Doll Baby formed a little over a year ago in Richmond, and released their debut EP Polliwog in June. Their sound combines an energetic punk rock with guitar driven heaviness of alternative rock bands like Jawbox and The Smashing Pumpkins. The opening track “The Great Divide” puts frontwoman and guitarist Julie Stroey’s flexible vocals and introspective lyrics on display, while the layered guitars help to drive the track’s moody atmosphere. Following song “Drift” was originally included on their 2015 demo, but appears on the EP with a reimagined sound characterized by swift, crashing drums, shouted vocals, and distorted glistening guitars that show the band’s versatility. Doll Baby will be playing Strange Matter on August 12th in support of Solids. – John Honan
