I hadn't listened to Doughnuts in quite some time, but I was revisiting those old "Straightedge as Fuck" compilations recently, and that reminded me to pull out some of these CD's to check out again. And sure enough, their second EP, 1995's "The Age of the Circle" (their first release for Victory Records), remains my favorite. Now, a shitload of people made fun of this band back in the day, and probably still do (unfortunately an all-female vegetarian/vegan straightedge band from Umeå, Sweden is an easy target for some, I guess), but I've gotta say, this stuff actually holds up even better than I thought it would today. You just can't deny a track like "Weak One", which is one of the darker and more atmospheric tracks herein, which perfectly highlights their unique brand of metallic hardcore. Obviously they were drawing influences from a number of other American and European bands, but their vocal approach and raw, dirty guitar tones created a slightly different take on the style, with a good balance of subtle melody and discordance amidst the chugging midpaced rhythms and more metal-based riffing. They definitely got somewhat of a raw deal in their time from certain areas of the scene, and I'm actually disappointed that I had forgotten about 'em for so long, because I've been absolutely loving this material in recent weeks!
Doughnuts "Weak One"
Doughnuts "My Black Days"
In typical fashion, you can get this disc for cheap as shit on Amazon.com (there are plenty of copies for less than a buck), so... if you forgot about 'em, too (or never got a chance to check 'em out back in the day), pick one up if you like what you hear. The rest of their discography's solid as well, but something about the overall force and feeling of this EP still stands above the rest for me.
Get It
Amazon.com (CD)
Amazon.com (mp3)
Comments
I was a big Doughnuts fan back in the day, though I preferred the Feel Me Bleed album (the track Bloodstained rips) and some of their later compilation tracks. Asa’s voice was really unique and as you mention some of the guitar tones set them apart from the rest of the pack. Better than Sahara Hotnights that’s for sure.
I’ve tried on a number of occasions to search for what happened to these girls - I guess apart from Sarah joining the awesome Saidiwas (and International Noise Conspiracy?) they must have dropped out of the music scene. I found some cool videos of them playing shows on You Tube the other week actually!
9.25.2008 | By Adam G
i’ve never even heard of doughnuts (sounds like a ska band or something), but they really blew me away. at first i wished the vocals were harsher, but they’ve grown on me and now i appreciate their uniqueness. awesome guitar tone too. many thanks for the find.
on the side note: you really have to be a total mouthbreather to make fun of all-chick metal bands solely based on that superficial fact, while secretly beating off to arch enemy and lacuna coil. i guess quality shit coming from a bunch of chicks and stomping allover the sacred masculine metal ground is just too intimidating for some, so they have to resort to mockery.
i even like some of the kittie shit!
9.25.2008 | By chris
Remember when Snapcase played shows with this band?
And you thought only cops fought over Doughnuts HA!
9.26.2008 | By SON OF MAN
I never knew anything about this band other than what I learned from the record cover, and the music on the record. So I just thought it was great shit, period. Women in metal get treated very strangely. People talk about “female vocals” like they are all the same. They’re not.
9.26.2008 | By Marcus Garvey
Lash Out, Ironside, Negative Male Child, Christdriver and now this. I’m really digging all of these bands.
Very interesting riffing and vocals. Always interested in female bands. Subrosa was also very interesting, not to mention Monarch vocalist (sooo cute and such a monstrous vocal; Come to the king baby!).
Keep on doing this great work. Another disc to track out…
9.26.2008 | By Carlos
This band rules.
9.26.2008 | By james
One of these girls is now in The Vicious. I like the idea of this band, but the music.
9.26.2008 | By Emil
I tried to listen to Doughnuts many times in the past, the vocals always killed this band for me. :/
9.28.2008 | By David Snusgrop @ Metal Bastard
Noooo shit! haha! I saw these girls once… I kinda wanted to like them more than i did..they were definitely better live. i certainly appreciated their existence, but they couldnt hold a candle to Abhinanda or the first Shield EP…
9.29.2008 | By blend77
If I’m not mistaken, Åsa released an album or two after Doughnuts’ demise and might still be at it - don’t quote me on that though. No idea how it compares to this stuff.
I haven’t popped this or Feel Me Bleed into the CD player for a while, so I guess it’s time to dig them out again.
9.30.2008 | By Dichatomy
Band was decent…not great, not shit. People talked shit on them mostly cause they were girls and had a silly band name. Misogyny is way more prevalent in the sxe scene than people like to pretend. The vocals were the most intersting/unique part of the band.
10.3.2008 | By Justin
Yeah, they were a really good band, this ep is definitely their best. Are any of them doing anything music wise these days?
10.6.2008 | By Jamie