A Wilhelm Scream

Last updated
A Wilhelm Scream
AWS-014.jpg
A Wilhelm Scream in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2022
Background information
Also known asSmackin' Isaiah, Koen, Adam's Crack
Origin New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
Years active1999–present
Labels
Creator-Destructor Records
  • No Idea
  • Shock
  • Paper + Plastick
  • Nitro
  • Jump Start
  • All About Records
  • Ass-Card
  • Fork in Hand
  • Tank Records
  • Lockjaw Records
MembersNuno Pereira
Trevor Reilly
Jason Milbank
Brian J. Robinson
Nicholas Pasquale Angelini
Past membersJohn Carvalho
Jonathan Teves
Curtiss Lopez
Chris Levesque
Mike Supina
Website awilhelmscream.com

A Wilhelm Scream (abbreviated as AWS) is a melodic hardcore band from New Bedford, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. Their music has been compared to Strung Out, Hot Water Music, Propagandhi, [1] and Strike Anywhere [2] as the band's similar artists. Their name is a reference to the Wilhelm scream, a famous stock sound effect mainly used in films. [3] The band previously went by the names Koen, Adam's Crack, and Smackin' Isaiah, though the last was the only name to be used in any major releases. "The reason for the name changes from Koen to Smackin' Isaiah, then to A Wilhelm Scream was really a matter of them adding new members, and progressing/maturing as a band." [4]

Contents

History

Pre-formation and early years (1993–2000)

In 1993, drummer Trevor Reilly, guitarist John Carvalho and bassist Jonathan Teves formed the band Adam's Crack and recorded a Nirvana-inspired demo cassette. In 1994 Reilly and Carvalho started a side band with Nuno Pereira on vocals, and others. The side band played one show before disbanding. Members from the two bands would merge into one, taking the name Koen. The line-up of Koen consisted of Pereira (vocals), Reilly (drums), Teves (bass), Carvalho (guitar) and friend Mat Demelo (guitar and trumpet). Under the name Koen, the band released one cassette titled "The Big Fall...", this time with their sound evolving more into skate punk and ska. In 1997, the band changed its name again, this time to Smackin' Isaiah, and released a cassette titled "Give Girls More Beer...". Mat Demelo left the band shortly after. During this time, Reilly would switch between drumming and guitar duties, with an unknown drummer playing in the band for a brief amount of time. Nicholas Angelini was eventually tapped to play drums on a permanent basis. In 1998, Smackin' Isaiah released another demo cassette, titled "Gets Eaten Alive".

Tank Records era (2000–2002)

The band's first CD release was on Tank Records, a record label created by Carvalho and Teves. The CD was a split release with the bands Moronique and Merrick, entitled 6:6:6 after the number of tracks each band contributed. Soon after, the band released its debut album, The Way to a Girl's Heart Is Through Her Boyfriend's Stomach . The band considers this their first "real" release, as all the songs had been written after Angelini joined the band. In retrospect, they consider it their most cheerful record. [5] It was reissued 2 years later on All About Records, but the band stayed with Tank Records to release its second album, Benefits Of Thinking Out Loud . During the album's recording, the band members had a strained relationship as they argued over its production. Six outtakes from the album's recording sessions were compiled onto an EP entitled The Champagne of Bands... We Know Sexy released by Fork in Hand Records. Following its release, Carvalho left the band. Christopher Levesque quickly replaced him. [6]

Final name change and Nitro Records years (2003–2009)

With the band taking a more serious approach on Benefits, they decided to once more change their name, finally settling on A Wilhelm Scream. Signing with new label Jump Start Records, they re-released Benefits of Thinking Out Loud under their new name. After touring the United States and Canada a few times, they then began recording their next album, Mute Print , with Jump Start. For the recording of the album, the band decided to put "as much shit as you can possibly fit into a song and pull off live" into the songs, to which they attribute their faster, more aggressive and more technical sound. This album was recorded and produced by Descendents drummer Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, whom the band looked up to. [5] Although the album was finished while the band was signed to Jump Start, the rights to the album were then bought by Nitro Records, who released it in 2004.

