RAMONDA HAMMER
Destroyers EP
New Professor

L.A.’s Ramonda Hammer demonstrates a sound both familiar and unique on their new Destroyers EP, matching the grungy guitar-driven sound of the indie 90s to the feel of the tumultuous, stress-inducing present. This quartet delivers killer hooks and powerful chord progressions tempered and strengthened with moody, complex lyrics. Vocalist Devin Davis’ lyrics are blunt and biting, revealing intertwining emotions: humorous indifference, haughty contempt, lonely disillusionment. “Destroyers” starts with the words “my dreams are selfish as hell” and builds to a commanding chorus where Davis wails, “I could destroy you my friend / I’ve won it now.” The track is a perfect introduction, showcasing the power and confidence of the band. On following track “Bender,” Davis asks a series of tense questions, examining a personal state of self-destruction—just as the album title implies. By the end of the song, she attempts to reassure herself: “I swear I deserve good things / I swear.” “Too Much Too Recently” takes a gentler, darker tone but highlights Ramonda Hammer’s versatility. Drums and guitar gradually build beneath slow and sensitive verses, culminating in an explosion of sound and emotion. Fans of Speedy Ortiz, Bully, and Sleater-Kinney will appreciate the originality and grit of Destroyers, which starts with self-assured recklessness, levels out into a familiar kind of anxiety, and finally leaves listeners with a satisfying set of grungy nostalgia.

—Geneva Trelease

RAMONDA HAMMER’S DESTROYERS EP IS OUT FRI., AUG. 4, ON NEW PROFESSOR.