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.

Dead Butterflies - I See Myself In you, I Hate It

B Tier

Dead Butterflies is a project from prolific Drum and Bass musician POSITIVE+, known for its tremendous Ambient influence. Micah applies that atmospheric depth to I See Myself In You, debut album for this Emo project. Coming from an entirely different genre allows for unique approaches to writing music, and this fits well with the spirit of 5th Wave Emo. The record has all the bones of a worthy Midwest Emo album - heartrending riffs, quiet-loud dynamics, emotional lyrical content - and overlays them with electronic drum elements, synths and highly-processed vocals for a Shoegaze-like effect. Dead Butterflies already has multiple studio albums out this year alone - start with this one.

bonus - was a dog

B Tier

Brand new Emo Revival Revival band bonus enter the scene with a delightfully twinkly and raw throwback to the early 10s with a cavalcade of epic riffs, DIY recording and production, flawed yet emotional vocals and some truly kickass tracks. At less than 13 minutes, this band shows us a small preview of the epicness they can craft.

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.