Only a year after Mute Print, the band released a second record on Nitro, again produced by Stevenson and Livermore. The record, entitled Ruiner , was released on August 16, 2005. Following stress from touring, founding member Jonathan Teves left the band, and was replaced by bassist Curtiss Lopez. They then embarked on their first European tour with Lagwagon, and also toured with Less Than Jake. Midway through the latter tour, Lopez abruptly quit the band. [6] This left A Wilhelm Scream without a permanent bassist until April when Brian J. Robinson, former bassist of the punk band The Fullblast, joined the band. The band continued to tour extensively throughout 2006. They also released a 7-inch EP titled Diver on Jump Start Records. This was because the title track was recorded during the Mute Print sessions, but left off the album, and thus was not purchased by Nitro Records.

In 2007, the band returned to the Blasting Room again, with Stevenson and Livermore to record their third album with Nitro Records. The record, according to the band, was "very very fast" and a few songs were dropped for not being fast enough. [7] The record, Career Suicide , was released on October 9, 2007. However, only two weeks before its street date, long-time guitarist Chris Levesque announced that he was leaving the band, [8] elaborating with the following statement:

"I have maintained for the duration of my time in Smackin' Isaiah/A Wilhelm Scream that when it stopped being fun, I would give it up. The bottom line here is that I just don't enjoy the day-in, day-out grind of being on tour anymore.... There are no personal or creative differences between any of us. None of that bullshit. I still love this band and everything it stands for. The six years that I've spent in SI/AWS have been the best of my life. We've accomplished more than I ever expected, and I take with me with more amazing memories than most people experience in a lifetime.

The band began their tour in support of Career Suicide with several rotating guitarists, before Mike Supina, formerly of the Detroit-based band Alucard, was announced as Levesque's permanent replacement. The tour brought the band to over eighteen different countries, finishing in September 2008. Following its conclusion, guitarist Trevor Reilly announced in his blog that the band would take a break for the rest of the year, but implied that they would write new songs soon. [9] In a post to celebrate the new year, the band released b-side "The I Hate ___ Club", which was left off the album at the producers' request. The band were also demoing new songs. [10]

Label Changes, Self-Titled EP and Partycrasher (2009–2013)

In June 2009, the band signed to Paper + Plastick while working on a new album. Their first release for the label was a 5-song self-titled EP, mixed by Matt Bayles, released on November 20, 2009. [11]

In July 2010, the band returned to the studio to write and record their next studio album. A release date was expected sometime in 2010. [12] They took a break from recording in September, however, to support Comeback Kid in their Canadian tour for their upcoming fourth studio album. They returned to the studio when their performing dates were complete. The band recorded the album themselves, in their own studio with all the mixing once again being done by the crew at The Blasting Room. While touring South America in November 2012 they announced that the next album would be released in spring 2013.

On November 5, 2013, the band released "Partycrasher" via No Idea Records. It was produced and engineered by Trevor J. Reilly and Mike Supina at Black & Blue Studio in New Bedford, MA [13] [14]

Touring Years, Be One to No One and Lose Your Delusion (2014–2022)

In an interview on August 18, 2015, A Wilhelm Scream confirmed that they have already started writing on a follow-up to 'Partycrasher'. [15] From 2014 through 2018 the band toured extensively while intermittently writing new music. Following their success of recording "Partycrasher" in a local studio rather than going to The Blasting Room or another studio, Trevor Reilly committed himself to building a full studio and permanent rehearsal space for the band in his own home. Construction of the studio began in 2019 and was finished in the summer of 2021, with the band beginning recording new material in fall of 2021.

Lead guitarist Mike Supina left the band after finishing up A Wilhem Scream's touring commitments in 2018, ending his ten-year run. In the interim the band shows with a mix of lineups in 2019; Mute Print and Ruiner anniversary shows with former guitarist Chris Levesque and shows with songs from the self titled EP and Partycrasher with Senses Fail guitarist Jason Milbank. Milbank was initially brought on as a session musician for festival dates in Europe but later was confirmed by Trevor to be Supina's full time replacement and would be playing on the upcoming new songs.

In March 2021 Nuno Pereira announced that after a prolonged legal dispute that he, Trevor, and Nick had acquired the rights to all of A Wilhelm Scream's former releases with Nitro Records. The band did their first North America tour in three years when they did a fall run with Canadian hardcore band Comeback Kid on the East Coast of the United States and Canada. During that same time the band announced their signing to Creator Destructor Records.

