Saetia - Eronel | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1999 Nominee

Release Information:

1999
Witching Hour Records
New York, NY (Tri-State)
Runtime: 10:56
Tracks: 3

Band Members:

Billy Werner (Vocals)
Jaime Behar (Guitar)
Colin Bartoldus (Guitar)
Steve Roche (Bass)
Greg Dundy (Drums)

At a Glance:

Screamo, Midwest Emo, Math Rock. Melodic, Complex, Dynamic

Musical Analysis:

This EP is riddled with uncommon time signatures, complex rhythms and melodies and passionate vocals, which says nothing of how maturely and expertly these elements are stitched together. Delicate guitars, subdued drums and gentle but active basslines define the more fragile and quiet moments on here, smoothly switching to distorted tones, boisterous drumming and wild bass with ease. The high-pitched shrieks from their earlier work return, but Billy Werner’s utilizes other impressive vocal techniques like shouting, crooning clean notes and spoken word, giving the music another cryptic layer.

Historical Analysis:

Low-key, this is their best recorded material. It’s a testament to the increasing technicality and artistry of their music, even if these particular songs tend to go by the wayside when discussing Saetia and their material.

Being the band’s final recorded material for over a quarter-century, it was naturally the closest resemblance to what would become of this band - Hot Cross and Off Minor. There are definite similarities between the bands’ respective 2002 debut EPs and this 1999 one.

Lyrical Analysis:

Saetia once again poetically lean into personal tragedy and existential themes on their lyrics, somehow always coming back to a seemingly universal truth that they shared with their peers: the power of language tends to fail us. In particular, Werner digs into the struggles with self-indentity under the weight of unfulfilled potential, the existential misery of living through borrowed meaning in life and feeling unworthy of love.

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.

Closure - Closure | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1997 Nominee

Release Information:

1997
Mountain Records
New York
Runtime: 31:31
Tracks: 6

Band Members:

Trevor Perry (Vocals)
Adam Gutwein (Guitar)
Mike Treff (Guitar)
Mark Spelbur (Bass)
Dave Spelbur (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Post-Rock, Cold, Melodic, Dynamic

Musical Analysis:

Closure's self-titled album represents the best tropes of late 90s Screamo, showcasing a dynamic mix of chilling, atmospheric instrumental sections of quiet melody, masterfully-crafted tense buildups and powerful, cathartic crescendos. Trevor’s gnarly screams add emotional depth to the songs, imparting unto the listener every ounce of pain that he’s internalized.

Historical Analysis:

Although quite obscure in the grand scheme of Screamo Canon, Closure’s one and only LP stands the test of time as an early example of Post-Rock creeping its way into Screamo music, in a similar vein to Portraits of Past and Breakwater (with whom they performed on a split with). Though this album predates some of the later classics with Post-Rock leanings, its niche popularity means not enough people were influenced by this incredible album to earn its place in the Hall.

Lyrical Analysis:

Closure keeps the lyrics simple to ensure the potent messages are digestible by all, despite the incomprehensibility of the vocalist at times. Utilizing short bits of prose and simply-structured poetic lyrics, themes of religious hypocrisy, abuse of power and the dehumanizing nature of work are solemnly explored. The doom and gloom lead to catharsis, though, with a rallying cries against willful ignorance, in favor of feeling genuine human emotion and pain, and to seek your own meaning in life.

Saetia - Saetia | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1997 Inductee

Release Information:

1997
Independent Release
New York City, NY (Tri-State)
Runtime: 14:42
Tracks: 4

Band Members:

Billy Werner (Vocals)
Adam Marino (Guitar)
Jaime Behar (Guitar)
Alex Madera (Bass)
Greg Drudy (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Midwest Emo, Post-Rock, Dynamic, Raw, Mysterious, Complex

Musical Analysis:

You come to understand the power of Saetia’s music within seconds of the intro track’s simple but harrowing intro, oscillating between complete silence and brash, distorted guitar. Entering next is Billy Werner’s iconic high-pitched screeches juxtaposed with frustrated, rapid-fire spoken word verses. As the songs progress, a profound sense of dynamic songwriting can be heard through the serene quiets and the frantic louds on this record. Saetia was definitely inspired by the style of Midwest Emo with intensity changes and twinkly guitar parts, more than the form.

This record isn’t just an establishment of Screamo tropes, though. It is a vibrant, seemingly-alive work of art that reflects the anguish of the band members. Despite each track going through its own arc, the entire EP seemingly builds up to an explosive crescendo in their final track. This is aided by the subtle Post-Rock influence that, while not as pronounced as in bands like Portraits of Past, gives this band the freedom to air out their emotions through extended instrumental passages.

Historical Analysis:

Whenever analyzing the discography of a Screamo band, never, and I mean NEVER, underestimate the power of a demo tape. Although this band would go on to have a legendary (if not short) career, this demo started it all. Featuring the two tracks from a single that would release that same year, this s/t Demo features some of the most beloved songs in the entire catalogue of the band. Countless artists would be inspired by these tracks alone, though Saetia would have quite the prolific career from here despite their brief run.

Lyrical Analysis:

Saetia’s prose-like approach to lyricism allows the band to tell extremely personal emotional tales through stream-of-consciousness verses, powerful repeated phrases and grandiose metaphors about regret and heartbreak. The band isn’t thematically novel, exploring the ideas of unrequited love, grief and nostalgia. Billy’s frenzied vocal delivery imparts desperation and immediacy upon the listener, only to slow things down with clean spoken words that are clearly and painfully understood. Many Screamo bands would blend in political and social ills with personal misery, but Saetia looked entirely inward for motivational torment for these lyrics.

Breakwater / Closure | Connective Tissue 1996

Breakwater

(Victoria, BC, Canada)

Jode Shortreed
Steve Simard
Carey Mercer

Closure

(New York)

Trevor Perry (Vocals)
Adam Gutwein (Guitar)
Mike Treff (Guitar)
Mark Spelbur (Bass)
Dave Spelbur (Drums)

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1996
Label: Mountain Records
Runtime: 9:31
-Breakwater: 7:12
-Closure: 6:44
Tracks: 3
-Breakwater: 1
-Closure: 2

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Emo, Post-Rock, Melodic, Raw, Dynamic, Lofi

Points on the Timeline:

Almost all of Breakwater’s other material was released in 1995, a demo and a single that contains two songs from the demo. Barring the song Twelve that appears on a comp, this is their only other recorded track. Closure had just formed before this EP dropped and would only last one more year with a full-length album.

Shapes in the Sound:

Melodic, long-form, Post-Rock-driven Screamo with tons of dynamic intensity is found on both sides of this excellent split. Breakwater’s passionate track is a heartbreaking journey of soft vocals and cathartic screams, melodic lead lines and heavy, dissonant chord progressions and devastating crescendos. Closure is a bit more straightforward in their songwriting but features incredibly driving rhythms, heavier production and more bounciness. Though quite contrasted, these two bands complement each other. MAGIC TURTLE!

Threads in the Tapestry:

I initially assumed Victoria was on the East Coast of Canada, which would make sense considering the ties to New York. However, I learned that these two bands were at least 2,500 miles apart, so we’re spanning quite a bit of continent here. Breakwater contributed a track to the same Mountain Records comp as Closure, which is how I imagine they became connected. This split represents cross-country scene building and demonstrates Screamo’s other tendency towards melody and dynamism, compared with some of the heavier bands during this time pushing Emoviolence and other more extreme forms of Screamo.