Respire - Hiraeth
B+ Tier
Simply put, this album is gorgeous. The Post-Rock soundscapes the band crafts in each song are dense, filled with rich sonic textures and heaps of grandiosity. The strings and horns in each song contrast the Blackgaze-inspired-Screamo perfectly, giving them a balanced sound that doesn’t stray too far into chaos territory. The band is the crown jewel of Toronto’s Screamo scene and with yet another epic release, they further their reputation in The Great White North. However, I’d argue there’s perhaps a bit more sizzle than steak on this record.
we'rethecurrency - For the Hearing of My Heart
B+ Tier
One of the biggest surprises of the year comes by way of 5th Waver Emos we’rethecurrency who deliver on their second-ever EP. Despite the demo-level production values, the band pulls out all the stops with ambitious arrangements featuring acoustic guitars, trumpets, spoken word sections, melodic and melancholic clean vocals and some sorrowful screams. Traditional Midwest Emo instrumentation with early Screamo flourishes seems to be their blueprint, but the band isn't tethered to any specific idea of what Emo is supposed to be. This is without a doubt one of the most cathartic releases of 2024.
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.
Infant Island - Obsidian Wreath
B Tier
Infant Island is a Screamo band that takes influence from countless other genres, including Blackgaze, Post-Metal and Metalcore. They’ve perhaps reached their zenith on Obsidian Wreath, an atmospheric and abstract record with longing and angry vocals, epic song structures and truly dense ambiance. While this sounds like it could be a huge mess, the parts are strewn together with purpose and nothing sounds out of place.