ALBUM REVIEW: Baby – Petrol Girls

There is an excellent saying that could sum up this record, which is “If you don’t laugh, you will probably cry.” In the last few years, especially the last two years, it’s been easy to look at the world and cry in despair. Of course, there are no reasons why you shouldn’t cry in despair – it is perfectly valid to do so – but since their formation in 2012, PETROL GIRLS have taken a different approach. They started off with fast-paced punk songs that took aim at everything from sexual violence to immigration policy. That was the basis for their debut album, 2016’s Talk Of Violence. Then, in 2019, their second album Cut And Stitch saw them take a more personal look at the same issues. Now, for their third album Baby, PETROL GIRLS have embraced irreverence.

Intro song Scraps is a riot of noise before launching into Preachers. The lyrics are almost spoken-word, as vocalist Ren Aldridge builds up into a shout. The anger is palatable as PETROL GIRLS almost reach out of the speakers and drag you into their well-justified rage.

Feed My Fire continues the anger of the previous song. However, there are no hints of the irreverent humour until Baby, I Had An Abortion. Of course, the humour here is appropriate, and does not cover up the seriousness of the issue. It’s subtle, doing things like rhyming ‘incubator’ with ‘see you later’. Crucially, the anger is still there too.

Clowns criticises both the left and right side of politics (“We are the clowns from the left / But they ain’t joking on the right”). The album itself can – to the outsider – sound like an angry, noisy record with no way to differentiate the songs. However, if you sit down and listen closely, you can hear the different sounds on offer. Furthermore, the anger is broken up a bit by Unsettle, a gentler rock song which does still explode around halfway through.

Throughout the record, PETROL GIRLS‘ anger is well-deserved. Who isn’t angry at the world, no matter where we lie on the political spectrum? The band’s brash energy can speak to anyone, and this album proves that it is empowering to be angry at the world. Fight For Our Lives is a perfect example of this. The song is almost like a speech, with the bridge actually being a speech covering violence against women. The rallying cry of “You don’t own us!” is heart-breaking because it is true.

Violent By Design follows and focuses on violence by the police. Written after the awful murder of Sarah Everard, the song scraps irreverent humour to focus on the horrifying reality of being a woman. It is a highlight of the album because it is so raw. This album is at its best when being raw. This can also be seen on Sick And Tired, an angry song about how tiring it is being a woman in the world, and how hard it is to just exist.

In conclusion, Baby is the album we need right now. It is raw and emotional, but also knows when and when not to be irreverent. PETROL GIRLS have built upon their first two albums in order to create a fantastic body of work. The anger that is felt oozes out of the lyrics and the sound, and it is also empowering. It is empowering because it tells women – and everyone else who listens to it – that it is ok to be angry. It is a fantastic album, and one that should be a necessary listen this year. If you haven’t listened to PETROL GIRLS, but want something that will speak to you, then Baby is the album for you.

Rating: 9/10

Baby is set for release on June 24th via Hassle Records.

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