Hello again. This special section lists my Top 10 of whatever I think of when I bother updating. So here we go...

1.Fred Erskine (Hoover, The Crownhate Ruin, June Of '44, The Boom): The multi-talented Erskine sang and played bass in the first two, played bass and trumpet in the third, and sang and played guitar and trumpet in the last one. And to top it all off, he has by far the most ear-piercing, characteristic scream I've heard. Fuck Slayer, Pantera et al - if you want intense, soulful screaming, here it is! Prime example of screaming: "Distant", from "The Lurid Traversal Of Route 7" by Hoover, or "Ride Your Ride" from "Until The Eagle Grins" by The Crownhate Ruin.

2.Chino Moreno (Deftones): If you want no-nonsense metal screaming, Chino Moreno can switch it on at the most inappropriate of moments. Over two albums, he has combined furious screeches with vocal melodies to rival Radiohead's Thom Yorke! Prime example of screaming: Well it had to be "My Own Summer (Shove It)" from "Around The Fur", didn't it?

3.Kurt Cobain (Nirvana): It's often forgotten how much Nirvana's Kurt Cobain destroyed his vocal cords for the sake of a good recorded scream, but the band's three studio albums are testament to it, especially "Bleach". Prime example of screaming: "Floyd The Barber", "School" and "Paper Cuts" from the aforementioned album contain screaming of a disturbing nature. As do "Territorial Pissings" from "Nevermind" and "Scentless Apprentice", "Rape Me" and "tourette's" from "In Utero".

4.Ian Mackaye (Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Embrace, Fugazi): Although he doesn't use it as much as we'd like these days, Mackaye possesses a fierce set of vocal cords, which is best heard in Fugazi's early work. Prime example of screaming: Take your pick from "Waiting Room", "Suggestion", "Repeater, "Styrofoam", "Polish", "KYEO", "Facet Squared", "Great Cop", "Instrument", "Bed For The Scraping", "Back To Base", "Five Corporations" etc etc by Fugazi, or almost anything by Minor Threat.

5.Tad Doyle (H-Hour, TAD): Doyle sounds even more frightening than he looks, his vocal terrorism stretching across six painful albums. Although it would be silly to suggest that this is due to any mental anguish rather than the fact that he actually enjoys scaring the shit out of people, it is likely to cause mental anguish in unwary listeners. Prime example of screaming: Everything on the mighty Albini-produced "Salt Lick".

6.Courtney Love (Hole): It has to be said that, despite her recent lapse into mediocrity, Courtney's scream is up there with the best of them, and is particularly evident on Hole's first two albums. Frightening stuff. Prime example of screaming: "Violet", "Dicknail" and "I Think That I Would Die" are personal favourites.

7.Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) Smashing Pumpkins were always corporate rock whores, but Billy Corgan didn't let that stop him doing what he wanted. Although "Adore" suffers from a dearth of screaming, its predecessor "Mellon Collie..." contained some truly full-on moments. Prime example of screaming: "Bodies" or "Tales Of A Scorched Earth" from "MCATIS".

8.Matt Bagguley (Cable) Recently going for a more chart-friendly approach vocal-wise, Cable's first two albums find Bagguley on truly intense vocal form, going from monotone to melodic to raw scream. Prime example of screaming: "Murdering Spree", "Hydra" and "Oubliette" from "Down-Lift The Up-Trodden" and "From Here You Can See Yourself" and "Signature Tune" from "When Animals Attack", as well as B-sides "Horse Drawn And Quartered", "The (We Did The Music For The Sprite Ad) Blues" and "Action Replay Replay".

9.Guy Picciotto (Rites Of Spring, Fugazi) Now preferring the amelodic wailing style showcased on Fugazi's recent work, Picciotto's vocal work with emo-punks Rites Of Spring is a different kettle of fish altogether, and even less melodic! Enjoy his rasping tones on ROS's self-titled LP. Prime example of screaming: Probably "Persistent Vision" from that record.

10.Ian Curtis (Warsaw, Joy Division): He's not exactly famed for his screaming (more his zombie-like moaning), but when he goes out of control, the late Curtis sounded like a man possessed! Which indeed he was... Prime example of screaming: The end of "Day Of The Lords" is sort of harrowing.