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.
Kudaranai1nichi - Every Last One of Them
A- Tier
Finding comfort in the raw Midwest Emo tones of 2000s Japanese legends like Malegoat and susquatch, the instrumental recordings are strong but never abrasive, a credit to the excellent production. The vocals are infectious and intertwine with the guitar melodies splendidly; at times, like much of the best Japanese Emo, the vocal performance of Daisuke Takane drift into otherworldly territory. Refreshingly, this album isn't Kinsella worship, grounding this otherwise youthful and energetic exercise in sadness.
Frail Body - Artificial Bouquet
A- Tier
Relentlessly heavy, punishingly dark and dramatically atmospheric, Artificial Bouquet is a statement release for 2024 Screamo and for Frail Body. More than 10 years after Deafheaven released their seminal Sunbather record, Frail Body was able to take that general tone and morph it into a screamo anomaly with tons of ethereal Post-Metal bits for good measure. The guitars are dense and dissonant, the drums are a never-ending chaos party and the vocals are brimming with anguish and longing.
red sun - best buds :)
A- Tier
Sideband to Me Too, Thanks.’ Zeke McPhail, red sun plays the ever-popular combination of Midwest Emo with Emo-Pop sensibilities, literally referencing Mom Jeans with their album name. Despite trending toward the more juvenile side of 5th Wave Emo, the compositions are fun and the guitarwork is refreshing. The vocal melodies worm their way into your brain, brimming with earnestness despite not singing about anything novel. Fans of modern Emo bands like S@YP and Swiss Army Wife will have plenty to enjoy on this EP.
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.
