Santa Cruz hardcore band Scowl have announced a new album, Are We All Angels, for April 4th. Produced by Will Yip (Turnstile, Title Fight, Mannequin Pussy, etc.), who worked on their most recent project, the Psychic Dance Routine EP, Are We All Angels finds the venomous and antagonistic band funneling their aggression through a more expansive version of themselves. The album was mixed by Rich Costey (Fiona Apple, My Chemical Romance, Vampire Weekend, etc..).
The first single, “Not Hell, Not Heaven,” outright rejects the narratives cast onto them by outsiders. “It’s about feeling victimized and being a victim, but not wanting to identify with being a victim,” explains vocalist / front woman Kat Moss. “It’s trying to find grace in the fact that I have my power. I live in my reality. You have to deal with whatever you’re dealing with, and it ain’t working for me."
Listen to the first single below:
Instrumentally the band cites influence from Negative Approach, Bad Brains, Hole, Mudhoney Garbage, Ramones, Pixies, Sonic Youth, Rocket From The Crypt among others. Bassist Bailey Lupo notes “The song writing on the new record was the most collaborative to date in Scowl’s history. Everyone brought so many ideas to the table and we were able to dissect it all and take our time. We all have such eclectic tastes, influences and personalities and you can really hear that in every corner on this album.”
Photo credit: Silken Weinberg