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.
Terry Green - PROVISIONAL LIVING
A- Tier
Is this album a long-lost relic of 2000s Screamo recently unearthed? No, but Terry Green gets pretty damn close. Carrying the legacy of being a sick Skramz band with a first and last name, Terry Green's passionate and aggressive songwriting is a welcome sound for those who miss the heavier side of Screamo from the 00s. For those who prefer newer Skramz, Terry Green’s crisp production values make this feel quite modern. Behold one of Canada’s true Emo gems with this album.
Black Pine - I Hope the Leaves Change Soon for You
A- Tier
Black Pine is a newer Screamo / Emocore band from New York and their latest album is one for the books! They use Emocore as the basis of their music while injecting harrowing Screamo elements into the mix. Scattered Midwest Emo twinkles dust the wasteland while sections of noise act as interludes. I Hope the Leaves Change is one of the most refreshing releases this year, doing so by looking to the past raw and cathartic Emo of yore for inspiration.
hanoi traffic - towards an end
B+ Tier
towards an end is hanoi traffic’s second EP and damn do they bring the heat! Relentless and unbelievably heavy, towards an end has tons of subtle technicality if your ears can cut through the cacophony; it helps when Will Killingsworth himself is your mastering engineer. I’m looking forward to seeing where this band takes their sound in the future, but I can already really appreciate what they’re doing.
basque - Pain Without Hope Of Healing
B Tier
Starting innocuous enough with an Indie-esque minute-and-a-half intro, basque soon introduces frenzied and dissonant Screamo, which is the bulk of this album’s sound. Despite sounding pretty sick and taking influence from more than just your standard Screamo, some production and songwriting choices leave the songs just below that explosive gear that the Emoviolence greats are able to throttle into. Despite that, it’s a worthy listen and the final song is genuinely brilliant.