Four Hundred Years were a four-piece hardcore/screamo band originally from Tucson, Arizona (and later moved to screamo capital Richmond, Virginia) that were around from 1996 to 2000. They proved to be incredibly influential, with a solid amount of output in a small amount of years (something fairly unique for a band in this genre). They took the off-kilter and spastic rhythms of post-hardcore acts such as Fugazi and Drive Like Jehu, and blended it with the impassioned aggression of the burgeoning underground hardcore/screamo scene (with definite signs of influence from bands like Portraits of Past and Indian Summer). This aligned 400 Years with other bands of the time including Twelve Hour Turn, Maxmillian Colby, and Sleepytime Trio. They put out three incredible full-lengths (the first probably being my favourite), but had a full discography of solid, essential material. Sleepytime Trio were a four-piece post-hardcore/screamo band from Harrisonburg, Virginia that began in 1994 and broke up in 1999.
They've played reunion shows in 2007 and 2014 since. They were formed by members of Maximillian Colby (another incredible band) at the end of their tenure. As you can imagine, Sleepytime Trio refined the sound their former band began, bringing a mix of the duel-guitar attack of Drive Like Jehu with a chaotic rhythm section and throat-shredding screaming. The band put out one LP, two 7's, a split (with Four Hundred Years), and made a few compilation appearances. Their entire output was included on 2002's Memory-Minus, with the addition of some stellar live material. This discography is an absolute must-listen. Youth Brigade were a four-piece hardcore punk band from Washington, DC that were briefly around in 1981.
They are not to be confused with the LA band of the same name (who also happened to be around at the same time). They were one of the earliest hardcore bands to come out of DC, and part of the Dischord roster. They had members of other DC bands including The Teen Idles and The Untouchables. If you're familiar with this era of hardcore, you've got a good idea of what they sound like.
In typical Dischord fashion, they released only one LP and had a few tracks included on the legendary Flex Your Head compilation. Their demo was also officially released a few years back, that had existed as a bootleg for decades. The band played one reunion show in 2012 and 2013 each. Dogleg are a four-piece punk band from Detroit, Michigan that began in 2015. They play an with a unique blend of sounds that combines the rousing energy of Against Me!, Cloud Nothings, Crash Of Rhinos, and PUP. Complete with jumpy riffs, gang-chorus shouted vocals, a strong use of dynamics, and enough raw energy to power a small country, Dogleg make music that's meant to be moved to. They recently signed to Triple Crown Records and released the single 'Fox', which is everything and more I could ask for out of a track like this.
They presumably have a full-length coming next year, which is a sure sign that we're starting the next decade off on a high note. Way back in 2005, far before the phrase 'emo revival' was even a discuss point, Keith Latinen started a solo project that eventually expanded into a full band known as Anna Flyaway. The group recorded an album's worth of material, but split before it ever was released. The album featured gentle, layered guitar arpeggios (clearly influenced by bands like Mineral), Jonsi-esque whisper thin vocals, and song titles too long to read. This might all sound incredibly similar to another little band, Empire!
(I Was A Lonely Estate). This is because that is the exact band that came out of this project, featuring Keith and Cathy, who were both members of Anna Flyaway that went on to be central in E!E! Unsurprisingly, this album does sound a lot like them, which comes as a very pleasant surprise in 2019, when they've been sorely missed after a seemingly endless stream of new material. It's a fantastic record that's been newly mixed and mastered, and a stark reminder of what made this sound so special and influential on emo in the past decade.
Camping In Alaska are an indie/emo/punk band from Huntsville, Alabama that have been around since 2012. Someone recently pointed out to me that I hadn't posted this band yet, which is absolutely insane and figured I'd get them up here as soon as possible. I'm sure a lot of you are already familiar with this band, particularly please be nice which seems to get the most attention, but Bathe and Welcome Home Son are both certainly worth your time. They also might have a new album out soon, so be sure to look out for that. If you haven't heard them, they play a gruff, raw take on twinkly midwestern emo with lyrics meant to be shouted on drunken summer nights.
Or something like that. Nuvolascura are a four-piece hardcore/screamo band from Los Angeles, California that have been around since at least 2015 (though they began under the name Vril). Early this year they released their first LP under the new name. This record is a hard-hitting yet diverse entry into the screamo canon, featuring fantastic production (courtesy of Jack Shirley) and some of the strongest vocals I've heard in a while. The musicianship is absolutely mind-blowing, with insane feats of technical prowess throughout.
Listen to the latter half of 'Saccharine Trance', the instrumental is all over the place, yet the band makes it work to an intensively chaotic degree. Fans of bands such as Loma Prieta, Lord Snow, Beau Navire, and Mahria will fall head over heels for this. To add awesome to amazing, this record was put out by Zegema Beach Records and Dog Knights Productions, two of the best labels around that can seemingly do no wrong. Fuel were a four-piece punk/post-hardcore band from the Bay area that were around from 1989 to 1991. Though short-lived, they've proved to be hugely influential.
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This is thanks to their sole album, Monuments To Excess, which is an absolute must-listen and includes all their recorded material (after a 1995 reissue). Sonically, they took clear and heavy influence from the DC and Dischord bands that had popped up just before they did. The first two Fugazi EP's were certainly gospel to them, along with other Revolution Summer-era bands such as Rites of Spring, Embrace, Dag Nasty, and Soulside, among others. They were unsurprisingly well-versed with the Dischord roster, and though that influence is very apparent, Fuel took that sound and ran with it, crafting some incredibly dynamic songs and fine-tuning the dual guitar/vocal approach of Fugazi, and that was later carried on by Hot Water Music (a band who have cited Fuel as an influence, and it shows).