Pillow Queens - In Waiting

Dublin four-piece Pillow Queens have found themselves bundled in of late with contemporary compatriots Fontaines DC and The Murder Capital. Far from sharing similarities in sound, they are aligned in their disregard for mainstream convention. Pillow Queens approach issues such as religion, the imbalance of queer and female representation, and the unaddressed financial plight of Ireland’s youth. The message is clear, never hidden under a wave of ambiguous metaphor. The swathe of relentlessly crashing guitars add to the power and urgency, layered over rousing melodies that rival some of festival season’s biggest hitters. This isn’t punk, but it carries the same unrepentant attitude that ignited the genre. Pillow Queens are outwardly frustrated but comfortable in themselves, and their sound succeeds in finding the often-untapped ground between the two. In a world that often paints the marginalised youth as insecure and rueful, ‘In Waiting’ arrives with a refreshing and much-needed assertiveness.