Doll Riot – Doll Riot (2022)
With their self-titled EP, Doll Riot unleash their wildly untamed original music, inspired by teenage dilemmas that most of us can relate to. Across the three tracks of Doll Riot, the band touches on breakups, stereotypes and psycho ex-girlfriends. Packing hits of grunge, punk and alternative rock, the band let their frustration, rage and discouragement flow.
When the band originally formed in 2020, the all-girl garage band covered various songs from bands that have influenced them. After their drummer moved away to go to college, Elena Olszak (vocals), Ella Sauer (guitar) and London Kraus (bass) met fierce drummer Lillee Gillum. With their new line-up, they are more determined than ever to unleash their original music on all our ears.
The EP opens with ‘300 Years’ which takes us back in time to the Salem witch trials, with a swing that has you swaying to the music. The lyrics connect the present and the past through the stereotypes that continue to permeate society. The easy sway of the opening turns into a blast of alternative rock tones that has you jumping around for the chorus. This all drops as you are swung straight back into the opening line for the verses. As you move to the melodic rhythm, the vocals are part lament over the continued pressures on women and a hit out at society. It is an amazing connection between the stereotypes of today and how the results related to them are not very different to those of the past. You can hear the frustration of the band in the chorus as they let you know women are stuck in a lose-lose situation in many cases.
‘Paresthesia’ has a heavier touch as the drums and guitars burst through in the opening. Through the single, the lyrics consider not wanting to feel the stabbing of pins and needles that cause a crawling sensation across your body. There is a fun touch to this track as the band simply states that they really don’t need this particular sensation. This is the grungiest punk track of the EP and is packed with a wonderful energy, particularly on the chorus, that has you jumping around like crazy. The swing between the opening track and this one really showcases the versatility of the band and their ability to effortlessly make you want to rock out.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Fuck You’ which strums you into a tale of psycho ex-boyfriends and breakups. While the lyrics touch on an ex, there is something that transcends this and has you hitting out at any toxic person in your life. There is a lot of anger and frustration packed into this single, but it comes across in the most engaging way possible. As you yell at the toxic people in your life through the single, it also leads you to a place of peace within yourself that can only be found through aggressive catharsis. The band is really fierce on this track and lets you know that they are not going to take any nonsense or pander to toxic people anymore. It is a rather empowering shove at negativity that leaves you feeling much freer by the end of it.
Doll Riot unleash their anger, frustration and fierce original music through the tracks of their self-titled EP Doll Riot, that hits out at ex-boyfriends, society and pins and needles. Each track has a different energy while retaining the fierce flows of the band. You will want to rock out to each track and can easily have this EP playing on repeat.
Find out more about Doll Riot on their Instagram and Spotify.
