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Portraits of Past - 01010101 | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1996 Inductee

Release Information:

1996
Ebullition Records
San Francisco, CA (SoCal)
Runtime: 36:44
Tracks: 7

Band Members:

Robert Pettersen (Vocals)
Rex Shelverton (Guitar, Vocals)
Jonah Buffa (Guitar)
Jeremy Bringetto (Bass)
Matthew Bajda (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Post-Rock, Post-Hardcore, Melodic, Dynamic, Atmospheric, Melancholic, Frantic

Musical Analysis:

From the opening salvo, a dark, barring bassline that transitions into an all-out assault of dissonance, chaos and an emotionally intense vocal delivery, you can tell Portraits of Past meant business. As the lightning-fast intro song fizzles out as quickly as it came, the chunky, melodic guitar of Bang Yer Head begins and opens up the universe to the listener. Lengthy, dynamic tracks filled with melody, atmosphere and passion comprise the bulk of this album while Emoviolence-esque outbursts give the music vigor and boisterousness. Expect monumental peaks and crescendos against dark, frenetic valleys as you listen through this behemoth. Although definitely influenced by Post-Hardcore, this album was a huge sonic step forward toward carving Screamo’s unique identity.

Historical Analysis:

Although the term “Screamo” wasn't even in use yet, these Bay Area legends managed to craft the first truly great, epic Screamo album on 01010101. The band wore their influences on their sleeves with punishing, angular Post-Hardcore riffs, masterful use of Emo quiet-loud dynamics and elongated, atmospheric passages of serene Post-Rock instrumental goodness - the sum of which was truly as groundbreaking and absolutely captivating for 1996 as it Is today.

Although Portraits of Past wasn't launched directly into underground superstardom from this record, countless bands would emulate and iterate upon the formula. Long, dynamic, brutal songs with tons of Post-Rock worship would be Screamo's defining sound in the early 2000s, arguably the genre's creative apex. For this album's timelessness, legacy and impact upon the genre, 01010101 rightfully deserves to be the very first Screamo Hall of Fame inductee!

Lyrical Analysis:

Portraits of Past’s lyrics demonstrate Screamo’s penchant for emotional truth over narrative clarity. The mantra-like repetition of certain phrases emphasizes the gravity of their feelings and message, even if the message is more ambiguous and less focused. Like many of the greats that shaped this genre, Portraits of Past marries personal and internal pain with the outside social and political forces to speak on frustrations with individual and collective failures, self-loathing in a system designed for just that, the futility against violence and even losing your own ideals. The personal struggle is created by society’s evils and vice-versa. The pain isn’t an issue to be solved but a powerful, cathartic emotion to experience and share.