First Day Back

First Day Back are a five-piece emo/indie band from Santa Cruz, California who released their debut LP earlier this year, Forward. This is the good stuff right here; harkening back to an era of midwest emo dominated by the likes of Cap'n Jazz, Braid, Penfold, Rainer Maria, and The Jazz June without sounding like an exact replica of any of them. First Day Back favour bright, crisp guitar tones that wallow in melancholic chords and arpeggios over gloriously strained vocals, with the occasional use of a harmonica or violin that adds a truly unique dynamic layer to their already-tight and sundry sound. This album offers nine unique tracks that ebb and flow as one of the year's stand-out emo releases, so naturally I highly, highly recommend giving it a listen. Enjoy.

Forward (2025)

1. Sure, Ok

2. Upstairs (212)

3. Moving Out

4. Us

5. Gone On

6. Lines

7. Wait, Do You Hear That?

8. Paint

9. Twelve Mile Train Tracks

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Die, Emperor! Die!

Die, Emperor! Die! were a two-piece emo/screamo band from Houston, Texas that were active from approximately 2002 to 2005. In that time, the duo recorded a handful of songs split across a series of releases, most notably incredible splits with Toru Okada and Burned Out Bright, with their swan-song appearing on The Microwave Says To The Pacemaker compilation alongside the likes of Kodan Armada and La Quiete. The band played very melancholic, lo-fi, screamo with the simple pairing of guitar and drums, with visceral, strained vocals and a twangy, almost twinkly-inflected guitar. It's a sound that seems way more popular now than it was than in its blend of screamo and emo with an almost bedroom-sensibility. Their members went on to play in the likes of Punkin Pie and Treetops. Enjoy.

Demo (2002)

1. Mayday

2. December Stars Could Never Match Your Eyes

3. Another City For A Different Life

4. ...And Night's Trees Stood Up

Toru Okada/Die, Emperor! Die! (2003)

1. Toru Okada - Our Great Cities

2. Die, Emperor! Die! - Dear Friend (Never Give Up)

Die, Emperor! Die!/Burned Out Bright (2003)

1. Die, Emperor! Die! - Six Feet Beneath My Heart

2. Burned Out Bright - Gold Metal For Charlie

Acoustic (2003)

1. Another City For A Different Life

2. Julias Wish

3. Telephone Road

4. Long Gone Lonesome Blues

5. For Want Of (Rites of Spring cover)

6. Mayday

7. Filler (Minor Threat cover)

8. Postscript

9. Goodnight Irene (Lead Belly cover)

Live At Burned Out Bright's Last Show [Oct. 25, 2003] (2003)

1. Intro

2. December Stars

3. Interlude 1

4. Rachel, I'm A Wretched Idealist

5. Interlude 2

6. Filler (Minor Threat cover)

7. Postscript

8. Interlude 3

9. Mayday, Misunderstandings and Promises Not Kept

10. Six Feet Beneath My Heart

11. Goodnight Irene, Goodnight (Lead Belly cover)

The Microwave Says To The Pacemaker (2004)

8. Die, Emperor! Die! - The Way She Disappeared into the Vanishing Rows of Street Lights, Headup, Singing to the Night Sky

Burned Out Bright

Burned Out Bright were a three-piece hardcore/emo band from Houston, Texas that were active approximately from 2000 to 2003. They harnessed a handful of styles in their short tenure together, mixing the skippy, noodly elements of emo with the rise-and-fall and syncopated dynamics of post-hardcore, all conveyed through the passionate, raw delivery of screamo with interspersed sung/screamed vocals. Their output was minimal but certainly impactful, with a split, a posthumous EP, their final live set, and a demo. Members of this band went on to form Fire Team Charlie (highly recommended) and The Walls You've Built. Enjoy.

