Weakened Friends
Weakened Friends are a fuzzed-out, high-energy indie rock trio from Portland, Maine, known for their punchy hooks, raw lyricism, and loud, cathartic live shows. Led by songwriter/guitarist Sonia Sturino, with Annie Hoffman on bass and Adam Hand on drums, the band channels a mix of 90s alt-rock nostalgia and modern emotional intensity.
At a time when numbness prevails and singers whisper apathy rather than scream their feelings, Feels Like Hell offers a compelling antidote. Sonia sings about everything threatening to kill the spirit — deep nihilism in the face of global capitalism — with the kind of spirit that can't be killed. Sonia's vocals imagine better worlds, ones free of restraint or surveillance.
There's no self-censorship here — Sonia isn't afraid to scream until their throat is raw, and Annie isn't afraid to bass solo through the apocalypse. Leaning into rock and post-pop-punk with heart and reverence, they perform with a freedom many feel bereft of today.
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Weakened Friends might be a DIY band, but they sound like they're ready for the biggest stages.Stereogum
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For more current-day, '90s-style grunge-punk, Weakened Friends are one of the best newer bands doing it.Brooklyn Vegan
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On their third album, Maine band Weakened Friends claw through a bleak present with another collection of alt-rock rippers.The Boston Globe
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If The Flaming Lips and Alanis Morissette stumbled into each other on an Italian piazza and gave each other a disapproving sniff, Weakened Friends' third, self-released album Feels Like Hell might pop up into the space between them.New Noise
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A defiant pop-punk anthem.FLOOD · on "Tough Luck"