I’m sure you all remember Spray Paint the Sun very fondly. so I’m sure you won’t mind getting studio recordings of four of the tracks from the live album posted earlier on that’s punk – including my favourite track “Больше чем шум”? of course you don’t mind. it’s so good! for those of you who don’t remember them, Spray Paint the Sun are a Russian emo band that cites influences such as Policy of 3 and Indian Summer, but also newer bands such as Sailboats and June Paik. Spray Paint the Sun are noisy as all hell breaking loose at the same time, but periodically they calm down, and the guitars masterfully interact with each other, almost sounding as if they are trying to find a way to outsmart one another. in the background, the spastic drums make sure the music is perceived as vivid and flowing. the bass gives a softer sound, and adds another dimension to the songs. the Indian Summer influences are clear when listening to the rhythm guitar and the bass guitar, carefully making their way forward. the lead guitar on the other hand is far more aggressive and impatient, rushing from note to note at all times. but I guess I’m going sort of in the opposite direction of what I’m supposed to, because Season’s First Rain is in fact the band that appears first on the split, with five great tracks. their recordings are significantly more lo-fi (Spray Paint the Sun tracks being >1500kbps, compared to Season’s First Rain’s ~900kbps half), but undeniably glorious – with its Evergreen-like qualities. the bitrate suits the songs very well, adding more reverb and ensuring seamless transitions – as well as a complete blending of the instruments, making it sound like one holy entity. with a distinctly sad and depressing sound, Season’s First Rain remind me somewhat of Saetia, but they are much more sparse in their arrangements. sparse though noisy, with the clashing cymbals, rambling guitar and loud high-pitched screams. a band with their own sound, well worth checking out. they create their own unique atmosphere with their original approach to screamo, and their side goes very well with the quite different Spray Paint the Sun side of the split. while similarities no doubt exist, these two bands are completely different – but equally awesome. get this!
I.Witness – Secret Handshakes
this is the 2010 summer demo collection of I.Witness. it’s six songs and nigh twenty minutes. like the other I.Witness demo on that’s punk, the quality is surprisingly adequate. with songs ranging from 0:43 to 6:01 in length, I.Witness display both the traditional hardcore style adopted on All Roads Lead Southeast as well as the more brooding screamo style. thus this taster should satisfy fans of both the older material in addition to fans of the All Roads Lead Southeast. on Secret Handshakes, I.Witness bridges the gap between the two sounds, and further develop them into something new entirely. this is their most diverse collection of songs yet, as well as the perhaps best. “Непринятые Звонки”, “Маяки”, and “В Круге Первом” being my personal favourites of this band thus far, with lead riffs akin to Optimus Prime’s, a marvellous energy and emotionality comparable to Rites of Spring and One Last Wish, and sensational song structures à la Slint and Moss Icon. with this release, I.Witness feel like natural successors to the revolution summer bands. the guitars are heavy as shit in massive quantities. get this. now.
June Paik – Discography
the German four piece June Paik play music firmly rooted in the intense and aggressive screamo sound, but stray from “the basic formula”. when at their very loudest, June Paik are comparable to their countrymen Louise Cyphre, as well as the legendary American band Jeromes Dream. the band themselves put Canadian screamo forward as their main influences, and the brooding heavy Union of Uranus do indeed come to mind when listening to June Paik. the thick guitar tone and the dark qualities are ever present in June Paik’s often lengthy songs. but what really separates June Paik from other bands in the genre, are that they are far more dynamic as well as richly layered than most of the other bands. – and this despite only consisting of four members. beautiful Indian Summer octaves hinting at something glorious and sentimental in the background of an ugly droning monotonous passage, that eventually exits into what can only be described as musical Armageddon. June Paik’s crushing climaxes sound like the destruction of all that is beautiful – and nothing is as beautiful this. it doesn’t take many minutes of this discography to figure out why June Paik are frequently referred to as “apocalyptic screamo”. June Paik are emotional apocalypse. sounding more desperate, lost, anxious and dejected with every tone. June Paik are the sound of heartstrings being pulled (bear with me, for sake of symbolism). for a good portion of their discography they masterfully build up suspension, release it all in an intense crash, and then pick up all of the shattered fragments that are left, and rebuild the suspension – aiming for the skies, once again. most bands that attempt this go in the exact same trap. they are predictable, repetitive, boring and unoriginal. June Paik are the opposite of all of this. their compositions never cease to amaze, nor surprise. the inherent predictability of crescendo-based progressive music is completely eliminated by the subtle changes of mood, the seamless transitions between emotions, and the indescribably clever atmosphere. there are also a fair share of these totally unexpected abrupt and angst-ridden explosions, as well as equally unexpected murky sudden halts, that leave only a depressing and endless feeling of loneliness and darkness. June Paik are an amazing band that deserves all of your attention. download this. and buy most of it from http://www.reactwithprotest.org – their label’s site.
I Hate Myself – Discography
I don’t know how I am even supposed to begin writing this block of text. is it even necessary? does I Hate Myself need an introduction? definitely not. they do deserve one though, although I hardly think anything I could ever write would do them one tenth of justice. DILEMMA! gah. I Hate Myself were an emo band from Gainesville in Florida. they were active in 1996 to 1998, but one of their LPs were recorded and released several years post this. they recorded a bunch of stuff in their active period, all of which is included in this discography. most of their stuff can be bought from http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/ihatemyself.php – so do that as well. I Hate Myself are known, remembered and loved for a number of things. for being the wimpy boys that were playing shows tough guy bands, and their tough guy crowds, in which they’d speak their mind out against their macho bullshit community… for their ironic band name and satirical song titles… but most of all, I Hate Myself will forever be known, remembered and loved for one single reason: their sincere music. their recordings – particularly the early ones – are considered highly original and innovative in the screamo genre. but I Hate Myself did not play typical screamo. they are nothing like Honeywell, and nothing like Orchid. thus the “screamo” tag might be unfitting at best, or at worst: completely wrong. because I Hate Myself actually play creeping, quiet and soft music, most of the time. the guitars twinkle in a sparse manner, sounding like sad stars falling in slow motion. the drums follow discretely. the soft bass further enhances the mood. and the vocals weep along. the intricate nature of the music, and attention to detail makes them sound far more like Moss Icon, Still Life and Fugazi, than “screamo”. but then all of a sudden, they cut through with loud and angry bursts. dissonant riffs, crashing drums and piercing screams. and suddenly the screamo tag is fitting after all – if only for a short while. the clever lyrics and dark music both encompass frustration, hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, etc. overall, I Hate Myself are probably one of the most miserable bands to ever record music. but they are also one of the most talented. the lyrics are brilliant. the constructions, allegories and twists… this band is proficient well past most others. not only do they have some of the most emotive, intense and sad music, but their lyrics reflect it and enhances it ten thousand notches. some times it paints depressing pictures of broken lives, filled with allegories and metaphors – sometimes it’s just so simplistic and straightforward that it gets fragile and sad beyond compare. (“The Lightning Says” being the ultimate example.) the end result is the culmination of every downhearted feeling that ever existed. this culmination naturally affects the listener in some way. the music reaches out and touches people. and it never leaves the system. once you’ve been exposed to I Hate Myself, you will never forget the experience. the feeling of being rendered void on the inside. they are just so skilled and talented, that it’s almost unbelievable. fantastic composers through and through. if you don’t believe me, then listen to this thirty song/two hour discography, which includes two short but sweet live sets. clever satire and raw honesty join hands, and we get one of the most interesting as well as talented bands of all time. download this!
Caitlyn Bailey – 2009 Luzon Tour EP
it’s been well over a year since I first posted Caitlyn Bailey. if you don’t remember them – or never got to know them – they are a Filipino train wreck of a screamo band, and they are very determined in their calling, namely destroying everything that comes their way. this EP is chaotic, dissonant and ugly. just like punk rock should be. they don’t fuck around, so I won’t either. download this if you like: rapid fire drumming, heavy thrash riffs, screaming, and a filthy, bloody fucking mess. if you can appreciate a melodic mess, that’s a plus as well.
