Scowl, a hardcore band from Santa Cruz, first made waves with their 2019 debut How Flowers Grow and the Psychic Dance Routine EP. They quickly gained attention for their aggressive sound and raw energy. Their latest album, Are We All Angels, marks a big shift in their style. It moves away from the relentless hardcore sound of their earlier releases towards a more melodic and experimental approach.

The album, produced by Will Yip, is a clean, polished record with heavy influences from ’90s alternative and grunge. Tracks like Special and Tonight (I’m Afraid) shift to a more atmospheric sound, with catchy hooks and big choruses. Kat Moss’s vocals also take a different turn—her signature screams are toned down in favour of a more melodic delivery. This change in her singing style gives the album a different mood but loses some of the raw power that made their earlier work stand out.

While the band’s evolution is clear and shows they’re willing to experiment, it might leave some fans who loved the intensity of their first records feeling a bit disappointed. The album’s softer tone and introspective lyrics require a different kind of listening, and while it’s still heavy in parts, it doesn’t have the same punch as before.

In conclusion, Are We All Angels is a solid album showing Scowl’s growth, but we miss the intensity and raw screams of their frontwoman, Kat Moss. It’s a good record, but it might not hit as hard for those who were drawn to their earlier sound.

Releasedate: 04-04-2025 | Label: Dead Oceans | Instagram

Tracklist:
01. Special
02. B.A.B.E.
03. Fantasy
04. Not Hell, Not Heaven
05. Tonight (I’m Afraid)
06. Fleshed Out
07. Let You Down
08. Cellophane
09. Suffer The Fool (How High Are You?)
10. Haunted
11. Are We All Angels