Comic Sans - Ojalá fuera mi cumpleaños

B+ Tier

One of Spain’s best kept secrets of the 20s, Comic Sans releases a mathy, melodic and fun record that harkens back to the days of Twinkledaddies royalty like Glocca Morra. Truly excellent guitarwork punctuates action-packed tracks that fizzle into lower intensities, the hallmark of many Emo greats of yore. With the band refining their production and tightening up their songwriting on this EP, they are poised to explode onto the international scene any day now.

Reia Cibele - Reia Cibele

B Tier

The latest and greatest purveyor of Emoviolence in Portugal, Reia Cibele's self-titled is a force of nature, beginning with a brutal assault on the ears, though this 13-minute trek through mathy and sassy Emoviolence is actually quite varied. While each track is worth a listen, they combine to form a record that flows supremely well. Keep your eye out for this group.

Bulgarelli - Fat Animals

B Tier

Bulgarelli adds another quality thread to the grand fabric of Italian Emo with their debut LP, a strong outing that takes cues from both traditional Midwest Emo of the Second Wave and mathy Midwest Emo of the Revival. The emphasis is naturally on the guitars, which do a phenomenal job covering melody and harmony with slick dual guitar lines. The rhythm section more than holds their own, though, allowing the earnest vocals to stand out when necessary.

Clamor - Para No Olvidarte

B Tier

I can’t speak to an Emocore Revival or anything, but if there is one, these folks are leading the charge with an eclectic mix of Emocore, Post-Hardcore and even Indie influences. The native Argentinians remind me of Sinaloa in that way; they are not content to simply play 80s DC Revolution Summer worship and instead push the genre into their own unique direction. Emotional, melodic and cathartic are words used to describe a lot of Emo, but it especially describes this album.

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.