Lizards Have Personalities – Snows of Kilimanjaro
the skram worshippers Lizards Have Personalities are already back with another effort, and now they are a trio instead of a duo. though the follow-up came sooner than at least I expected, it’s more than welcome. formed initially as a potential joke screamo outlet, they soon got serious. seriously skram. these guys won’t get disappointed or sad if you compare them to random late ’90s/early ’00s screamo band, considering their obvious skram worship. they might be a serious band, but they are definitely a humble band, that wants to pay their respects to the legends of the skram past. however, they still want to sprinkle their own flavour over their sound. and they are extremely successful with that on this record. on their début, they were far more generic skram. they sounded almost like a tribute band. but no one cared, because they were so fucking great. they were residing between Saetia and I Hate Myself, and pulling off the sound excellently. on Snows of Kilimanjaro, something has changed. they have matured a great deal, and in such a minor time span! it’s almost unbelievable. other influences becomes audible. the guitars Funeral Diner and Neil Perry, their Suis La Lune flirt “C’était hier l’été…voici l’automne”, and the chaotic approach of Orchid and Ampere are some of those influences. lyrically though, the same qualities are present. they are still bordering both the cliché and the ridiculous. screaming «my memories hung themselves/staring up at the moon for too long/remembering how you said we’d take the world by storm» with a straight face might seem impossible, but Lizards Have Personalities not only scream it, they mean it. their lyrics – however absurd and over the top they might be – come off as believable and honest. musically this album is as stated previously different to the previous album. one of the biggest of those differences is the more chaotic and fast approach taken here, as opposed to the slower In All Honesty. this album is far more to the point, with most of the songs making it to around 2:30. the one notable exception though is the title track which stretches to 9:46. this track is reminiscent of the songs from the first album, being a mid-tempo heavy screamo song with great licks and a long build-up, that eventually ends up climaxing into a satisfying end of the album. Snows of Kilimanjaro displays a wide variety of influences, and it might sound like Lizards Have Personalities have found their very own sound, instead of merely mirroring their influences as best they can. a fantastic album that you really should take the time to check out.
The Kidcrash – Snacks
it’s 2010 and people still whine about The Kidcrash being called Kidcrash. but more importantly, it’s 2010 and (The) Kidcrash are still an active band that puts out first class screamo. (Snacks was first out in 2009 though.) if you don’t know who The Kidcrash are, then you must be very little interested in the skram, or extremely unlucky. the main things to know about this band are that they started out «in 2000, used to sound different, have toured the U.S. three times, [E]urope once, and love to make friends”. oh and another thing, their music is marvellous. from the very first noodle to the last, The Kidcrash play a fairly unorthodox style of screamo, at least for an American band. The Kidcrash could just as well have been from Norway, France or Italy. they largely favour concord over discord, with fairly clean guitars and soft drums. they are not as explosive or aggressive as typical Antioch Arrow influenced American screamo bands like Jeromes Dream, nor like the most popular ’00s skram bands (Saetia, pg.99, Hot Cross, etc). they are far more melodic, with noodle guitars that are far more easily compared to American Football than Ampere. so check out this great screamo record if you like harmonic and well crafted screamo, and not just explosive bursts. download this! you can buy Snacks and everything else by this band from http://www.denovali.com – in several different editions.
calculator – these roots grow deep…
the 200th artist (I think) to be introduced here on that’s punk is calculator, an American diy band formed in 2007, who just recently released this collection LP. it collects every release up until now, and adds a few songs extra. they play modern American screamo in the vein of Age Sixteen and Merchant Ships. that means very emotionally charged and intense vocals over (usually) clean guitars that build up, explode and come crashing down along with insanely precise drumming, followed by a soft and melodic bass guitar. the philosophical and melancholic atmosphere is helped greatly by lyrics that are always seeking and thinking. this is a mature and reflected screamo band that are well worth checking out. download this! and buy from their bigcartel at http://calc.bigcartel.com/ – if you can. they definitely need the cash to support touring etc.
The Third Memory – The Third Memory
a fairly long time ago I posted a split between the Norwegian screamo band, Dominic, and the French screamo band, The Third Memory. this is the latter’s self titled album (which includes one of the tracks from the split). active for four-five years before breaking up, The Third Memory are nothing short of screamo legends. “everyone” knows these guys, their DIY ethics and their heartfelt music. this record surfaced last year, and probably should have been uploaded to that’s punk ages ago. why? because it’s really good. *really* good. their last.fm biography says it all. this is nothing short of a «french screamo band that will tear your face off». while they weren’t all that heavy on the Dominic split, things are a little more heavy on their full length album. but The Third Memory is still not a *heavy* band. they are aggressive, intense and direct – but not heavy. while they have a fairly stereotypical mix and general sound, for a French screamo band, it’s noteworthy that the comforting soft spots often do not crescendo into a math rock climax, like so many newer emo/screamo bands try to achieve. The Third Memory do not crescendo; they explode. download this French screamo explosion. then you can buy it from this: http://www.desormaisrec.blogspot.com/ French distro, if you like it (you will!).
Teleport me, Johny – EP
Eastern European hardcore has establish itself here on that’s punk, but Estonian screamo is a first. and a welcome one at that! this four song/fifteen minute EP introduces these diverse and eager débutants, that sometimes thrash their riffs at blistering speeds, and sometimes let their guitars weep with bleeding intensity… and sometimes both at once. this is yummy dynamic crescendo screamo perfection with plenty of wimpy emo guitars yielding tons of glorious feedback and sugar sweet octaves, while the drums circle and the vocal chords get torn. get this!
Oh, Apollo! – End EP
for all of you nostalgic and sentimental Oh, Apollo! fans out there – here are their last three recordings. musically, this is a continuation of what was started on Kingdoms, then continued on Twin Peaks. Oh, Apollo! has perfected their sound by now, and is ending their career at the top. they are going down in style, with an honest document of who they are. spending three years contributing to the DIY scene and making a community in the Bay Area, their eventful journey has now come to an end, and this is End EP – the perfect document of that end. jangly, messy but pretty. this is their maybe finest material, and I highly recommend you get it. all of these songs appear on a cassette split with Lost In Bazaar, which you can get here: http://dyinghorse.com/distro/ – for only $2.25!
Some Mistakes – Demo
with a crisp guitar tone that has a way of getting inside your head, a rhythm section that almost sounds like it gets heavier each and every second, and an emotive and sincere vocal performance, Some Mistakes largely favour a heavy sound over quick half minute burst songs. Some Mistakes are a band that shows that you needn’t move at a great pace to move with great purpose. they ultimately reside somewhere between ’90s screamo bands like Elements of Need, and more recent screamo bands, like Mesa Verde (which can be downloaded further down if you are interested), that incorporate more intricate math rock elements in their composing. hints of heavy ’90s hardcore/screamo bands like Unbroken and You and I are also detected, along with subtle touches of Modern Life is War and American Nightmare/Give up the Ghost. the end result reminds me of a more hardcore than metal version of Quiritatio. anyway, the demo is just over ten minutes long, but makes one hell of an impression in those ten minutes. their anger and passion can be felt throughout the entire thing, as it almost makes its way out of the speakers. the sheer volume, power and passion this band has managed to put into the recordings are overwhelming to the point of it almost crushing you, into the broken souls they sing about in their songs. I am *not* the product of dysfunction and unhappiness, but these songs almost make me feel like I am. the great never ending sadness that these tales tell are breathtakingly painful, but it’s nothing compared to the manner in which the band tells them. that’s what makes this band so special; what makes these songs completely unique, and utterly amazing. you need to hear this band. these three songs are beyond spectacular, and so well crafted as well as performed that this demo is simply bursting with blistering emotional confession and breakdown. note that like quite the few other bands I’ve downloaded from bandcamp (1099’s latest album which can be downloaded further down is one of them), the FLAC copies are nothing but white noise in my standard media player, Amarok. it does work in some other players, like VideoLan Client. so if you use Amarok or any other media player that utilizes the Xine engine, you might consider downloading this in Ogg Vorbis instead. it still sounds extremely good. the recording quality of this demo does not take anything away from the songs or compromise them in any way, thankfully. because these songs are nothing short of fantastic, and they deserve to be heard. hear them!
forte – forte ‘09
this oddball sludgy screamo psychedelia insanity is forte, an Ukrainian… screamo band? at least *tendencies* towards screamo are to be found. but honestly the band I would compare them to first of all is MEHE, posted below, despite the fact that they sound nothing like them. but forte – like MEHE – are for the most of the time highly hyperactive and very eccentric – in a manner (not sound) that resembles The Locust. but this is a screamo band. sometimes they go into these Envy-like riffs and climaxes, and sometimes they do these Lungfish/Fugazi-ish calm but focused passages. they build it and tear it down… loudly. this Ukrainian band has me puzzled, to be honest. this over twenty minutes long record covers so much ground in those over twenty minutes. simply astonishingly diverse, with a detailed and interesting layered sound. complex and translucent, this is a band that I urge you to check out as fast as possible. pay especial notice to the beautiful album closer. it’s perfect.
