Scream Out Loud’s self-titled second album is their first release in four years and it finds them at a point where despite showing promise they are yet to make a real breakthrough. A pop-punk band on the surface, Scream Out Loud draw on some varied influences with flashes of post-hardcore and alt-rock throughout the ten songs.
The infectious energy will be a big draw for many and they waste no time in bringing out a sing-along chorus with the appropriately titled ‘Go For It’. The chugging guitars and expressive vocals drive the song forward through the verses and it’s a promising start. ‘Standing Still’ is also appropriately named but for the wrong reasons, as despite all the key ingredients it fails to create much atmosphere and just sounds tired.
Throughout their career Scream Out Loud have supported bands as different as Memphis May Fire and Motion City Soundtrack and tracks such as ‘Head In The Clouds’ brilliantly demonstrate why. The screamed vocals and breakdown come as a welcome surprise and the effortless switch in styles from pop-punk to screamo and back again make you hopeful that such creativity will continue to play a part in the rest of the songs.
And although for the most part it does, it’s actually the unashamedly pop-punk ‘Just Another Song’ that is the highlight of the record. There’s a comforting familiarity to the tale of how a failed relationship provided lyrical inspiration but the breezy verses, anthemic riffs, and guitar solo pack it full of charm. Whilst the use of familiar lyrical themes works in some songs, tracks such as stadium-rock ballad ‘Understanding Why’ and the very mildly pissed-off ‘Don’t Tell Me How To Feel’ suffer from both a lack of originality and spark.
‘A Path That I Believe In’, complete with gang vocals and big sugary sweet riffs, gives the record a much-needed lift but it doesn’t cover up the wider limitations. Scream Out Loud consistently play to their strengths throughout the record but it’s a set of strengths shared by many other bands and they don’t manage to forge a unique identity.
Closing the album with a cover of the Goo Goo Dolls iconic ‘Iris’ is a brave but risky move with the obvious danger that it won’t be anywhere near as good, and let’s be honest, it isn’t. There’s a distinct ‘Pop Punk Goes…’ feel about it and it reinforces the notion that Scream Out Loud haven’t separated themselves from their influences clearly enough.
‘Scream Out Loud’ has its share of highlights, ‘Just Another Gem’ has future hit written all over in capital letters and the production hasn’t smoothed off all the edges, but there’s too many times where your overriding memories will be of the inspirations and influences and not the songs themselves.
CHRIS HILSON