A Known Place

Inspiration & Resources

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kepler - Discography (1996-2006)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kepler was a slowcore/indie-rock band from Ottawa, Ontario. I’m branching out a bit with these guys but they were definitely connected to the Ontario “scene” back in the day, being on Spectra Sonic and Troubleman records and sharing members with the post-hardcore band Weights and Measures, that being said they weren’t a hardcore band. Kepler was and remains to be one of the more underrated slowcore bands to come out of Canada (and in general).

Computer Science - Showcase

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

(photo credits: @who_is_costa_ on insta)

Computer Science is a hardcore/emo band from Montréal, Canada who formed in 2025. They have released one demo and one album which just came out this December. Featuring members of Eric Spinelli and Twine, Computer Science has crafted a nuanced sound that balances eerie soft guitar and spoken parts with heavy hitting breakdowns and shrill screams.

Computer Science channels a mid-90s, very raw, very DIY sound that I absolutely love. To me they are a perfect mixture of heavy and very emotional and sad. You can hear all of the passion and emotion the band put into writing their music, especially their debut full length.

Arkata - Discography (2000-2003)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Arkata was a screamo/post-hardcore band from Toronto, Ontario. It’s difficult to pin down Arkata’s sound as it was an amalgamation of influences that evolved and expanded with each release. That being said, I’ve really enjoyed everything I have listened to and I am shocked that I didn’t catch on to these guys earlier. Their style could be loosely compared to bands like Four Hundred Years and Anasarca, as well as mixing in elements of heavier bands like Botch and Converge.

Tetrapodwhy - Showcase

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Tetrapodwhy is a new four piece emo band from Calgary, Alberta. They formed sometime in summer of 2024 but only played their first shows late summer 2025. Melding mathy, noodley guitar parts with dissonant half-screamed vocals, Tetrapodwhy is bringing a fresh sound to Calgary. You can certainly tell they spent about a year perfecting their sound and style before releasing music or playing anything live.

Their first EP was released September 23rd, 2025, not long after their impressive first show (aside from a tiny basement set) opening for Chicago-based band Your Arms Are My Cocoon along. The EP is titled “long way from your heart”, which features 6 tracks. The EP was released digitally through Luv Bugs Records, Connor of Montréal-based bands Eric Spinelli, Computer Science and Twine’s DIY label.

June Paik - Discography (2004-2013)

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

June Paik was an emo/hardcore band from Donauwörth, Germany, who were active throughout the 2000s. They released a demo, two albums, two EPs and two splits (with Titan and Battle Of Wolf 359) over the years they were active.

June Paik had a very dark, emotive and atmospheric sound, which moved even further in this direction in their later releases. There is notable inspiration from slow post-rock and even the atmospheric buildups of black metal, but the most clear inspiration comes from 90s bands like One Eyed God Prophecy and Union Of Uranus, Orchid and Funeral Diner. The slow, droning buildups erupt into chaotic, heavy noise. While their earlier releases could be considered a bit derivative of the bands mentioned above, June Paik really settled in to their post-rock laden sound and became one of the most influential late 00s bands in the scene. Discography Emo Armageddon Emo Apocalypse Emo AnnihilationDemo CDr 2004 (self-released)

Canadian Wasteland Presents... - September 11th, 2025

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Canadian Wasteland is very proud to announce our third show in collaboration with Bookburner Productions. your arms of my cocoon will be coming up from Illinois for the show! Cash only at doors. Get there early. Respect the venue.

Bev. Clone - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bev. Clone was an emo/hardcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who were active from around 1994-1996. They released one EP, a split with Constatine Sankathi and some compilation tracks, all of which were later compiled in a discography release by Council Records.

Members of the band went on to form Agna Moraine’s Autobiography, and also had members in Bombs Lullabye and Mainspring.

Bev. Clone crafted very catchy, rhythmic, and yet emotional music. Ranging from a moody 90s punky sound to more screamy and heavy at times, they definitely displayed their range. Their songs always seem to get stuck in my head. Their lyrics stand out due to their often repetitive nature, but also their poignant, emotional qualities. “I can’t, I won’t, I can’t take it anymore.” off their track, Don’t Use Hooks always hits home for me, the frustration at the world and being pushed to your limit is something many can relate to.

Twine - Showcase (2023-2025)

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Twine is a four piece emo band from Montréal, Quebec who released their first EP in August of 2023, followed by an album September of 2024. They continue to play frequent shows, mainly in Montréal but have played in a few other places such as Toronto. They also opened for current emo band, Your Arms Are My Cocoon. A member of the band also recently started another emo/screamo band called Eric Spinelli who have one EP out released in January of this year and just recently, a three way split with Twine and We Could Go On Tour.

Mahria - Discography (2010-2017)

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Mahria was an emo/hardcore band from Edmonton, Alberta, who formed in late 2010. Their first release was a split with Todos Caerán, followed by an album, a split with Watcher, a split with The Sky Above and Earth Below and finally, another album in 2017. Members of the band also played in Watcher and went on to play in Edmonton band Obroa-Skai who just broke up this year.

Canadian Wasteland Presents... - February 7th, 2025

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Canadian Wasteland is putting on our first show this Friday February 7th. We will have around 15 hand screened thrifted shirts and a number of interesting records for sale. Proceeds will help fund Canadian Wasteland’s first official label release!

Rape Revenge - Discography (2009-2012)

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rape Revenge was a grindcore/power violence band from Calgary, Alberta active in the early 2010s. They released two 7"s and a live cassette while active, and played many shows mainly in Canada. Members of the band were/are also in Janitor Scum, Puppet Wipes, Sawlung, Lab Rat, Think Don’t Pray and Charlene Bronson to name a few.

Rape Revenge played fast, heavy grindcore with very political messaging rooted in feminism and inclusivity in the hardcore/punk scene. Everything from the band name to their lyrics was pushing the boundaries of the predominantly male-dominated scene. Songs about killing rapists, capitalistic beauty standards for women, queerness in the hardcore scene etc, made Rape Revenge a band that didn’t always please everyone. They faced some pretty brutal backlash at times, including a “pro-rape” band being formed just to play a show with them, Rape Revenge of course refused to play the show upon finding this out.

In Vacuo - Discography (2008-2010)

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In Vacuo was a hardcore/grindcore band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada active in the late 2000s/early 2010s. One band member was also in Vancouver band, Crack Cloud. They released one album on 12" and one EP on 7" while active. In Vacuo’s 7" was released on Just Say No Records, a label that released various grindcore records from the 2010s, and also American emo bands The Saddest Landscape / Pianos Become The Teeth split 9".

Full Service Quartet - Discography (1994-1996)

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Full Service Quartet was a hardcore/emo band from Fayetteville, Arkansas who were active in the mid 90s. Members of the band also played in Generation Of Vipers, Hundred Years War, Drain, Chalk and The Shivering. During the years they were active, the band released three 7"s, each on a different label and one a split with Shake Ray Turbine.

Full Service Quartet, who were infact, a quartet, played calculated yet intense hardcore in the vein of Ambassador 990 or Assfactor 4. Along with a handful of other Arkansas bands such as William Martyr 17, Benchmark and Generation Of Vipers, Full Service Quartet helped expand and popularize the “emo” genre in their area. Their sound mixes syncopated guitar and drums, switching tempos and rhythymns frequently, with raw, throaty yells over top. Featuring elements of punk and hardcore, but with more complex instrumentals and a distinct reflectiveness that is prominent in “emo”, Full Service Quartet makes for a great listen whether you’re deep into the scene or just beginning to explore it.

Enemy Soil - Discography (1991-1999)

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Enemy Soil was a Grindcore band from Virginia who formed in 1991 and were active throughout the rest of the decade. Members of the band were also in Pig Destroyer, Drugs Of Faith, City Of Caterpillar, Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Pageninetynine to name a few.

Enemy Soil played, fast, heavy gut-wrenchingly loud politically driven grindcore. Most of their lyrics were rooted in left wing sociopolitical ideals and a biting outlook on US politics. According to guitarist Richard Johnson, their lyrics were also affected by their daily lives, relationships in addition to politics. There was definitely a passion and anger at the world driving their music which is evident in the intensity and genuine feel to their sound.

Headache - Discography (1994-1999)

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Headache was a hardcore punk band from Bradford, United Kingdom who were active from 1994-1999. The band released two live cassette recordings, a 12" album, a split with Recusant on 7" and cassette, and posthumously, a discography CD.

Headache’s sound is hard to describe, spastic, dissonant and drawing influence from many places, they created a sound all their own. Their sound is hardcore, spazzy sound with abrupt, aggressive vocals and jagged guitar. Their vocals fall somewhere between"screamo" and a more classic punk “yell” with an undeniable chaotic energy. Moving from fast and sporadic, to slow and quiet in the blink of an eye, the mix of experimental guitar, and abrasive vocals leave the band with an incredible discordance that is hard to describe without hearing it yourself.

