WAR ON WOMEN

Feminism, politics, and punk converge in this hardcore punk band from Maryland. War On Women has been keeping the energy of the ’90s riot grrrl movement alive since their first EP was released in 2012. Since their last album, Wonderful Hell, was released in 2020, fans have been eager for Time Under Tension, which comes out May 8th, 2026. While their last three albums were released under Bridge Nine Records, Time Under Tension comes out on Smartpunk Records.

If you are a first-time listener, War On Women stands for advocacy, feminism, and change. Their intersectional politics address harsh truths about the political climate and the hetero-patriarchy, but their sound overall is rooted in hope and a desire for equality, and the new sound of Time Under Tension mirrors that beautifully through the album’s ebb and flow.

To begin, if you are looking to stack this album up against their earlier work, War On Women has definitely expanded upon their sound and uses this album to explore a broader range of music. While Time Under Tension is a very polished album, it is still true to their raw punk roots. More melodic elements are peppered in, but the anger and political commentary are still there, resulting in a more layered and dynamic album that doles out both hardcore punk aggression and love and hope.

As a reviewer, I always pay special attention to the opening track, in this case, ‘Precious Problem’. Opening tracks are the first impression; they set the tone, and they have the hardest job—sucking in the listener. ‘Precious Problem’ was a perfect choice, as it did exactly that; it hooked me right away. The sci-fi-sounding sample that opens the song and then stays ominously playing in the background is a neat element that I really enjoyed, but more broadly, it’s angry in the way that I want it to be from War On Women, while at the same time being so catchy that you are screaming along to it by the end of the first chorus. It shows who they are and is a great intro to the band and what they stand for.

‘Messages Unsent’, a track that was released early, has a different tone. It’s catchy and thoughtful and shows emotion in a different way that really highlights their range. It gets into your head and your heart, and instead of pumping your fist in agreeable rage, you really sway to this track. It’s a beautiful love song, something you don’t necessarily expect from War On Women, but they nail it. One of the most catchy guitar lines comes out in ‘More Than Muscle’. It’s the kind of song you want to learn to play as soon as you hear it, and it really stayed with me. Around the midway point of the album, the song ‘Serve’ gives us a softer tone and breaks up the energy with a more pensive, melodic track. By the time you get to ‘Feels Good’, you are back to that raw “I’m pissed off, but I’m having fun” sound that you expect from War On Women.

As the album nears its end, ‘Balance’ comes in as another fun, lyrically poignant song that makes you want to sing along with both arms in the air. As you come into the last few tracks, you will notice a song called ‘The Movie Fear Starring Reese Witherspoon’, which is a hilarious title—you have to give it up for that. I haven’t seen the movie, so I can’t comment on the lyrical content of the song, but it’s another track with a really great standout guitar line. The album ends with ‘Hunger Stones’, which opens slowly and captivates with more interesting samples. You can really hear their expansion into playing some indie rock elements here. By the end of the song, you can see how much their range has expanded, and Shawna Potter’s vocals truly live up to it. She has a lot to offer as a singer, and there is so much emotional reflection in this song.

Overall, this album should be very well received by fans who want the same raw punk commentary they have come to expect from War On Women, but with a wider range of sounds and emotion, as well as different elements to enjoy as they continue to develop their sound.