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

Narrow Head

Narrow Head are a five-piece alternative rock band from Houston, Texas that formed in 2013. They've put out three full-lengths and a slew of other releases, with their most recent stuff all being put out by Run For Cover since joining their roster in 2020. Admittedly I have not done much of a deep dive on this band, even though they've been requested a ton and their latest LP, Moments Of Clarity gained a good amount of traction last year. The band's sound consists of big, heavy, shoegazy guitars and alt rock riffs juxtaposed against very melodic vocals. That's not a very good summation, but I'm sure a lot of you are more familiar with them than I am. If you're a fan of bands such as Superheaven, Daisyhead, or Modern Color and haven't heard them yet, I highly suggest you give them a try. Despite being new to them, everything I'm hearing is incredibly solid. Enjoy.

Demonstration MMXIII (2013)

1. Glass

2. Nervous Habits

Far Removed (2014)

1. Far Removed

2. Make It Hurt

3. In Slow Time

4. Nervous Habits

5. Brain Dead

Fantastic Wow (2016)

1. Hard To Swallow

2. Ash Anywhere

3. Emmadazey

Satisfaction (2016)
1. Necrosis

2. Feels Like Sand

3. Ashtray

4. Cool In Motion

5. Stay

6. Nancy France

7. Paranoid Hands

8. Wallflower

9. It's Whatever To Me

10. Uncover

11. See You Around

The Spring Singles (2017)

1. Stuttering Stanley

2. Nodding Off

3. Snoozy

Coursing Through (2019)

1. Satellite

2. Ash Anywhere

12th House Rock (2020)

1. Yer Song

2. Ponderosa Sun Club

3. Stutterng Stnaley

4. Hard To Swallow

5. Crankcase

6. Nodding Off

7. Night Tryst

8. Emmadazey

9. Wastrel

10. Delano Door

11. Bulma

12. Evangeline Dream

T.W.I.N. (2022)

1. T.W.I.N.

Moments Of Clarity (2023)

1. The Real

2. Moments Of Clarity

3. Sunday

4. Trepanation

5. Breakup Song

6. Fine Day

7. Caroline

8. The World

9. Gearhead

10. Flesh & Solitude

11. The Comedown

12. Soft To Touch

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Strange Joy

Strange Joy are a five-piece hardcore band from Houston, Texas that began in 2021. Following a single, their debut EP came out earlier this year. The aptly titled 5 Tracks wastes no time introducing you to the band's aggressive-yet-melodic approach to hardcore, with huge distorted, reverberated guitars swirling over each straight-to-the-point pit-ready frenzy. They let up on the last track, "Black Hole Love" with a more melodic vocal approach, recalling bands such as Basement or Drug Church, while the rest may appeal to fans of boundary-pushing hardcore such as Fucked Up. Enjoy.  

Heat Wave (2021)

1. Heat Wave

5 Tracks (2022)

1. Leaves

2. Lung

3. Deny You

4. Tarantula

5. Black Hole Love

Power Pop (2023)

1. Heatwave

2. Power Pop

3. Brickwork

4. Fiending (Blank Out)

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Fire Team Charlie

Fire Team Charlie were a three-piece screamo band from Houston, Texas that were around from 2004 to 2008. I don't have much info on them, aside from the handful of releases they put in that duration, which were thankfully all released as one incredible discography in 2012 by Moment Of Collapse Records. Sonically, think of the blistering instrumental technicalities of Hot Cross with the raw outpouring of Saetia. Arbitrary comparisons aside, Fire Team Charlie were an amazing band in their own right, and truly encapsulate the emotional torment that I love about this genre. They crafted gorgeous melodies and drove them to chaos, with some of the most impassioned vocals and lyrics you'll ever come across. Not to mention they do an incredible cover of Rites Of Spring, which really solidifies their discography as flawless. I know I say it a lot, but this is truly, highly recommended. Enjoy.