Real Friend - Squamata (2024) - Album Review

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Real Friend is a band from Calgary, Alberta, who formed in 2022, releasing their first EP in 2023. The band consists of Noah Gall, Kyle Pierce and Ayden Hamilton. In October of 2024, Real Friend released their first full-length album, Squamata, which is now available to stream on Spotify, Bandcamp and Apple Music.

Squamata is a genre-defying, dynamic display of Real Friend’s versatility as a band. Their sound ranges from mathy and complex to no-wave influenced to noisy post-punk to acoustic. Reminiscent at times of Slint or the more no-wavey bands like No Trend, Real Friend manages to combine an amalgamation of distinct styles into something of their very own.

The Party Of Helicopters - Discography (1995-2004)

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Party Of Helicopters hardcore/math-rock band from Kent, Ohio who were active through the late 90s to early 2000s. The band included a member of Harriet The Spy. In their years active, they released a large amount of music with multiple full-length albums, various 7"s, including some splits (with Harriet The Spy, In Ano, S Process etc).

The Party Of Helicopters played rhythmic, mathy hardcore with intensely fast and complex guitar and off-kilter vocals. Pushing the boundaries of what “hardcore” could be, The Party Of Helicopters had a sound all their own. As they went on, their music shifted slightly more toward indie rock or even post-rock influenced at times. Though they never let up with their energy and well-crafted angular guitar riffs.

Baby Harp Seal - Discography (1993-1996)

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Baby Harp Seal was a post-hardcore/emo band from Leeds, UK, active for about three years. Members of the band were also in Bob Tilton, Polaris, Diesel Versus Steam, Brown Owl, Manfat and Month Of Birthdays to name a few of relevance. They released one LP, two 7"s and two split 7"s with Polaris and Kosjer D, respectively. They also had tracks on a few compilations.

Baby Harp Seal played post-hardcore with a distinctive emo edge. According to Seth Bennett, the band “played kind of emo music but not really” and “were into Hoover and Fugazi and Heroin,” which is evident in their style. With vocals reminiscent of Hoover and a refined sound to their instrumentals; Baby Harp Seal were certainly pioneers in their sound, but there were a few bands that shared their space, especially split mates Polaris. The UK scene at the time, mostly thanks to the legendary Subjugation Records, had a host of great emo bands like Bob Tilton, Fabric and Tribute to name a few.

Combatwoundedveteran - Discography (1996-2003)

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Combatwoundedveteran was a grindcore/emo-violence band from Tampa, Florida who were active throughout the latter half of the 90s and into the early 2000s. They shared members with the prolific Reversal Of Man. They only ever released one full album, but had various splits which were later released on a compilation.

Combatwoundedveteran have an incredibly intense sound, melding all the best elements of screamo with all the best elements of grindcore giving them a sound that really is all their own. Pure chaotic dissonance comes in spastic bursts leaving your ears feeling like they’re going to bleed.

Wolves - Discography (2000-2004)

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Wolves were an emo/hardcore band from Massachusetts that were active in the early aughts. The band consisted of members of various other notable bands in the genre, such as Orchid, Ampere, The Last Forty Seconds, Ritual Mess and Transistor Transistor with whom they had a split 12"/CD. In addition to that split, they released one solo album, split 7"s with Sinaloa and Ampere, a 10"/CD EP, and a demo tape. They played their final show in 2004 before splitting up due to members moving in different directions creatively.

Parades End - Discography (1994-1998)

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Parades End was an emo/hardcore band from Long Beach, California. The band had a mid-tempo, stop-start sound, that could be loosely compared to bands like Still Life. While they may not have gained widespread recognition, they were influential in the late ’90s scene and served as precursors to bands like You And I, with their mix of sung and screamed vocals.

Parades End combined melodic elements with the intensity of hardcore, creating a distinctive style that was well preformed and extremely catchy. Parades End’s contributions helped shape the late 90s scene, influencing many bands that came after them. If you’re interested in exploring their work, it’s definitely worth a listen!

The Last Forty Seconds - Discography (1999-2001)

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Last Forty Seconds was a hardcore band from Northampton, Massachusetts, active through the late 90s and early 2000s. They released one full-length LP, two split 7"s, a compilation CD, a demo tape and a CDr before they split up in 2001. The members of the band went on to form Ampere, Her Breath On Glass, Montcalm, The Saddest Landscape, Wolves and Ritual Mess.

The Last Forty Seconds was fast, brutal and abrasive, with vocals shrill and emotive and instrumentals melodic yet fast and heavy. Somewhat comparable to Portraits Of Past or Orchid, their sound is very much rooted in hardcore/punk, complimented beautifully by Andy Maddox’s distinctly emotional screams. All the bands formed by members after The Last Forty Seconds were also great, though each moved into different sounds. You can hear the elements that eventually fed into the member’s later bands, The Last Forty Seconds having elements of Wolves with their complex guitar and dissonant intensity that would flourish in Ampere.

Former Members Of Alfonsín - Discography (1997-2003)

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Former Members Of Alfonsín was a hardcore/emocore band from California who were active beginning in 1997 and finishing in the early oughts. Members of the band were in various other bands, most notably Please Inform The Captain This Is A Hijack and The Q-Factor. They released a split cassette with Los Crudos, two split LPs with Bread And Circuits and Project Hate, a split 7" with Sawpit, and a compilation cassette and live cassette.

The Buzzing Bees - Discography (2002-2004)

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Buzzing Bees were an indie/emo band from Calgary, AB. The band was active in the early aughts releasing two CDs and one 7". The Buzzing Bees featured members of The Day After Tomorrow Band and Slow Kids Playing Fast, both also out of Calgary.

The Buzzing Bees were an example of the punk-giving-way-to-emo movement that began to take over the all ages scene in Calgary beginning in the late 90s and gaining popularity through the early oughts. Despite the genre never really taking off in Calgary’s music scene, there are countless bands that did their part in creating this unique punk/emo sound including Porter Hall, The Corta Vita, Nine Miles To Morgan, Atticus and more.

Torches To Rome - Discography (1995-1999)

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Torches To Rome was a hardcore band from the Bay Area, California who were active through a good chunk of the 90s but only ever released a demo tape and one LP containing the same songs as the demo plus a handful more. The band combined Aaron Lee Schlieve of Portraits of Past, Steve Chamberlain of Ned Kelly and the seminal Sarah Kirsch of Bread and Circuits, John Henry West and Navio Forge to name a few.

Bread and Circuits - Discography (1999-2003)

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bread and Circuits was a hardcore band from The Bay Area, California who were active for only a few brief years and split up before their last record was even released. The band included Jose Palafox of Struggle, Manumission, Swing Kids and Yaphet Kotto, Mag Delana of Yaphet Kotto and Sarah Kirsch of Torches To Rome, Navio Forge, John Henry West and Sawhorse.

Bread and Circuits were a spastic blur of rhythmic chaos in their brief existence. Their first record, released on Ebullition was described by the label as picking up where Torches To Rome left off but with a sound that is even more “developed”. With melodic, intricate instrumentals and aggressive, bursts of emotional shrieks, Bread And Circuits may be one of my favourite Ebullition releases (which is saying something considering their releases).

The Wolfnote - Discography (2001-2006)

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Wolfnote was a post-hardcore band from Edmonton, Alberta active in the early 2000s. They released two full length albums and four EPs, all on CD save for one split 7" with Searching For Chin and one 12". Members of the band were also in post-rock group, The Famines.

The Wolfnote started out strong, bending the genres that were prevalent in the Alberta scene at the time and creating a rocking, danceable sound. They quickly gained a substantial fanbase, mainly rooted in the all-ages scene. They played on floors, equal to the audience rather than stages and had an intense, infectious energy at their shows. The Wolfnote uses bits and pieces of the sound of some early 90s bands like Native Nod, Maximillian Colby and The Red Scare, but with a fresh spin on it. You can also hear the sasscore influence in their work, making them comparable to bands like Black Eyes or the more contemporary Terrifying Girls High School.

Waifle - Discography (1997-2001)

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Waifle was a hardcore band from Woodridge, VA who were active in the late 90s to early oughts. They released a lot of music in their active years, including splits with The Anasazi, Pageninetynine and more. Brent Eyestone was the founder of Magic Bullet Records and was also a member of the band Corn On Macabre with members of Enemy Soil.

Waifle was strongly politically driven and outspoken about their values and reasons for creating the band. In their 1998 track “Introrigin” they speak about what hardcore means to them versus what it has become (competing for who is the toughest) and about the origins of emo as meaning “emotional”. Their vocals are harsh and raw and their instrumentals are tense and full of feeling. They lean slightly more into the heavy side, on some releases more than others, but they also have the telltale melancholy guitar riffs and emotionally dense vocals.

The Red Scare - Discography (1997-2001)

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Red Scare was a post-hardcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee, active through the late 90s. They toured a few times with Orchid and released quite an extensive amount of music in their active years including split releases with Orchid, True North and more.

The Red Scare is one of those bands I can’t get enough of. They’re the perfect mix of hardcore and post-rocky riffs that make me feel like I’m always in the right mood to listen to them. Similar stylistically to bands like Heroin, Four Hundred Years or Shotmaker, The Red Scare blends elements of hardcore, post-rock and punk in their tightly played riffs and emotionally driven vocals.

