Reversal of Man - This Is Medicine | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1999 Nominee

Release Information:

8/9/1999
Ebullition Records
Tampa. FL (Southeast)
Runtime: 18:41
Tracks: 16

Band Members:

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Dan Radde (Guitar, Vocals)
Jason Crittenden (Guitar)
Jeff Howe (Bass, Vocals)
John Wiley (Drums)

At a Glance:

Emoviolence, Raw, Dark, Dissonant, Frenetic

Musical Analysis:

This record encapsulates suffering unlike anything before it, utilizing dynamic aggression, dissonant guitar and boisterous drumming. Most songs have only two gears: quieter, intense and dissonant sections that build the music up, and the most frantic and dissonant bursts of anger and chaos. Wrapping this gnarly package up are sinister screamed vocals, headed by Matt Coplon.

The entire listen breezes through in large part due to this album's impeccable sense of flow and kineticism; each track emanates with danger in equal measure to the energy put in, and, combined with the songs seamlessly bridging together, gives a small measure of accessibility to an otherwise unholy package.

Historical Analysis:

This release solidified Reversal of Man as one of the great Emoviolence artists of the 90s. Its influence on the local scene and beyond, and the extraordinarily high musical standards they set, are still revered to this day.

This EP also demonstrates a different aspect of the genre than fellow Tampanians Combatwoundedveteran, eschewing Grindcore in favor of dissonance and dynamism. While you can argue which is the better album, This Is Medicine seems to have slid more into obscurity, possibly a cult classic or hidden gem. By my own admittedly arbitrary standards, I have to leave this one out of the Hall and it makes me sad.

Lyrical Analysis:

Matt Coplon’s brevity and directness are at the core of his lyricism, aiming at political and social injustices with decided rage and worldly allusions and references. The primary antagonist of this album is the corrosive power of fascism and capitalism. We see how, in the calculus of power, human life is disposable, war is theft, justice is selective, morality justifies violence, and technology tightens like a noose around society’s neck. Personal issues like guilt over failing relationships and the grief of untimely death rear their ugly heads in this mess as well, while other systems and communities are thrown strays: the news is indoctrination, not information; the Punk scene has fallen to branding over rebellion; the absence of personal connection powers the deadly machine of consumerism. These are not the most original lyrical topics in this scene, but they’re executed succinctly and in line with the amazing instrumentals.

Reversal of Man - Revolution Summer | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1998 Nominee

Release Information:

1998
Schematics Records
Tampa, FL (Southwest)
Runtime: 17:12
Tracks: 7

Band Members:

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Jasen Weitekamp (Guitar)
Jason Crittenden (Guitar)
Jeff Howe (Bass, Vocals)
John Willey (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Emoviolence, Hardcore Punk, Manic, Dissonant, Noisy, Intense

Musical Analysis:

This album is a musical gut punch that rarely relents and always keeps you guessing with sudden tempo changes and dynamic volume switches. The dissonant guitar tones perfectly encapsulate the feelings of desperation and unease while the drummer hammers home the immediacy. The bass is refreshingly well-mixed and adds a powerful undercurrent to the songs. The vocals are brimming with passion and reach unhinged levels of depravity during the most chaotic and cathartic moments on this release.

Historical Analysis:

This EP represents the growth of both Reversal of Man and Emoviolence in the last few years; having solidified the lineup for this release a year prior on a split with Enemy Soil, they expanded on that sound with faster and harsher conviction. However, the dynamism found here further shaped Emoviolence away from the more chaotic and grindy stuff. However good this is, Emoviolence was on the cusp of breaking out and this EP remains a hidden gem on the shores of the Hall.

Lyrical Analysis:

*Note that because this is an old release in the grand scheme of Screamo history, I cannot locate lyrics for about half of these songs. I’ll be basing my analysis on the available lyrics*

Lyrically, this record has a simple and direct message: they love the scene, but the scene is dying. Titling the album Revolution Summer invokes the very beginning of Emo in 1985, with Punk’s ethos firmly intact. However, 13 years on from Rites of Spring, The Hated and Gray Matter, Punk has started falling into corruption and hypocrisy. Relationships are futile, nostalgia is a lie and the scene has been betrayed by those who embody the opposite of their message. The only salvation we have is to remember our humanity.

Enemy Soil / Reversal of Man | Connective Tissue 1997

Enemy Soil

(Sterling, VA)

J.R. Hayes (Vocals)
Richard Johnson (Guitar, Vocals)
Russ Mason (Bass, Vocals)
Brian Harvey (Drums)

Reversal of Man

(Tampa, FL)

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Jasen Weitekamp (Guitar)
Jason Crittenden (Guitar)
Jeff Howe (Bass)
John Wiley (Drums)

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1997
Label: Fist Held High Records
Runtime: 9:21
-Enemy Soil: 4:38
-Reversal of Man: 4:43
Tracks: 5
-Enemy Soil: 3
-Reversal of Man: 2

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Grindcore, Screamo, Emoviolence, Dissonant, Frantic

Points on the Timeline:

Prolific Grindcore stalwarts Enemy Soil were in the midst of a career-defining year in 1997. This release was one of four splits, one EP and one live EP to come out, almost doubling the previous five years of recorded material unleashed unto the world. However, they’d only be releasing music for a couple more years following this. Regardless, this was their first (and not only) sideswipe into the world of Screamo. Reversal of Man continued their relentless onslaught of releases, with this being their seventh in three years. Their very best work had yet to arrive, however.

Shapes in the Sound:

Enemy Soil's half of the split begins with a ruckus; heavy, deep guitar tones introduce us to the ways of Grindcore while the drums drift into a series of blast beats. The singer carelessly throws his screams around for maximum brutality. Seriously, these songs are sort of insane. Reversal of Man keeps things relatively even-keeled, utilizing a slower Screamo sound often to contrast the bursts of Emoviolence. RoM play with melody on here quite a bit for how aggressive and emotionally intense their songs are.

