Portsmouth indie rock/alt/post punk band Hallan have returned with their new single “Unwomanly Face of War” and its accompanying music video.
The song is out now via Nice Swan Records and is the first taste of the band’s forthcoming EP ‘The Noise of a Firing Gun‘, set for release 31 March via Nice Swan Records (English Teacher, Sports Team, Courting). Pre-order your copy here.
Of the track, Hallan state:
After an exploration into “The Unwomanly Face of War”, a book penned by Nobel Prize winning author Svetlana Alexievich, we discovered the real life stories of hundreds of female soldiers who endured horrors and loss during the Second World War. Having fought for the Soviet Union these women of Russia recount their memories and nightmares in honest detail, sharing their experiences on the front lines and back home.
Inspired by these true stories our single shines a light on the often overlooked and unheard reality of these women. Returning home unrecognisable to family. The choice to pull the trigger with a man’s life within your sights. Saying goodbye to your mother as you step onto the carriage. The initial single that sparked the fuse for the rest of our EP, Unwomanly Face of War familiarises listeners with a new style of songwriting within our music, one based upon the importance of the past rather than the mundane rituals of our present.
A song written to remember the realities of a time not long ago and the sacrifices and efforts given by Women of the past, Unwomanly Face of War reminds us all to ensure above all else that no daughter or son need know the noise of a firing gun.
Watch/listen below.