End Of A Year/Fire Team Charlie (2007)

1. End Of A Year - McEnroe

2. End Of A Year - Harrison At Clapton's Wedding

3. Fire Team Charlie - Captain Fantastic And Boris The Heavy Metal Kid

4. Fire Team Charlie - Someday We'll Look Back

Damezumari/Fire Team Charlie (2007)

1. Damezumari - Halvsies (The Metaphysics Of Presence)

2. Damezumari - Becoming Instead Of Just Being

3. Damezumari - Karesansui

4. Damezumari - Normality Is Just Something You Are

5. Fire Team Charlie - Hay Shortage

6. Fire Team Charlie - Best Christmas Ever

7. Fire Team Charlie - Mind Implosion

8. Fire Team Charlie - Emotional Cannibalism

9. Fire Team Charlie - Flag Draped Coffin

Note: Songs on the FTC side previously appeared on a 2005 demo

Fire Team Charlie (2007)

1. Battle Of Marathon

2. Golden Dragon

Fire Team Charlie (2008)

1. Reflections Of A Heartless Man

2. ...So Now He Trudges

3. A Light That Darkens The Sun

4. Poisons Disguised As Potions

5. PC Punks Fuck Off

Discography 2004 - 2008 (2012)

1. Reflections Of A Heartless Man

2. ...So Now He Trudges

3. A Light That Darkens The Sun

4. Poisons Disguised As Potions

5. PC Punks Fuck Off

6. The Battle Of Marathon

7. Golden Dragon

8. Hay Shortage

9. Best Christmas Ever

10. Mind Implosion

11. Emotional Cannibalism

12. Flag Draped Coffin

13. Captain Fantastic And Boris The Heavy Metal Kid

14. Someday We'll Look Back

15. Theme (Rites of Spring cover)

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Overo

Overo are a four-piece emo/screamo band from Houston, Texas that began in late 2018. They were formed by members of football, etc. and Perfect Future. If you're familiar with those two bands, you've already got a good idea of what Overo sound like, as they blend the melancholic chords and sweeping vocals of the former with the pounding drums and distorted chaos of the latter, with impassioned screams to complete the dual-vocal duo. This band really does sound like a seamless amalgamation of its members past work, which leads to a new and incredibly refreshing listen. Their debut, self-titled LP is being released by both Count Your Lucky Stars and Middle-Man Records, which are essential mainstays in their respective emo/screamo worlds, putting Overo in the center of this metaphorical Venn diagram. Enjoy.

Cold Concrete/Shattered (2019)

1. Cold Concrete

2. Shattered

Overo (2019)

1. The Dead

2. Constellations

3. Pact

4. Summer Wheat

5. Interlude

6. Pine And Black Oak

7. Dark Eyes

8. Diffraction

9. Joseph

Pre-order from Middle-Man Records

Pre-order from CYLS

Overo/Asthenia (2020)

1. Overo - Haunted By Heat

2. Overo - Near The End

3. Asthenia - Humans

4. Asthenia - Ghosts

Another Year In Hell (2021)

1. Overo - Another Year In Hell

2. Overo - A Hole In The Earth

3. Punch On! - Gore-tex Aorta

4. Punch On! - Rokycany

5. Punch On! - Defensive About Being On Fire

6. Zochor - Have You Considered Going There?

7. Zochor - Syncopation

8. Coma Regalia - Uncoming

9. Coma Regalia - In Sentiment Only

10. Coma Regalia - Further Into You

Waiting For The End To Begin (2022)

1. Walls

2. Dumpster Full of Glass

3. Never

4. Chestnut Hill

5. Fading

6. Lung Compliance / Witness (feat. Roberto Tejada)

7. It Won't Be Pretty

8. Body

9. Lost Our Way

10. Without You

Bandcamp

Facebook

football, etc.

football, etc. are a three-piece indie/emo band from Houston, Texas that formed in 2009. They are currently signed to Count Your Lucky Stars. In terms of sound, think of Rainer Maria, first and foremost. The female vocals, clean guitar tones, and lushness of football, etc. is very reminiscent of Rainer Maria. Also, add the slow, clean, arpeggiated guitars of Sunny Day Real Estate, plus the production atmosphere of modern bands like Joie de Vivre and Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). Voila, football, etc. Beautiful guitar melodies and stellar vocals are key here. Their songwriting is solid, and they can fill up songs with such a seemingly minimal approach. They've kind of got a Sleater-Kinney thing going on between Lindsay Minton (vocals, guitar) and Mercy Harper, who plays guitar, but tuned down so it has the low end range of a bass. It makes for an interesting combination of sound. Enjoy.