Threads in the Tapestry:

Although Grindcore wouldn't be the definitive influence on Screamo's development, the Emoviolence boom of the late 90s can undoubtedly give some credit to this subgenre for its speed, ferocity and generally chaotic aesthetic. And, much like how mixed old Hardcore show bills used to be, this split represents the unadulterated mayhem of both Grind and Emoviolence as subsects of Hardcore.

Reversal of Man / Holocron| Connective Tissue 1996

Reversal of Man

(Tampa, FL)

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Jasen Weitekamp (Guitar)
Jason Crittenden (Guitar)
Jeff Howe (Bass, Vocals)
John Willey (Drums)

Holocron

(Canada)

Ryan Elinsky
Peter Shaughnessy
Ryan Woods
Tyson Howard

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1996
Label: Intention Records
Runtime: 33:28
-Reversal of Man: 19:40
-Holocron: 13:48
Tracks: 11
-Reversal of Man: 6
-Holocron: 8

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Emoviolence, Hardcore Punk, Dissonant, Punishing

Points on the Timeline:

Holocron is a band whose entire output was released in 1996, the same year of this split. Reversal of Man put in tons of work over 1995 and 1996 to appear in numerous splits and release a couple of EPs. Foundational releases like this split would elevate Reversal of Man in step with Screamo and Emoviolence’s rise to underground prominence. Their most well-regarded works would be released in the near future.

Shapes in the Sound:

Contrasting this with their split with Puritan, Reversal of Man embraced a more deliberate pace and longer songs. Although their take on Emoviolence is still present on this album, RoM take great care in dynamically switching between intimidating, dissonant mid-tempo destruction and an all-out aural assault. Holocron’s half starts and the lower production values are immediately evident, but it’s not a knock against the music. Holocron’s music has more traditional Hardcore elements to it, though they are still achieving the Emoviolence aura.

Threads in the Tapestry:

Emoviolence was born in North America and this split exemplifies this. Floridian and Canadian talent come together from obscurity and at minimum 1,500 miles between them craft a gem worthy of Screamo canon. Although Holocron would remain a curiosity in the genre’s history, Reversal of Man’s epic warpath toward popularizing their brand of emotive Hardcore would continue and be quite fruitful as the genres grew.

Puritan / Reversal of Man | Connective Tissue 1996

Puritan:

(State College, PA)

Chad PfeifferDemian Fenton
Doug Savour
Tyler Lotz
Vijay Hariharan

Reversal of Man:

(Tampa, FL)

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Jasen Weitekamp (Guitar)
Jason Crittenden (Guitar)
Jeff Howe (Bass, Vocals)
John Willey (Drums)

Basic Info:

Release Date: 1996
Label: King of the Monsters Records
Runtime: 34:07
-Puritan: 19:07
-Reversal of Man: 15:00
Tracks: 11
-Puritan: 5
-Reversal of Man: 6

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Emoviolence, Noise Rock, Dissonant, Chaotic

Points on the Timeline:

At the time of release, Puritan was a brand new band with perhaps only a two-song tour demo released to their name. Reversal of Man, on the other hand, had already established themselves the year before across three releases and seven songs. Both artists would release another split this very same year.

Shapes in the Sound:

This split brings two very similar, very violence-oriented bands together, showcasing emotive hardcore’s evolution into Screamo and Emoviolence. Puritan’s punishing tracks emphasize the disparity between dissonance and melody with slower, discordant madness that changes to rapid-fire Emoviolence. By comparison, Reversal of Man is a bit more straightforward in their approach, but every bit of noisiness, dissonance, emotion and dynamism is present. Interestingly, they close their half out with the opener of their s/t EP of the same year, though I’m not sure which came out first.

Threads in the Tapestry:

With Emoviolence (and Screamo as a whole) in its infancy, these two burgeoning artists reached over 1,000 miles across the Atlantic to collaborate on this harrowing full-length split. While neither these tracks nor this split in general was revolutionary in the genre, this release further cemented genre conventions like liberal use of dissonance, quiet-loud dynamics and Powerviolence-like tempo switches.

Reversal of Man - Reversal of Man | Screamo Hall of Fame Class of 1996 Nominee

Release Information:

1996
Valrico Records
Tampa, FL
Runtime: 7:15
Tracks: 4

Band Members:

Matt Coplon (Vocals)
Christopher Norris (Guitar)
Joe Camacho (Guitar)
Jason Crittenden (Bass)
John Wiley (Drums)

Genres, Influences and Characteristics:

Screamo, Emoviolence, Ominous, Frantic, Intense, Dynamic

Musical Analysis:

On this 1996 s/t, Reversal of Man crafted three different ideas to switch between dynamically: slow, sinister and clean guitar melodies with light accompaniment, crushing, dissonant, mid-tempo Screamo that bares its fangs, and blistering, extreme, turbulent Emoviolence. Does this formula simplify the actual music found on here? Yes, but putting this together with a keen sense of songwriting, harrowing high-pitched screams and endless passion transforms this from formulaic to trailblazing.

Historical Analysis:

Reversal of Man pushed forth with their blistering take on Screamo, emerging as one of the early trendsetters of the Emoviolence movement, even before it had a name. Taking spastic elements of Powerviolence and combining them with the emerging and dynamic force of Screamo was quite novel, even if several bands around the US were also pushing similar boundaries.

Lyrical Analysis:

*Note that because this is an old, DIY and relatively minor release in the grand scheme of Emo and Screamo history, I cannot locate lyrics for any of these songs. If lyrics can be dug out, I will reevaluate the lyrical analysis.*