Silver Screams - Defective Machines 12" EP

Silver Screams - Defective Machines 12" EP

It is hard to believe that the Boston area band, Silver Screams, has been together for 5 years now.  Defective Machines, was released this month (May 13, 2017) and is their follow up to the 2014 CD EP, Creep Joint Scratch.  This 6 song DIY recording comes on a beautiful radioactive orange 12 inch vinyl that compliments the color on the cover art.  The artwork reflects the dark, moody, apocalyptic tones of the lyrics.

The band has upped the anti on their sound since their first release.  While they both have dark vocals, the first release was more up tempo post punk with splashes of The Church, The Stranglers, and UK Subs Flood of Lies era sprinkled in.  "Dead Air", the opening track on this beauty, punches you in the face with its driving bass and drums.  This continues through the remaining 2 tracks on the A-side.  It is over in about 8 minutes and you feel wore out from the pace.  It throws me back to the reunion show I saw of The Effigies at the Empty Bottle in Chicago in 2004.

Side 2 has more guitars than its flip side, but still has a nice back beat. The tempo decreases and the songs get a bit longer.  I hear touches of The Church, The Bomb, and the experimental B-side of the UK Subs Endangered Species LP.  Finishing off the record is a cover of Joy Division's "Disorder" from their 1979 Unknown Pleasures LP.

If you checkout their Bandcamp site, you can get an additional two songs on the EP download.  Silver Screams adds some punch to cover songs from the 1995 release "Freak Show" by The Freeze and the 1980 debut of "Crocodiles" by Echo & The Bunnymen.  Interestingly enough, the range of influences of the band covers the spectrum between these two songs.

When you mix the style of the music with the darkness of the lyrics, you get a new genre of punk rock - POWER GOTH!  I have enjoyed the growth of the sound of the band over the years.  I can't wait to get up to Boston to witness their power live.  Keep up the good work boys.  Looking forward to the next release.  Don't take so long to get it out this time.

To keep up with where the band will be playing live follow them on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SilverScreamsBoston.  To buy their music, follow them on their Bandcamp page - https://silverscreams.bandcamp.com/music.