Been Stellar has made it clear from the start that they are here to ride the wave. Their self-titled EP was met with critical acclaim, and only a handful of bands can say they were the supporting band for the likes of Shame, Fontaines DC and The 1975 without even releasing a debut album. And now, with the release of Scream From New York, NY, this New York-based band proves that they are more than just a passing fad. The album is captivating from the get-go, with 'Start Again' opening with an eerie, haunting bassline and rumbling drums that set the stage for the frenzy that awaits in the following ten songs. Singer Sam Slocum pleads over and over the thunder of guitars, drums and bass. “New York is in ruins, let's start again,” he pleads, until the song reaches a deafening crescendo. A similar build-up and release is found on 'Passing Judgment'. It's a powerful post-punk number that builds pressure like a piston in the chorus before unleashing through a vast, intense instrumental.
Like New York, the album is a melting pot of influences, contrasting the relentless intensity of tracks like “All In One” and “Passing Judgment” with the plaintive '90s dream pop of “Pumpkin” and “Takedown.” But despite its diversity, a common thread runs through Scream From New York, NY: busy instrumentals that allow you to lose yourself in the moment, as if you were wandering the streets that inspired the album. Scream From New York, NY is both a document of the harsh and unforgiving workings of New York, and an ode to the emotions and relationships that exist beneath the city's cold, indifferent surface. This album will chew you up, spit you out, and confuse you. And once you've come out of it, the withdrawal symptoms from this maelstrom will have you coming back for more.