Demo (2003)

1. The Coin Lied

2. In Memory

3. Rise Over Run

4. We Awake Disheartened

Die, Emperor! Die!/Burned Out Bright (2003)

1. Die, Emperor! Die! - Six Feet Beneath My Heart

2. Burned Out Bright - Gold Metal For Charlie

10+25+03 The End. (2003)

1. Rise Over Run

2. Gold Medal For Charlie

3. Untitled

4. The Coin Lied

5. In Memory

6. This Isn't The Tenka-Ichi-Budokai (I Hate Myself cover)

7. We Awake Disheartened

Burned Out Bright (2004)

1. Crossing The Fine Line

2. Unit: 01

3. Finally At Ease

4. Sunrise, And The Day To Come

5. House Of Dust

Dead Swans

Dead Swans were a five-piece melodic hardcore band from Brighton, England that were active from 2006 to 2013, with a few reunion shows played in 2016. Since then they're hasn't been any activity that I'm aware of, though vocalist Nick Worthington is currently active with Still In Love, who just released their first LP this year (which also just got featured here). When I was working on that, I realized the major oversight on my part that Dead Swans had yet to make it on here. In all honesty, they're a band I never listened to a ton but certainly enjoyed, as they were one of the premier "melodic hardcore" bands that bridged the 2000's and 2010's (no pun intended, as they were also a Bridge Nine band). They crafted a dark and raw pummelling brand of hardcore that you could say is in a similar vein as American Nightmare, Carry On, and More Than Life, but they're a distinct entity to hold their own, and Nick's scorching vocal delivery and poetic lyricism certainly hold their weight. They're also great with the gang vocals, and who doesn't love a good gang vocal? Anyway, if you're new to this band they're well worth your time, Sleepwalkers is the obvious starting point as its their only LP. Enjoy.

.

Demo (2007)

1. Tin Heart

2. Preferring The Worst

Southern Blue (2007)

1. Into Dust

2. Lines Of Separation

3. Dead Until Dark

4. 20/07/07

5. The Hanging Sun

Architects/Dead Swans (2008)

1. Architects - We're All Alone

2. Architects - Broken Clocks

3. Dead Swans - In The Half Light

4. Dead Swans - Swallow

It's Starting (2009)

1. Thinking Of You

2. Ivy Archway

3. Fix Me (Black Flag cover)

4. When You Sleep (My Bloody Valentine cover)

Sleepwalkers (2009)

1. Thinking Of You

2. Ascension

3. Ivy Archway

4. Swallow

5. So Far You've Only Made Things Worse

6. 20.07.07

7. Winter Overture

8. Hide And Seek

9. ...And It Seemed So Bright

10. Montpellier To Home

11. Today, Tonight, Tomorrow

12. Tent City

Anxiety And Everything Else (2012)

1. I've Been Trying To Leave

2. Summer Of Hate

3. Dead Until Dark

4. Keep Them Shut

5. Since Day One

6. You Can Only Blame Yourself

7. Southern Blue

Before And Through (2016)

1. Tin Heart (Demo)

2. Preferring The Worst (Demo)

3. Ascension (Demo)

4. Sleepwalkers (Demo)

5. Montpelier To Home (Demo)

6. Preferring The Worst (Live)

7. In The Half Light (Live)

8. 20.07.07 (Live)

9. The Hanging Sun (Live)

10. Southern Blue (Live)

Note: Compilation including demos and live tracks

Spotify

Apple Music

Bridge Nine

Instagram

Still In Love

EDIT: This is what happens when I'm out of practice and draw up like 8 posts in one go.  So I managed to forget to upload the links for this post, and of course have now only discovered that after it was already up and I sent my laptop in for a repair. By early next week I should have it back and can get these uploaded, sorry for the delay there!

Still In Love are a five-piece melodic hardcore band from London, England that formed in 2024, comprising former members of Dead Swans, Brutality Will Prevail, and Bring Me The Horizon. Following a pair of EP's last year (which were compiled on a single release this year), their debut LP Recovery Language came out in September of this year via Church Road Records. The album features thick, distorted riffs and vigorous drums that throttle out the occasional blast beat, echoing the blends of heavy music with a melodic edge a la something like Blacklisted. Nick from Dead Swans is also behind their searing, cathartic vocals, so if you're a fan of them this is certainly something work your time to check out. Enjoy.

