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Screw Houston

Screw Houston

Written by: PP on 16/04/2015 23:01:29

It has been a couple of years since we last heard about Dutch hardcore group Screw Houston, Start Screaming. Since then, they've shortened their name down to just Screw Houston, and fine tuned their emotionally wrought hardcore to sound even more piercing and uncompromising than it did on 2011's "When Trumpets Fade". Basically, think back to the razor-sharp vocal delivery you heard on records by This Is Hell or The Ghost Of A Thousand, then embed subtle melody lines hidden between the lines, and you're pretty much there.

Melody, however, has been placed in more of a backing role throughout their self-titled album. Screaming their lungs broken in the midst of hardcore punk instrumentation with a few emotional hardcore undertones has been the primary objective instead. Sounds familiar? You might have heard something along the same lines on the most aggressive material by seminal emotional hardcore band Boysetsfire if you go back to "The Misery Index..." years. The problem with that? Screw Houston forget to add in dynamics that would create a varied soundscape, and as such, the relentless screaming gets tiresome and monotonous after a while. Sure, "Stained" slows down the breakneck speed tempo somewhat to allow for a more atmospheric piece (in relative terms), but overall the band would benefit from either an increase in groove, melody lines, or memorable riffage. After all, that's why The Ghost Of A Thousand were so revered despite dabbling in similarly piercing and unfriendly type of hardcore as Screw Houston here.

At the same time, the band compensates with emotional intensity and urgency that's difficult to deny. You can't argue against the band pouring their hearts out into the expression, that much is clear from the manner the instrumentation is executed with and from the poor vocal chords of their screamer. I just wish their songs were a little more memorable.

Download: Forbidden Love, Stained, Wait Upon Death
For the fans of: This Is Hell, Gallows, The Ghost Of A Thousand, Cancer Bats, Boysetsfire
Listen: Facebook

Release date 29.03.2015
White Russian Records