EP round-up pt. 1
Since changing the name of their band (probably the smartest move they’ve ever made), A Wilhelm Scream has issued a progressively more brilliant series of LPs that culminated in 2007’s Career Suicide. This EP is not their finest work, but it is the sound of the group and its newest member feeling each other out.
Last year Chris Levesque, one half of an impossibly-dynamic guitar duo, up and left the group. His replacement, Mike Supina, proves on this self-titled vinyl/digital release to have equally impressive chops. Fans can rest easy knowing that the incredibly technical nature of their songwriting remains intact, with jaw-dropping riffage and neck-snapping time changes littered throughout this five-song set. Opener “Australias” continues directly where Career Suicide left off, throwing Supina and founding guitarist Trevor Reilly front and center with some frantic riffing. Aside from the middle track, “Fun Times,” the tracks don’t deviate much from Wilhelm’s usual modus operandi: furious playing, melodic but gruff vocals, some occasional metal-ish riffs, and a somewhat pessimistic and bristly lyrical bent.
There are several sections where the band seems to be searching for the next area in which to expand their sound. In particular the outro of closer “Skid Rock” slows way down to provide what might be the closest thing to a “pretty” piece of music they’ve recorded (although Brian Robinson’s dextrous, fuzzed-out bass steps on that a bit) before turning full-circle to end on a more aggressive note. “Fun Times” is the biggest step outside their usual comfort zone, a down-right slow and much more straight-forward track that serves as their version of a pop-rock song. Its just as up-front lyrically, a song about the unifying camaraderie that comes with drinking and writing songs with your friends. While the tone is a bit downtrodden, it serves as a positive lyrical counterpoint to “Skid Rock”’s assertion that friends are merely, “enemies in the making.”
This is a great stop-gap release that should help make sure their next full-length has a unified and cohesive songwriting effort behind it. Hell, you could probably argue they’re pretty much the whole way there based on these few tracks. But these tracks pale in comparison to the dizzying highs of Ruiner and Career Suicide’s best cuts. I get the feeling there’s an even bigger next step in store for what is easily the most gifted band in punk rock today as long as they work their way carefully towards it.
In short, I wouldn’t start with this EP if you’re looking for a first exposure to the band but I think it will provide some important context in the future when we’re looking back on A Wilhelm Scream’s legacy.
The self-titled EP is available from Paper + Plastick’s webstore, kind of. It looks like they only have mp3/flac purchases listed on there, there’s no vinyl option for it anywhere in there. Maybe it hasn’t been pressed yet. Or maybe their stores sucks. I don’t know. Other albums might be at Vinyl Collective or Interpunk.
