Album Review: Holy Scum – All We Have Is Never

An explosion of intense sound with meaningful understandings of life’s mystery.

Holy Scum is already shrouded in intimidation just by the name. This intense rock group just released their latest album, All We Have Is Never, and it is easy to say that it is full of intimidation and intensity. Mysterious and manic, but with intention, this new album is the first of the band’s new lineup, featuring band members of Gnod, Dälek, Action Beat and Ghold, as they come together to create one of their greatest yet.

The title of this album, All We Have Is Never, might nod to a rather pessimistic point of view, but in reality, the band’s Peter Taylor described in an interview (via Metal Temple) that, “The title is a nod to the fact that everything ends – good, bad, ugly, beautiful. That is not a bad thing – it is a rebirth every time. We can spend a lifetime 24/7 together having shared experiences but living separate realities.”

He continued to add that this album grew from the seeds of a difficult year in all of their lives, alluding that the opportunity to come together in creating this album was a cathartic way of bringing fruition out of an unfortunate time in their lives.

Diving into the contents of the album, we begin with “Waves of Laughter.” Starting the album off with heavily distorted, feedback noise over intense guitar. The sounds fight against each other for dominance, creating chaos that creates the feeling and sound of fighting against a strong storm of wind or snow.

In “Liar,” we once again visit this entanglement of feedback, music and now vocals. Holy Scum seems to have intentionally created an experience where each element of their music is simultaneously trying to drown the other out. In this particular track, the vocals are muffled, yet guttural and bold. Seeming to feel as if they are being spoken in an otherworldly language.

Digging into an album and taking in the elements proves to be a challenge, but that is not to say that it is not intended to be this way. Holy Scum has never been shy to admit that their music is meant to be ear-splitting and intense, not exactly for the faint of heart, but yet, they find a way to incorporate some of life’s most delicate deep realities and themes into these masterpieces.