Withdrawal Symptoms Pt. 1 (2024)

1. Self Portrait

2. The Peace Of Exhaustion

3. Homecoming (relapse)

Withdrawal Symptoms Pt. 2 (2024)

1. It Will Never Be Enough

2. Small Organ

3. Sober

Recovery Language (2025)

1. Tell The Truth

2. Nervous Impulse

3. Preserve & Cherish

4. Feathered Nest

5. Inherit

6. The State Of Things To Come

7. You Have To Let It Go

8. Pillar Of Strength

Bandcamp

Instagram

Facebook

Spotify

Apple Music

Stop It!!

Stop It!! were a four-piece post-hardcore/emo band from Richmond, Virginia that were around from 2001 to 2003 (approximately), putting out one demo and one LP (via Robotic Empire) and included former members of City of Caterpillar and Municipal Waste. The band played winding, discordant rhythms with angular lead melodies and shouted vocals, dynamically shifting not unlike City of Caterpillar with influence from the likes of Shotmaker, Twelve Hour Turn, Navio Forge, Sleepytime Trio, and Jawbox. Their sole full-length is worth your time, as is virtually anything Robotic Empire was putting out around this time, the consistency and creativity was absolutely insane. Enjoy.

Demo (2002)

1. When Doves Cry

2. My Prerogative

3. Theme Song To Beverly Hills, 90210

4. When A Man Loves A Woman

5. Paradise City

6. Exile On Main St.

7. Mr. Roboto

Self Made Maps (2003)

1. Maybe She's Born With It

2. Name And Number

3. Amen And Boys

4. A Clever Play On Words

5. Remove Your Teeth

6. S.S. Betrayal

7. Captain Roboto

8. Here's To New Shortcuts

9. Beethoven's Funeral

Wayfarers All (2004)

11. Not Mentioned On Maps

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Shots Fired

Shots Fired were a four-piece post-hardcore band from Kansas City, Missouri that existed sometime between 2003 and 2007 (who knows with half these bands) self-releasing one album in that time. But what a solid album it is, melding melodic half-shouted vocals with heavy riffs and layered, noodly, angular lead melodies with a robust, energetic rhythm section. If you're into At Tbe Drive-In, Bear vs. Shark, Cursive, or The Casket Lottery, this will likely be up your alley. Enjoy.

Shots Fired (2004)

1. Cocaine

2. Celebration

3. Squires At Bristol

4. Ragdoll

5. Rob McFiver

6. My Friend

7. Ludo Calls The Rock

8. Lapinaphobic

9. Anakin

Osceola

Osceola were a four-piece screamo/hardcore band from Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland,  that were around from approximately 2007 to 2009. This name might be slightly familiar because they put out a fantastic split with Suis La Lune in 2009 and were part of a great four-way split including Lautrec, Boy Problems, and The Reptilian the year prior. They released a few other splits and an EP in their brief few years, but it wasn't until now that I've really given their full body of work a proper listen with this discography release that dropped in 2023. It's got all their recorded material in one convenient place, and thus makes the best starting point if you're new to them. They're pretty raw, with a chaotic attack that blends melody, dissonance and syncopation behind shouted/screamed vocals, like a weepier At The Drive-In. If you're into L'Antietam or Age Sixteen, this will be up your alley for sure. Enjoy.

Discography (2023)

1. Smile

2. A Place To Die

3. Dendrophilia

4. Overlooked

5. Untitled

6. Intro

7. Drone

8. Don't Taste Me Bro

9. Malax

10. Experiencing

11. Human Frustration

12. Translucent

13. Temporary

14. Deadbeat

15. Final Attempt

16. Unfinished

Bandcamp

Massa Nera - The Emptiness Of All Things

I'm a little late here, but Lindin, New Jersey's Massa Nera just released their follow-up to 2022's excellent Derramar | Querer | Borrar on October 31st this year via Persistent Vision Records. The Emptiness Of All Things is the third feature-length from this long-time blog favourite, and with this latest record the band finds themselves confronting the existential overhang of the climate crisis with a dynamic sonic blend of convulsive discordance and atmospheric melody, utilizing their most varied vocal work to-date to capture the full emotional spectrum of this calamity in extraordinarily resonant and experimental fashion.

