Combatwoundedveteran - I KNow a Girl Who Develops Crime Scene Photos | Screamo HAll of Fame Class of 1999 Inductee

Release Information:

7/1/1998
No Idea. Records
Tampa, FL (Southeast)
Runtime: 19:09
Tracks: 19

Band Members:

Christopher Norris (Vocals)
Dan Raade (Guitar)
Bill (Guitar)
Dan Ponch (Bass, Vocals)
Mark Muenchinger (Drums)

At a Glance:

Emoviolence, Grindcore, Noisy, Manic, Aggressive, Sassy, Suffocating

Musical Analysis:

CWV delivers a noisy and oppressive Emoviolence album with this, their sole full-length effort. The Grindcore and Powerviolence influences are more prominent than ever with the distorted, metallic guitar riffs and chugs operating at a near-incomprehensible level, matching the suffocating and cacophonous drum performance. Tying the whole package together is the personality-and-brutality-driven vocals of Chris Norris (with backup from Dan), bringing the entire concoction to a fever pitch.

The only reprieve you get while listening to this record are the various samples that bridge some of the tracks together. Even then, most of these samples are strong political statements (or something silly to the same effect).

Historical Analysis:

This album is infamous for how deranged and stifling it is, integrating the heaviest of late 90s Hardcore and bashing it against their own fiery brand of Emoviolence. This release contrasts with Orchid’s 1999 classic Chaos Is Me on the production side, favoring the heaviness and sharpness of their distortion while Orchid’s wall of sound possesses a warmer tone. Both of these albums would be seminal for Emoviolence’s success in 1999 and beyond, but Grindcore would soon fall out of favor as a mixer. Because of this, even today, this is one of the heaviest and most insane Emoviolence records ever released.

Lyrical Analysis:

Confrontational, absurdist, self-deprecating and violent don’t even begin to describe the many, many lyrics on this album. Christopher Norris takes aim at everybody and everything; a constant thread is late-stage Capitalism, its dehumanizing nature, the manufacturing of desires, the destruction of authenticity, its pervasive control over all systems in life, human bodies being treated like machines, and modern Manifest Destiny. The Punk scene is also a common victim, as their lyrics spout about toxic masculinity in the scene and the anesthetic nature of mainstream art.

However, among the grotesque body horror imagery and biting metaphors lie messages of hope: even if civility is a lie, heroism is a joke, perfection is a lie and failure is guaranteed, in a world built for control, what they call weakness is your true strength. Use it to end cyclical violence, religious indoctrination and even destroy yourself - and everything you believed up to this point.

Saetia - Saetia | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1998 Inductee

Release Information:

1998
Mountain Records
New York, NY
Runtime: 28:45
Tracks: 9

Band Members:

Billy Werner - Vocals
Adam Marino - Guitar
Jaime Behar - Guitar
Colin Bartoldus - Bass
Gregory Drudy - Drums

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Midwest Emo, Math Rock, Complex, Dynamic, Melodic, Raw, Aggressive

Musical Analysis:

Coming a year off the heels of their revered demo, Saetia’s 1998 s/t LP is a revelation of Screamo music, taking their formula and supercharging it. The dynamic song forms return with more intensity than ever, balancing perfectly with the softer melodic parts of the album. Introduced in this release are strong Math Rock influences, giving their songs more unpredictability, varying odd time signatures, rhythmic complexity and an overall higher level of technicality than ever. This intricacy adds even more dynamism to their songs, emphasizing the poignant melodies and depravity more than before.

Historical Analysis:

The opening salvo of their discography was a monumental step forward for Screamo, but this album is perhaps one of the most influential works in the genre's history. This bold statement basically defined what Screamo would sound like at its peak and turned the somewhat silly subgenre into one capable of high art. The final shackles of Hardcore Punk and Post-Hardcore that held the genre together early on have evaporated and Screamo genre conventions were truly their own.

This album is the blueprint for which countless Screamo bands took inspiration, even if we’d have to work through a few more years of Emoviolence prominence before Saetia’s influence would be the defining sound. Besides this legendary status, the music itself is exceptional and would likely qualify for the Screamo Hall of Fame even without its legacy.

Lyrical Analysis:

Saetia fully embraces nihilism on this s/t. From just the title of the first song, the band reflects on how language is a lie we use to deceive ourselves, the destructive power of words and the failure of human systems. It sure seems like personal and collective misery is at the forefront of their lyrical themes, but their nihilistic worldview cuts both ways: sure, words are a lie and they tend to destroy relationships, but they also compose art - and art is a divine struggle. Yes, relationships can fail and you can subsequently fall, but there is power in rising above. Of course, the body exists as a tool of self-hatred and a reminder of our temporary mortal condition, but there is freedom in the emptiness. These are among the most poetic and artistic lyrics in the entire genre to this point.

His Hero Is Gone / Uranus - Split E.P. | Connective Tissue 1997

His Hero Is Gone

(Memphis, TN)

Todd Burdette (Guitar, Vocals)
Pat Davis (Guitar)
Carl Auge (Bass, Vocals)
Paul Burdette (Drums)

Uranus

(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Geoff Cousens (Vocals)
Yannick Lorraine (Guitar)
Karl (Guitar)
Matt Bruce (Drums)

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1997
Label: The Great American Steak Religion
Runtime: 23:59-His Hero Is Gone: 9:05
-Uranus: 14:54
Tracks: 11
-His Hero Is Gone: 6
-Uranus: 5

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Crust Punk, Screamo, Dark, Aggressive, Dissonant

Points on the Timeline:

After a couple of years as a band producing a demo and an EP, 1997 was a breakout year for Crust Punk legends His Hero Is Gone. Not only did they come out with this split, they released their two landmark LPs in the same year. This would be their hottest year as they’d be broken up before the end of the century. Their contributions on this split would be released under a solo EP called Fool’s Gold a year later. Meanwhile, Uranus was still establishing themselves by ‘97, having only released a demo and a split a few years prior. This would be their last release before their seminal Disaster by Design EP would come out in a year’s time.

Shapes in the Sound:

Although His Hero Is Gone is not a Screamo band by any means, they did release this split with Crust-influenced Screamo band Uranus. The band exemplifies the tropes of the genre to a tee with metallic, down-tuned guitar riffs, pounding D-Beat style drums and a gnarly, gutteral screaming voice. Songs rarely last over one minute and keep a high intensity throughout. Uranus takes many of Crust Punk’s elements, exhibited beautifully by their splitmates, and applies longer song forms, higher-register screaming and more melody.

Threads in the Tapestry:

Although neither side of the split would be considered the bands’ best works, it showcases what Crust Punk is all about and how naturally it can fit into the Screamo formula. These two were on the same side of the continent, but almost 2,000 miles apart. It seems like the spirit of this underappreciated Punk subgenre could not be contained by mere borders.