Screaming Females: All At Once (Don Giovanni) Review

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Screaming Females

All At Once

Don Giovanni

Feb 28, 2018 Web Exclusive By Nate Daly

On Screaming Females’ seventh album, Marissa Paternoster’s howling vocals and dazzling guitar work again take center stage, barely anchored by bassist Mike Abbate and drummer Jarrett Dougherty. More sprawling and expansive than their previous record, All At Once still struggles to contain the myriad charms of this archetype power trio. DIY to the core, the band worked with an outside producer for the first time on 2015’s Rose Mountain and again return to Seattle to record with Matt Bayles (Soundgarden, Mastodon), whose understanding of the “big rock record” displays the band’s evolution from primal garage punks to arena-ready rock gods. Nonstop touring and an electrifying live show haven’t hurt either.

The first three tracks announce that the band is going to lay it all out on the table. “Glass House” is an atmospheric slow burner, “Black Moon” calls back to that N.J. garage, and “I’ll Make You Sorry” is rife with hooks. The album’s two-part centerpiece “Chamber for Sleep” perfectly fuses the band’s penchant for a well-constructed song with their live improvisation. “Soft Domination” doubles up on the drums with help from Brendan Canty and “Step Outside” packs a sprawling guitar solo and punk gusto into a perfect album closer. (www.screamingfemales.com)

Author rating: 7/10

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Average reader rating: 6/10