Breaking boundaries in order to create a new sound.

Are We All Angels is the second full-length album from Santa Cruz-based alternative band  Scowl. Released April 4, 2025, the album is a testament to the genre-defying nature of the band. Infusing several different styles together, Scowl refuses to succumb to one official title. Each song on their album is representative of this objective, with several tunes contrasting in sound. One may lean more on the hardcore side, while another heats up with ‘80s synth intertwined with dreamy pop vocals from lead singer Kat Moss. The mechanics of its pieces are diverse, but Are We All Angels is united through its indifferent mood and refusal to be characterized by limiting labels. The motive of its music moves beyond identity and instead focuses on the moments that make one the most human.  

The opening track, “Special”, begins with an intense five-second drum line before a striking guitar chord rings through the beat. Moss’ vocals come in waves, halting every few syllables for a dramatic effect over the song’s main guitar sequence. Just as it is getting started, it takes off with the chorus where Moss alternates between lead and backup vocals: “I don’t want to be special / Just to live a lie / I don’t want to be different / Just to stay a lie.” Although initially understood as a female experience, the line can be translated into any situation where one feels pressured to live a life outside of their authentic self. It is a powerful message that is sufficiently supported by its bellowing guitar chords, which effectively communicate Moss’ carelessness for conventional standards.   

Track three, “Fantasy”, is the most obvious example of the strong distinction between hard and soft sounds in the album. It begins with a pounding guitar sequence that borders on a garage band product. Conversely, Moss offers delicate vocals that glaze over the jagged chords, which sing, “Couldn’t really / quite explain the place / the pain / with fantasy / it’s out there.” Her echoing lyrics reveal a vulnerability associated with personal pain and disappointment. It is a sensitive touch to a harsh melody, which equally communicates frustration with these let-downs. 

Track eight, “Cellophane” is quick-paced and only gets faster as it progresses. As one of the edgier songs in the collection, Moss appears as a more empowered figure, looking her adversary directly in the face. Here, she confronts heartbreak in a mocking manner as she sings, “I spit the truth into your face / I bet you’re sick / You like the taste.” With thundering guitar chords that ricochet against one another, it is not only a girl power anthem, but a courageous war cry for all. 

Scowl is many things and entirely themselves all at once. While Kat Moss sings from a female perspective, her emotions are relatable as they are innate in the human experience. Scowl’s all-inclusive sound may be a myriad of different musical genres, but it is their core theme that helps them identify under Punk, Alternative, Indie, Rock, and so forth.