The triumphant return of Scream is upon us as the band's first full-length record in decades, DC Special, drops on Dischord Records this Friday. But the album enters a changed world for the group, a world without recently decased drummer Kent Stacks and without a functioning Inner Ear Studios. In a sense, this album, featuring both drumming by Stacks and production by Inner Ear's Don Zientara, is a reminder of the scene's best elements, and a celebration of the Scream family itself.
Opener "DC Special Sha La La" roars out of the gate, bass from Skeeter Enoch Thompson surging, guitar from Franz Stahl cranking it out, and drumming from Stacks anchoring this in the ear. A near-anthem, the tune positively soars. The Brendan Canty-directed video for the single is a kind of victory lap for Scream, with singer Pete Stahl striding around the Tidal Basin as he sings the tune. It's such a fantastic track on every level that even a casual fan of harDCore is liable to be moved. "Bored to Life" (cowritten with Darryl Jennifer of Bad Brains) and "Hel Nah" are similar blasts of fire. To hear these four musicians sound this good in 2023 is something to be thankful for. The band's brand always favored a musuclar melodicism, and the Stahl brothers, Thompson, and Stacks may never have sounded this in sync together as they do on selections like these. Backing vocals from Amy Pickering (Fire Party) on "Vanishing Commissars" add nuance to the attack, as do appearances from a few other notable guests on DC Special.
On "Somebody Love", a pounding riff-rocker turns into a scorching bit of hardcore. Bass from Mark Cisneros (The Make-Up, Hammered Hulls, Des Demonas, Kid Congo Powers & The Pink Monkey Birds) on that one is a highlight, as is Mark's down-tempo drumming on "The Flam", another one with nice vocal touches from Pickering, and particularly supple bass-work from Joe Lally (Fugazi, The Messthetics). Those guest appearances here on DC Special are ones which add new colors to the Scream paintbox, though I suppose mention will be made of the appearance of ex-Scream drummer Dave Grohl on "Tum Tum", a near-skank number. With one of Pete's best performances on the record, this one feels a whole lot like something from Sandinista!, and I mean that in the best possible way. "Lifeline" brings in Michael Reidy (Razz) for backing vocals and Bob Berberich (The Hangmen) for drumming duties (Kent's on maracas), while the fierce "Represent" has a whole bunch of folks, including Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, Coriky, etc.), on it, enough that the song feels almost like the beating heart of the whole release. The lyrics link this centerpiece of DC Special with past efforts from these Dischord legends as they are still fighting the good fights.
For most of us, DC Special is going to be a celebration of the scene, city, label, and band. There's been no lessening of the powers of any of these players. In fact, the variety and strength here on this 2023 Scream record offer a nice refutation of the idea that harDCore is hegemonic and resistant to stylistic change. A family affair, Scream's DC Special is, of course, the final statement of drummer Kent Stacks, and the likely last souvenir of the sound that could only come alive in Inner Ear. It's the kind of D.C. record to wax lyrical over; the kind to play as loud as fuck; and the kind to jumpstart the memory while charging the heart for the future.
DC Special by Scream is out on Friday via Dischord Records. Details below too.
[Photo: Dischord / Scream Bandcamp]