Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start (they address it) were a five-piece emo/post-hardcore band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that were active from 1999 to 2008, with reunion shows occurring in 2013 and 2016. They released two full-lengths and a handful of EP's during their initial run. Sonically, they really were all over the place, so any description isn't going to do them any justice. It's a mesh of the angular, syncopated, mathy sound of Faraquet, the noodly arpeggios of Cap'n Jazz, and the melancholic indie anthems of Death Cab For Cutie. They pack a ton of variety int ..read more

Kerosene Heights are a four-piece emo/punk band from Asheville, North Carolina that formed in 2021. Their debut full-length dropped last year, which I didn't get around to checking out until now, which is unfortunate because this is right up my alley. They take influence from the punchier bands that came out of the emo revival thing such as Glocca Morra, Snowing, CSTVT, Joyce Manor, Title Fight, etc. They craft these raw, vulnerable songs that are meant to be shouted along to, brimming with energy and catchy melodies. A solid four-track EP was dropped last month, but if you're looking to chec ..read more

The February Stars Union were an emo band from Chicago, Illinois that were active sometime in the late 90's. Naturally, there's very little info out there about them, aside from their sole EP and split which are luckily still in rotation online. Sonically, they utilize a fantastic dual vocal approach, also intermingling cleaner, arpeggiated guitars with abrasive, octave-chord climaxes. Basically, if you're into Christie Front Drive, Jejune, Ribbon Fix, Everyone Asked About You, or Eldritch Anisette, this will more than likely appeal to you. Enjoy. Kicked Out Spokes (1998) 1. Too Intellectual ..read more

Widowdusk are a five-piece screamo band from California that formed in 2022, while its members were still in high school and played their final show in December of 2023. This is one band I've been meaning to share for a while now, as I was blown away the first time I heard their EP I know where we're at, not where we're going a while back, especially its wonderfully anguished lyricism. With the release of their eclectic debut LP via the always-incredible Zegema Beach Records this year, they went straight to the top of the list of posts to be done. I don't have much else to say; in just a few ..read more

Heavenly Blue are a seven-piece screamo outfit from Detroit, Michigan that have been active since 2021, evolving from the band Youth Novel. I went to add a link to my Youth Novel post to explain the backstory there. Turns out, they're one of many bands that slipped through the cracks, as there is no post on them. Thus, I'll either add their material here or make a separate post entirely, time permitting. In summary, Youth Novel were from Ann Arbor, they formed in 2012 and disbanded in 2016. A few members reunited in 2020, but by 2021 there were no original members left. They changed the name ..read more

Febuary are a four-piece screamo/emo band from Las Vegas, Nevada that have been active since 2023, with their debut release dropping in April of this year. This band wasn't on my radar, so thank you to Salem who sent me this, comparing it favourably to Pianos Become The Teeth and Leer. Needless to say that piqued my interest, and I'm glad it did as this is a solid album through and through. It features bright guitars that veer between melancholic chords and mathy noodles. The vocals are dynamic, often making excellent use of gang chants. At the drop of a hat, the quieter moments can pick up ..read more

Post #1200 in our 12th year. I was admittedly dragging my feet trying to figure out what band to use to mark this milestone, because I didn't another gargantuan undertaking like The Replacements and Jimmy Eat World were. Down the line both bands I was considering will still get that treatment (Sleater-Kinney and the Descendents, for the two of you wondering), but as soon as this band popped into my head, I knew I had found the perfect gateway back to posting. Like I said earlier, this blog has been running for 12 years, which coincides with the same number of summers Celebration Rock has been ..read more

Narrow Head are a five-piece alternative rock band from Houston, Texas that formed in 2013. They've put out three full-lengths and a slew of other releases, with their most recent stuff all being put out by Run For Cover since joining their roster in 2020. Admittedly I have not done much of a deep dive on this band, even though they've been requested a ton and their latest LP, Moments Of Clarity gained a good amount of traction last year. The band's sound consists of big, heavy, shoegazy guitars and alt rock riffs juxtaposed against very melodic vocals. That's not a very good summation, but ..read more

"Constantly talking isn't necessarily communicating". Once again, we descend into the depths of despair once a year, same time same place, on February 14th. As everything becomes lonelier, we pick one band to invest our woes in, and this year is a solid one. If you want more sad orchestras, all previously installments are listed at the end. Toru Okada were a six-piece screamo band from Austin, Texas that were active from 2003 to 2006. They put out a self-titled full-length, two splits and a few demos. These early demos are what compromised 8 Songs, a compilation initially released in 2004 b ..read more

Closure were a five-piece screamo/emo band from Rockville Center, New York that were active sometime in late 90's, most likely 1996-1997. Unsurprisingly, their output is very limited, consisting of one compilation track, a split (with the fantastic Breakwater), and a sole LP, their essential release. They masterfully use loud/quiet dynamics, with wiry and angular guitar leads cutting through hard-hitting chords and pounding rhythms, with a scathing vocal delivery. If you're into bands like Portraits Of Past or Four Hundred Years, this underrated gem will be of massive appeal to you. If you ne ..read more