Known for an aggressive hardcore sound, Scowl, originally from Santa Cruz, brought a poppy punch to Portland, Oregon’s Hawthorne Theatre last weekend, presenting new songs from their sophomore album Are We All Angels. The album, which dropped in early April, was a controversial release – especially online, where die hard hardcore fans accused the band of shifting their sound too much to appeal to the masses. And while it’s true Scowl’s sound has more bubblegum charm than their first release, they still managed to pack a sour kick opening with “Opening Night”. Lead singer Kat Moss captured the stage, switching from vicious growls to sonically smooth melodies, like a toxic wasteland version of Snow White.
Songs off the new album like “B.A.B.E” and “Not Hell, Not Heaven” showcase how locked in bassist Bailey Lupo and drummer Cole Gilbert are while pumping a heavy foundation for guitarist Malachi Green to cut through. Even though the band’s current sound may be an expansive detour from their original album, songs like “Tonight (I’m Afraid nto each other to classics like “Bloodhound” and “Fuck Around”. There’s a little something for everyone at the Scowl show and trust me when I say, seeing them perform on this tour will leave you with a very sweaty smile on your face. For the fans that didn’t get to make it out to this show we have included a photo gallery just below with some exclusive visuals. Also, you can search the Musik Mirage archives for some previous articles including Scowl. Make sure to follow the rock band @Scowl40831 on social media to for additional content and more photos from the group.
Article By Jane Renee / Photos By Sam Leung (@sammich)