Dominic – Running With Scissors
this is an album that should’ve been up ages ago. the reason it hasn’t been? simple. up until recently, I only had the 10″. now I got the CD from my friend Rune at http://www.notanotherrecordlabel.com/ – which you should definitely check out. the distro is beyond solid, and he’s always looking to hook you up with cool shit. this record is released on Dead Letter Records, but I don’t know how alive they are these days. their site is down, but I guess maybe you could message them on MySpace? I think Rune is a surer bet. anyway, this is – as the title implies – another Dominic record. it’s called Running With Scissors, and was released in 2004. so it pre-dates the s/t by two years, making it the earliest Dominic release on this blog. it’s five songs and about fifteen minutes. it showcases Dominic at their very most impatient. full of eagerness and hopefulness, they set out to create some of the most emotionally charged moments you’ll ever be lucky enough to experience. if you’ve heard this band before, you know what you are getting into. they have a highly distinct sound. instantly recognisable, instantly worthy of appreciation. get this. (then get the rest of their stuff, if you haven’t already.)
Carina Rossa – Demos
today we continue our exploration of Kazakhstan’s musical affairs with Carina Rossa and their creeping and haunting atmospheric guitars and intense screams – and complete lack of drums on three of the four tracks presented on this little demo collection. it’s intimate, ghostly, chilling and well worth a listen. download this and give it a go! there’s also a video of the band performing a track included in this post, so check it out.
mapadelmundo – demo
Kazakhstan is a country that most of us western folk don’t really know much about, save from what we were taught from Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan – and something tells me that it’s slightly inaccurate. so what better way to broaden your all too narrow horizons then, but downloading this marvellous Kazakh screamo band? none. if you are from Kazakhstan or thereabouts and consequently probably not half as ignorant to it as we to the west might be, or if you are from the west and the promise of a broadened horizon simply isn’t enough for you to check these guys out – then rest assured all of you. the music is actually awesome. what a coincidence, heh. this is a filthy mess of noise. raw and untamed screamo. loud drumming and hard guitars with insane howling on top. the sound ranges from tight death punk to twinkly guitar-driven interludes to wild sprinting screamo almost akin to mamma, jeg blör… in terms of crudeness. so if you are a tender soul, I advise you to tread carefully. you stand at risk of having your brains blown out and your heart ripped apart. this stuff leaves an everlasting mark. get it! it even has a Mineral reference in there!
Teens – Teens
from the very first chord it gets apparent that this band’s name is very well fitting. though it’s acoustic guitars, you’ll have to be robbed of any form of imagination if you aren’t able to picture this with distorted electric guitars and fast drumming – and voilà, you have your archetypical teenage high-school punk rock band. it’s something sort of optimistic and carefree about the chords. it puts you in a good mood. however, this band is so much more than that. there is something dark and ultimately incredibly sad to these tunes recorded in the cold New Jersey winter. the screamed vocals, minor chords and intense feeling of melancholy makes for a serious atmosphere. this has to be experienced. so if you are into Henry Bemis Is A Superhero – get this. if you haven’t heard HBIAS, then get this – then get HBIAS. this whole acoustic screamo thing seems to be blowing up here on that’s punk… and I don’t mind, because this is really amazing stuff. emotional and gripping lo-fi acoustic guitar driven screamo. download it!
Cadre – These Restless Heads
Cadre’s music sounds every bit as ambitious as their name. I wonder if anyone in this band listens to Funeral Diner? (see what I did thur? I made a joke about how obvious it is that they listen to Funeral Diner. lulz. not hating though. I like Funeral Diner as well.) but seriously, I honestly think this demo showcases an extremely promising band. the songs are crafted in an ambitious manner like none other. this band seems to aim at bringing back a bit of that grandiosity of Funeral Diner’s music and Orchid’s lyrics. so it’s a bit like Ampere and Wolves. especially in the “all hell breaks loose” bits, which are used wisely sparsely throughout the demo, often after a powerfully constructed build up that essentially sounds like very melodic drone somewhat sped up into a dissonant and distant harmony. unfortunately, the recording quality of this demo is questionable at best. it ruins a great portion of the experience – at least for me. I’ve got nothing against the tactic of lo-fi recordings, but this recording is just poor. so here’s to hoping this band re-records these songs and maybe records a few new ones as well? because I want more.
Henry Bemis is a Superhero – The Jessica Tape
Henry Bemis is a Superhero doesn’t waste time. a second album already? yes indeed. and it screams from the very first second to the last. it screams hello this is me, this is who I am and this is how I feel. does shouting make music more honest? I don’t know. but it definitely helps. these tunes are great. screaming and catchy (acoustic guitar) chord progressions recorded in a charming lo-fi quality. folk punk with emo lyrics and vocals straight from the heart. this is well worth a download and a listen, so download and listen!
Age Sixteen – Summer 2009 Demo
it’s winter/spring 2010, so maybe posting Age Sixteen’s summer 2009 demo is a bit overdue? or maybe it will catapult us into summer 2010? I don’t know. I’m posting either way. if you have heard this band before, from this blog or otherwise, I trust that you know what to expect, both in terms of style and in terms of quality. if you are not familiar with this band, I guess I have to pull out the American Suis La Lune card again. because they really do sound a lot like Suis La Lune with the clean guitars and screaming. but thankfully, they add their own touches. they’re not completely ripping off SLL; they are merely wearing their influence proudly on their sleeves. while this demo doesn’t even come close to the full length album posted below when it comes to recording quality, it does certainly get its point across. the vocals benefit from being low in the mix, thus forcing the screams to be louder than loud to be heard. the guitars throw in a great deal of feedback, and the somewhat distorted sound makes everything sound rawer and perhaps even more intense than it would sound cleanly recorded. either way, this just gives you everything it has to give, thus claiming the right to be heard. hear this! you will not regret it. buy it from their MySpace, along with their other records. it only costs like $2.
She Notes the Chariots – Discography
though never particularly successful in their time together, She Notes the Chariots sure recorded a lot of awesome songs. I can’t comment on their live show, but if it’s even the slightest bit close to being as interesting as their discography, I would definitely go see this band. with their multiple vocalists and totally awesome guitars (similar to Oh, Apollo!’s first album sans the metalcore), these guys shred. hard. and the tracks are unusual compositions, with no clear pattern or anything. they seem mostly to aim for a dark atmospheric and aggressive setting in which total destruction of everything takes place. sort of. they are sort of what I like to call fairly modern screamo… however looking at the calendar, I realise that this is 5-10 years old, and so is most of the other “modern screamo” I listen to, so I guess I’m old and this type of screamo is old. anyway it’s sort of comparable to Saetia, Noisy Sins of the Insect and Oh, Apollo! though completely unique in their style, and well worth listening to. so download this. check it outtttt.
Henry Bemis is a Superhero – Five Songs to Kill Yourself To
more lo-fi emo-tinged country/folk from Ethan of The Sky Looks Pissed and The Loneliest Cowgirls. similar to the acoustic sessions by Die! Emperor, Die! this album consists of (ironically enough) six heartbroken and suicidal acoustic jams about a girl. «I hate him! and I hate you! and I hate every song that I wrote about you» – well I love the songs you wrote about her, Ethan! thanks for being in pain, so I can enjoy your recordings. this is essentially acoustic screamo. wtf? download it. it’s amazing.