You can listen or download the album below. The band have commendably removed their work from all  streaming services, all of which in some way directly benefit corporate/defense spending interests, all things their art directly stands in opposition to. This album encapsulation the spirit of that, as a despairing yet defiant (especially its closing track) reflection of the social and emotional zeitgeist it was borne out of. 

Bandcamp

Persistent Vision Records

key vs. locket

I haven't been coming up with new releases this year as much as I'd like to, but this is one of the few that have really stood out to me. key vs. locket is a new solo project created by twikipedia (I don't know her actual name I apologize), who recorded, performed, and released this fantastic new album titled i felt like a sketch. Pulling the mathy, midwest emo guitars into tracks that both punch and shimmer, what really sets this apart is in the indelible songwriting, with fantastic hooks and melodies (some of which are in Portuguese) across its entirety. These tracks are dynamic, with the lo-fi only adding to its scrappy charm. The instrumentation is even varied, with acoustic guitars, pianos, and what sounds like digital percussion/synths, all of which comes together beautifully at the end of "symptom". It's 50 minutes but there's a plethora of variety amongst most of these tracks, with frenetic guitar work and unique hooks, tones, and structures within each that make it the whole album a breezy listen. If you're into Car Seat Headrest, Parannoul, Marietta, or Oso Oso, maybe give this a listen. And if there are any other albums from this year that have stuck with you, please let me know as I need to catch up! Enjoy.

i felt like a sketch (2025)

1. tackle

2. half enough

3. mundo

4. rifle

5. hourglass memory

6. symptom

7. conjoined (interlude)

8. nothing for a moment

9. only human / anywhere at all

10. snowman, snowman

11. a play

12. medicine

13. promise

14. carpe diem avem

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

The Cable Car Theory

The Cable Car Theory were a four-piece post-hardcore/emo/screamo band from Staten Island, New York that were active from 1997 to 2003. They only released one album, 2001's The Deconstruction, but recorded a good chunk of material that appeared across an array of splits, EP's, and compilations. Most of their material was compiled in 2020, but it is missing a few things (most notably a track from The Deconstruction and Something New respectively), but it's also the best entry way to get into them as it covers the full length of their tenure and evolution. Sonically, they encompass all the great hardcore offshoots you'd expect to find on this blog really; the winding and syncopated rhythms of post-hardcore, melodic, arpeggiated melancholy of emo, with driving energy and throttling vocals. They're versatile, vitalized, and will appeal to fans of bands as disparate as Hot Water Music, Split Lip, Avail, Gray Matter, Falling Forward, By A Thread, or Twelve Hour Turn. Definitely give them a listen if you haven't, they will more than likely be up your alley. Enjoy.

 

Something New (1999)

1. Something New

2. 700

3. Mediocre

4. A Song For Alexie

Whispers In The Wind (2000)

1. Tears For Broken Toys

2. 2000 Years

3. Fire Away/If You Only Knew

4. Something New

5. 22 (feat. Matt "Baby Jesus" Grande)

6. Thought, Feeling, Action

7. Whispers

8. Fingerpaint

Note: Previously unreleased material recorded between 1997-1999

Realign/The Cable Car Theory (2000)

1. Second Guessing

2. Analysis

3. Fatal Flaw

Note: Cable Car Theory tracks only

The Cable Car Theory/I, Robot (2001)

1. I, Robot - The Answer

2. I, Robot - Call Me "Killer"

3. The Cable Car Theory - Touch The Sky

4. The Cable Car Theory - Without Armor

The Deconstruction (2001)

