aol have released their debut album Attachment Styles. We first heard of the feminist post-punk act back in 2021...){kind=link}
Dublin’s M(h)aol have released their debut album Attachment Styles. We first heard of the feminist post-punk act back in 2021 with the excellent Gender Studies. After a series of singles, the EP showed that they’re great at extended cuts. Now they’ve decided to head one step further to show that albums are no problem too.
This fearless record kicks off with ‘Asking For It’. A bare-bones instrumental that quickly builds itself up into an abrasive sound that fits the tone perfectly. The unashamed, sarcastic delivery of lines such as “Were you asking for it?” and “I’m just the dumb bitch that left the party with you” cut through the jagged edges to really cut deep. With such a bold-faced nature of combating against sexual assault, Attachment Styles sets off at a pace that already stands it out from the crowd.
Lead single ‘Bored of Men’ sees the vocals deliver an unenthused performance against an instrumental that rolls with the punches. Forging a steady rhythm that’s heavy and foreboding, chugging away while never reaching the payoff – leading into the more chaotic ‘No One Ever Talks To Us’, which scatters and glitches through the airwaves in a gritty, yet groovy, way.
The atmospheric ‘Bisexual Anxiety’ foregoes the urgency and guitars to deliver an equally compelling sound that tackles self-acceptance as it meanders through the spectrum of sexuality. The spoken-word vocals against the relative silence (compared to the rest of the record) makes it a really vulnerable listen.
‘Therapy’ highlights M(h)aol’s ability to keep things moving. A sturdy groove provides a base for their songs to dart off in multiple directions, allowing the record to sound frenetic and entertaining throughout. ‘Nice Guys’ adds a splash of electronic to this formula to add further variation to the mix. Delivering the same melody in different ways, each more unhinged than the last.
Attachment Styles is a superb record. It tackles the complexity of heavy subjects with open-hearted honestly and illustrates them with a musicality that is equally challenging. Leaving all emotion, wit and experience for us to hear. It absolutely warrants your attention, shining a light on the big topics while also shattering the taboo on songs like the near-eight minutes of ‘Period Sex’. It is enthralling, eye-opening and an excellent listen. An early contender for album of the year? For sure.