Quiritatio – As The Dead March, Birds Will Fall From Heaven
if you downloaded the first Quiritatio album I posted somewhere below, you will remember this band as a fusion of gloomy metal, intricate mathcore and screamotive hardcore. this was some of the darkest and most depressing and angry screamo ever heard. only people from the north of Norway can play screamo like this. only someone who go through periods of the year without any light whatsoever can ever make music this authentically unhappy. the only thing that could be compared to this sadness, are the sad, sad news that were to be found on my MySpace some time ago. Quiritatio had broken up! I guess it was somewhat unsurprising due to the vocalist quitting some time ago, but still… it made me downhearted. but thankfully at least one good (great) thing came out of this – their new album is finally available to the public. not as a CD or on a vinyl, unfortunately, but via blogs like this one. so I am proud to present you As The Dead March, Birds Will Fall From Heaven! I’m a huge fan of Quiritatio’s first album, so I was really hoping this didn’t let me down. I had very high hopes for this. so I put it on… and OMG IT’S FUCKING AMAZING WTF THIS IS AMAZING OMG OMG OMG. if this isn’t one of the best and most creative bands in screamo history, I don’t know shit about shit. out of all the technical and atmospheric arpeggio-characterized modern screamo, this is a milestone with no parallel whatsoever. I have goosebumps. I feel like I’m being blown away. like literally. BY A FUCKING EXPLOSION. this album destroys everything that has ever existed ever. download this album. there are no excuses. DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM.
I Create – All We Are Is Now
I Create’s second album is as pure and emotive as Make the Years. but it’s in most terms a really different album. gone is most of the ’90s/’00s hardcore, as well as most of the ambient nature of the compositions on Make the Years. there are still elements of it though, and it does at times have a sort of epic feel, but in no way is it comparable to the dynamics and crescendos of the début. this albums is far more pure bred ’00s screamo. there *are* climaxes and so forth, but the songs do in no way depend on them. the cryptic lyrics and introverted style of these songs flow more hypnotising by, like water. listening to this album is like watching streams. beautiful.
I Create – Make the Years
starting out with well executed gang shouts, passing into a familiar ’90s/’00s style of hardcore in between Tragedy, Unbroken and Modern Life Is War, to take three well known examples. but it quickly enough breaks down to allow some twinkly guitars and soft bits that eventually climax in a loud and precise technical phase with distorted though melodic and twinkling guitars reigning together with complex drumming and emotive screaming that’s sort of reminiscent of I.Witness, though more screamo than crust, but definitely still dark and very much serious. I Create creates (GET IT? omg that was good) captivating dynamics comparable to what some of the instrumental ambient rock bands do. they don’t rely on it though, like, say, 1099 does. but there are however still a focused crescendo-oriented greatness to these songs. they are not humble in any way. they sound really ambitious, to be honest. and they earn the right to be ambitious through their excellent craftsmanship! the astounding dynamics throughout this record are only rivalled by the way the songs ooze of unity and solidarity. these songs sound like they come from the heart, and that’s where music should stem from. so take the time to listen to this album, because I Create have earned the right to it. you are in a constant state of debt to them, until you find the time to give these great songs a chance. I promise it won’t be a waste of time. in fact, they will make time stand still.
The Revolt – The Revolt
The Revolt are a fairly hard and brutal band from the chills of North Norway. desperate screaming, psychedelic guitars and a straight up brutal rhythm section are among the things this band has to show for themselves. playing their ear-bleeding fast hardcore that almost passes into grindcore, they hammer through this album with style. their progressive hardcore style has earned them a spot in everyone’s hearts. let them into yours as well, so they can rip it apart and eat the bits only to puke them up in the world’s different corners. this band rules. if you get a chance to see them live, do it.
Age Sixteen – Open Up Finders, Please
Age Sixteen are back with another Suis La Lune-like screamo album. the previous post concerning this band was a tour sampler, but this is a full album. it’s more fast and clean guitars, screaming and very dynamic and complex rhythms, all of which come together in a beautiful melodic mess. since most of the songs are around two minutes and Age Sixteen are a band with very much to tell you, it gets a bit chaotic when they are trying to tell you so much in such a short time. but it doesn’t make it feel rushed, it only adds a chaotic feel to the otherwise very melodic and approachable soft tunes. because despite generally playing lightening fast, Age Sixteen manage to still convey many very different feelings throughout this album. the guitars change between weeping, roaring in anger and sophistically reflect on situations and opportunities gone lost, just as much as the disguised but not empty words that are sung, shouted, screamed and silently spoken. while showing (direct or indirect) influence from everything from Rites of Spring to Indian Summer to the more obvious Suis La Lune, Age Sixteen has made one of the most interesting and fulfilling things you could ever spend twenty minutes of your life on. actually, you’ll probably end up spending hours of your life on this. I also highly recommend you pick up the CD on their MySpace, with its beautiful cover. you’d be supporting the band, and this is definitely a band worth supporting. their hauntingly beautiful take on emotive hardcore is stunningly impressive. get this!
Dominic – Nord
whenever I’ve mentioned Dominic I’ve always stressed how this band is so incredibly unique and different. and I will continue to do this, because there is no one like them, and I can’t wait to see them live again later this month. this is a band who has been together “forever”, yet they don’t have all that many releases to their name. that’s because they’ve toured all over Europe probably a thousand times. but fortunately for us fans, whenever they decide to actually release something – it’s always near perfect. their highly distinct form of screamo is always very welcome in optic or analogue formats. both of which are purchasable from http://www.denovali.com/dominic/ by the way, and I recommend everyone to hit that up. notice how thorough everything is. the covers are astonishing and well worth the money by themselves! but back to the music. Dominic has evolved noticeably as musicians since their last release. the individual performances are fantastic. but it’s the entirety, the symbiosis that’s the most impressing. all of these marvellous individual performances come together like if they used to be one being once. the music is a dark and gloomy voice that recounts the ancient days of yore when everything was just as depressing as now. this is definitely a band from the cold and dark Northern Norway (the title of the album means north). but where there’s coldness, darkness and depression – there is naturally also hope. the hopefulness in Dominic’s composition is hidden beneath frustration and desperation, but it is definitely in there somewhere. it just takes a lot of listens to find it. Dominic’s albums in general takes many listens to fully appreciate. there are so many levels to the songs. it’s quite complex and interesting to witness just how deep this goes. so come join the party, even though it isn’t a joyful one.
die, emperor! die! – Discography
to some extent die, emperor! die follows the same format as mamma, jeg blör… with only consisting of a guitarist/vocalist and a drummer. both of which playing aggressive and brutal emo. mjg are however far louder and simplistic, if you will. ded on the other hand display Mid-West emo tendencies (they are from Texas after all) and general ’90s emo leanings, whilst mjg are far more comparable to ’90s screamo. so, to make an analogy, if “BSD is what you get when a bunch of UNIX hackers sit down to try to port a UNIX system to the PC”, and “Linux is what you get when a bunch of PC hackers sit down and try to write a Unix system for the PC” – then die, emperor! die! are what you get when two punks kids play emo in a screamo manner, and mjg are what you get when two emo kids play punk in a screamo manner. the result is even more confusing than the analogy. but anyway, this is captivating screamo that’s in motion at all times. it’s able to change and adapt to effectively create different moods. sometimes relying on crescendos, but often resulting in surprising moments where it sneaks up at you from behind and suffocates you with volume. you never know where you have these guys, and they take full advantage of it. an outstanding record! download it.
Vikings! – 2008 EP
the soft ’90s Mineral-like intro proves to be as deceitful as the intro to Emo Summer’s Land of Emotional Plastic Furniture, because a tap-tap on the snare later, this is full-blown screamo. there are some sugarsweet clean guitars like Suis La Lune employ from time to time, but mostly it’s somewhat more distorted and heavy. this is very much modern present-day screamo. less chaotic in its execution than the early ’90s screamo, and much more refined, focusing on tempo shifts and dynamic crescendo elements instead. it’s atmospheric and focuses on dexterous guitar textures instead of pulling out hard riffs. the chord-progressions aims to create moody math-like screamo that dictates the loudness, whilst the drums handle the tempo. in the mean time, the bass does a fantastic job at adding that little extra harmony to the structure, over which the emotional screams slides in comfortably the not too often times they choose to step forward. don’t miss out on this band! even though they are no longer active, this EP can be bought from http://myspace.com/lolvikings for $5.
What Price, Wonderland? – Claim
they say they won’t play songs older than this record here, which is very sad due to how awesome the older songs are. however, it is understandable – because even though they don’t completely renew themselves with Claim, they definitely display a much more polished and matured sound. all the instruments are generally tighter and more interactive and slightly more thrashing. so get it on this excellent release! a defining screamo record to rival the very best.
