Screaming Females, a punk rock trio formed in 2005 in New Jersey, just released its sixth studio album, “Rose Mountain,” in February. Consisting simply of three instruments and one vocalist, Screaming Females has managed to secure a place of its own in today’s esteemed top lists of Pitchfork, Stereogum and other notable independent music Internet publications.
The album begins with “Empty Head,” a song in which Paternoster is able to truly show off her abilities. The passion of the song is surpassed only by the unmistakable undertones of anger, accompanied by an impressive guitar solo. While reminiscent of previous Screaming Females albums, “Rose Mountain” has a more polished sound to it, something that can only be accomplished by a talented band capable of repeatedly outdoing itself.
One of the greatest things about this album is how much of the punk rock spectrum it covers. Songs such as “Ripe” and “Criminal Image” show the band’s ability to write and play harder rock, while “Wishing Well” and “Broken Neck” are more mellow and contemplative. Other songs, such as “Hopeless,” are sort of like a mix between Best Coast and the Pixies, on the more punk side of the spectrum.
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The song for which the album was named, “Rose Mountain,” begins with a minute long intro, intense and hard, but the mood it sets is immediately shattered once Paternoster begins to sing. The song itself is almost a love song, or at least as close as this band has ever gotten to writing a love song. This, of course, is fitting with the chorus of the song, in which she repeatedly sings “I’m nothing like the others; I was made just for you.” The song itself serves as a sort of paradigm for the band. It begins like an average hard rock song, transitions into a more catchy alternative rock song and ends with a seemingly misplaced piano part. The song, like the band, is eclectic and catchy and still rocks pretty hard.
Generally, the band sticks to the basic format of drums, bass, guitar and vocals.
The fact that they are able to incorporate this into their music without jeopardizing the sound they have worked so hard to establish simply goes to show how much this band continues to improve.
The piano in the final song, “Criminal Image,” does not seem to fit in such an intense song, Paternoster’s full voice shouting over the harsh sounding guitars and drums. But, somehow, they make it work. Piano in a particularly hard rock song is something only Screaming Females could pull off so fabulously.
Throughout the entire album, there are recurring themes to the songs. Several of the songs begin quietly, Paternoster showing she can sing any way she wants.
Her voice and the music eventually build up into the wailing, rocking chorus. It’s like the Screaming Females song formula and it’s perfect.
Screaming Females have been around nearly ten years and each album they put out brings something new to the world. They are, quite possibly, the greatest contemporary punk rock band and this new album only goes to further prove that statement. Buy Rose Mountain today.
Sarah Rooney can be contacted at srooney@kscequinox.com
