by Alice Zakusilo (@GhostyShibe)
Scrunchies, a band from Minneapolis brings a bombastic and explosive excitement to their latest album, Colossal. Formed by Laura Larson and Danielle Cusack, the band exploded into the music scene in 2018, and they’ve have been creating high energy riot grrl tunes since then. Their rock n roll attitude brings the angst that makes you want to head bang, mosh, and scream your lungs out. Scrunchies have an unmatched intensity and a unique style that pays homage to bands before them yet still showcases their ingenuity within the genre.
Colossal, engineered by Steve Albini, is a punk-infused album packed with sardonic feminist commentary and sharp social critiques, all delivered with a playful, tongue-in-cheek tone. It has this distinct 90s flair to it while remaining modern and fresh. There is plenty of distortion, loud shouted vocals, and intense guitar work that makes his album unique, evoking the sweaty chaos of a college basement show. The album to roll down your car windows too and blast it out on the road, Colossal has this undeniable spark and rough around the edges quality that really allows it to shine, mixing aspects of heavy rock, post-punk, and grunge while still maintaining a riot grrl quality. Almost every single song has its own distinct style, shifting throughout the album which keeps it engaging and makes it near impossible to turn off. Scrunchies’ dynamic sound is one of the hallmarks of their creativity, their constantly evolving ingenuity, and passion overall.
Colossal’s electrifying energy is present from the very first song. “Brute” starts off the album with an absolute blast. The vocals, extremely reminiscent of Bikini Kill or Bratmobile, really give it that 90s feel. “Brute” feels explosive, with its thundering bass and roaring guitar creating an electrifying atmosphere. The droning synths and buzzing distortion compliment the angst-filled vocals with there magnetic punchiness and bounciness. Its clear that the goal of “Brute” is to immerse the listener in a soundscape that feels as visceral as a live punk show. It’s a high-octane introduction that sets sky-high expectations for the rest of Colossal - and the band delivers.
“High Pile” shifts gears to showcase Scrunchies’ versatility, starting off slow and steady, really allowing the bass to shine for the majority of the introduction, complimented by the more toned down spoken vocals. Jeremy Warden’s bass anchors the song until it bursts into energetic guitar riffs and shouted vocals. The song revs itself up into an intense frenzy, and then just as it had risen, it eases back down, only to rev itself up into a frenzy again. There is this constant back and forth intensity that builds up and then calms down, showcasing the band's ability to balance chaos with control. The vocals stand out for having a bit more of a crisp sound that makes them borderline anthemic. “High Pile” is engaging for its use of dynamics and how the intensity throughout the song is constantly changing.
Scrunchies are yet another band in the ever-changing and ever-growing landscape that is riot grrrl music. The clear respect and love they have for a lot of the bands that came before it is apparent since every single song feels like a love letter to the genre itself. However, they still are taking this sound and creating and developing it into something new. The album channels a 90s flair while maintaining a fresh, contemporary edge that distinguishes their sound. The energy is palpable on so much of Colossal, it's an exciting and energizing listen from top to bottom.