Newport, South Wales’ Science Bastard has a sensibility of mixing jagged post hardcore sound with great melodies, and that ability is just as acute as that of any other successful band that has tried this formula and got it right. For a debut album by an indie band (which, in its truest indie sense, is under a small local Newport label and has no band website), Pull Tiger Death Cord is a pretty mature effort. The line between music that involves rabid screaming and actually making great, listenable hard rock songs is very fine; but even folks who might otherwise find this peculiar style to be too abrasive would really enjoy the music here. Science Bastard has no problems pulling off this sound, creating a catchy rock record that also has a lot of screaming!

The difference between Science Bastard and most of the other “screaming” acts of their kind is that this band has a sense of comicality in their music; they sound less gloomy and besetted with all of the world’s problems. But at the same time, their music is edgy and without any reservations. In the mostly two to three minute numbers on Death Cord, Science Bastard manages to pack in complex, artful noise with interesting start-stop rhythms, great musicianship, lots of crazy energy, and also somehow manages to sneak in great melodies amid all the mayhem. Tracks like the humorously titled “Phil Collins,” “Trevor,” “Harmonica,” “Pull Tiger Death Cord,” and “Wolves” emblemize this facet of the album, in which the sheer energy of the band steals the show.

Science Bastard caters to their mellower side on “A Different Same” and “All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace,” with their less hectic song structures ultimately turning out to be amazing single-worthy rock songs. The whole essence of Death Cord is condensed on the album closer, the almost seven minute long “Exit. In a sickly humorous way, the song starts with a kid saying “A painless yet horrific and bloody death” with zero emotion in the voice. Then, a music jam ensues, which goes on for over two minutes in all its primal energy, finally simmering down to melodiously slow and soothing guitars before the vocals kick in. And then the song goes on, changing paces from ferociously fast to calming stop and everywhere in between. And that’s the story of Death Cord: it’s an album that’s totally out of control but also has just enough sense not to crash into a tree and kill the exciting journey in a painless yet horrific and bloody death.

Rating: A-

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