Network 34 - ST CD (1996)

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Network 34 was a three-piece hardcore band based in Newark, Delaware active for a couple years in the mid-90s. Members of the band would go on to play in Eldritch Anisette, Fields Lay Fallow, Dorian Gray, Boysetsfire, Midvale and Dear Tonight. They released a 6-song demo in 1995 which would later be included on their CD album release on Planaria Records.

Network 34 was an intense and heavy band with frantic drums, guitar riffs and abrupt starts and stops reminiscent of Indian Summer and shrill screamed vocals. They had a rawness and originality to their sound, their release coming out at the peak of the 90s D.I.Y. movement. Instrumentally they were more experimental and complex than your average hardcore band using elements of math rock to back the throat-shredding vocals.

Dot Flash Line - Discography (2002 - 200x)

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Dot Flash Line was a band from Boston, MA. who were active in the early oughts for a brief period during which they released one 7" and a demo tape. There is very little info about the band online so I thought that was all the more reason to write up a post on them. As always if anyone has any extra info about the band please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Dawnbreed - Discography (1994-2000)

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Dawnbreed was an emotional hardcore band from Böblingen, Germany who was active from 1994-2000. They released two full-length albums and a handful of 7"s, one of which was a split with Mine. All but one member of the band was also in indie rock band, Monochrome.

Dawnbreed’s sound varies substantially from release to release. Their 7", Amoklaufgefühl was the first I heard from them and it is significantly heavier and more typical of Germany’s hardcore scene. However, upon listening to their 12" titled Aroma, I was surprised to hear how different it was. Less heavy and almost more art-rocky, their 12" sounds more “emo” and less like the plethora of other Hardcore bands in Germany at this time. I don’t prefer one over the other, the 7" features some incredibly raw vocals and dissonant, “emoviolencey” riffs, while some of their other music feels more artful. I respect them for being able to pull off both.

The Alex P. Keatons - Demo (1998)

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Alex P. Keatons was a hardcore/punk band from Calgary, Alberta who released one tape in 1998. Unfortunately little is known about this band, but they ripped. You can hear their vast potential on their one and only release; which is full of fast-paced, upbeat rhythms with shrieked vocals that border on screamo. The Alex P. Keatons took obvious influence from regional anarcho-punk bands like Propaghandi and Submission Hold, while still maintaining the “emotional” sound that was popular in Calgary at the time.

Welcome The Plague Year - Discography (2003-2005)

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome The Plague Year was a hardcore band from Philadelphia who were active in the early oughts and formed by members of Makara, Joshua Fit For Battle and Neil Perry. They released one full-length album, a 7", a split 7" with Funeral Diner, a split 5" with Ampere and a demo CDr.

Combining elements of all members’ former bands, Welcome The Plague Year ripped through the early 2000s leaving their mark on the era as one of the best of their time. A touch of the synthy melodic-ness of Funeral Diner with the heaviness of Neil Perry and the sheer chaos of Joshua Fit For Battle, Welcome The Plague year have a sound all their own.

Neil Perry - Discography (1998-2003)

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Neil Perry was a hardcore / screamo band from New Jersey who formed in 1998 and split up in 2003 after releasing a discography 2xCD containing all their recorded tracks. They had split releases with Kaospilot, Usurp Synapse, Joshua Fit For Battle, A Day’s Refrain, and A Satelite Crash. The band is named after a character from the film Dead Poets Society (1989). Members of Neil Perry were also in You & I, Welcome To The Plague Year, Instill, Hot Cross and more.

Miss Black America - S/T 12" (2011)

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Miss Black America was a hardcore/screamo band from Vancouver, British Columbia who was active in the early 2010s, they released one full-length album as a 12". Glenn Alderson and Chris Vanderlann and of The Corta Vita and The Day After Tomorrow band, as well as members of Preoccupations, North Of America and D.B.S played on this record.

Miss Black America had a tense, chaotic sound full of ear-piercing screams and tension-filled instrumentals. The vocals sound shrill and desperate with a touch of spazzy, sass reminiscent of bands like Terrifying Girls Highschool also of Vancouver. Miss Black America seamlessly incorporated the sound of 90s hardcore and emo and elements of 2010s screamo culminating in an unforgettable sound.

Pageninetynine - Discography (1997-2003)

Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Pageninetynine, sometimes written Pg.99, was a hardcore band from Sterling, Virginia active through the late 90s into the early 2000s. They have since gotten back together to play shows in 2011 and again currently. The band released an extensive amount of music including many splits with other bands and was featured on a number of compilations. Members of Pageninetynine were also in City Of Caterpillar, Pygmy Lush and Enemy Soil.

Policy Of 3 - Discography (1992-1995)

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Policy Of 3 was an emocore/post-hardcore band from New Jersey that existed from 1992-1995, prior to which they went under the name Matter Of Fact from 1989-1992. One member was also in the band Four Hundred Years. Policy of 3 was one of the pioneers of their genre who popularized it for the years to come. Blending the punk energy with radical politics and more complex and varied tempos and instrumentals which became characteristic of “emo”.

Underground Sound: Preserving Calgary's Rich Music History - A Mini-Documentary

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I recently had the great pleasure and opportunity to direct a mini-documentary about the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society and the importance of archiving music. For those of you who are unfamiliar, CCPS is a site run by Arif Ansari which holds a vast archive of Calgarian, Albertan and Canadian music dating back to the 1970s. The project started sometime in the 90s when Arif began to digitize some of his favourite cassettes as a passion project. From there, the project spiralled into a full-fledged, extensive archive of hundreds of musicians’ and bands work over the last few decades. Each posting has a write-up about the artist, giving it some context and info on the members and style of the music, scans or photos of the physical media as well as a link to listen to it.

Real Friend - Showcase (2022-Present)

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Real Friend is a band from Calgary, Alberta who formed in 2022 under the name Soylent Green before they lost a member and became Real Friend. The band members are Kyle Pierce, Noah Gall and Ayden Hamilton, the first couple of the three sharing tasks of vocals, guitar and bass while the former is on drums. As of today, they have digitally released one single titled “Serenity Now” and one EP titled “Standard Issue” which can be found on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Humble Ary - Discography (2001-2005)

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Humble Ary was a hardcore band from Denver, Colorado who were active from 2001-2005 and then briefly again in 2012. One member was also in the hardcore/screamo band Green Fuse and experimental hardcore band, The Kindercide. The band released three 7"s (one also released as a 6"), a split 7" with Bailer, and a three-way split 7" with No Cash Value and The Gromos.

Like their contemporaries and tour mates The Pine, Humble Ary was a back to basics emo hardcore band that reflected the sounds of the burgenoning 90s “emo” scene while incorporating elements of math rock and post-hardcore into their sound. They had a really refined, well-thought-out sound but were known for their driving, frantic energy and engaging live shows. They had a distinct groove to their chaos and complex rhythmic instrumentals. Their vocals are spirited and yelled but not quite screamed. They are reminiscent of Shotmaker, Policy of 3 or 400 Years at times with their melodic and methodic moodiness.

Tiger 100 - Discography (1993-1995)

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Tiger 100 was a short-lived punk band from Ann Arbor, Michigan which included a member of Death Cab For Cutie and Detroit band Easy Action. They only ever released one 7" as well as a demo tape, but they have quite an extensive amount of unreleased work including some live recordings. I don’t know much about their live shows, however they opened for Lungfish in 93 or 94.

Examination Of The... - Discography (2000-2003)

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Examination Of The… was a hardcore band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota who were active in the early 2000s. The band included members of The Spirit Of Versailles and In Loving Memory. They released two full-length albums, a demo and two EPs (One split with In Loving Memory) before they split up sometime in 2003.

Their early work was reminiscent of bands like In Loving Memory or The Spirit Of Versailles with a slightly metallic touch to its instrumentals along with fast-paced shrieks. Their later work drew more inspiration from sludge bands while remaining a hardcore band and finally, their last released album moved into post-rock territory. Despite their movement across a few different genres, all their works remain under the same post-hardcore umbrella.

Plunger - Discography (1993-1997)

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Plunger was a hardcore band from Crofton, Maryland who were active sometime between 1993 and 1997. During their time together the band released a demo tape, 12", 7", two split 7"s (with William Martyr 17 and Blank), and finally a post-humous discography 3xCD boxset on Vermin Scum Records in 2017. According to vocalist and songwriter Tom LoMacchio; some of the band’s biggest influences included Moss Icon, Lungfish and the Hated. This can be clearly heard in Plunger’s sound, they were evidently influenced by their Maryland contemporaries but they expanded on that sound and framework in a unique and creative manner.

The Trikl Act - Discography (1998-2003)

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Trikl Act was a math-rock band from Calgary, Alberta that existed from the late 90s until the early 2000s. Members of the band were also in Waysiders and Cape May. They released one album on CD and had tracks appearing on two compilations, before splitting up and going on to form Cape May.

The Trikl Act had a very interesting sound that meshed complex math rock time signatures with a touch of slow-building post-rock. They sound very much influenced by bands like Slint but they put a unique, almost folky, touch to it.

