Hannah Wicklund: War on Women; Calling All Good Men Review

Hannah Wicklund is a renowned name in contemporary blues rock. On War On Women; Calling All Good Men, her fourth studio album, she puts that experience to work on a more personal record, drawing from some of the challenges and experiences that have marked her career so far.

Born in South Carolina, Wicklund has established herself as a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, while also pursuing work as a visual artist. Her career has developed around a modern blend of rock, blues and other roots-oriented influences, with her 2024 album The Prize earning considerable attention. Here, she takes an even more hands-on role, writing and producing the record herself, bringing that experience into a project that feels more personal in both its subject matter and execution.

The album addresses gender inequality, frustrations with the music industry, heartbreak, and the possibility of hope after difficult experiences. Those themes are introduced immediately by the brief opening title track, an atmospheric a cappella piece whose sparse arrangement gives it an appropriately haunting quality. It is an effective way to establish the album’s tone before the full band enters.

“Red Gorilla” shifts gears with a bluesy hard-rock approach, combining a solid rocker with fuzzy guitar tones and subtle indie-rock influence. Despite its blues foundation, the track sounds fresh rather than overly nostalgic. “Evil Is A Corporation” follows with a swaggering, bluesy groove and retro-soul touches, making its subject matter as direct as its title suggests.

“The Pier” takes a more subdued approach, with soul and R&B-influenced verses eventually giving way to a anthemic hard-rock chorus. The contrast works particularly well, and the song is elevated further by an incendiary guitar solo that serves as its bridge.

“Diamonds” may be the album’s most musically interesting track. Its folk-infused, countrified rock arrangement makes excellent use of acoustic guitar, while the flute adds an unexpected progressive-rock character to the song. It is a somewhat unexpected number, but a highly effective one.

“The Token” takes yet another turn, built around piano and a pop-leaning arrangement. Catchy and emotional without becoming overly sentimental, it is a tasteful ballad and one of the record’s strongest moments.

“Cowards & Kings” is perhaps the most imposing rocker here, an organ-infused hard-rock number built around an enormous main riff and a measured rhythm. Wicklund delivers some of her strongest vocals on the track, while a soaring, arena-ready guitar solo drives it home.

“Calling All Good Men” closes the record with another a cappella performance. While it clearly echoes the opening track, its tone is less haunting and somewhat more optimistic, providing a fitting conclusion to the record.

The production is another strength, with a well-balanced mix that gives the instruments plenty of definition without stripping away their character. The band performs exceptionally well throughout, and the arrangements keep changing enough to maintain interest. Rather than confining itself to a single musical approach, the record moves comfortably between different shades of rock, roots music, soul and pop, and that variety gives it much of its appeal.

Overall, War On Women; Calling All Good Men is an excellent and thoughtfully crafted album, with enough variety to keep it engaging from beginning to end. Wicklund’s perspective is clear throughout the record, and her willingness to speak openly about the struggles women continue to face gives the album an authentic sense of purpose. That conviction works particularly well because it never comes at the expense of the music, which remains well performed and consistently engaging. The result is a record that has plenty to offer musically while also standing for something worthwhile.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– War on Women/Calling All Good Men
– Red Gorilla
– Evil is A Corporation
– The Pier
– Diamonds
– The Token
– Cowards & Kings

The Big Hit

– Cowards & Kings