｡✵New Single Review:✺✼: The Oozes “Ultrasound”
7 February 2024
The Menstruation Cramps are a Bristol-born band who describe themselves as ‘DIY, loud, queer, anti-fascist, anti-racist, pro-choice, intersectional and feminist’. Their fusion of punk and hard rock is embodied not only in their sound but also in their lyrical content. Politics and injustice continue to be at the forefront of their work, tackling many feminist issues, such as periods, consent and rape culture, female body hair, and gentrification. Their latest single ‘Abortion’ demands the right to safe abortions for all.
‘Abortion’ is full of justified, political anger, confronting the patriarchy and anti-abortion laws with its provocative lyrics. The Menstruation Cramps perfectly encapsulate the raw emotions people with wombs feel towards the government’s continuous violation of our rights. This song does not waste time introducing its title, with the lyrics approaching the issue head-on, screaming ‘I have had an abortion’, followed by the powerful statement ‘My body my choice’. The lyrics leave no room for debate and instead, shamelessly attack the cis men making these decisions over women, non-binary and trans people’s bodies
Notably, one of the best lines of the entire song uses satirical comedy to make a serious point, questioning if ‘you have trouble committing to me, how are you going to commit to a baby?’. While abortion is no laughing matter, I could not help but chuckle at this brilliantly written line.
Smashing the patriarchy one song at a time, ‘Abortion’ forces you to face the reality of our world, where abortion rights are being restricted as a form of control over marginalised people’s bodies. The Menstruation Cramps’ anger and screams over this injustice are reflected in their sound and use of the drums, not giving you a moment of peace. This song is a feminist anthem, inviting all people impacted by this issue to scream from the top of their lungs, utilising rage as a political tool to spread awareness on this important matter. If you are based in the UK, make sure to check out their upcoming tour dates for a night of political punk rock fun.