Ambassador 990 - Discography (1997-1998)

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Ambassador 990 was a hardcore band from Ohio. Taking heavy inspiration from the likes of Shotmaker and Spirit Assembly, Ambassador 990 was a post-hardcore powerhouse that perfectly meshed melodic grooves together with heavy, pummelling riffs and shredding vocals. During their time together, they released one 12", one 7" and a split 7" with The Makeshift Conquest.

Ambassador 990 could be described as one of the quintessential 90s post-hardcore/emo bands, at least in my books. They had their sound down to a science, seamlessly melding melodic guitar rhythms and heavy-hitting shrieked vocals. Their music feels like a perfect balance between hardcore and something much more refined and interesting. The work and passion they put into their songs is evident all throughout their discography.

Strictly Ballroom - Discography (1994-1999)

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Strictly Ballroom was a hardcore/post-rock band from Los Angeles, California who formed in 1994 and reformed as Arca around 2000. The band included Brian Tamborello of Embassy, Ochre and Incurable Complaint on drums from 94-95. The band released one 12"/CD, three 7"s, and then a digital discography in 2013 years after their split. They also had tracks on a few compilations.

Strictly Ballroom had a unique sound that’s hard to accurately describe. At the time, fans described them as “Enocore” due to their similarities to Brian Eno’s soundscaping mixed with the influence of hardcore. Their slow, moody guitar that builds in energy throughout their tracks is very post-rock reminiscent, but their softly sung vocals violently erupt into screams when least expected. In their early releases, they lean more toward the hardcore sound with some post-rock elements, but as they went on they leaned more and more toward the post-rocky sound.

Summer Day In June - Discography (1994-2000)

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Summer Day In June was a hardcore band from Auch, France who were active through most of the 90s. Members were also in a multitude of French grindcore bands such as Tennis Bastard, Tekken and Los Suppozitos. Despite their many active years, Summer Day In June only released one CD, one 7" and one demo and appeared on a few compilations.

Summer Day In June had a sound that evolved throughout their releases, but remained consistently under the influence of emotional hardcore. Their CD leans more toward that intense “emocore” sound with shrill, painstaking vocals whereas their 7" had a more fast-paced punky sound to it. Their demo recording is very rough and featured a drum machine.

Universal Order Of Armageddon - Discography (1992-1994)

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Universal Order Of Armageddon was a post-hardcore band who were active in the early to mid-90s. The band included members of Moss Icon, Born Against, Lava, Love Life and The Convocation Of… The band released a demo tape, 2 7"s, a split 7" with Born Against, two 12"s, a live 2x7", and finally a compilation CD containing all tracks (except the live release).

Universal Order Of Armageddon was known for their fast-paced, short but chaotic live performances. their sound mixed post-hardcore, and emocore but with an artsy spin to it. Not quite as hardcore/punk as Born Against or as discordant as Moss Icon, Universal Order Of Armageddon has a unique sound, making their mark on the 90s DIY hardcore scene.

Words A Game - Discography (1993-1995)

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Words A Game was an emotional hardcore band who were active in the mid-90s. The band shared members with Owltian Mia, The Candyland Carcrash and Moxa. They only ever released one demo tape and one 12"/CD before they split up and went on into different bands, but what they did release was noteworthy.

Words A Game definitely has s similar sound to Owltian Mia, however something about their work stands out to me a little more. They have a raw, very emotionally driven sound, flip-flopping between softer, sung “emo” vocals and abruptly raw screams. They’re one of those bands that, though they are considered hardcore, they’re so different from what most would think of in relation to the genre, they almost need their own separate genre.

Nothing Left To Grasp - Discography (1994-1995)

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Nothing Left To Grasp was a hardcore band from Augsburg, Germany who were active for only a couple brief years in the mid 90s. They released one 7" and one split 7" with fellow German hardcore band Kassiopeia and played a handful of shows before splitting up.

Nothing Left To Grasp has quickly become one of my recent favourites. Their ear piercing shrieked vocals and violently fast and loud instrumentals make for a sound that’s hard to stay still while listening to.

Killsadie - Discography (1997-2001)

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Killsadie was a post-hardcore band from Minneapolis who were active in the late 90s into the early 2000s. Members of the band were also in Pretty Girls Make Graves, Sharks Keep Moving and These Arms Are Snakes, 97-Shiki and My Lai. Killsadie released one 12"/CD, three 7"s, a 10"/CD, a split 7" with Brand New Unit, a CD and appeared on a few compilations.

The name “Killsadie”, according to their bio on Discogs, came from an incident at a party in which founding drummer Erin Tate’s brother was “almost killed” by a girl named Sadie. Tate responded with “someone should Kill Sadie”. Though there has been some debate over how the name was chosen and from what I can tell this hasn’t been confirmed by the band.

Antioch Arrow - Discography (1993-1994)

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Antioch Arrow was a hardcore band from San Diego, California who were active in the early 90s. Members of the band are also in Heroin, Candle and End Of The Line. Antioch Arrow released two 12" albums, a 12" EP, and a split 7" with Candle.

Antioch Arrow had such a unique sound it’s hard to even put into words and have it accurately explain what they sounded like. They could be described as “art hardcore” due to their very experimental mix of chaotic sounds and neurotic, half-spoken poetic vocals. There is a noticeable inspiration from goth rock in their tracks but they put a heavier and much more chaotic twist on it. Listening to their music leaves you with a sense of anxious anticipation.

Yaphet Kotto - Discography (1996-2005)

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Yaphet Kotto was a politically driven hardcore band from Santa Cruz, California who were active from 1996-2005. Members of the band were also in The Anasazi, Look Back And Laugh, Makara, Jenny Piccolo, Encyclopedia Of American Traitors, Science Of Yabra, Bread & Circuits and A Light In The Attic.

Yaphet Kotto released three 12"/CDs, a three way split CD with Envy and This Machine Kills, two 7"s, a split 7" with Suicide Nation, a live 12" and a CD of unreleased tracks.

Angel Hair - Discography (1992-1995)

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Angel Hair was a post-hardcore band from Boulder, Colorado who were active from 1992-1995. Members of the band were also in The VSS. During their years they released one 12", one 7", split 7"s with The Fisticuffs Bluff, Bare Minimum and Kerosene 454, a CD discography and more recently, a remastered 12" discography in 2023.

Angel Hair was one of the most prolific and also distinctly unique hardcore bands out of the 90s. Their heavy hitting tracks meld ear splitting, screeched vocals, discordant guitar riffs and some of the most chaotic yet syncopated drums I have ever heard. Their sound is so different from any other band I’ve heard it’s almost hard to process on the first listen. Their songs aren’t the kind where you can listen to once and notice everything, they take time and multiple listens to fully grasp what is going on in their chaotic jumble of noises. Upon a couple listens though, I guarantee you’ll be hooked.

City Of Caterpillar - Discography (2000-2003/2017-Present)

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

City Of Caterpillar is a hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia who were active from 2000 to 2003, and then reformed to play some shows, releasing a new album in 2022. Members of the band were also in Pg.99, Majority Rule, Enemy Soil and Verse En Coma to name a few. They have an extensive discography including three 12"/CDs, a live 7", a split 7" with System 2600, a split 7" with Pg.99, a CDr/Cassette and a demo. They also had tracks on a few compilations.

Infind - Discography (1995-1998)

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Infind was a four piece hardcore / emo band from Staten Island, New York. They were initially known as Dropjaw wherein they played a few live shows but never released anything. They then switched their name to Filter in 1995 and changed bassists, then switched again to Carbon and finally decided on Infind.

Infind had a diverging sound from the classic hardcore of the New York area, which tends to be on the heavy, “tough guy” side. Infind was a great antidote to the riff-heavy hardcore that was favoured around this time. Their subtle, quiet intros build up to an amalgamation of noise that holds a ton of emotion. Their take on hardcore is influenced by indie rock and “emo” while still remaining very much a hardcore band, with their abrupt shrieks amongst the soft, quiet guitar.

I Hate Sex - Discography (2015-2018)

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

My photo!

I Hate Sex was a indie-rock/screamo band from Edmonton, Alberta. Despite this being a newer band, I just felt like writing this post for them was a necessity; as they were my first exposure to more abrasive “emo” music and they were an extremely prolific Alberta band, that I grew up seeing many times.

In their 3 tumultuous active years I Hate Sex released 2 albums and a variety of split and compilation tracks, touring as far off as Japan and containing a revolving cast of band members. Lead singer Nicole Boychuck was the only founding member to remain with the band throughout its short but incredible run. I Hate Sex was my first exposure to this wonderful, weird little genre people call “screamo”; in the summer between the 10th and 11th grade I went to go see I Hate Sex as they were playing on the roof of a local dive bar. I could hear Nicole shrieking from 3 blocks away from that bar as we approached and I immediately knew that I would enjoy this band. Her vocals are shrill, strained and completely unique they stand out as one of the best screamo vocal performances of recent years.

