Febuary - February
#4 | S Tier
One of the most refreshing takes on Screamo in years, Febuary actually takes inspiration from the Screamo greats of yore, such as Portraits of Past, Saetia or I Have Dreams. Despite the weight of their influence on this “self-titled” album, February isn’t content to just worship these bands. Instead, they twisted the grand sonic textures these groups created to fit their needs. This album exemplifies quiet-loud dynamics in the most natural of ways, often at either crescendo or decrescendo. The manic dual vocals shriek and scream with passion and fervor, and they just have that “human element” that makes you feel the anguish behind every line. If you like classic 90s Screamo with Midwest Emo and Post-Rock vibes, this is one of the best albums in recent memory to listen to.
Clay Birds - Bled Out and Painted Blue
#5 | A+ Tier
Perhaps rating their debut EP a C+ last year was a bit too harsh, but Bled Out and Painted Blue is a marked improvement for the band in terms of songwriting and production. Despite the varied song structures and styles, Clay Birds still maintains their signature chaotic and dark atmosphere. The volume dynamics on this album are very natural as the band finds the perfect juxtaposition of solemn and lonesome clean sections with menacing and raw Screamo. With their first LP, Clay Birds have canonized themselves in the grand tapestry of Socal Skramz.
STOMACH BOOK - SOPHOMORE SLUMP CALLITHUMP
A Tier
Stomach Book is a band unafraid of the 5th Wave Emo label. In fact, they thrive on it; there's lots of not-unfounded comparisons to glass beach, though they draw from entirely different wells of inspiration. Stomach Book enjoys the chaos from combining Emo with Noise Rock, which often emanates a dark carnival vibe. Cathartic, poignant, experimental, boisterous, dissonant and utter mayhem is how you can describe this LP, and even that can't fully encapsulate this beast. Recommended for those looking for something different and offbeat.
glass beach - plastic death
A- Tier
This band is no stranger to controversy in the Emo scene; their first album caused a rift between people who categorized it as Emo and those who didn’t so great it almost singlehandedly defined 5th Wave Emo. After five years, J and the gang triumphantly return with their second LP plastic death. On this second full-length, glass beach drops some of the poppiness found on the first glass beach album in favor of more Progressive Rock influences. Some may say this album has even less Emo cred than their original, though I’d argue that this record transcends simple genre conventions. The Mars Volta successfully combined Prog Rock and Post-Hardcore on De-Loused in the Comatorium, Circle Takes the Square did the same with Prog and Screamo on As the Roots Undo, now glass beach has taken the mantle and fused Prog with Emo on plastic death.
Heavenly Blue - We Have The Answer
A- Tier
This album is the band’s first since changing their name from Youth Novel, a devastating blow to a Midwest Screamo fan like myself. However, out of the ashes of Youth Novel comes the dense and discordant We Have The Answer. The drummer is in a frenzy at almost all times while the guitars do not relent on the noisiness. The punishing, distorted vocals complete the cacophony. Heavenly Blue also released a single as Youth Novel this year, so there’s hope that this band will continue to push themselves sonically.
