Released 30 years ago
Howling
The Saints · 1996
46 min · 12 tracks · punk rock
A gritty blend of punk rock energy and introspective lyricism, capturing the raw essence of The Saints' musical evolution.
Top tracks — play these first
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Howling — The title track embodies the album's themes of inner turmoil and reflection, setting a tone that resonates throughout the record.
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Good Friday — This track combines haunting melodies with poignant lyrics, illustrating the band's ability to weave emotional depth into their punk roots.
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Something Wicked — Offering a driving rhythm and sharp commentary, this song showcases the band's signature punk sound while embracing contemporary influences.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Howling blends energetic punk with introspective lyrics, showcasing a solid return for The Saints.
What we noticed
- The first track opens with a driving guitar riff that sets a high-energy pace, which is maintained through the first half of the album.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo shifts, such as 'Good Friday' which slows down significantly before picking up again.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- gritty introspection with urgency
- late-night reflective energy
- cathartic bursts of emotion
- tight tracks for focused listening
Maybe skip if you
- prefer polished, radio-ready sound
- seek immediate melodic gratification
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1996, Howling marked The Saints' return after a decade-long hiatus following their previous album, All Fools Day. This album signaled an attempt to reconnect with their roots while evolving their sound amid the changing landscape of rock music in the '90s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Damned· The Stooges· X-Ray Spex
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Howling 4:19
- 2 Shadows 4:11
- 3 Something, Somewhere, Sometime 3:35
- 4 Something Wicked 3:26
- 5 Only Stone 3:22
- 6 Good Friday 4:23
- 7 Blown Away 5:15
- 8 Last and Laughing Mile 4:12
- 9 You Know I Know 3:30
- 10 Only Dreaming 3:21
- 11 Second Coming 3:50
- 12 All for Nothing 3:33
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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