The Hal Al Shedad - Discography (1995-2000)

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Hal Al Shedad was a hardcore band from Atlanta, Georgia active in the latter half of the 90s. They shared a member with Car Vs Driver. In they active years they released two 12"s also available as CDs, four 7"s, split 7"s with Rainer Maria and Inkwell, and a compilation CD of singles and unreleased recordings. They also had tracks on a couple of compilations.

The Hal Al Shedad fuses the unfiltered chaos of hardcore with an exploration of a much more artsy leaning, experimental sound that gives them a depth beyond a lot of hardcore. Their songs range from angry and loud to quiet and introspective giving them a dynamic, very calculated sound. They stand on the heavier side compared to bands like Unwound or Kerosene 454, but are still no strangers to the mathy, complex guitar riffs and rambling lyrics of art-rock.

Funeral Diner - Discography (1998-2007)

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Funeral Diner was a hardcore band from Half Moon Bay, California who were active from 1998 until disbanding in 2007. The band featured members of Nexus 6, I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism In Your Yearbook, Takaru and most notably perhaps, the drummer of Portraits Of Past.

They released an expansive discography that included; three 12"s, split 12"s with Staircase, The Shivering and Nexus 6, two CD/12"s a split 9" with Ampere, a split 10" with Evylock, split 7"s with Raein, Zann, The Saddest Landscape and Welcome To The Plague Year, two CDrs and two CD compilations.

The End Of The Century Party - Discography (1993-1999)

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The End Of The Century Party was a hardcore band from Tampa, Florida that was active for 6 years throughout the 90s and had one reunion show in 2015. The band featured members of In/Humanity, Jud Jud, Awake!, Books Lie, Combatwoundedverteran and more. In their active years they released one 12", two 7"s, a split 7" with Palatka, a discography CD in 2004 and also appeared on various compilations.

Madeline Ferguson - Discography (2001-2005)

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Madeline Ferguson was a post-hardcore/screamo band from Albany, New York who were active for a few years in the early 2000s. Members of the band are also in Struction, End Of A Year and Eight Miles High and one member runs Slave Union Records. Madeline Ferguson released an album on CD, a split with Bury Me Standing and a demo CDr and played various shows across the US before they disbanded.

Moss Icon - Discography (1986-1991)

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Moss Icon was an extremely influential hardcore band from Annapolis, MD who formed in the mid 80s and became one of the founding bands of the later called “emo” hardcore sound. All members of Moss Icon were also in a band called Breathing Walker and various members were also in Born Against, Lava, April Psalm, and Universal Order Of Armageddon. They released a lot of material while active including three demo tapes, two 12"s, a split 12" with Silver Bearing, three 7"s and a “complete” (partial) discography in 2012. They also appeared on a number of compilations.

The Crownhate Ruin - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Crownhate Ruin was a post-hardcore band from Washington, DC who were active from 1994-1996. The band was formed by members of Hoover after their breakup and also featured members of Admiral, John Henry West, 1.6 Band, June Of 44 and Abilene. Their discography includes one 12"/CD, 3 7"s, a split 7" with Karate and a 12" released in 2022 including their singles and early recordings.

The Crownhate Ruin played their first show just two months after Hoover had broken up, who were at the height of their popularity. The Crownhate Ruin’s sound was born from the ashes of Hoover’s, but they quickly moved into more complex instrumentals, varied and more complicated time-signatures and vocals that leaned slightly more toward the “emo” rather than hardcore.

Cedar Of Lebanon - Discography (1996-1997)

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Cedar Of Lebanon was a hardcore band from Houston, Texas who were active for a few years in the mid 90s. A member of the band was also in Blueprint. Their Discography includes a self-titled 7", a split 7" with Sore Loser and a demo tape.

Cedar Of Lebanon mixed elements of punk, post-punk, hardcore and “emo” to create a sound that balances somewhere between all of them. Similar to Agna Moraine’s Autobiography, Union Young America or Republic of Freedom Fighters in the sense that they kind of defy one specific genre, Cedar Of Lebanon made a name for themselves in the Houston scene.

Still Life - Discography (1989-2003)

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Still Life was a hardcore band from Moorpark, California who were active from 1989-2003. Chris Pitzel of the band was also in Shroomunion and Driftwood. Still Life is seen as one of the most influential emotional hardcore bands due to their lengthy existence and groundbreaking sound. Their discography includes three full albums, a split 12" with Jara, a split 12" with Resin, two EPs (one 12" one 7"), a split 7" with Evergreen, a split 7" with Cerebrus Shoal, an 8", a compilation CD/12" and a demo tape. They also appeared on numerous compilations.

Owltian Mia - Discography (1995-1996)

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Owltian Mia was a hardcore band from Virginia Beach/Norfolk who were active for a few years in the mid 90s. Members of the band were also in The Candyland Carcrash and Words A Game. Their discography consists of a 5-song demo, a 2x7" a basement recording and a 3-song EP that was never mixed.

Owltian Mia had that quintessential “emo” sound for lack of a better word, before the term was coined. Similar to Ethel Meserve or Plunger in their mixing of punk/hardcore elements with a more refined moody sound, the band’s legacy remains evident in music for years after their disbanding. Their vocal style ranges from raw sounding screams to much more melodic clean ones, overlapping with each other to create a unique sound.

September - Discography (1994-1995)

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

September was a post-hardcore band from San Jose, California who were active for under a year. Their members never went on to form other bands, however Ken Shipley of September co-founded record label, Numero Group. The band only ever recorded five songs, four of which were later released as a 10", and the fifth of which appeared on a compilation CD on Simba Recordings.

Despite the band only existing for about eight months, and only playing a few shows in San Jose, they have become a well respected and influential band.

The Spirit Of Versailles - Discography (1998-2001)

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Spirit Of Versailles was a hardcore band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota who were active from 1998-2001 with only two members staying consistent throughout this period. During their active years the band released two 7"s, a split 7" with Saqqara, a split 7" with Caligari, a split 7" with Rise From Ruin, a 12"/CD album, a Discography CD, a 12" EP and a cassette. They also appeared on a couple compilations.

Fabric - Discography (1992-1997)

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Fabric was a hardcore band from London, England who were active throughout most of the 90s. Members of the band were also in Beacon and Turbonegro. They released an impressive discography over their active period including two 12"/CDs, a live album, four 7"s, a split 7" with Greyhouse, a demo tape, as well as appearing on various compilations.

Fabric had a really interesting sound to their music that honestly took me a while to get into, but it really grew on me the more I listened to them. Fusing elements of classic rock with emo and hardcore, the band sounds like a mix of Still Life and Bob Tilton with a touch of Fugazi-esque post-hardcore. Their vocals range from strained, emotional but clean to razor sharp and screamed.

Nexus 6 - Discography (1995-1998)

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Nexus 6 was a hardcore band from Half Moon Bay, California who were only briefly active in the 90s. Featuring members of Funeral Diner, I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism In Your Yearbook and Portraits Of Past; the band released a split 12" with Funeral Diner and a 5-song CD (with a live set as the 6th track) both posthumously in 1999. Filling in the gap after Portraits Of Past’s demise and before Funeral Diner’s reign; Nexus 6 is an overlooked gem. You can definitely hear similarities to Portraits Of Past and Funeral Diner in their work but they’re by no means the same. Three of their members did vocals as well as played bass and guitar which makes for an interesting, layered sound. Despite featuring members of such prolific hardcore bands, I hear Nexus 6 spoken about very little.

Chupacabra - Discography (1998-2001)

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

For CanadianWasteland’s 200th post, I thought it would be fitting to do a band from our hometown. Chupacabra was a grindcore/ anarcho-crust band from Calgary, Alberta; who were active in the late 90s. Not to be confused with a multitude of other artists with the same name or some variant of it; Chupacabra is a standout band from the 90s D.I.Y hardcore scene in Calgary. In their active years they released a demo tape, a 7", a split 7" with Moral Hazard, and a full length CD.

Sea Shepherd - Discography (1993-1994)

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Sea Shepherd was a hardcore band from Orléans, France who were active in the early 90s. The band featured members of Autonomia Indigena and Shatter The Myth. During their active period they released a 7", a split 7" with Rabia (Autonomia Indigena’s prior name), and a demo tape as well as appearing on various compilations.

France in the 90s produced so many great bands, and Sea Shepherd is no exception. With heavy hitting screamed vocals and a mix of slow instrumentals and fast, thrashy parts Sea Shepherd brought their own sound to the scene. They’re not quite as emotional sounding as bands like Weep or Finger Print, they lie more along the lines of Ivich but a touch heavier and minus the horns.

Hassan I Sabbah - Discography (1999-2000)

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hassan I Sabbah was a hardcore band from Watertown, Massachusetts who were active from 2000-2001. The band includes members of Force Fed Glass, Puritan, Prevail and Rinse. During their active years the band released a 7", a split 7" with Usurp Synapse, a demo tape and appeared on 5 compilations. All of their songs have now been digitally compiled as a discography.

Hassan I Sabbah is the epitome of the word “emoviolence”, with their ear splitting volume levels and chaotic sound. I would compare them to Reversal Of Man and Kwisatz Haderach or even Lost Lost But Not Forgotten in their piercing vocal style and the abrasive instrumentals.

