It’s been a little while since we’ve had a full album from power trio Screaming Females, and now they’re back with a double album no less – All at Once. I’m intrigued by the title, as it seems to imply the world at large – especially in First World nations. Everything is available to us any time we want it, yet most of us are dissatisfied with what we have. Thanks to the internet, we can be everywhere all at once, yet many of us are lonely or limit human contact as much as possible.
Screaming Females explore this dichotomy right away on the opening track, “Glass House.” Lead singer and guitarist Marissa Paternoster sings about her desire to break out of a controlling relationship that she willingly entered, but knowing that doing so will shatter both parties (“I’m locked in is this glass house, impossible to get out.”).
Bassist Mike Abbate and drummer Jarrett Dougherty put down a hard groove for Paternoster as she unloads Helmet-like guitar fuzz on “Black Moon.” Another possible meaning to the album’s title is the raw energy of Screaming Females that comes at you all at once during their live shows. The album adeptly catches their turn-on-a-dime precision and angry wolverine power.
“I’ll Make You Sorry” is not only scorching, but also catchy as Paternoster tries to warn a new lover. “I was once in love before you,” she sings. She’s been down a path that didn’t end well, and wants to give it another shot, but perhaps cutting loses now is easier for everyone. Paternoster’s solo on it flies around like a frisky blue jay.
“Dirt” has a bit of a post-punk sound to it that I love, and I’m happy to say that they add this flavor to a couple other tracks, like the excellent, sharp-angled “Fantasy Lens” and the funky bass-laden “Drop by Drop.” “Agnes Martin” could easily be a metal song if they doubled the speed, but they smartly keep it between garage rock and stoner metal as Paternoster sings about seeking companionship, but only away from others (“Take me under your wing, the sun destroys me.”). Dougherty’s chops are slick as axel grease on this, and Paternoster unleashes some of her trademark shredding. Her vocals get distorted (and backed by what sounds like a church organ) on “Deeply” as she sings about how hard she tends to fall in love when the opportunity arises.
I think Abbate and Paternoster might’ve rushed Dougherty to a Ready-Med clinic after they recorded “Soft Domination” because his groove on it is wickedly sick. “Tell me you’ll lift me up, tell me you’ll take me out of this place,” Paternoster pleads, desperate to get away from…what? A specific place? Life in general? “End of My Bloodline” has a bit of a dub feel to it with Abbate’s creeping bass, Dougherty’s nice high-hat work, and Paternoster’s slightly distorted vocals.
“Chamber of Sleep I” and “Chamber of Sleep II” walk into psychedelia, and the world is better for it. In both parts, Paternoster unloads her guitar like a flame thrower on a stack of articles that still refer to her as a “female guitarist.” “Bird in Space” is downright lovely, with Paternoster singing once more of taking flight from the moment / reality and putting on a guitar clinic.
“My Body” has Paternoster singing about disconnection from a lover and the world (“I’m sleeping in this chair, while you sleep in the hallway…When they come to find me, then please burn my body.”). All at Once ends with the fuzzed-out, massive (and abrupt) “Step Outside.” Screaming Females encourage us to get away from the internet, our comfort zones, or even prepare for a fight. The whole band cooks with gas and definitely unleashes in the spirit of the album’s title. All you can do it sit back and let it hit you.
All at Once is a great addition to Screaming Females‘ catalogue. Paternoster writes biting lyrics about love, heartbreak, and the weird complexities of relationships like few others in the rock business. She is like one of those plasma nebula balls, glowing and swirling with a hypnotizing calm until you get too close, and then she arcs lightning at you. She’s the lightning, Abbate is the thunder, and Dougherty is the driving wind and rain. All three come at you all at once, and you can’t stop them.
Keep your mind open.
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