A Wilhem Scream – Self-Titled

2007 marked one of the first times I realized the amazing potential of technically ambitious, melodic hardcore punk.  It all started when I couldn’t escape the hype and buzz surrounding A Wilhelm Scream’s career defining album, Career Suicide.  Everyone was talking about it, and come the end of the year, the punk community was buzzing.  I eventually buckled under the pressure, ordered a copy, and have been hooked ever since.  That being said, waiting for their follow-up has been agonizing, and to make matters worse it has only come in the form of a short five song, Self Titled EP.

Fortunately every track on the EP lives up to A Wilhelm Scream’s god-like reputation, ultimately cushioning the feeling that their latest offering falls at least five songs short of satisfying.  In fact, the band covers quite a lot of ground for five tracks, exploring everything from meaningful tempo changes to blistering displays of technical prowess.

The album opens with “Australias,” a track largely serving as a reminder to listeners about everything they’ve come to love about A Wilhelm Scream.  One of the more melody driven tracks in the band’s discography, the guitars ebb and flow between disjointed chords and more conventional structures seamlessly.  Everyone gets a chance to showcase their contributions.  Nick Angelini pounds his drums with a fiery vigor, lead guitarist Mike Supina pushes the boundaries of technicality with brief but fulfilling bursts, and vocalist Nuno Pereira’s rough, commanding cries just barely keep the entire ensemble from buckling under the weight of their ambitions.  It’s a fantastic opening track, making the instrumental extremes that follow feel right at home.

The remainder of the album surveys the band’s strong points.  Firstly, “Every Great Story Has…” serves as the EP’s veritable vocal assault.  Here Nuno showcases his knack for exploding into volatile displays of insistent vocal excess within a melodic framework.  Those looking for an instant adrenalin rush need look no further.  Next, “Fun Time” sacrifices aggression for Polar Bear Club-like song structure, complete with gang vocals and playful “woahs.”  The track contrasts well with those before, and the depth of sound helps the EP feel varied and fresh.  The final two tracks, “Bullet Proof Tiger” and “Skid Rock,” build themselves around intricate guitar work – particularly letting loose for the instrumentals found in the track’s recurrent solos and generous intros.  Taken as a whole, A Wilhelm Scream contains no filler.

 A Wilhelm Scream is like an amazing appetizer before the main course – only the main course never arrives.  Instead, when the fifth track ends, listeners will find themselves starving for more.  Restarting the EP is a quick fix, but far from the perfect solution.  Only a new full length could satisfy such a craving, but in the mean time A Wilhelm Scream is all we have.