1. Nakama

2. I Left My Heart In New Brunswick

3. Redress of Grievances

4. Analysis (feat. Nick Gambacorta)

5. Caffeine Battle Cry

6. Spit Happens

7. Fix The Pipe Or Hide The Puddle (feat. Todd Currier)

8. Without Armor

9. Munchausen's Syndrome By Proxy

10. 10 Minute Wrinkle Release Program (feat. Bricks Avalon

11. Eyes Of The Ibad

12. Whispers (feat. Christian Lopez)

13.  Tears For Broken Toys (feat. Tommy Schlatter)

Fables And Fictions Of The Human Condition (2003)

1. Green Eyed Aphrodite

2. The Mahdi And The Masses

3. Threads (feat. Cynthia Acerra)

4. The Litany

5. How To Break Orbit And Thwart A Muse

6. The Sayyadina

An Incomplete Retrospective (2020)

1. Green Eyed Aphrodite

2. The Mahdi and the Masses

3. Threads (feat. Cynthia Acerra)

4. The Litany

5. How To Break Orbit And Thwart A Muse

6. The Sayyadina

7. Nakama

8. I Left My Heart In New Brunswick

9. Redress Of Grievance

10. Analysis (feat. Nick Gambacorta)

11. Caffeine Battle Cry

12. Spit Happens

13. Fix The Pipe Or Hide The Puddle (feat. Todd Currier)

14. Without Armor

15. Munchausen's Syndrome By Proxy

16. 10 Minute Wrinkle Release Program (feat. Bricks Avalon)

17. Whispers (feat. Christian Lopez)

18. Tears For Broken Toys (feat. Tommy Schlatter

19. Tears For Broken Toys (Demo)

20. 2000 Years

21. Fire Away/If You Only Knew

22. Something New

23. 22 (feat. Matt "Baby Jesus" Grande)

24. Thought, Feeling, Action

25. Whispers

26. Fingerpaint

27. 700

28. Mediocre

29. A Song For Alexis (feat. Frank Stapes)

30. Touch The Sky

31. Without Armor (Demo)

32. Second Guessing

33. Analysis

34. A Fatal Flaw

Spotify

Apple Music 

Facebook

I Never Knew You

I Never Knew You were a two-piece screamo band from Orange County, California that were around from 2010 to 2013. They only put out one release, which came out in December 2010 which is why it's sometimes listed as a 2011 release online. There's possibly also a demo floating around, but I unfortunately don't have that. End Of Seasons is absolutely fantastic and I wish I found it sooner. Impassioned and cathartic, the band melds melancholic arpeggios and crushing metalcore-ish chords and riffs into something seethingly chaotic, cleanly melodic, and remorseful. For a loose comparison, if you're into Funeral Diner, Sed Non Satiata, You And I, We Were Skeletons, L'Antietam, Xerxes, check this out. Enjoy.

 End Of Seasons (2010)

1. Beads

2. Null

3. A Frown For You

4. A Void In Hearts

5. Far

6. This Shadow Needs Me

7. Seasons Come To An End

Bandcamp

Facebook

Jabberjaw

Jabberjaw were a three-piece punk/emo band from Oakland, California that were active around 1992. The band is notable for giving way to Indian Summer, which singer/guitarist Adam Nanaa formed as he moved away from the pop punk direction of this band. Sonically, they're somewhere between Jawbreaker, Screeching Weasel, and Crimpshrine, a little rough around the edges but melodically inclined. The band only put out one EP and one split (with The Bloodhound Gang, but not the one you're thinking of), both of which were put out by Nanaa's own Homestead Records. Naturally this doesn't compare to the monumental work of Indian Summer (who I returned to recently and still astounded by). But as for as scrappy, melodic punk that sounds like a young band still carving out their sound, it's decent, with added historical signifigance to boot. 

Novelty EP (1992)

1. Two Days

2. Wonder

3. Looking Down

4. Ending

Jabberjaw/The Bloodhound Gang (1992)

1. Jabberjaw - Dividing

2. Jabberjaw - Sometimes

3. The Bloodhound Gang - Past The Fence