Punk rock is overflowing with creativity across its seemingly endless sub-genres, but few bands have created such a remarkably inimitable sound as A Wilhelm Scream. Over the past two decades, the New Bedford, MA-based quintet has become known for their technical prowess, harmonizing vocals, and energetic live shows that can blow your fucking hair back – and thankfully, they show no signs of slowing down.
Their sound can initially be a bit inaccessible to new listeners due to unconventional song structures that can only be described as “progressive” or “too advanced for dummies.” But with repeated listens, the constant tempo and chord changes that once sounded like chaos reveal themselves to be genius compositions. With the exception of their debut release – which suffers from sounding like it was recorded in a high school bathroom – the extraordinary quality of their discography makes ranking the albums a challenging affair, but here goes nothing.
6. Benefits of Thinking Out Loud (2001)
The songs on A Wilhelm Scream’s debut album are as catchy as you would expect from the group, and it’s easy to see the bones of what they would eventually become with the release of “Mute Print” three years later. But even the catchiest songs can’t shine to their full potential when the recording quality is awful and the vocal harmony attempts sound worse than beheading videos, so it can be tough to sit through for anyone who doesn’t have an existing love for the band. Consider this an official call for a 25th-anniversary redo from the guys, as it’d be a delight to hear these top-tier songs revived with some recording equipment released in the years since World War II.
Play It Again: “Catharsis for Dummies”
Skip It: “You Make Me Feel Like I Need A Drink” is too short to really make any kind of statement on the album.
5. Lose Your Delusion (2022)
Landing nearly a full decade after 2013’s “Partycrasher,” “Lose Your Delusion” is A Wilhelm Scream’s most mature album – but the group is also clearly taking themselves a bit less seriously and having the most fun of their career here. The mix of brighter-sounding riffs, slower tempos, and lyrics that tackle subjects like friendship and childhood nostalgia are a major shift from what fans have come to expect. As such, when the two more traditional hardcore tunes make appearances during the otherwise upbeat 11-song romp can have the type of jarring effect one might experience from seeing Bob Ross get angry and throw one of his paintings at a group of birds. But even those tonal inconsistencies can’t derail such a creative outing, so here’s to hoping we don’t have to wait another decade for more AWS,
Play It Again: “The Enigma”
Skip It: “I’m Gonna Work It Out” feels a bit incohesive and meandering, but it’s still somehow an earworm, and that really pisses me the fuck off.
4. Ruiner (2005)
Ruiner is filled to the brim with some of the catchiest melodies and riffs the group has ever pieced together (“The King is Dead” is probably the best fucking opener of any punk album ever) – but it’s definitely a product of its time. Everyone in the band was clearly on some mid-2000s emo shit, so there’s a blend of their signature sound with intimately bleak lyrical content and warm, thick guitar tones perfect for applying thick black eyeliner to. But while Ruiner no doubt flirted with Hot Topic vibes more than any of their other albums, it remains an awesome nostalgia bomb for those of us who grew up with these face-melting songs.
Play It Again: “The Kids Can Eat A Bag of Dicks”
Skip It: “In Vino Veritas II” isn’t a bad song by any means, but it’s unequivocally emo, so don’t be shocked if you feel a strange urge to break out your old studded belt and jelly bracelets.
3. Mute Print (2004)
While A Wilhelm Scream may be best known for their later work, “Mute Print” was many fans’ introduction to the New Bedford punk rockers. It’s here that they debuted the level of technical proficiency that would continue to define them for the following two decades, effortlessly combining intricate dual lead guitars with aggressive punk rhythms and fierce vocals to create a sound unmatched by their contemporaries. It’s also the home of “Rip,” which has long been a fan-favorite track to chant along to at live shows due to its heavy and lyrically-powerful outro.
Play It Again: “The Rip”
Skip It: “Picture of the World” has great riffs, but avoid it if you can’t handle the somewhat whiny melodies.
2. Partycrasher (2013)
With a predecessor like the career-defining release of “Career Suicide,” “Partycrasher” had a high bar to clear, so it’s surprising that A Wilhelm Scream managed to pull off an album so reminiscent of its predecessor at all. It features a handful of the best tracks in the band’s decades-spanning catalog and serves as a fantastic onboarding album for your friends with shitty music taste who are always trying to make you listen to Alkaline Trio. Hitting hard out of the gate with the anthemic “Boat Builders” and going out strong with the melodic mastery of “Born A Wise Man,” “Partycrasher” somehow manages to never relent at any point in-between.
Play It Again: “Devil Don’t Know”
Skip It: “Wild Turkey” is a great song that hits hard with its hooks, but it’s still the weakest link here.
1. Career Suicide (2007)
“Career Suicide” is widely accepted as A Wilhelm Scream’s magnum opus, showcasing the best and most consistent implementation of their progressive punk rock sound. The group’s fourth album just refuses to give you a moment to breathe with its relentlessly energetic collection of technical masterpieces. Singer Nuno Pereira sounds more comfortable than ever as he belts memorable lyrics with his signature intensity in between the staggeringly complex guitars and bass, never a missing a step across thirty-five minutes of thundering aggression. This is undoubtedly the album to show crusty punk kids what they could achieve if they’d spend more time practicing and less time sewing patches onto their jackets.
Play It Again: “5 To 9”
Skip It: Don’t even think about it. You’ll listen to every song, and you’ll fucking love it.