S.C.U.M.

For the majority of the '80s, what was known as college rock mostly came from four camps: power-pop, punk, dance rock and goth. Peculiarly, the latter never really did make that transition into alternative and indie as smoothly as the others. Suitably signed to Mute, London, UK quintet S.C.U.M.'s debut, Again Into Eyes, acts like Bauhaus didn't break up and Echo and the Bunnymen never discovered the Doors. Keeping things textured and guttural, S.C.U.M. certainly know how to keep a dark wave dirge moving, utilizing black light keyboard soundscapes and down stroke guitars on "Days Untrue" and "Whitechapel." Recorded by Wire, Psychic TV and Alien Sex Fiend producer/engineer Ken Thomas, it's no secret that, from Thomas Cohen's spelunking vocals all the way to Melissa Rigby's machinist drum sound, S.C.U.M. strive to capture a particular era in modern rock. But a revival is only as fascinating as its interpreter and on Again Into Eyes, S.C.U.M. struggle to realize this.