Olive Green. Catalog Number: DOC358lp-C1  Color: Green Format: LP UPC: 656605165837 Scowl is a band that sounds exactly like their name implies--venomous, fierce, and antagonistic. A sneer not to be crossed. Over the last five years, this Santa Cruz, California outfit has firmly planted their flag in the hardcore scene with their vicious sound and electrifying live shows. They've shared stages with legendary acts like Circle Jerks, Touche Amore, and Limp Bizkit, while also earning spots at iconic festivals such as Coachella, Sick New World, and Reading and Leeds. With their latest album, Are We All Angels (Dead Oceans), Scowl is channeling their aggression into a more expansive sound. Much of Are We All Angels explores Scowl's complex relationship with the hardcore community--a scene that has embraced them but also made them a lightning rod. The standout single, "Not Hell, Not Heaven," boldly rejects imposed narratives. "It's about feeling victimized and being a victim, but not wanting to identify with being a victim," explains vocalist 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." Tracks like "Fantasy" delve into feelings of alienation and disconnection. "It's incredibly challenging to balance my love for the scene while also feeling, in some spaces, extremely alienated and hated," Moss shares. "'Fantasy' is about feeling like I don't know how to connect with these people anymore, because I have shelled myself away so hard." The album concludes with the contemplative titular track, "Are We All Angels," posing existential questions like, "Is this all there is?" Moss describes the track as exploring the personal struggle between good and evil. "It doesn't matter how 'good' or 'bad' you are; there are systems that will try to rewrite your narrative no matter what you do." Are We All Angels is the highly anticipated follow-up to Scowl's 2021 debut, How Flowers Grow, a 16-minute primal scream over punishing riffs. Among its chaos, the reflective interlude "Seeds to Sow" hinted at the band's potential for sonic evolution--a path they've now fully embraced. Their 2023 Psychic Dance Routine EP further expanded their sound with pop hooks and melodic vocals, paving the way for their latest release. Producer Will Yip (Turnstile, Title Fight, Code Orange) played a pivotal role in shaping Are We All Angels. "Will would say, 'Everything you have here is correct, but it's in the wrong place,'" recalls drummer Cole Gilbert. Moss adds, "Will really helped restructure a lot of the material. Some songs he tore apart to make more space for the really good hooks and choruses." Despite their broader sound, Scowl retains their edge, anger, and punk ethos. "Hardcore and punk have sculpted how we operate, what we want to do as a band, and how we participate," says guitarist Malachi Greene. "At our core, we are a punk and hardcore band, regardless of how the song shifts and changes." With Are We All Angels, Scowl strikes a balance between their ferocious roots and a more expansive vision, proving once again why they're one of hardcore's most compelling bands.