The trio, based in Iggy Pop's hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, delivers intense and unorthodox punk-metal bangers – equal parts riot grrrl and thrash. Boasting jubilant riffage, prog tendencies, and almighty howling rage, DRI, Voivod, and Babes in Toyland are all valid reference points. Vocalist/guitarist Chantal Roeske is a formidable bandleader with a soaring voice and a propensity for odd time signatures, whose path in music began more than 30 years ago; Minnow puts her passion and talent on full display.
Stream the music video for "Big 'Ol Tree," a song which Roeske describes as "an ode to bodily autonomy for women," here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2xNvXlV95M
Stream the album, here:
https://www.scenepointblank.com/news/records/2025/05/01/spb-featured-stream-tonguecutter-minnow/
Buy the album, here:
https://tonguecutter.bandcamp.com/album/minnow
"Blending the heavier side of grunge with powerful guitars and dynamic vocals, the band's sound is both intense and hard hitting, delivering an electrifying energy that demands attention."
–Destroy//Exist
"This album has been over 30 years in the making. Well, not literally... What I mean is, we don’t get to 'Minnow' by Tonguecutter without first going through Hole, DRI, maybe a little Soundgarden and Cave In, definitely a bit of Kathleen Hanna and Bikini Kill... For something to so expertly call back to memories and the past without getting lost in itself is praiseworthy alone – stack fierce and emblematic writing and performances on top of it and you have an album representing the best 2025 has to offer."
–Everything Is Noise
"[Tonguecutter] is a trio from Muskegon, MI, with a sound that is heavy and aggressive... A myriad of influences sneak into the songs, sometimes mixing up time signatures and drawing from thrash to riot grrrl to punk and noise rock."
–Scene Point Blank
"Blending the heavier side of grunge with powerful guitars and dynamic vocals, the band's sound is both intense and hard hitting, delivering an electrifying energy that demands attention."
–Destroy//Exist
"This album has been over 30 years in the making. Well, not literally... What I mean is, we don’t get to 'Minnow' by Tonguecutter without first going through Hole, DRI, maybe a little Soundgarden and Cave In, definitely a bit of Kathleen Hanna and Bikini Kill... For something to so expertly call back to memories and the past without getting lost in itself is praiseworthy alone – stack fierce and emblematic writing and performances on top of it and you have an album representing the best 2025 has to offer."
–Everything Is Noise
"[Tonguecutter] is a trio from Muskegon, MI, with a sound that is heavy and aggressive... A myriad of influences sneak into the songs, sometimes mixing up time signatures and drawing from thrash to riot grrrl to punk and noise rock."
–Scene Point Blank