2025 Emo Tier List: B Tier (Final) - B+ Tier
Anxious - Bambi (B Tier)
Three years removed from their heralded debut LP, combining elements of Emo, Pop-Punk, Post-Hardcore and even a hint of The Hated-esque Emocore, Anxious returns with an enormous amount of hype for their second studio album Bambi. Compared to their older material, these songs have lost a lot of their edge, but the melody-driven songwriting is still here in abundance. Long-term fans will have to decide if Anxious’ poppier soundfont is worth the effort, but I’d definitely recommend giving it a listen.
OiSEUM! - OiSEUM! (B Tier)
South Korean Midwest Emo. That's it. That's the statement. For those wondering what this album sounds like, think of somewhat fuzzy Midwest Emo with the constant motion of Pop-Punk. This combo feels alive and will really get you grooving. All of this would mean little if not for the endless passion exuding from each note, melody and song. Seum Lee, the solo artist behind this project, should be proud of the outcome.
Summer 2000 - Blue Meringue (B Tier)
The successor to albums John Krasinski and Ellie Kemper, the latter of which I rated in the S-Tier in 2023, Blue Meringue is the next original Emo chapter for c h point. The aforementioned Ellie and John were Midwest Emogaze albums, layered with fuzzy production, excellent songwriting and a conglomeration of original ideas. Blue Meringue retains much of that, but actually eschews much of the warm Shoegaze influence for ambient tones and long Post-Rock stretches. It’s all extraordinarily interesting, but it admittedly lacks a certain spark the last record had in spades.
Saetia - Tendrils (B Tier)
Hell yeah, Saetia is BACK! Their initial run ended with them as local cult favorites before posthumously becoming Screamo legends through their discography comp. Fast forward over a quarter of a century later for this comeback EP to release and damn, it's sweet! It actually starts up where Ernoel left off: Math Rock-laden Screamo with unbelievable volume dynamics. Though a hare shy of their former glory, Tendrils is nonetheless a monumental statement from this thinking-man’s Screamo band.
Snub - Hold Your Breath Through the Tunnel (B Tier)
Nevada state rep has never been higher in this scene following the dual ascents of Crochet and Febuary, so Snub out of Reno has decided to put their own esoteric spin on things. Hold Your Breath is a very subdued Midwest Emo album, considering its propensity for mathy riffs, chaotic Post-Hardcore outbursts and jarring volume dynamics. The progression of the album feels like an inner monologue spilling from a mind unraveling. Because of this, there’s a prevailing wistfulness about these songs.
lobsterfight - My Coat Hanger Is a Necklace (B+ Tier)
Experimental Fifth Wave outfit Lobsterfight shadowdropped this right before Christmas in 2024, so this is my annual “last year’s album I didn’t catch in time.” However, with my new rules I imposed on myself this year, we will probably see a few more of these in the coming years. Anyway, the band’s ridiculously sprawling influences make appearances on this album, though they are somewhat streamlined on this record. The tracks on here are generally quite melodic, free-flowing, careless and feature lots of noisiness and experimental switches you’d find on a classic B!TMI album. My Coat Hanger Is a Necklace is perhaps one of the most blithesome releases in the last 365 days.
Suffocate for Fuck Sake - To Rest in the Trust, That Creates the World (B+ Tier)
SFFS is an underrated Swedish Screamo band whose first release was over 20 years ago! They’ve combined highly emotional Screamo with gorgeous, atmospheric Post-Rock throughout their career in different measures, though they have been toying with abrasive, metallic ambiance as of late. Enter To Rest in the Trust, That Creates the World, a single 20+ minute epic with all of those previous elements mentioned, along with one of the best examples of quiet-loud dynamics this year. The entire track is a roller coaster of buildups, crescendos, decrescendos and static tones. Had there been even one more track to balance this thing out, I’d be inclined to rate it higher.
Bee Hive Ski Race - Unlimited Violence Apolagia (B+ Tier)
LGBTQ-fronted Emo/Post-Hardcore from Cleveland, Bee Hive Ski Race has finally released their debut LP, a masterclass in full-album writing. With a gigantic runtime of almost an hour, no two songs sound similar enough to make listening through this boring. With various accompanying influences, including Post-Rock and Shoegaze, there are extended journeys of atmospheric, instrumental-only sections that don’t merely exist to pad the runtime, but to convey complicated, compelling emotions. One small paragraph doesn’t do this justice, check this out if you want something substantive to sink your teeth into.
we’rethecurrency - An Ode And Farewell (B+ Tier)
One of the weirdest band names in recent memory returns this year with their first official full-length and it’s…well it’s VERY different from what most people expected. After last year’s untethered Emo / Screamo EP, An Ode And Farewell is the band’s take on Third Wave Emo-Pop / Pop-Screamo. It legitimately sounds like a basement demo of a band that opened a local show for Silverstein or Taking Back Sunday in 2006, but with some modern songwriting sensibilities. Shrill screaming, beautiful cleans, epic guitarwork and excellently-structured songwriting anchor this phenomenal release, marred only by unsatisfying production.
Clay Birds - A Separation From Vanity (B+ Tier)
Clay Birds returns for a third release in as many years to land on my year-end tier list, and A Separation From Vanity is yet another profound musical statement from this talented band. Despite its rawness and emotional strength, this dark record is actually quite intimate and subdued, with some recognizable Midwest Emo influence during its quietest moments. This one also gets better on repeat listens, so definitely keep it looping!
Michael Cera Palin - We Could Be Brave (B+ Tier)
MCP have been around for a decade now, and they are finally unleashing their premiere full-length record to the world in 2025. These legends have been a perfect bridge between the Emo Revival and Fifth Wave Emo, along with bands like Macseal and Oso Oso. However, the band finally seems ready put their full attention to their music, as We Could Be Brave is a massive record that more than doubles the available discography for this band. Their signature blend of infectious Emo-Pop and cathartic Midwest Emo returns, though they’ve found a new penchant for heavier riffs and stronger distortion. Despite its gargantuan length, the album flows remarkably well and showcases a band on top of their game after baking in the oven for so long.
TRSH - String Theory (B+ Tier)
TRSH’s first record since going viral with Dad Rock, String Theory is a hyper-tappy, ultra-confessional Midwest Emo album with not a single ounce of lost energy. Compared to their previous effort, Soporific, there may not be as many clear “standouts,” but this is largely due to the consistency and cohesiveness of the record, where every song is good for its own reasons and keeps the album moving briskly. If anything, this album disproves the stereotypes and silences the critics, though expect this to be a hair more aggressive than some of their previous material.
Tanpopo Crisis - Meridian (B+ Tier)
Black Metal and Blackgaze have had a presence within Screamo for quite some time, but Tanpop Crisis seems to have been at the forefront of this movement, with their first album coming out in 2016! Five years since their last release, these scene vets came out with Meridian, an atmospheric sojourn with incredibly bleak instrumentals. Despite the heaviness and thick layers of effects straddled onto the guitar, this is actually quite mellow for Blackened Screamo.
Avec Plaisir - Active Listening (B+ Tier)
The pride and soul of French-Canadian Emo, Montreal’s own Avec Plaisir has finally unleashed their sophomore LP onto the world. The best word I can use to describe this record is massive; this is not because of length, which rests modestly at just over 30 minutes, nor scope, as much of what is found on here can be found on plenty of other Mathy Midwest Emo albums. However, the sum is greater than the parts, which themselves feature soaring guitar leads, catchy vocals and excellent control over the pacing and flow of the entire work.
B+ Tier is shaping up to be HUGE this year. Check back tomorrow for more!