Moxa - Discography (1995-1996)

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Moxa was a hardcore / punk band from Virginia Beach, Virginia who were active for a couple brief years in the 90s. The band included a member of Words A Game and Fire Is Fatal. Over their active period they released one 7", a demo tape, and a tape with the same songs as the 7" b-side.

Despite their small discography, Moxa really hits the mark. Their Bob Tilton-esque, almost sassy half-screamed vocals and angst-ridden guitar riffs make for a really interesting listen. They remind me at times of Native Nod, especially in their poetic vocal style. I had never heard the band mentioned before I found a copy of the 7" in a dusty pile of punk 7"s in Montreal and the hand stamped cover caught my eye. After listening to it, I can tell that they are definitely a band that deserves more attention, but seems to have been mostly forgotten.

Autonomia Indigena / Rabia - Discography (1993-1994)

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Autonomia Indigena, previously named Rabia, was a hardcore band from Orléans, France. They were active in the early 90s and their 7" under Autonomia Indigena appeared on Kathleen Simonneau from Anomie’s label, Ape Records. The band released one split 7" with Sea Shepherd under Rabia and one S/T 7" under Autonomia Indigena. They also had tracks appearing on four compilations.

Autonomia Indigena has a bit of a different sound than most of the hardcore coming out of France at this time. They share the politically driven messaging of many other French bands but have a slightly more classic punk/hardcore sound than say, Weep’s gut wrenchingly sad sound or Alcatraz’s experimental jazz influence. If I had to compare them to something I’d compare Autonomia Indigena to Ivich, yet they still sound distinctly different, Ivich leaning toward the punk sound and Autonomia Indigena going for a thrashier almost crust influenced sound.

Feci Dal Signore - Discography (1998-1999)

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Feci Dal Signore was a hardcore band from Columbus, Ohio who were active for approximately a year. The band includes members of Three Studies For A Crucifixion and Inept, both of which were active during the same time as Feci Del Signore. Their discography includes just one 7", a split 7" with Inept and a song on one compilation.

Feci Dal Signore played heavy hitting, chaotic emo-violence FFO Guyver-One and Reach Out. I’d say their sound is less grindcore influenced than Three Studies For A Crucifixion but just as heavy. Their vocals sound like a mix of classic Downcast style hardcore and intense, shrill Guyver-one esque screams.

Ecorche - Discography (1997-2000)

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ecorche was a hardcore band from Lincoln, Nebraska who were active through the late 90s. The band included members of post-hardcore band Bright Blue Calm. They released a self-titled 12", a split 7" with Foundation and a split 7" with Her Flyaway Manner.

Ecorche was a band I’d never heard of up until recently when we acquired a copy in Montréal and it has very quickly become a recent favourite of mine. Their mixture of melancholy guitar riffs, and both screamed and softly spoken vocals are reminiscent of Navio Forge. Ecorche tastefully and skillfully combines elements of chunky early 90s hardcore with the distinct pensiveness and refined sound of bands like Indian Summer and the dissonant chaos of bands like Reversal Of Man. Sometimes their guitar intros also remind me of Griver who are an all time favourite for me.

Jough Dawn Baker - Discography (1996-1999)

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jough Dawn Baker was a hardcore band from Bellingham, Washington. Their discography includes a split 12" with Vade, a 7", a collection of unreleased tracks and some compilation tracks. The band played shows with Botch, Slowsidedown, Palatka and Harriet The Spy while active.

Jough Dawn Baker is mixes the heavy, fast paced aggression of Reversal Of Man with the noisy chaos of Honeywell and the metallic sound of Botch resulting in a heavy-hitting sound that’s all their own. They add just the right amount of “emotional” hardcore influence with their melancholy guitar riff intros before the song erupts into ear splitting metallic hardcore.

Suiciety - S/T 7" (1993)

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Suiciety was a hardcore/sludge band from Fort Worth, Texas who were active from the late 80s to the early 90s. Suiciety released a demo and one self-titled 7" on Repercussion during their time together. Curiously, the S/T 7" has 3 different artwork variations. Suiciety played shows with Indian Summer, Born Against, Sinker and Rorschach.

Suiciety had a somewhat comparable sound and style to early Ebullition releases like Struggle or Iconoclast; they blended heavy hardcore with a sludge influenced metallic edge. They stand out quite a bit on the Repercussion Records catalog, being the only band that is heavily influenced by metal, but they make an excellent addition in any case.

Three Studies For A Crucifixion - Discography (1994-2001)

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Three Studies For A Crucifixion was a hardcore band from Columbus, Ohio who were active throughout the second half of the 90s. The band included a member of Feci Dal Signore. Their discography includes a split 12" with Coleman, a split 7" with Harriet The Spy, a split 8" with Melt Banana, a demo tape and a number of appearances on compilations.

Three Studies For A Crucifixion is some of the loudest, heaviest music I’ve heard today. Just listening to their vocalist almost makes your throat hurt. This is grindcore influenced “emoviolence” at its finest. I’d say they reach levels of noise-ridden chaos and volume on par with bands like In/Humanity, Honeywell or Holocron and yet I hear them talked about far too little. Their split with Coleman has to be one of the heaviest releases ever, both of these bands are absolutely insane and somewhat underrated for how great they are.

Jon American Car - Old Faithful Demo (1996)

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jon American Car AKA Ellen Jameson Society, was a post-hardcore band from Calgary, Alberta. I believe they were later known as Nine Days To Morgan (who I will cover in a future post), after a possible line-up change and definite change in sound. Truth be told as with many of these old Calgary bands, I don’t know much about their history. They seemed to regularly play shows with other Calgary bands like First Class Champ, Joule, The Day After Tomorrow Band and The Alex P Keatons.

Jon American Car displays a very interesting style of “emocore” that sounds entirely their own; they have a very repetitive (in a good way!), dynamic and constantly evolving sound that could be compared to bands like Hoover. I really wish this band had more material but the live footage and Nine Miles To Morgan releases are enough to satisfy me.
edit: Jon American Car does have more recordings that may or may not be rereleased in the futureOld Faithful DemoOld Faithful Demo Tape (1996)

Love Lost But Not Forgotten - Discography (1997-2002)

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Love Lost But Not Forgotten was a hardcore band from St. Peters, Missouri who were active in the late 90s to early 2000s featuring members of End Over End and The Paxadils. They had two vocalists over the years who both did solo vocals and did them together, and a trio of guitarists. Their discography includes two albums on CD, a split 7" with Joshua Fit For Battle and a CD ep. They were also on two compilations.

Joshua Fit For Battle - Discography (1998-2003)

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Joshua Fit For Battle was a hardcore band from Newark, Delaware who were active from 1998-2003. Members of the band also played in Hot Cross, Neil Perry, A Petal Fallen and Welcome To The Plague Year. Their discography includes one 12"s, a split 12" with Neil Perry, a split 12" with Flashbulb Memory, a 7", a split 7" with Love Lost But Not Forgotten, a split 7" with All I ask a compilation 12" and a tour CD. They also had tracks appearing on a few compilations.

Calm - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Calm was a post-hardcore / indie rock band from San José, California. They were active for a few years in the mid 90s featuring members of Mohinder, Indian Summer, Duster, Eiafuawn and Jenny Piccolo after the break up of Calm. During their time as a band they released one 12" album and two 7"s.

Calm has a sound that is very hard to describe accurately without hearing it. They meld elements of post-hardcore, noise rock and the slow, spacey sound that Duster perfected. Calm simply refuses to comply to any one genre and instead mixes a multitude of sounds together that somehow work in a way that’s unforgettable.

In Loving Memory - Discography (1998-2001/Present)

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In Loving Memory was a 6-piece hardcore band from Des Moines, Iowa who formed in 1998 when all the members were around 16-17 years old. They underwent various lineup changes over the few years they were active including the addition of Jen Wiley as a second vocalist in 1999.

Their discography includes a 12"/CD/tape, a split tape with Black Market Fetus, a split 7" with Examination Of The…, a reunion 12"/tape and a discography 12".They also appeared on two compilations. The band broke up in 2001 but recently reunited in 2023, releasing an EP and playing shows.

Heroin - Discography (1989-1993)

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Heroin was an influential hardcore band from San Diego who formed in the late 80s with a sound like no other. Members of the band also went on to play in Clikatat Ikatowi, End Of The Line, Second Story Window and Antioch Arrow. Their discography includes two 7"s, a 12", a discography CD and lastly a discography pressed on vinyl in 2023. They also appeared on numerous compilations.

Heroin’s influential sound can be heard in countless bands throughout the 90s, however beginning in 1989, Heroin was one of the first to perfect the sound. Mixing slower, moody guitar reminiscent of Moss Icon with much faster, thrashier riffs, Heroin created a perfect balance. Alternating between half spoken-half sang vocals and just straight up screamed ones, the band really walks the line between different sounds which evidently work perfectly together.

