Scowl have continued to level up year after year, challenging what hardcore can look and sound like. That was most apparent on their 2023 EP, Psychic Dance Routine, which merged raw aggression with pop melodies, and the band’s new song, “Special,” follows in that vein.
Just like the EP, the new song was produced by Will Yip and mixed by Rich Costey (Fiona Apple, Deftones, Vampire Weekend) — and also ushers in their arrival to Dead Oceans. “Special” takes a widescreen approach while clinging to Scowl’s brutal intensity, creating a balance that holds their Bay Area punk roots in high esteem.
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Of the new song, vocalist Kat Moss says, “Originally Malachi sent in the demo while we were touring the U.K. Cole added his flare on drums, Bailey directed the bridge, and finally Mikey cooked up his leads. ‘Special’ is a kamikaze. The lyrics are about threatening the audience by asking, ‘What do you really want?’ in clear desperation to answer my own question: ‘What do I really want?’ But the answer is simple — I want to feel alive.”
See the video for “Special” below.