What Price, Wonderland? – Feel Express Share Aid
What Price, Wonderland? are playing a ferocious punk rock inspired by 80s emo among other things. they are expressive, extroverted and emotive screamo at its finest. from the track titles to the screams to the way they let me put their albums on the blog, this is a band who is extremely dedicated to the punk/hardcore/emo scene, and their passion is highly evident in their music. rapid drumming, semi-clean tech chord progressions, screaming and melodic bass lines are put in focus most of the time, with fragments of softness and beauty showing themselves gradually at times, contrasting the raw emotion and almost theatrical anger that stings you like you’re sleeping on a bed of needles and having bad dreams resulting in a lot of twisting and turning. this album enters your life like salt in open wounds, it leaves you a stronger person. learn what it means to feel, express, share and aid. download this album at once.
I.Witness – I.Witness
have you picked up these guys’ demo and/or the live show posted on this blog? well then you know how awesome they are. this is their album. it consists of the four tracks on the demo (in a remastered version) plus five more tracks. (most of which appear on the concert from this blog.) I.Witness has always been in between genres, and this persists with their début album. right off the bat they combine screamo sensibilities with a hardcore drive and crust guitars. heavy breakdowns and constant movement are key words to I.Witness’s sound. the diversity represented on the album is stunning. this album fits in like half the categories on this page. they fall somewhat on the same side as Alpinist, with their crust/screamo (creamo) combination. dynamic screamo passages and outros break up the intense crust drive of the songs. there’s low and guttural rhythm guitars and more high semi-twinkly screamo leads with shouting and screaming on top, and vivid cymbal-reliant drumming to keep it alive and moving. hardcore from Rossija. get this!
Mihai Edrisch – Un jour sans lendemain
on their second effort, Mihai Edrisch comes across as more mature. the song writing is more structured. it sounds more disciplined. I’ll leave it up to you to find out whether that’s a good thing or not. what it ultimately results in is a more consistent album. everything belongs together. there’s an intro, an interlude and an outro in the same dreamy style. every song title is one word. the songs are more alike, thus perhaps fitting more appropriately together. on the other hand, the first one was more diverse. but still, both of the albums are great for different reasons. they are both awesome screamo albums with multiple highlights. all the songs have those European flying screamo guitars and complex rhythm section, with the French screamo vocal style. it’s simply awesome, so check it out. especially the end track (not the outro but the track before it). a brilliant track. probably this band’s finest.
Mihai Edrisch – L’un sans l’autre
Mihai Edrisch are another French screamo band for you to download. they provide you with further evidence why France is one of the leading screamo countries in the 2000s. highly creative, technical and explosive screamo. the guitars interchange between twinkling beautifully and thrashing it completely. the vocals are compromised of passionate screams. the drums and bass glues everything together, whilst not being afraid of shining through at times; stealing the focus. all in all Mihai Edrisch are the kind of band that people who use terms such as “post rock” will love. they have nice build ups and several climaxes. European screamo the way it should be.
Celeste – Pessimiste(s)
if you like the crusty tech bands on this blog, like Manhattan Skyline, you’ll definitely want to download Celeste (which consists of ex-Mihai Edrisch members, among others). this is the kind of band that you imagine yourself in complete trance, moving nothing but your head, which is bobbing to the inviting sounds of melancholy and utter despair, if you ever get a chance to see them live. their mesmerizing beyond compare. epic like City of Caterpillar, hard like Orchid and tech like Manhattan Skyline. a simply amazing band that deserves your download. you will probably want to buy their albums as well, because this is just too good not to.
Gone With the Pain – from a split with Reaction and Under the Waves
this is a song by Gone With the Pain that appeared on a split with two other bands. the song is a 1:34 mammoth thrasher. fast and chaotic screamo similar to Don’t Fuck With Columbus, but with The Spirit of Versailles vocals. if you haven’t bothered getting anything from this band before and want a little teaser, get this. if you have the rest of the releases posted on that’s punk… well then you are currently listening to the song instead of reading this.
Gone With the Pain – La Ideología Del Vacío
if you downloaded Gone With the Pain’s s/t and thought that it was awesome but wish all the songs were too long or wish they’d be even faster and even louder… well then this is the download for you. if you didn’t download their s/t – download this. then download the s/t. because you need to give this band a go. what’s different from the s/t album? well for starters, every song on here is less than two minutes long. there’s a little more clear production, and the guitars are slightly cleaner. the screaming (almost shrieking) is even more intense. it’s more explosive. they hardly ever (only once) go into twinkly little interludes… but that’s only so they can explode and hit you harder than ever. they basically stop at nothing. it’s like a constant beating. it never ends! so download it and put it on repeat… until next that’s punk post, naturally.
Gone With the Pain & Optimus Prime split
this is a split between two pretty different, yet similar bands. the first half is by Optimus Prime, a Russian band. with an awesome lead guitar that plays what sometimes almost sound like classic rock solos, a viola, screamed vocals, upbeat drumming and just an overall tight sound. the lead guitar is especially worth noticing. it gives this band a unique sound. it’s a bit like One Last Wish. (listen to My Better Half.) oh and just because it has a viola, it doesn’t mean that they sound anything like I Would Set Myself on Fire for You. because they don’t. at all. this is way more intense. while they may have some of the experimental features of IWASMOFFY, they are not nearly as jazzy. most of the time they are also faster and more to the point. the guitars are also several miles away from IWASMOFFY. but in terms of quality – it’s just as good. a freaking awesome band that needs your attention. and so does the band behind the second half of the split. Gone With the Pain are intense, fast, loud, hard, screamo. in Spanish. their half of the split is actually their s/t album from 2006 in its entirety! and it’s great. I don’t really know what to compare this band with. it’s a bit like Don’t Fuck With Columbus, only it’s pretty much nonstop kicking you square in the nuts. there are few occasions where this band slows things down – but when they do, they do so to incorporate more experimental elements in the songs, as well as allowing the guitars to take a more “pretty” approach, twinkling and what not. it’s just as awesome as the noisy bits, if not more. at times they remind me a lot of The Spirit of Versailles – and in the noisier parts, the vocals are fairly comparable to BJ Anderson’s vocals. so if you’re into The Spirit of Versailles and other a bit chaotic and intense bands, this is the band for you.
syn*error – songs from a split tape with Jet Pilot
these are the songs from syn*error’s bit of their split with Jet Pilot. one of the tracks evident on this post have appeared earlier (the s*e/WPW? split), but the other four are new additions, which I hope you like. if you have downloaded the other syn*error posts – you know what you’re in for. if not… well then this is as good a place to start as any other. this is the type of band that probably would be tagged with “real emo” or “real screamo” on last.fm if they were popular. drawing influence from Still Life, Portraits of the Past, The Saddest Landscape and all that jazz, syn*error are definitely a “real” emo/screamo band. a solid and semi-experimental rhythm section that allows two sharp guitars to constantly try to create interesting patterns, experimenting with dynamics and contrasts. on top of all of this are the screamo vocals, perhaps a little less in focus than they tend to be in other screamo bands. the mix comes out awesome, and is definitely something everyone will have to make time to listen to. out of all the syn*error posts on that’s punk, it may also be worth mentioning that this is the most European-sounding one. so if you’re really into that stuff – get this. if you like all types of emo – get this. if you like *good music* – get this.
syn*error – syn*error
hailing from Berlin, syn*error are a modern band that plays 90s emo. but not like Mineral and Christie Front Drive. more like Bubblejug, Still Life and Portraits of Past. it’s chaotic, dynamic and semi-experimental. but it’s still 90s emo, so some twinkling is still present. particurarly in the intros. it quickly builds up to a far more aggressive sound though. screaming, borderline jazzy drumming and screamo guitars. and lots of start-stop dynamics. mostly fast paced, but willing to slow down and be gentle at times. it’s in these calm bridges or whatever the melodies are perhaps at their most atmospheric. very much enjoyable. syn*error also employ somewhat unorthodox (especially to mainstream music, which they obviously don’t play) patterns, without having clear distinctions between them. they are not going A-B-A-B-C-B-B. every song is like a journey. they explore as much as possible. and they do so with considerably style, ending up somewhere between the twinkly almost poppy Cap’n Jazz influenced midwest emo and the chaotic and dynamic San Diego influenced emo/screamo. while they probably belong more in the latter, there definitely are traces of the first mentioned to be found. and that’s simply awesome, because this fusion works out better than anyone could ever hope for. absolutely beautiful music that I recommend everyone to check out. also note that one of the tracks on this album appear on the WPW? split posted earlier.
