Scowl – Are We All Angels (Album Review)

Scowl doesn’t just flirt with evolution on Are We All Angels—they dive in headfirst. The Santa Cruz hardcore unit, once known for fast-and-furious rage anthems and sweat-soaked breakdowns, now brings melody, introspection, and a bold new identity to the table. This isn’t a softening of edges—it’s a sharpening of focus.

The album is a tight, genre-blurring statement. Right from the opener, “Shot Down,” there’s a controlled chaos—equal parts grit and gloss. Kat Moss still delivers her signature vocal snarl, but it’s now counterbalanced by surprisingly vulnerable clean vocals that carry just as much weight. It’s not a compromise; it’s a flex.

Scowl has always stood out in the hardcore world, but Are We All Angels sets them apart completely. Tracks like “B.A.B.E.” and “Psychic Dance Routine” bring a punky swagger laced with hooks so sharp they belong on alt-rock radio. Yet there’s no mistaking this for trend-chasing. The band owns their sound, never letting melody dilute their intensity.

Production plays a major role in making this leap work. The instrumentation is crisp, dynamic, and layered, giving space for the softer moments to breathe without stripping the raw power that fans crave. The grunge, shoegaze, and riot grrrl influences don’t overshadow—rather, they elevate the foundation Scowl built with their earlier material.

What’s most compelling about Are We All Angels is that it never feels like a reinvention for the sake of buzz. It’s an honest progression. Scowl sounds like a band that’s tired of playing within someone else’s genre rules—and they’ve got the songwriting chops to break free.

This is still a hardcore band at heart—but one that’s growing into something much bigger.