Although we’re a little ways removed from the peak #MeToo era—and even further removed from the beginnings of the riot grrrl movement—at least one recent headline-fodder court case reminds us that such pushes in the direction of a more equitable world are still needed. Sydney-based punks Bloods penned the latest single from their forthcoming LP Together, Baby!, titled “Devo,” to combat such despair as they buzzily soundtrack progress being made in the male-accountability department.
“I felt really inspired by people finally being held accountable,” vocalist MC shares, looking back on the tail end of the 2010s. “Along with the changes happening were the many excuses that spewed from the mouths of complicit parties. It felt like, at the time, there were a lot of people looking over their shoulder, in fear of being called out.”
Fueled by rage, yet wholly composed, the fiery track feels like a breath of fresh air for when things feel stagnant or worse. “The whole song is meant to be an empowered taunt to those who held power for so long, sung by those who they exerted that power over—until now,” MC adds. “The first lyric I was clear on was the chorus: ‘We don’t like it!’ I felt that it was as innocent as it was definitive, and it felt perfect for the feeling I was trying to evoke with the song. I wanted it to be the soundtrack to the burning empire.”
As for the song’s title, she notes that it’s an allusion to the new wave group that shares an energy with the single. “I thought it sounded like an early Devo song, so the name stuck. They were a huge musical influence on the song at inception, including having the simple ‘We don’t like it!’ chorus.”
Hear the new track below, and pre-order the album here ahead of its September 23 release—all proceeds benefit Australia’s Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