First Down (2009)

1. Dream Big

2. Touchdown (Dance)

3. Catch The Spirit

4. First Down

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)/football, etc. (2009)

1. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - Documenting Thirty Days 

2. football, etc. - Fightin' Phoenix

football, etc. (2010)

1. Away Game

2. XXL

The Draft (2011)

1. Sudden Death

2. Incomplete

3. Safety

4. Lambeau Leap

5. X's And O's

6. Halftime

7. Sideline

8. Hail Mary

9. Flood

10. Mouthguard

football, etc./Square Business (2012)

1. football, etc. - hut 1

2. football, etc. - hut 3

3. football, etc. - hike

4. Square Business - Weight

5. Square Business - Medicine

6. Square Business - Walk By Faith

football, etc./Plaids (2013)

1. football, etc. - Down the Field

2. Plaids - Eleven

3. Plaids - Twelve

Audible (2013)

1. Fair

2. Goal

3. Audible

4. Hut 1

5. Forfeit

6. Extra Point

7. Time Out

8. Black Out

9. Red Zone

10. Turnover

11. Return

Disappear (2015)

1. Sunday

2. Sweep

3. Receiver

4. Open

Corner (2017)

1. Save

2. Try Out

3. Foul

4. I Believe

5. Space

6. Eleven

7. Advantage

8. Overtime

9. Nutmeg

10. U20

Vision (2022)

1. Howler

2. Woodwork

3. Caught Sleeping

4. Vision

Bandcamp

Facebook

Mineral

Here's a post that is long overdue, on one of the best bands ever that everyone should hear.

Mineral are a four-piece emo/indie band from from Houston, Texas that was around from 1994-1997. In their time, they put out two perfect albums and numerous other releases. These guys not only pioneered but mastered the indie/emo sound of that era. That influence is still felt today, with tons of amazing bands around today existing pretty much solely because of what bands like Mineral did. Other bands akin to them are Sunny Day Real Estate, Texas Is The Reason, Christie Front Drive, etc. As amazing as all those bands are, Mineral still was not exactly like them. Beautiful guitar arpeggios, poetic lyrics, melodies that hook you in, and Chris Simpson's angelic voice define Mineral's sound. I dare you to listen to their music and not chills. It won't happen. Their music hits highs that not many band's can. Their songwriting, playing style, vocals and lyrics, everything, is perfectly crafted. And that is no hyperbole. They managed to reach perfection, and will continue to stun and inspire audiences with what they made in the short time they were around. And the best part is, they are around again! In 2014, they announced a reunion tour, as well as reissues of their two album and compilation CD of all their music, some of it which has never been out before. Their legacy will be preserved for a long time, and to anyone who has yet to hear them, enjoy, and I truly mean that. Mineral is a gift to all those that get to hear them. After their initial breakup, their members formed quite a few different bands, some of the best and most notable being The Gloria Record and Pop Unknown. But still, Mineral are the legends. Enjoy.

Gloria/Parking Lot (1994)

1. Gloria

2. Parking Lot

The Power Of Failing (1997)

1. Five, Eight, And Ten

2. Gloria

3. Slower

4. Dolorosa

5. 80-37

6. If I Could

7. July

8. Silver

9. Take The Picture Now

10. Parking Lot

Mineral/Jimmy Eat World/Sense Field (1997)

1. Mineral - Crazy (Willie Nelson cover)

2. Jimmy Eat World - Secret Crush

3. Sense Field - Every Reason

(Don't Forget To) Breathe (1997)

11. Rubber Legs

The First Crush Compilation (1997)

3. Sadder Star

February/M.D. (1998)

1. February

2. M.D.

&Serenading (1998)

1. &Serenading

2. Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs cover)

EndSerenading (1998)

1. Lovelettertypewriter

2. Palisade

3. Gjs

4. Unfinished

5. ForIvadell

6. Wakingtowinter

7. Aletter

8. Soundslikesunday

9. &serenading

10. Thelastwordisrejoice

The Complete Collection Disc 1 (2010)

Disc 1

1. Five, Eight, And Ten

2. Gloria

3. Slower

4. Dolorosa

5. 80-37

6. If I Could

7. July

8. Silver

9. Take The Picture Now

10. Parking Lot

11. Rubber Legs

12. February

13. M.D.

The Complete Collection Disc 2 (2010)

1. Lovelettertypewriter

2. Palisade

3. Gjs

4. Unfinished

5. ForIvadell

6. Wakingtowinter

7. Aletter

8. Soundslikesunday

9. &serenading

10. Thelastwordisrejoice

11. Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs cover)

12. Crazy (Willie Nelson cover)

Note: This was released in Japan only. The upcoming discography album will contain more, and I'll upload it here as soon as I can.