On January 6, 2022, A Wilhelm Scream released their first new song in nearly nine years, titled Be One To No One, along with an accompanying lyric music video. On January 10, 2022, A Wilhelm Scream announced their fifth studio album, entitled Lose Your Delusion , would be released on April 14, 2022. Departing from their previous experience using Bill Stevenson and his associated staff at The Blasting Room, the album was recorded fully in the band's home studio and produced by the band, while mixing was handled Paramore producer Kyle Black and mastering was done by Joe Reilly.

Band members

Current members

Former members

Timeline

A Wilhelm Scream

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ataris</span> American rock band

The Ataris are an American punk rock band from Anderson, Indiana. Formed in 1996, they released five studio albums between 1997 and 2007. Their best-selling album is So Long, Astoria (2003), which was certified gold. Their high-charting single is their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" from So Long, Astoria. The only constant member throughout their history has been singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristopher "Kris" Roe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guttermouth</span> American punk rock band

Guttermouth is an American punk rock band formed in 1989 in Huntington Beach, California. They have released nine full-length studio albums and two live albums and have toured extensively, including performances on the Vans Warped Tour. They are infamous for their outrageous lyrics and behavior which are deliberately explicit, offensive and intended to shock, though usually in a humorous and sarcastic manner. This behavior has sometimes resulted in high-profile problems for the band, such as being banned from performing in Canada for eighteen months and leaving the 2004 Warped Tour amidst controversy over their political views and attitudes towards other performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Face to Face (punk band)</span> American punk rock band formed in 1991

Face to Face is a punk rock band from Victorville, California, formed in 1991 by frontman Trever Keith, bassist Matt Riddle and drummer Rob Kurth. The band rose to fame with their 1995 album Big Choice, featuring the radio hit "Disconnected" which received heavy rotation on KROQ radio in Los Angeles and appeared in the movies Tank Girl and National Lampoon's Senior Trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufio</span> American rock band

Rufio was an American rock band from Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States, in 2000. They released four studio albums: Perhaps, I Suppose (2001); MCMLXXXV (2003); The Comfort of Home (2005); and Anybody Out There (2010).

<i>Charge!!</i> 2005 studio album by The Aquabats

Charge!! is the fourth studio album by American comedy rock band The Aquabats, released on June 7, 2005 by Nitro Records.

<i>Exile in Oblivion</i> 2004 studio album by Strung Out

Exile In Oblivion is the fifth studio album by Strung Out released by Fat Wreck Chords in 2004. "Analog" was used as part of the soundtrack to the video game MX vs. ATV Unleashed.

<i>In with the Out Crowd</i> 2006 studio album by Less Than Jake

In with the Out Crowd is the sixth studio album by American ska-punk band Less Than Jake, released on May 23, 2006 on Sire Records. Produced by Howard Benson, who had previously worked with the band on their third studio album, Hello Rockview (1998), the album was preceded by the single "Overrated " and an EP of material recorded during the same sessions, entitled Absolution for Idiots and Addicts.

<i>Mute Print</i> 2004 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Mute Print, released on April 20, 2004 through Nitro Records, is the third full-length album from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream. It is their first studio album since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Swellers</span> American punk band

The Swellers were an American punk band from Flint, Michigan. Their music is influenced by melodic punk rock, as well as alternative and indie rock bands, from the 1990s. They disbanded in 2015.

<i>Ruiner</i> (A Wilhelm Scream album) 2005 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Ruiner, released on August 16, 2005 through Nitro Records, is the fourth full-length album from the Massachusetts-based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream, and their second album since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002. It received mostly very favourable reviews.

<i>The Way to a Girls Heart Is Through Her Boyfriends Stomach</i> 1999 studio album by Smackin Isaiah

The Way To A Girl's Heart Is Through Her Boyfriend's Stomach, released in 1999 through Tank Records, is the debut full-length release from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band now known as A Wilhelm Scream.

