Since their debut EP in 2021, have been a captivating band to watch. The duo, made up of twin siblings Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn, have spent the years since honing what they call their “riotgaze” sound, an enchanting brew of grunge and shoegaze with the do-it-yourself attitude of '90s riot grrrl punk. On their fourth release, , the pair explore the issues that affect our day-to-day life, from toxic capitalism and anxiety to intersectional feminism, all while sharpening their ethereal craft.
The EP sees them introduce new elements to their trademark dream-pop sound. is perhaps the most typical Softcult track on the album, with hypnotic, repeating guitar riffs that link well to the subject matter of anxiety and the vicious cycle of overthinking. sees them use a similarly dreamy shoegaze style, but the raw production makes it feel particularly intimate, crafting a simple but breathtakingly beautiful conclusion to the EP that devolves into blurry guitars before a slow fade out.
is more ominous, like from Softcult’s EP, and adds a moment of intrigue at the record’s midpoint. With they lean more heavily into their grunge and punk influences with their own otherworldly version of Bikini Kill’s 1993 feminist anthem This time around, they’re celebrating all women in a hymn for the intersectional feminist as they sing In the chorus, they swap out their typically soft vocals for ecstatic screams of .” It’s not a new message for Softcult - inclusivity has always been .