I.Witness – Demo
with fast and to the point hardcore punk with heavy breakdowns and easy on the ear screamo chord progressions, this release has one foot in screamo, and one foot standing on the border between hardcore, crust and metalcore. it could just as easily’ve been in the crust/grind/power violence category or the screamo category. whilst obviously influenced by the likes of Modern Life is War and Tragedy, this band takes an even more melodic approach with their guitars. it reminds me of Alpinist at times. so if you like screaming, the guitar style of crust/screamo (creamo) bands and the sheer power of hardcore, then definitely check this out. peace.
Age Sixteen – Tour Sampler
if Suis La Lune was American they’d probably be sixteen years old. don’t mind how bad that joke/pun/whatever was, because Age Sixteen really sounds like Suis La Lune, with their clean guitars, complex drumming and intense screaming. despite basically having the exact same sound as Suis La Lune, it’s still a fresh and interesting band that’s well worth following. they really prove that you don’t how to re-invent the wheel to sound awesome. so check them out. they have a lot of cheap stuff on their MySpace you should consider picking up as well. support this new and currently active band, because they need the money more than [insert whatever 90s midwest emo band you're searching for on eBay whilst reading this]. so download this and have a listen. and if you like it – supppportzz!
Mesa Verde – The Old Road
a dreamy intro with epic overtones makes the listener wonder – did I just put on a skram band, or some Sigur Rós? the song’s name “A Deep Sleep Without Dreams” fails to describe the song accurately, because it feels like you’re having five hundred dreams all at once, all of which tell epic tales from the days of yore. it all climaxes in what can only be the final battle of good of evil. truly epic, truly glorious. to victory we ride! and to follow this epic intro track, there’s highly technical as well as highly awesome screamo, filled with intensity and dynamics. there are no slow or high-paced tracks per se. the album is just really stuffed with diversity. you’re going to hear quick bursts of high paced screamo breaking down into guitars playing simple hooks, with screaming on top of it – building up to crash-heavy drumming… and so on. it’s constantly moving, and well worth of a listen. your listen! download it. then go get it from blind records . http://www.artforblind.com/
iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook – Discography
iwrotehaikusaboutacannibalisminyouryearbook were a group of teenagers in a place and a time. they wanted to capture that place and time to deal with their issues in an expressive way. and by doing so, they created something beautiful. this discography contains all the emotion in the world, in just over forty-five minutes. if the heart could scream, it would sound like this, urging you to open *your* heart and scream a long. I wish I had something more to say. I’m sorry.
Sed Non Satiata – Le Ciel De Notre Enfance
from the calm and marvellous minute of soothing guitars into the intense though just as marvellous next three minutes of engaging guitars, passionate screams and well-flowing progressive screamo – the opening track “sets the standard”, one could say. and that standard is met throughout the whole album. especially due to the grand climaxes. this band has Dominic-like riffing that every now and then climaxes into this (newer) Envy epicness – all with a big French screamo touch. having such lengthy songs as Sed Non Satiata have, they need to somehow grab the attention and then proceed to keep it for several minutes. fortunately, they beyond accomplish this at all times with this thoroughly enjoyable and incredibly well-performed album.
Mesa Verde – In This Silence We Will Slow Dance
Mesa Verde are a band that are full of great screamo guitar passages reminiscent of City of Caterpillar and even the Norwegian skram Dominic. the screaming is also very alike the screaming of CoC and Dominic. loud, heartfelt and distorted. the pronounciation is less clear (perhaps due to an excessive amount of distortion) though, so bring out your lyrics sheets ( http://www.mesaverde.co.uk/releases/in-this-silence-we-will-slow-dance/ ). the music is highly dynamic, and in constant movement. always either slowing down or speeding up it seems. if not, it’s taking you by surprise outbursts of screamotional hardcore. this band is epic. though not epic in the way that Envy and The Spectacle are, but in a more toned down manner. not as grand sounding, but just as passionate and intense. you owe it to yourself to listen to this album. start doing it right now. good luck soldier.
Don’t Fuck With Columbus – Demos
it’s a new day people. and what better way to start it than with a three song demo from a Polish screamo band? none. and this is not just a screamo band, but a great screamo band in the vein of Neil Perry and Orchid. amazing flying guitar harmonies, ultra-dynamic drumming and great screams. screamo like it should be. this band incorporate all of the charecteristics found in those kind of grindy screamo bands like Orchid and Kaospilot. and sure it gets a bit stereotypical, and it isn’t the most unique band this blog has to offer. that does *not* in any way mean that it isn’t worth downloading and listening to. because it is. because the songs are *great*. regardless of how fresh they might be. this band pays tribute to the greats, and they do so in an awesome way. and it’s only demos by some Polish teenagers. so remember this name.
Oh, Apollo! – Twin Peaks
this is an album that is interesting from the first second, just like Hope! The river Arkansas. but for completely different reasons though. the intricate opening riff does a real good job in sharpening the listeners ears. and then the song explodes in screamo goodiness… aaaaaaand it’s done. and we get antother song with detailed layers of screamo goodiness. and then we get six more songs with detailed layers of screamo goodiness. making this eight songs with detailed layers of screamo goodiness. from the twinkly upbeat guitar riffs to the marching band drums to the shouting – this is one of the catchiest as well as creepiest screamo albums ever made. and the diversity of the songs are amazing. they will go from these slow and beautiful calm parts to these mad hooks yo. screamo pop. catchy as fuck. get it.
Oh, Apollo! – Kingdoms
on this album, you’ll notice how much this band has matured. gone is the metal riffs, and hello screamo guitars that definitely are more complex as well as catchy than those on Hope! The river Arkansas. and the guitars aren’t all that’s changed. the drumming is not only more technical, but also more fitting. they both follow as well as change the music very powerfully. they take the foreground much more than on the previous album. but that’s not all – even the vocals are extremely different on this record. there are a lot of call and response shouting in addition to the screaming. and the screaming isn’t as high pitched and intense as on the previous record. they are much more controlled and reserved, but stronger and more diverse. overall this is a tight record with a lot of interesting hooks in it. especially the Whitney Houston cover, which really… you gotta hear it. download this! especially if you are obsessed with concept albums. this is about time travel.
Isaïe Buried Memorial – Demo
you like what? French emo? hmmm… guess that means I’ll have to put up yet another French band then! and it’s another winner, for sure. ofc it is. I wouldn’t put it on the blog if it didn’t rip! and this band certainly does rip. in a vastly different ways from most of the other French bands on this blog though. while this still has some twinkly stuff like the others, it is noticeably more aggressive and fast. they vary between emo violence and Orchid-ish hardcore/screamo, kind of like Palatka. and they do so by rapidly hitting the snare, thrashing the guitars, screaming and pretty much just tearing everything apart. while this demo doesn’t have the best production quality (it is after all a demo), the point certainly comes across. this is sooo gooooddd, and everyone needs to download it and give it a listen. you can buy the demo from their MySpace, and you should definitely consider doing so if you are a fand of outstandingly aggressive music. :)
Kazan & After Taste Split
we all love French skram. so this is a split between no less than two(!) French skram bands. and from the crushing intro by After Taste to Kazan’s equally crushing outro, this is a real treat. and this is two rather different bands as well. After Taste are a highly atmospheric and progressive band with epic overtones. they create this tense and melancholic mood, yet they sound very big and pounding. lots of cymbals, heh. at times you feel like you are listening to a Bal-Sagoth of screamo or something. they even crash into full-blown metal parts. weeeee. I really like this band. they are incredibly diverse. one minute it’s acoustic, one minute it’s loud screamo with medieval undertones and then one minute it’s just crushing epic prog with heavy use of cymba. a pretty amazing band, to do the exact opposite of exaggerate. downbeat, upbeat, all-over-the-place-beat – whatever. this band masters it all. and it’s a privelige to be able to listen to this fantastic work. so you should DEFINITELY listen to it. a fucking perfect band. but this split does not consist of only two bands. there are two bands. two rather different bands as well. Kazan might sound similar at first. the first minute of their first track is pretty hands on French screamo. and though After Taste are an incredibly diverse band, you can always tell that it’s French screamo. and Kazan has that recognizable sound as well… for the first minute. then they go into a beautiful and soft folky part, that eventually progress into a metalcore-esque bit that could just as well had palm muting (it already has double bass pedals so), that climaxes into an epic screamo part, before it goes into the metalcore-esque part again, with some medieval undertones – like After Taste occasionaly has. it makes me want to play Warcraft II. simply amazing stuff. if only two bands in the world should have done a split, these two bands might very well be those two bands. whilst being different, they are both equally diverse and original. two such atmospheric bands are hard to come across. especially on the same record – making this a must have!
