An ominous, much needed anthem that pulses with relatable fury, Irish inter-sectional feminist post-punk band M(h)aol have shared their latest single ‘Asking For It’. Originally set for release in May, the band have shared the track earlier than planned after feeling a collective anger at the reporting of male violence against women in the current media. All profits from ‘Asking For It’ will be donated to Women’s Aid Ireland, a charity who aim to end domestic violence against women and children.
Currently based between Dublin, London and Bristol, M(h)aol (pronounced “male”) are formed of Róisín Nic Ghearailt, Constance Keane, Jamie Hyland, Zoe Greenway and Sean Nolan. Together, the band aim to shake up the male dominated post-punk scene with their urgent, shadowy sounds, with previous single ‘Laundries’ being the perfect instigator for this pursuit. Now with ‘Asking For It’, M(h)aol aim to dismantle the external and internal narratives that perpetuate the behaviours behind gender-based violence and victim-blaming.
Led by a thudding bass drum that feels like it’s mimicking the panicked heartbeat of a woman being pursued by her attacker, ‘Asking For It’ unravels the toxic thoughts and questions many women are faced with in the aftermath of harassment and sexual assault. Crystalline vocals and direct lyrics are paired with unsettling bass lines and urgent riffs, propelling the track forwards as the variations of the lyrical motif “Was I asking for it?” become louder and more visceral with each repetition.
A vital, lurching anthem that provides a moment for rage and reflection during this overwhelming International Women’s Month, M(h)aol’s ‘Asking For It’ is a damning aural statement that ought to make listeners think twice before they point the finger at victims of gender-based violence, instead of directly at their perpetrators.
Listen to the single below & donate what you can via bandcamp.
Follow M(h)aol on Spotify, bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut
Get In Her Ears 
Published by