Ok, so it's no secret that I really like A Wilhelm Scream. Like, a lot. I gave their most recent full-length, Ruiner, an 8.5 out of a possible 10. The full-length has yet to leave regular rotation in my listening habits, and the thing's been out since August! There had been talks from Jumpstart Records for a long time that they were planning to release a 7", to be titled Diver. On February 7th, this infamous 7" finally arrived on the doorstep of so many fans, drooling in Pavlovian proportions.
Side A of Diver kicks off with the title track. The song has a strong, melodic backbone, and is quite similar to most anything off of Mute Print. The song opens with quick riffing, while the drums, which I feel are definitely one of the band's strongest points, come in slow and steady. The song has some of the trademarks you've come to expect from these boys from Massachusetts; the fretboard acrobatics of Trevor Reilly and Chris Levesque, the down tempo musical break with the melodic vocals of Nuno Pereira laying over it, and their mix of So-Cal skatepunk meets the metallic riff.
Side B's track, "They Like Their Turtlenecks Ribbed," is somewhat uncharacteristic of the band, as the song is short, fast, and sweet. It clocks in at a mere 46 seconds. The song is sung mainly by guitarist Trevor Reilly, with distinct backups from Nuno Pereira, and takes on the topic of not changing yourself to please those around you. Some of the song's lyrics pretty much get their point across: "Be true to self / Don't be what you're not / Hold on to what you've got."
If you're a fan of A Wilhelm Scream, Diver will make a great addition to your collection. If you're just getting into the band, I'd recommend either of the band's previous full-lengths before delving into these two songs. Those long-players will give you a better idea of the band's overall sound.