I.Witness – Live In Tomsk 02.05.09
if you liked Spray Paint the Sun, chances of you liking this are pretty high. the guitarists from SPtS are in this band as well. and you can tell. even though I.Witness’s sound is generally more upbeat, the lead guitars are noticeably dreamy, like in SPtS. but the chord progression is much faster, like in a hardcore band. but at the same time it is way twinkly and obviously screamo-tinged. the vocals are in between screamo and hardcore. so is the upbeat and dynamic drumming. everything is just a big blender of hardcore and hardcore-derived genres. including a huge crust factor. this is all the way through an interesting and highly worthy listen. aggressive and angry. despite being twinkly, I.Witness sounds nothing like midwest emo bands or the modern experimental screamo bands. this is a band that has much more in common with the neo crust sound albeit with some passages that are reminiscent of those experimental screamo bands. also be sure to check out the awesome Hüsker Dü cover!
Spray Paint The Sun – Still Alive In Tomsk 02.05.09
I generally have no idea about what these guys are singing about or anything else apart from the fact that they make good music – but that’s enough to earn them a spot on this blog. ultra-melodic and extremely creative. the highly original harmonies found on this album is something that deserves to be heard. while it’s not every day I listen to Russian rock, I will definitely listen to it more often after discovering this band. if not for the unique way the guitars interact, then for the shrieking vocals that will rival The Spirit of Versailles and Saetia any day. hell, this is even up there with Nacht und Nebel and Slave Whipping Blasphemy’s shrieking. pure awesomeness. the shrieking and guitar fighting is on top of an upbeat rhythm section that handles both tempo shifts and breakdowns more than properly. they are pretty much as adept at playing at 3000bpm as they are at playing at 3bpm. they mostly play in a mid-tempo but upbeat style, allowing the guitarists to steal the attention with their atmospheric and dreamy chord progressions. this is just an awesome album that needs to be heard. Russian screamo for the whole family.
The Kidcrash – Jokes
with their 2006 demo, The Kidcrash stepped into the screamo world. with Jokes they take their screamo to new levels – a new world. the sound is noticeably more epic and progressive. there are much more breakdowns and a general display of understanding of how to employ dynamics to create a highly inventive and interesting sound that never seizes to amaze. and that is why you will simply have to download this! because it really is *that* good. such a diverse record… man.
The Kidcrash – Demo
it is with this demo The Kidcrash takes the step into screamo land. the guitars get even more twinkly as well as more dynamic. the vocals are like on the Goldie Hawn EP, only now they shout and scream most of the time. the drumming is much more dominant and technical… you know, modern screamo. this is a really good example of just that. this the sort of record you would put on if anyone asked «what does modern screamo sound like?» – *or* if you wanted to listen to a damn fine screamo album with awesome music! so get this.
Angora Static – LP
from the very first second, this album is guaranteed to impress you. it’s pretty much twenty six minutes of glorious melodies that reigns your stereo with all the power and dignity a monarch needs to have. this album will force you to drop anything you might be doing at the moment, and just pay attention. just listen. the wonderful ambient feedback and noises, the dueling guitars, the marching drums, the pulling bass, the passionate vocals… it’s all coming together so perfectly! this band is a symbiosis of hundreds of intricate, beautiful elements that fit together so nicely. the detailed and rich dynamics in their melodies are alone enough to make you unwilling to do anything ever but listen to this band.
Angora Static – EP
a fantastic screamo band in the vein of Saetia. that should be enough to make you want to download this, aye? this band has awesome skram, harmonic guitar battles, upbeat and at times jazzy drumming, and soft yet tough bass lines. the melancholic mood and sheer intensity this bands radiates is astonishing. it makes the mind wander into oblivion. the twinkly guitars are close to perfection! an overall majestic effort by Angora Static, whose beautiful and passionate music will definitely win you over. the insane amount of energy present in this recording will make you think to Beyond the Fences. Saetia + Beyond the Fences = win. get this.
The Kidcrash & Arse Moreira Split – Misspellings
you know that thing I just posted? the split between Coffindancer and The Kidcrash? well here’s The Kidcrash again. but it’s hard to believe that it’s the same band that appears on this split. here we have an upbeat and energetic screamo band. while some of the build-ups and breakdowns are here, it all moves at a quicker pace. maybe not as detailed, but all the more intense. the detailed guitar textures are sure to make you a fan! and as if the track by The Kidcrash wasn’t enough, there’s also another band on here – Arse Moreira. more brutal and straightforward than The Kidcrash, but just as good. they sound less pretty, but just as legit. two awesome bands, two awesome tracks. get this!
The Kidcrash & Coffin Dancer Split
this split is between an epic sludge band called Coffin Dancer, and an equally epic but more screamo-oriented band called The Kidcrash. the split is rather explosive. it’s full of dynamic as well as melodic goodyness. both bands deliver lengthy and drony pieces. Coffin Dancer are slightly heavier, and slightly more drony than The Kidcrash, who rely more on twinkly screamo guitars and breakdowns. if Coffin Dancer are techno, The Kidcrash are trance. if you know what I’m saying. (if you don’t, google/youtube the differences between techno and trance, and you’ll get it). both bands are unique and original, and both bands deserves your attention. give this a go. you might find two new favourite bands!
Manhattan Skyline – Curses
with Curses, Manhattan Skyline has taken their start/stop dynamics about thirteen steps further into insanity. the shredding is also more detailed on this new affair. and the vocals are more nuanced. the whole album sounds more thoughtful and planned than Tarantula Arms, which was more seven intense bursts of poetry and madness. this does not make Curses a *better* record than Tarantula Arms however. but what it does do, is make it (probably) much more interesting than it would have been if they just made “Tarantula Arms v2.0″. instead this record sees the band further enhancing their style with more intricate details that the listener is forced into paying attention to. it’s really so much more diverse. at times it even goes into these epic build-ups akin to newer Envy material! it’s just great.
Belle Epoque – A La Dèrive
Belle Epoque are a French band that play authentic screamo in the style of e.g. Daïtro and Raein. they play intricate melodies that at their softest resembles mid-90s mid-west emo, and at their hardest resembles City of Caterpillar and various other semi-progressive screamo bands. Envy even, but not as epic – more caustic. but despite not being as epic as Envy, Belle Epoque are definitely hypnotising, and well worth a listen or two or three hundred. a magnificent screamo band that deserves everyone’s attention. the music is hauntingly beautiful at times. especially when the guitars twinkle like Mineral and Christie Front Drive, until it gradually progresses into heavy riff-based screamo. amazing.
Noisy Sins of the Insect – Discography
you guys know what the best thing about having your own blog is? *you* decide what’s going to be upped on it. you know what the second best thing is? you can write whatever the hell you want in the descriptions. this means I won’t have to worry about sounding “subjective”. you see when I write more “professional” reviews, I try not to use words like “good”, “awesome” or “mind-blowing”. instead I try to describe the music and the feelings it give me, as objective as possible, in order for other people to get the general sound and vibe the reviewed record gives, instead of forcing my opinions down their throats. but here, on this blog, all those boundaries are gone! thus: DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM! DO IT NOW! BECAUSE IT IS TOTALLY BRILLIANT, AND IT IS SO GOOD THAT YOU WILL START TO WONDER HOW THESE GUYS CAN ACTUALLY *BE* THIS GOOD WITHOUT BEING SOME SORT OF UNNATURAL FORCE OF NATURE OR SOMETHING ELSE NON-HUMAN!!! okay. went a little overboard there. but you get the overall message – it’s a good album. Noisy Sins of the Insect is one of the very finest screamo bands. they play a pure bred screamo in the vein of Saetia. high-pitched screams and an extremely dynamic and aggressive melodic approach signalizes their sound. the jazzy and dreamy feel to this album will get you carried away into a trance, from the first second to the very last. so download this, and let it seduce you.
