Search - Scream :: Fumble / Banging the Drum

The Gods Look Down in Anger...

Thomas A. Corpino | Hartsdale, NY United States | 07/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Scream-Discord records other "stars" (see Minor Threat) come at you on this release with both barrels burnin'. This CD is the final two releases by this reggae-tinged punk band on Discord, "Fumble"; the last, features a wee lad named David Grohl hittin' the skins; while "Banging the Drum", the previous effort, showcases Scream as a metallic 5-piece MINUS the aforementioned UFO Fighter. "Fumble" is a downright killer...from the Bad Brains-influenced "Land Tore Down", seriously impassioned vocals by Peter Stahl on the pounding "Dying Days", the very Wool (the Stahl Bros. latest/last band) sounding "Gas", to the blistering "Gods Look Down" featuring Mr. Grohl in his first lead vocal performance. "Fumble" closes with "Rain"-Peter chanting "Don't blame it on the Rain", while brother Franz literally washes the song away in a gorgeous, guitar-soaked drone..."Fumble" is 5-star material. The same can't be said for "Banging the Drum". On this disc Scream is a quintet-the 2nd guitar fueled by Robert Lee Davidson and the drumming by original member Kent Stax. (Believe me -he's no Dave Grohl...but, then again, not many performers are) "BTD" does have its moments-the murky "People, People" (good vocal turn by Peter), the piledriving "Mineshaft Burning", the manic "Feel Like That" (another powerful Peter Stahl sung song), to a superb instrumental called "The Rhythm Beating", which is firmly anchored by Skeeter Thompson's apocalyptic bass lines. Finally, they include a song called "When I Rise"... "BTD" is muddled, production-wise; although the songs are pretty decent. This would be a 3-star effort...which is why both together balance out evenly as a 4. As a bonus, check out the Stahl bros. band entitled WOOL. The CD is called "Box Set" and it is the perfect follow-up to "Fumble". Highly recommended..."