Ruiner is the flawless follow up to A Wilhelm Scream’s 2004 release Mute Print. Mute Print was loved by critics, but the band never really became a household name. Perhaps it’s because A Wilhelm Scream’s style is unlike most of what’s dubbed as popular right now, but fuck popular, A Wilhelm Scream haven’t changed at all with Ruiner.
With Ruiner, A Wilhelm Scream has maintained their energetic version of punk, mixed with metal garnished with dashes of melody. Ruiner is chaotic, yet tight, gritty, but skillful and never seems to claim anything except what is heard from the speakers.
The album opens with “The King is Dead,” an explosive barrage of quick guitar fills and metal drum tones, all in the name of classic punk riffage. “God Loves A Liar” is a track fueled by headbang-inducing guitar lines complimented with hyper speed drums that will have heads spinning like something out of the Exorcist. Even though A Wilhelm Scream seem to have such an abrasive tone to their sound, there is plenty of room for hooks as heard on “The Pool” and “Me Vs. Morrissey in the Pretentious Contest (The Ladder Match).”
Nuno Pereira’s vocals are raspy and loud, yet extremely powerful and fitting for this type of sound. They bounce from sounding hardcore to sounding like classic punk. Think something a little more rough than Rise Against.
“Mercy Day for Mr. Vengeance” is probably one of the best tracks on the record as it starts off with mellow vocals carried by a drum melody and guitars that crescendo, followed by vocals that crescendo and ultimately transform into an almost entirely different song.
Now would be a good time to become familiar with A Wilhelm Scream. I think they really have something that the music industry will soon embrace more so than ever. I give Ruiner an 8.5 (out of 10).
Suggested Listening: “Mercy Day for Mr. Vengeance,” “Me Vs. Morrissey in the Pretentious Contest (The Ladder Match)” and “God Loves a Liar”
Release Date: August 16, 2005
By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III – Senior Editor / Founder