The Audition is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band is composed of singer Danny Stevens, drummer Ryan O'Connor, guitarists Seth Johnson and Timmy Klepek and bassist Joe Lussa. The band's first release was a six track EP titled All In Your Head. In early 2005, they signed to record label Victory Records and released their debut album, titled Controversy Loves Company. In early January 2008 they released their second studio album Champion. On April 28, 2009 they released their third studio album Self-Titled Album. Their latest full-length album Great Danger was released on March 16, 2010.

Ensign is an American hardcore punk band from New Jersey. They formed in 1995 and signed with Indecision Records in 1996. They signed to the larger label "next door", Dexter Holland's Nitro Records, in 1998 and finally came to rest at Blackout Records in 2003 after a brief sortie back to Indecision in 2000.

<i>Career Suicide</i> (album) 2007 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Career Suicide, released on October 9, 2007, through Nitro Records, is the fifth studio album from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream,.

Much The Same is a punk rock band from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Their style is based on the fast, melodic skate punk of the mid-to-late 1990s made popular by bands such as NOFX, Lagwagon, and No Use for a Name.

<i>A Wilhelm Scream</i> (EP) 2009 EP by A Wilhelm Scream

A Wilhelm Scream, released on November 20, 2009 through Paper + Plastick, is the second EP and in all the fifth release from the Massachusetts-based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002. It is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed third full-length album Career Suicide and has thus far received very favourable reviews.

<i>Benefits of Thinking Out Loud</i> 2001 studio album by Smackin Isaiah, Studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Benefits of Thinking Out Loud, released in 2001 through Tank Records, is the second full-length release from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band now known as A Wilhelm Scream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deafheaven</span> American black metal band

Deafheaven is an American post-metal band formed in 2010. Originally based in San Francisco, the group began as a two-piece with singer George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who recorded and self-released a demo album together. Following its release, Deafheaven recruited three new members and began to tour. Before the end of 2010, the band signed to Deathwish Inc. and later released their debut album Roads to Judah, in April 2011. They popularized a unique style blending black metal, shoegaze, and post-rock, among other influences, later called "blackgaze" by reviewers.

<i>Partycrasher</i> 2013 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Partycrasher, released on November 5, 2013, through No Idea Records, is the fourth full-length album from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream, since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah, and their sixth overall. It is their first full-length release following 2007's Career Suicide. Recorded in 2012, Produced and Engineered by Trevor J. Reilly and Mike Supina at Black and Blue Studio, and Anchor End Recording, both in New Bedford MA. Additional Engineering by James Whitten. Mixing done by Andrew Berlin and the crew at The Blasting Room.

<i>Lose Your Delusion</i> 2022 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Lose Your Delusion is the seventh overall studio album by Massachusetts-based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream, and the fifth album under the A Wilhelm Scream name. It was released on April 14, 2022, on Creator-Destructor Records. This is the first AWS in 9 years since their sixth studio album Partycrasher, as well as their first album to feature Senses Fail guitarist Jason Milbank who relieved Mike Supina in 2019, though the latter did provide some guitar parts on the record.

References

  1. "Comparison to Hot Water Music and Propagandhi" Archived 2007-10-01 at the Wayback Machine mtv.com
  2. "Comparison to Strike Anywhere" punknews.org
  3. "Origin of band name" Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine fourteeng.net
  4. "News Portal : – ::: Interview ::: A Wilhelm Scream". Bombshellzine.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  5. 1 2 "A Wilhelm Scream". A Wilhelm Scream. Archived from the original on 2005-10-31. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  6. 1 2 "A Wilhelm Scream – Profile". AbsolutePunk.net. 2005-08-16. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  7. "A Wilhelm Scream complete new album" Punknews.org
  8. "A Wilhelm Scream guitarist leaves band" Punknews.org. September 28, 2007.
  9. "MySpace.com Blogs – A WILHELM SCREAM MySpace Blog". Blogs.myspace.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  10. "MySpace.com Blogs – A WILHELM SCREAM MySpace Blog". Blogs.myspace.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  11. "A Wilhelm Scream sign to Paper & Plastick." Punknews.org. June 29, 2009.
  12. "Finally, an Update!" awilhelmscream.com. July 6, 2010.
  13. "A Wilhelm Scream announces 'Partycrasher'".
  14. "A WILHELM SCREAM".
  15. 'Band Interview: A Wilhelm Scream' seeingyourscene.com. August 18th, 2015.