Scrunchies “Feral Coast” 2022. Hot off the Dirtnap Records press, on Green Noise Records exclusive translucent swirl vinyl. Scrunchies are a female-forward band from Minneapolis with a serious punk pedigree: Laura Larson (guitar/vocals) of Baby Guts and Danielle Cusack (drums/vocals) of Bruise Violet formed the group after “a short stint together in a Buzzcocks cover band called Buzzcunts (with Clara Sayler of Babes in Toyland).” The other two women who recorded on Scrunchies first LP Stunner (2018), Stephanie Jo Murck (guitar) and Bree Meyer (bass), left the band and were replaced by Matt Castore (bass) who was in the hardcore punk band Condominium. We got a chance to see Scrunchies play a scorching set at Dirtnap Fest this past June in Madison. I neglected to take pictures 😞 but found some footage here.

Feral Coast is loud, fast and dirty (one might even say…feral). I love the loud-quiet-loud buzzy fury of “New What” and “Absolute Maximum” has head-banging rhythm and a killer hook. Also notable are the ominous opener “The Houseplant” and the screaming then slow burning “Wildlife.”