The Menstrual Cramps highlight homelessness & pandemic key workers on new single "Antagonistic"

News

23 May

Earlier today Bristol-based punk band The Menstrual Cramps dropped their new single "Antagonistic," via Alcopop! Records.

The track is a fierce and raw commentary on the challenges faced by key workers during the pandemic, drawing on personal experiences to spotlight the often overlooked struggles of those working in the homelessness sector. With its aggressive punk energy and poignant lyrics, "Antagonistic" captures the anger and frustration of a world divided by privilege and crisis.

Commenting on the track, which charts vocalist Emilia Elfrida’s experiences of working in a homeless hostel during the pandemic, Elfrida says:

“It’s about how I felt about everyone else who could work from home or be on furlough—learning a new skill, baking banana bread, writing a new album, drinking red wine. I resented everyone who wasn’t a key worker.
Working in the homelessness sector is a difficult job at the best of times, with the lack of support from the government, the lack of housing options for homeless people, the cost of living crisis, and the consistent underfunding across the sector. But during COVID each difficulty was vastly intensified. I didn’t know if the people I supported were going to die. I didn’t know if me and my colleagues were going to die.”

Elfrida recalls a work meeting where a senior staff member talked about a lovely evening drinking red wine on their balcony while discussing a young mother living in temporary accommodation whose boiler had broken:

“This senior staff member didn’t class having any hot water or heating as an emergency, while there was an ongoing pandemic where cleanliness and washing your hands were key messages to stopping infection.
This interaction summed up the stark contrast of people’s lives during COVID, the value of work, the virtue signaling of clapping for key workers, and the dark depths of capitalism within the backdrop of a pandemic. This song is me trying to process and come to terms with the anger and trauma I experienced working through COVID and how this has shaped me as a person and as a support worker.”

“Antagonistic” joins the band’s previously released Alcopop! singles “Class War,” “Abortion,” and “Body Politics.” Conveniently, when placed in release order, the singles spell out the anti-police slogan ACAB. This message was intentional, as the ACAB slogan features prominently on the band’s merch, and the artwork for each single includes the corresponding letter along with its numeric value of 1312.

The Menstrual Cramps are known for shining a spotlight on political issues through their music. They recently made headlines with their Bands Boycott Barclays campaign, targeting the Barclaycard sponsorship of The Great Escape and other festivals over their ties to arms companies supplying Israel. Over 150 artists pulled out of The Great Escape in solidarity, with international press coverage from major outlets and public support from notable figures including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, and Jeremy Corbyn.

Having already appeared at Manchester Punk Festival 2024 and Outer Town Festival 2024 earlier this year, the band is gearing up for a busy summer festival season with appearances confirmed at 2000 Trees, TRUCK, Bearded Theory Festival, Glastonwick, Bristol Pride, Hand Fest, and more.

Watch the visualiser for “Antagonistic”: