Bay Area hardcore band Scowl has signed with the venerable Dead Oceans label (home to Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, etc.), and to celebrate, they’ve released a video for new single “Special.”
“Special” reveals a new layer of depth and texture in Scowl’s artistry, showcasing a band rooted in authenticity—blending innovative song structures with passionate, relatable lyrics. They’ve consistently defied categorization, moving far beyond what’s expected from “hardcore.” “Special” is no exception, gleaming with vocals that exude confidence, seamlessly intertwining fierce screams, growls, and snarls, while the track’s instrumentation continually reveals new layers, offering more with each listen to its urgent, driving sound.
Produced by Grammy-nominated Will Yip (who also worked on the band’s EP Psychic Dance Routine) and mixed by Rich Costey (Fiona Apple, Deftones, Vampire Weekend), “Special” boasts big rock arena appeal while retaining Scowl’s raw intensity. If pop and hardcore were to unite, ‘Special’ would be their rebellious offspring.
Vocalist Kat Moss shares her thoughts on “Special”:
“Originally Malachi sent in the demo while we were touring the UK. Cole added his flare on drums, Bailey directed the bridge, and finally Mikey cooked up his leads. “Special” is a kamikaze. The lyrics are about threatening the audience by asking “what do you really want?”in clear desperation to answer my own question “What do I really want?” But the answer is simple, I want to feel alive.”
Scowl has quickly established themselves as one of the most dynamic and hard-working acts in rock, touring extensively in the U.S. and internationally with the likes of Limp Bizkit, Destroy Boys, SPEED, The Bronx, Militarie Gun, Show Me The Body, Zulu, Touche Amore, A Day To Remember, Speed, Sunami and many more, along with festival appearances at Coachella, Reading & Leeds, No Values, Outbreak, Primavera, and Sick New World to name a few.
The band—Malachi Greene (guitar), Bailey Lupo (bass), Cole Gilbert (drums), Mikey Bifolco (guitar), and Kat Moss (vocals)—broke out in 2021 with their debut album How Flowers Grow, and they’ve been on a non-stop rise ever since. With 2023’s Psychic Dance Routine, Scowl pushed the boundaries of punk, blending aggressive hardcore with lush alternative melodies. They were creating music they wanted to hear, and the world took notice.
Now, with “Special,” Scowl is setting the stage to claim 2025 as their own.
