement, bringing an entirely different approach into the mix. It’s pure, unfiltered, frenetic mathcore, which takes on the tropes of the genre, all the while remaining completely self-aware and managing to avoid gimmicks (for the most part).
So what can you expect from girlsbeinggirls then? Well, it’s hard to pinpoint as the release is a bit all-over-the-place, but that’s what makes it utterly brilliant. No two tracks are quite the same, and whilst there’s an overriding common thread of tech grind presiding across the entirety of the EP, it’s not purely focused on playing around in one specific genre. Just under 18 minutes of pure chaos, girlsbeinggirls showcases talents spanning a vast array of styles, making each their own, and all wholly enjoyable.
“IDFMAHAMEASMFSIWK” (yes, that really is the name) kicks things off with a resounding bang. Chaotic, panicked screams meet frantic, blistering instrumentals to set the stage for what’s to come: pure chaos. At times akin to their peers in Abrupt Decay, girlsbeinggirls puts a tech-grind twist on the sound, which allows them to play in the same ballpark and remain something unique. In fact, it’s this ability to take familiar sounds and put a twist on them where this band truly excels. Every track feels instantly familiar, whilst also being completely new, a feeling which many projects fall short of and become cheap imitations. There’s a level of expertise and care behind this which allows girlsbeinggirls to play around with some of the genre’s commonalities whilst steering clear of becoming a gimmick. The band is fully self-aware of what they’re doing, and it shows.
Taking things in a completely different direction, “Menthol Meltdown Take Me To The Freak Bar” sees the band experimenting with clean vocals and (slightly) less frantic instrumentation. Reminiscent of Every Time I Die at moments, invoking an entirely melodramatic vocal delivery, this track is pure theatre. There’s truly a bit of everything here, and it’s obvious that the band are having fun with it. It’s perhaps this which makes it so re-listenable. Where many would try and produce this sound and fall flat, girlsbeinggirls manage to make it feel effortless. It’s this ability that truly gives them the edge over some of their peers, allowing them to become much more palatable in the long term as opposed to being a flash-in-the-pan style band.
“Prohibition in the Trap House Kitchen” sees the project going full tilt, leaning entirely into the chaos, and pulling off something truly special. Arguably the most chaotic track on the release, it’s full-to-bursting with harsh, erratic screams, all the while flanked by increasingly imposing instrumentals, which leads to an oppressive atmosphere by the time you reach the other side. Fittingly, “2 Litre Ass Beater” follows things up, showcasing a different side to the project in which low, sometimes guttural vocals take centre stage. It’s a short and fast showcase, foraying much more into the realm of beatdown and modern hardcore, but it feels entirely at home, and would be the sort of thing you’d expect to hear at Donfest here in the UK.
Whilst girlsbeinggirls do manage to avoid most of the genre’s gimmicks, they don’t shy away from absolutely all of them. Case in point, as you’ve likely already noticed, the track titles. They’re completely erratic and nonsensical. At times, this also extends to the lyricism, and whilst there’s a certain charm to it, and for many it’s a small issue, the juxtaposition between the self-awareness and seriousness of the music against this did somewhat detract from the overall product. It’s a minor gripe, admittedly, but one that definitely stood out to us nonetheless. That said, at the end of the day, if the music is good, then who cares?
In the grand scheme, there’s a very clear space in the scene for girlsbeinggirls to make their home. They showcase a clear, distinctive sound which, whilst inspired by those who came before, is something wholly fresh at the same time. Whilst they may not be everybody’s cup of tea, there’s no doubt that for the audience they’re targeting, they’ll see massive success and be seen as a “return to the old days”. With the likes of Abrupt Decay, Songs (NJ), Turtle Tea Party, and Gnostician all gaining popularity, it only seems fair to say that girlsbeinggirls have shown that they’re deserving of a seat at the table.
8/10
girlsbeinggirls releases on the 31st of October, with limited vinyl being available for purchase via Wax Vessel on the same date.