Ice Nine - Discography (1995-1996)

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ice Nine was a hardcore / powerviolence band from Indianapolis, Indiana who existed for around a year in the mid 90s. Despite their short time active, the band managed to release three 7"s, a split 7" with Charles Bronson, a split 7" with Endive, a split 7" with Gadje and a discography CD after their break up.

Ice Nine is so fast, driving and chaotic it’s disorienting. The band drives forward with intense pulsating drum beats, jarringly fast and discombobulated guitar and absolutely raw, shrieked lyrics. Ice Nine truly puts a meaning to the term “powerviolence”, listening to their music feels like being immersed in pure anger and chaos.

Manumission - Discography (1992-1995)

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Manumission was a hardcore band from Goleta, California who were active in the early to mid 90s. Their discography includes three 7"s, a split 7" with Los Crudos and appearances on two compilations. They had many drummers over the years including Jose Palafox of Swing Kids and Bread & Circuits, Sean Sellers of Jara and Downcast and Bobby Sell of Honeywell and Loomis Slovak.

Manumission had a fast, harsh sound with brutal vocals and very politically driven lyrics. They have a similar sound to Jara or Struggle or other bands from the California area at the time, but they definitely stand out as having an edge of their own. Despite their fast, intense sound their songs are incredibly catchy and very well executed instrumentally.

Four Hundred Years - Discography (1996-2001)

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Four Hundred Years was a hardcore band based in Richmond, Virginia but originally from Tucson Arizona. They played many shows across the US, Japan and Europe including with Fugazi and Sleepytime Trio. Members of the band were also in Policy Of 3 and Groundwork. Their discography includes two 12"albums, a 10" a 7", a split 7" with Sleepytime Trio, a split 7" with Seein’ Red a compilation CD and a few appearances on compilations.

Ex-Ignota/IG-88 - Discography (1994-1997)

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ex-Ignota

Ex-Ignota was a hardcore band from Goleta, California. They initially formed in 1994 as IG-88, under which they released their demo tape before changing their name. They were active throughout a good portion of the 90s and released one album on CD, two 7"s, a split 7" and a split CD.

Ex-Ignota

Ex-Ignota mixes elements of punk, hardcore and post-hardcore seamlessly with an extremely experimental edge. They were a strange band to say the least, on top of their punk experimentation they combined elements of blues, post-rock, drone and noise to create an entirely unique sound that is unlikely to ever be duplicated.

Chain To Thread - Discography (1993-1994)

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Chain To Thread was a hardcore band from Trenton, New Jersey who were active for around a year in the 90s. Their discography is scarce with just a demo tape and a split 7" with Bleed. Most of the band’s members were also in Mouthpiece simultaneously and continued in the band after the split of Chain To Thread. Members also played in Flagman, Crud Is A Cult and Ink & Dagger.

William Martyr 17 - Discography (1994-1995)

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

William Martyr 17 was an emo/hardcore band from Little Rock, Arkansas who were active for a little over a year in the 90s. The band included Chris Horne of William Martyr 17 and Crown Of Glory. They released one 7", a split 7" with Crown Of Glory, a split 7" with Plunger and a CD including all their recorded tracks.

William Martyr 17 uses a tasteful mix of high pitched, screechy vocals, and softer singing to create a perfect balance of emo and hardcore influences. This band was extremely promising with the content they put out but unfortunately, before they could really find themselves as a band, the drummer Chris Horne passed away in a car accident. The band dissolved into various other projects after this including Hundred Years War. I really love their vocal style and the groovy guitar riffs that seem to get stuck in your head, it’s really a shame that the band came to an end so soon.

Rachel - Discography (1996-1997)

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Rachel was an emotional hardcore band from Niort, France who were active in the late 90s. Members of the band were also in French hardcore bands Peu Être, Carther Matha and Alcatraz. Rachel’s discography includes a demo tape, a three-way split CD with Peu Être and Carther Matha, and a 7". They also appeared on one compilation cassette.

Despite their relatively small discography, Rachel was a staple of the French hardcore scene in the 90s. They sound somewhat similar to the bands of which they share members with, but still stand out and have their own sound. I would describe Rachel, Peu Être, Carther Matha and Alcatraz as different branches of the same tree. They all share attributes and members and have that distinct French “emo” sound but they all differ from each other into their own styles as well. I love Rachel’s perfect mix of soft spoken/sung vocals and abrasive, raw screams paired with melancholy guitar riffs. I wish Rachel had a bigger discography because I’d love to hear more from them.

Twelve Hour Turn - Discography (1996-2002)

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Twelve Hour Turn was a post-hardcore/emocore band from Gainesville, Florida who were active throughout the late 90s; breaking up in the summer of 2002. The band’s discography includes two 12"s, a split 12" with I Hate Myself, a live cassette, a 7"s, a split 7" with Engine Down, a split 7" with Strikeforce Diablo, a 10" and a demo tape. They also appeared on numerous compilations.

Twelve Hour Turn became known as a staple of the Florida punk scene and No Idea Records and for good reason. They started out as a more thrashy sounding punk band and over the years tightened up their sound a little and evolved into a more post-hardcore / “emo” band.

Ipecac - Discography (1994-1995)

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ipecac was a hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia who were active for a few brief years in the 90s. Their discography is small, with only a 7", a split 7" with Opposition and a demo tape ever being released. They did also appear on three compilations in their active years. Despite only releasing a limited number of physical media, the band did upload a discography to Bandcamp which includes a few extra demo tracks and basement recordings.

Swing Kids - Discography (1994-1997)

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Swing Kids was an emotional hardcore / post-hardcore band who were active in the mid 90s and were heavily influential to the scene at the time. Their members were also in Bread & Circuits, Unbroken, The Locust and Struggle. Their discography consists of two 7"s, a split 10" with Spanakorzo, a 9 song “discography” on CD/12" in 1997 and then a complete Anthology as a 12" in 2020. They also appeared on a number of compilations including *Inchworm’s Food not Bombs 12" from 1994.

Charles Bronson - Discography (1994 -1997)

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Charles Bronson was a hardcore / power-violence band from Dekalb, Illinois who were active for a good chunk of the 90s. They released a pretty extensive amount of content including a 12", a demo tape, two 7"s, split 7"s with Ice Nine, Quill, Unanswered and Spazz, a cassette compilation and a discography on cassette/12"/CD. They also appeared on countless compilations during their active years. The band is often associated with the straight edge scene, however only half the band members were actually straight edge.

Makara - Discography (1997-2001)

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Makara was an emo/hardcore band from Cupertino, California who were active in the late 1990s. Their discography consists of two 7"s, a split 10" with Shahrazad and a discography CD/12". Impressively, the band features members of Jenny Piccolo, Mohinder, The Anasazi, Ruhaeda, Welcome The Plague Year and Yaphet Kotto.

Being the amalgamation of so many talented individuals that Makara was, it could only result in something great. Makara played extremely brutal emo style hardcore with abrasive female vocals and highly distorted, noisy guitar and bass. Kerry Jo-Pries’ vocals are some of the heaviest, most aggressive female vocals I have ever heard, while different stylistically, maybe even up there with Jackie Kerzner of Coleman (though I’m not sure anyone can compete with her).

Agna Moraine's Autobiography - Discography (1997-2000)

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Agna Moraine’s Autobiography was a hardcore/emo band from Kalamazoo, Michigan who were active in the late 90s. The band featured members of Constantine Sankathi, My Own Pine Box, Bev. Clone and Bombs Lullabye. Their discography included a demo tape, a 7" and a split 7" with Rentamerica. Their 7" appeared on Anima Records, alongside Jonah, Drift and Anomie.

All band members shared the task of vocals, but they were mainly handled by James McInerny. The mix of different voices, sometimes overlapping made for an interesting sound. Their husky, screamed vocals are raw and powerful and lead the instrumentals rather than vice-versa. The instrumentals are relatively quiet, they use a lot of soft indie/emo guitar riffs in between outbursts of loud hardcore choruses. Their songs alternate between incredibly soft and quiet, sometimes with spoken vocals, and loud raw sounding eruptions of sound. They are definitely one of those bands that walk the line between “emo” and hardcore in a way that honestly works perfectly.

Reversal Of Man - Discography (1995-2000)

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Reversal Of Man was a hardcore band from Tampa, Florida who were active from the mid to late 1990s. The band shared members with Combatwoundedveteran and Assück. During their five active years, the band released an impressed amount of work and played many shows. Their discography includes two 12"s, three split 12"s with Los Crudos, Puritan and Holocron, a 10" two 7"s, two split 7"s with Cease and Enemy Soil, a Cdr EP, a demo tape, a discography CD and later a 3x LP discography. They also appeared on countless compilations.

1.6 Band - Discography (1991-1993)

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

1.6 Band was a hardcore punk band from Holbrook, Long Island, New York. They were active from 1991 when they played their first show in someone’s backyard until 1993 when they split and members went on to play in other bands including The Crownhate Ruin. Their discography consists of a 12", a split tape with Scapegrace, three 7"s, including a reunion 7" in 2010, a split 7" with Rorschach, a demo tape, and a discography CD containing their collected works. They also appeared on a few compilations.