Dominic & The Third Memory split
Dominic has always struck me as on of the most unique hardcore/emo bands out there. they are so distinct in their sound that it’s not hard to recognise how different and great they are. a simply awesome band. and the two tracks they contribute to this split is nothing short of awesome either. the dramatic approach to screamo present in their style is spectacular. it’s progressive, noisy and beautiful. and not to be missed out on. while most intense screamo bands (this rules out the math rock twiddle/noodle bands) are either very brutal or equally brutal but with the occasional melodic approach for ten seconds or less. Dominic manages to get the best of both worlds at all times. truly impressive. especially given how progressive their music is. it takes great song writing to achieve music as good as this. The Third Memory are a vastly different band. yes they have semi-similar guitars at times, and are definitely melodic and progressive as Dominic – but this band are noticeably less noisy. while incorporating intensively screamed vocals, the music is essentially very soft. the guitars are kind of twinkly like Dominic’s, but not even half as distorted. and while the drummer beats the shit out of the snare from time to time, it’s generally not very heavy. it’s a bit weird listening to this band, because they are so fast, progressive and technical – but they never get carried away and just climax into a big bunch of noise. and that is admirable, the way they contain themselves. but it’s by no means reserved or anything like that – it’s passionate alright. it’s just diciplined as well. and it’s awesome. get this split!
Manhattan Skyline – Tarantula Arms E.P.
Manhattan Skyline are one of the best band I’ve ever seen live. their extremely aggressive music and intense performance is marvellous. this band plays Orchid-style hardcore/screamo, and mixes it up a bit with mathcore influences. it reminds me very much of The Crinn, which again sounds like a more insane version of Dillinger Escape Plan with cooler vocals. Manhattan Skyline can probably also be compared to DEP. though not as obviously as The Crinn, because this band isn’t as jazzy. it’s more in your face screamo with obvious metalcore and plain hardcore influences. more The Spectacle than DEP. on the other hand, if you’ve ever heard Kaospilot or Dominic and digged them, you will probably welcome Manhattan Skyline as a different, but equally awesome band. equally awesome, but definitely unique in their sound. they thrash around like no one else, both live and on record. the lyrics are perhaps not all that intelligible at the first listen due to the mad screaming and loud music, but once you pay attention they are every bit as great as the music. they are definitely a vital organ in the Manhattan Skyline body, and I recommend paying attention to them, once you get over the whole stroke-thing you’ll get after listening through this for the first time with the stereo cranked up at 95db. this is loud shit. enjoy.
Caitlyn Bailey – Fuego!
Caitlyn Bailey are a rather noisy affair from the Philippines. and you definitely think of pg.99, Orchid and Joshua Fit for Battle when listening to them. it’s noisy, fast and thrashy. breakdowns, metalcore-influences. Fuego!’s got it all. even these semi-epic little interludes with creeping guitars with interchanging major and minor chords. this band are a really noisy screamo band with a lot of great melodic interludes. they climax into intense screamo with the epic undertones made popular by Envy. Fuego! is a very well performed album.
iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook – 8 Song Demo
hello brutal screamo. this is definitely from California. from Antioch actually. this band was so epic back in the day, and everyone is still anticipating that fucking 12″ we never saw… it’s a damn shame, because these demos showed great promise. they are nothing short of awesome. melodic masterpieces of loud, screamy, violent emo. the passion, the heart, the screams, the drums, the bass, the GUITARS makes this demo album one of a kind. truly unique and different screamo. defining even. this is way up there with fucking Indian Summer. you must not miss out on this!
Dominic – Dominic CD
Dominic stands for shouted/screamed vocals, complex guitar work, progressive drum patterns and an aggressive bass guitar. their music is defining modern screamo. with angry music and just as angry lyrics, they play and sing (shout/scream) like they fucking mean it. their sound is everything that’s good about screamo. awesome guitars that never fail to impress, passionate vocals and a more than steady rhythm section that refuses to make the music anything but unique. awesomage. get it.
The Spectacle – I, Fail
on I, Fail, The Spectacle takes things to the next level. they abandon much of the heavy and gritty crust sound of previous releases in favour of a far more experimental sound that incorporates eastern influences as well as a much wider utilizing of their core instruments. the guitars twinkle in that early 90s emo fashion, but with the more modern chord progressions of bands such as City of Caterpillar and Circle Takes the Square. but admist all of the expected screamo guitars and snare-focused upbeat drumming is a spiritual or magical presense. when they break away from the punk rock chains and play the mesmerising acoustic guitars and hypnotising battle drums, you feel like you are in the middle of an epic middle-age tale. and perhaps you indeed are? this album is timeless and beautiful like no other album ever made. if you are a fan of epic rock/metal bands, then you will absolutely absorb this album, and refuse to listen to anything else than this for the next few days (or weeks). because this is a monster of an album that deserves the attention of everyone. listen to this!
The Spectacle – Lakonia Demo
is extremely powerful and intense crust your thing? get this. the screamo and hardcore influences are evident, but the sound is heavy and dark crust, that incorporates epic hardcore that sounds like Godspeed You! Black Emperor jumping between grind and progressive, and epic emo like Envy displays on latter albums. the vocals have a clearly evident passion to them. the vocals vary between screams and dark growling. the guitars play an epic progressive chord progression with punk rock undertones and sceamo overtones. the band basically blends what must be a thousand genres in this. and they do it very well. in short: don’t miss out on this. it’s just one song, but what a song!
Alpinist – Demo 2007
imagine Graf Orlock remove the heavy focus on dual vocals (not that there isn’t dual vocals here… but it isn’t as reliant on it). and less tempo shifts. and no futuristic cinematic crap. this isn’t cinema grind. it’s more of a mixed bag with a lot of crust and screamo in it. Graf Orlock with Combatwoundedveteran and The Spectacle. it’s cool. raspy screams, driving guitars that mostly are just heavy and fast, but sometimes melodic and all skram-like. the drums are fast and technically not all that bad. actually, it’s all rather good. while it’s most of the time rather straightforward power violence-esque crust that’s so heavy it actually sounds slow due to the guitars, it sometimes breaks down into screamo passages with twinkly guitars, preventing it getting repetitive. it’s very dynamic, and well worth a listen. this demo has ten songs between one and six minutes long. it’s basically just packed with intense semi-epic music. LISTEN!
Score One For Safety – Castles [EP] + Bonus
eerie and epic. with some skram vocals still reminiscent of The Spirit of Versailles, and some gang chants or whatever. the music is progressive, and it progresses from moody ambient to almost screamo-like chaos. and it’s all very welcome. give it a go if you are into those long tracks with climaxes and stuff.
mamma, jeg blör… – Lyd
Lyd is Norwegian for noise. this is noisy. ten tracks clocking in just under six minutes. did you download Møkk Sessions from this site? thought it was noisy? this is noisier. a lot noisier. imagine that Møkk Sessions is Chinese Democracy in terms of production – then Lyd is more like Slave Whipping Blasphemy’s Niggerbitch 666 demo. some of these tracks sound like they are recorded into a boombox in a fucking tunnel. okay I’m exaggerating. it doesn’t sound awful. it sounds lovely actually. mmmmmmh feedback. complex and organised noisy skram. screaming and noise vol 2. GET IT.
Score One For Safety – Like A Rice Filled Bird, You Explode [EP]
Score One For Safety are a band with epic soundscapes and big skram. the vocals are a bit like The Spirit of Versailles, though not nearly as fucked up. and the music are a bit like Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson meets Suffocate For Fuck’s Sake – but not much. whatever. good tunes. atmospheric and pwitty with good vocals and nice chord progressions. if you like what some people call “post-rock” (ugh), you’ll like this probably. get it.
mamma, jeg blör… – Møkk Sessions
mamma, jeg blör… are one of the noisiest bands you’ll ever encounter. this album is basically five minutes of screaming and noise. it’s fucking gorgeous. and you need to get this. the skram are awesome. bug them at http://www.myspace.com/mammajegblor – and maybe they’ll send you some demos if you want :)