Like a lot of people in the U.S., I watched my television on Election Night 2024 with a deep pit in my stomach. When the map didn’t turn the color many of us wanted, it felt like the country was once again set back hundreds of years. Sadly, it meant the worst men the world had to offer would be validated. I haven’t stopped thinking about that since I watched the map turn more and more red. And after it was over, the media and internet were ablaze with articles, posts, and tweets about what the losing candidate should’ve done to win. All of those factors really hit home when I listened to Luck Forever, the debut album from Mugger.
Based out of Austin, TX, Mugger is a supergroup of sorts featuring members of Radioactivity, The Well, and Creepoid. The music is abrasive, aggressive, and feels like being jumped in a dark alley on the way home from a night of heavy drinking. It’s equal parts hardcore and vintage punk rock. If you’re a fan of early Black Flag, Fear, or Wendy O Williams, you know what I’m talking about, and you should love Luck Forever.
On one hand, Mugger is the kind of band we need right now. But the truth is, they’re the kind of band we’ve always needed.
I don’t want to make this review about me. but something has to be said. Men have a funny way of ruining inclusiveness. As a 40-year-old white guy who frequents hardcore shows, I’ve heard this awful refrain every time I’ve seen a female-fronted act: “Hey! This band is pretty hardcore for the singer being a girl!” Dudes simply can’t help themselves from trivializing women even when they think they’re complimenting them.
Of course, I try hard not to make those kinds of remarks (and please correct me when I do). but what have I done to correct those who have? As a man attending such shows, it’s my place to call it out; otherwise, I’m an accomplice to the sexism.
There is no such thing as “for a girl.”
The creative output of an artist isn’t based on their gender. It’s either good or bad. End of story. Mugger not only calls out such negative and hurtful language in the hardcore scene but threatens its very existence!
After a brief electronic jazz intro, Mugger kicks in the door, as “Crank It Up” takes direct aim at the punk rock patriarchy:
“You’re living in a daydream
You got an outdated version of me
Let it go, let it die
Stop hating on me
Let it burn, the denial
Imagine thinking you know me
Better than I do”
Anna Troxell could not be any more clear. Her lyrics directly attack the notion of what certain genders can or can’t do in music. The song also lashes out at unsolicited advice from those who think they’re championing them.
Then again, if I’m centering my review around how men treat women in the hardcore scene, am I actually speaking for those women instead of listening to them myself? If that’s the case, I will speak to the fellow dudes out there: Shut up. We’ve done enough talking already.
Luck Forever calls out prejudice and injustice while showcasing what a hardcore punk album can be.
While the album isn’t overtly political in a way that centers on policy discussions, each song is vicious and to the point. The band wastes no time on complex arrangements or technical production. No single track touches 2 and a half minutes, and the whole project clocks it at under 25 minutes. And if that wasn’t punk enough for you, John Brannon of Negative Approach pops up on “Find Out”. This further proves Mugger isn’t a novelty but as hardcore as a band can get.
Nothing is more satisfying than a brutal punk album. However, in light of the great loss the U.S. suffered earlier this month, the guys in this scene must do a better job at reading the room. I’ve personally made what I thought were harmless jokes on social media as well as covered artists I didn’t thoroughly vet. I didn’t happen out of malicious intent, but because of my own lack of self-awareness. We’re all a work in progress, but society doesn’t need men’s ignorance right now. Even if your heart has been in the right place, it’s time to get educated and invest in some self-improvement.
For starters, you could pick up a copy of Luck Forever and hear what Mugger has to say. Don’t talk – just listen.
Luck Forever is now available on vinyl at Quiet Panic and streaming on Bandcamp.