ALBUM REVIEW: “Something Soft“ by Mhaol

Two years after their debut and sudden front-woman change, Irish rock band Mhaol release
Something Soft, in a not-so-soft display of visceral malaise and torment.

Photo by Cáit Fahey

Self-defined as an Irish intersectional feminist band, the now-trio formed by Constance Keane, Jamie Hyland and Sean Nolan has continuously used their project as a political platform to denounce and rage about modern-day issues with modern-day perspectives. Finding inspiration in “Riot Grrrl” and alternative rock, Mhaol (stylised as M(h)aol, pronounced male) employs a distinctive narrative approach in their songwriting, resulting in tunes that showcase straightforwardness and blatant honesty.

The release of this second LP on May 16th had a non-surprising angst that almost felt like the
continuation of debut Attachment Styles, with tunes precisely titled, such as I Miss My Dog and 1
800-Call-Me-Back, their detailed descriptions of day-to-day situations and frustrations leave little to the imagination, yet somehow remain suggestive, if not ambiguous. Coda, the literal outro, is an example of the violence laid bare before the audience.

The album opens with Pursuit, a half-whispered unveiling of anger that grows more and more
urgent by the second, becoming an accurate first taste of the rest of the record. Next up plays the more evocative, creepy You Are Temporary, But the Internet is Forever, a tale of permanence and detachment of oneself from the produced, curated images. This is followed closely by DM:AM, an ejection of the band's inherent DNA, with a sound reminiscent of previous singles such as No One Ever Talks to Us, thanks to the tranquil build-up that doesn’t quite explode anywhere in particular.

This type of hushed fury disguises Mhaol in a grey space right before the expected explosiveness of the feminist punk clique, in the sound of greats like Bikini Kill and peers such as Heartworms. Instead of letting go of their particular, witch-like repetition of distressed choruses, the full wrath of the feelings conveyed never comes, as perceived in other album highlights like Snare, where the drop refuses to let go of the mild-mannered control that had taken place before the tension escalation.

If not particularly surprising, Something Soft remains a well-rounded, cohesive project with interesting, era-appropriate symbolisms that don’t get lost in their heavier sounds. Their message, relatable and empathised by many, doesn't shy away either, thus the Dubliners will remain on the lookout for an imminent eruption.

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