This is the second album from US industrial band Holy Scum.
Bringing together elements of noise, experimental, noise rock, punk, post-punk, and industrial, into a textured and engaging collection of tracks. All We Have Is Never is a 42-minute album that’s very enjoyable to listen to.
All We Have Is Never offers up a mix of harshness and catchiness. The music takes its various component parts and uses them to produce music that has elements of extremity and punishing sounds, but is simultaneously accessible and filled with hooks. In this way, Holy Scum balance their noise influences and experimental rock jams with the dancefloor appeal of industrial beats and post-punk rhythms.
Different songs emphasise different aspects of the Holy Scum sound in different amounts, but overall All We Have Is Never takes the listener on a journey that hits a sweet spot. It’s bass-driven, underpinned by unexpectedly varied drums and percussion, enhanced by noise, electronics, and guitar parts, and crowned by charismatic vocals that have a punk character and an ear for catchy patterns. As well as the hooks though, there’s a lot of mood-focused songs here, which manifests especially during longer cuts such as Liar and Like December.
I’d definitely recommend this for fans of a mix of bands such as A Storm of Light, Fugazi, Godflesh, Ministry, Killing Joke, etc.
Wonderbox Metal 