Santa Cruz hardcore outfit Scowl has released their final single, “Tonight (I’m Afraid),” ahead of their upcoming full-length, Are We All Angels, set for release on April 4 via Dead Oceans.
The track showcases a more vulnerable side of the band while retaining their signature intensity. Accompanied by a flip book-style music video illustrated by Adam Fuchs, known for his work with AdultSwim.com, the song follows previously released singles “B.A.B.E.,” “Not Heaven, Not Hell,” and “Special.”
Produced by Will Yip (Turnstile, Title Fight, Mannequin Pussy), Are We All Angels expands Scowl’s sonic range while maintaining their aggressive core. The album, mixed by Rich Costey (Fiona Apple, My Chemical Romance, Vampire Weekend), is shaped by themes of alienation, grief, and the complexities of their evolving place within the hardcore community.
Despite the broader influences, the band remains grounded in punk and hardcore ethos, a point emphasized by guitarist Malachi Greene: “Hardcore and punk have sculpted how we operate, what we want to do as a band, and how we participate. At our core, we are a punk and hardcore band, regardless of how the song shifts and changes.”
Frontwoman Kat Moss continues to refine her vocal delivery, embracing a dynamic approach that leans into harmonies and melodic experimentation. “The majority of us were really not proficient musicians when this band started,” she admits. “It was very Germs-esque in that way, like baby’s first hardcore band, which is awesome. But now, we still might not know what we’re doing, but we have a better idea of what we want to do.” Her influences span beyond hardcore, drawing inspiration from Billie Eilish, Radiohead, Car Seat Headrest, and Julien Baker. Instrumentally, the band nods to Negative Approach, Bad Brains, Hole, Mudhoney, Garbage, Ramones, Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Rocket From The Crypt among others.
Bassist Bailey Lupo highlights the collaborative nature of the album’s songwriting: “The songwriting 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 of this album.”
Since forming in 2019, Scowl has been a relentless touring force, sharing stages with Limp Bizkit, Destroy Boys, The Bronx, Militarie Gun, Show Me The Body, Zulu, Touche Amore, A Day To Remember, Speed, and Sunami.
Their festival appearances span Coachella, Reading & Leeds, No Values, Outbreak, Primavera, and Sick New World, solidifying their presence in both punk and alternative spaces.