The Anasazi - Discography (1999-2002)

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Anasazi was a chaotic emo-hardcore band from Santa Cruz, California. The band featured members of Mohinder, Makara, Jenny Piccolo and Yaphet Kotto. Their discography includes a 12"/CD and a split 5" with Waifle.

The band had a chaotic, experimental sound with harsh, shrieked vocals paired with incredibly fast drum rhythms and noisy guitar. They had such an intense, powerful sound that exuded pure rage and nervous energy, the fast-paced intensity broken up only by bits of experimental noise in between tracks. I would say they remind me a little bit of Honeywell sometimes with their complete and utter chaos and refusal to follow conventional instrumentals. They could also be compared to Makara with whom they share members with but something about The Anasazi stands out to me a lot more.

Nine Days Wonder - Aluminum 7" (1999) and Scenery Is In Disguise Here 12" (2000)

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Nine Days Wonder was a Japanese emo / post-hardcore band that formed in 1997 and were active well into the 2000s. They toured with The Exploder, Envy, Elliott and more. They released two albums, a couple EPs and two compilation CDs, however this post will focus on their first two releases.

Nine Days Wonder instantly clicked with me after listening to their 1999 7", Aluminum. They have an incredibly tight and technical sound somewhat similar to the likes of Maximilian Colby or Sleepytime Trio. Aluminum stays to the mathy, hardcore sound while their 2000 12" strays a little from hardcore into a more post-rock realm with a few heavy hitting tracks scattered throughout.

Spitboy - Discography (1990-1995)

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Spitboy was an all female, political hardcore band from San Francisco, California. They were active for 5 years in the early 90s and released a pretty extensive amount of work. Their discography includes a 12", a split 12" with Los Crudos, three 7"s, a compilation CD, a Body Of Work 12" including all songs they recorded and a demo tape. They also appeared on countless compilations throughout the 1990s.

Novice Brown - S/T 7” (1996)

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Novice Brown was an emo / indie rock band from Milford, New Jersey who were active in the mid 90s. The band released two 7”s, both self titled. Unfortunately only their second 7" has been archived as of yet. I would love to hear their first 7" so hopefully I’ll come across it or someone will archive it at some point.

Novice Brown craft a soft, melodic sound with a sharp, intricate, post-hardcore edge. Their vocals are are harsher than what comes to mind as “indie emo” and slightly off-key, almost in the way the vocals of Julia are. They blend more laid back, rock instrumentals with a touch of post-hardcore influence almost sounding similar to The Crownhate Ruin or Son Of The Castellan.

Arroyo Seco - Discography (2002)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Tye Kruger

Arroyo Seco was an emo/hardcore band from Portland, Oregon that consisted of members of Life At These Speeds before it was formed. They only ever released one demo tape in 2002 in the time that they existed before breaking up and going on to play in Life At These Speeds. An unreleased session was recently unearthed in 2024 featuring 2 previously unheard songs

Despite only releasing a demo tape and being criminally underrated, Arroyo Seco had a very distinct sound that really stands out to me. It sounds very raw and passionate and the vocalist sounds at times like he’s on the verge of crying. The band isn’t dissimilar stylistically to Life At These Speeds but Arroyo Seco just feels so much more powerful and aggressive. Life At These Speeds cleans things up a little bit and has a more polished sound, but I prefer Arroyo Seco for their heavier, more emotionally driven sound.

Mohinder - Discography (1993-1994)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Mohinder was an emotional hardcore band from Cupertino, California. The band included members of Duster, Jenny Piccolo, Eiafuawn, Valium Aggelein, Calm, Makara, The Anasazi and more. They were only active for a year but left a huge mark on the scene and released a pretty extensive discography one that time. They released three 7"s, a split 7" with Nitwits and then after breaking up, a discography CD/12" containing a few live tracks was released in 2001. They also appeared on a few compilations and played some reunion shows in the late 90s.

Edgar - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Edgar was a hardcore band from Oceanside, New York who were active for a few brief years in the 1990s. They only ever released one split 7" with fellow Oceanside hardcore band Tetsuo in 1995 and then in 2019 they released a cassette containing live tracks and all their recorded works.

Edgar had an intense, heavy sound with brutal guitar riffs and fast drums mixed with emo influenced, screamed vocals. They walked the line between more classic style hardcore that was popular at the time, and the more underground “emocore”. Their split with Tetsuo is a great release and the bands compliment each other really well. It’s also really great that they were able to release a discography in 2019 including their unreleased tracks because prior to that their discography was small.

Tetsuo (N.Y) - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Tetsuo was an emotive hardcore band from Oceanside, New York who were active from approximately 1994-96, although I can’t find any definitive dates for when they formed or split up. During their active years they released one demo tape which has unfortunately not yet been archived, and one split 7" with Edgar who were also from Oceanside.

Tetsuo has a fast and dirty sound with husky, screamed vocals and heavy instrumentals with breaks of softer, “emo” guitar riffs. They sample an anime in the beginning of one of their songs which says “I am Tetsuo” before the song erupts into chaos. Tetsuo showed a lot of promise in their few songs that they released and its really a shame that they never released more content. I hope that someone will eventually archive their demo tape as I would love to hear more of their work.

Watership Down - Discography (1997-2003)

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Watership Down was an emo/hardcore band from Wantagh, New York who were active from around 1997-2003 and released one three song 7" and appeared on a sampler CD before disbanding. Sometime around 2012, a bootleg discography with unreleased tracks leaked online. The band’s 7" was released on Immigrant Sun Records along with Hourglass and Sarin.

Watership Down combined hardcore instrumentals with “emo” style vocals to create a sound that sits somewhere in between hardcore and more indie rock style emo. The second track on their 7", “Spoken Silence” is probably my favourite track, I love the slow, melodic guitar that builds up to the loud chorus where dual vocals alternate, one singing, one screaming.

Loomis Slovak - Discography (1993-1995)

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Loomis Slovak was a hardcore band from Claremont, California which included members of Honeywell, Man Is The Bastard, The Fisticuffs Bluff and Floodgate. Their discography included just one 7" and some appearances on compilations such as Ebullition’s Heartattack #10.

Loomis Slovak left a mark on the hardcore scene despite their small discography. Their music is loud and chaotic but very coordinated and complex. Their vocals mix softer sung parts that fade into the instrumentals and intense screamed parts. They perfectly balance groovy, intricate guitar riffs and drum rhythms with hard-hitting vocals. If you listen carefully to their 7", you can hear Black Flag samples played very quietly in between the songs. I’m always a big fan of samples and the homage to one of the arguably greatest hardcore bands of all time is pretty cool in my opinion.

Ordination Of Aaron - Discography (1993-1995)

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ordination Of Aaron was a short-lived, but influential hardcore band from Kalamazoo, MI who existed for just a couple years in the 1990s. In 1994 the band toured extensively mainly in Michigan, surrounding states and Canada. Their discography includes a 12", two 7"s, a split 7" with Indian Summer, and a compilation CD which was later redone with a slightly different tracklist as a completed works CD. Then years later, the completed works CD was pressed on vinyl as well. The band also appeared on various compilations such as All The Presidents Men and Amnesia.

Symptom Of Isaac - Discography (1995)

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Symptom Of Isaac was a short lived emotive hardcore band from Politiers, France which featured one member of Vanilla. Their discography consist of one self-titled 7" and a split tape with Ananda which included both bands’ live sets from a show on May 30th, 1995 as well as Ananda’s demo.

Symptom Of Isaac definitely fit in with the emotional hardcore scene of 1990s France, but if I had to compare their sound to someone I would say Weep. Their songs are so emotionally charged and passionate and you can hear it in the way the vocalists shriek like they are on the verge of tears. The combination of powerful, heavy instrumentals and vocals dripping with anger and sadness makes for an unforgettable combo and Symptom Of Isaac really does this well.

Cairo Capone - Discography (1996-1997)

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Cairo Capone was a short-lived hardcore/punk band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They released a 7" in 1997 and a demo tape in 1996.

Cairo Capone utilized fast, chaotic instrumentals and defiant, spazzy/snotty vocals that are reminiscent of Honeywell or even Coleman a little at times. You can also hear a bit of the more technical “emo” sound thrown into the mix at times reminiscent of other Lancaster bands of the time such as Spirit Assembly or Fields Lay Fallow. Despite their small discography they are definitely a band that stands out from the crowd in the 90s hardcore scene.

Finger Print - Discography (1991-1996)

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Finger Print was a hardcore band from Paris, France who was massively influential to the French DIY hardcore scene in the 1990s. Their discography includes two 7"s, a discography CD and various appearances on compilations. Members of the band were also in Jasemine, Undone, Kiss The Bottle and Ananda. Christophe Mora was also the founder of Stonehenge Records which put out countless great releases including Ivich, Anomie, Amanda Woodward and all the Finger Print members’ bands mentioned above.

Melt - S/T 7" (1996)

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Melt was an emo/post-hardcore band from Arras, France who existed only for a brief period in the 1990s and released one 7". The band flew under the radar even in the prominent french hardcore scene of the 1990s. There is unfortunately very little information about them around but they really deserve more attention.

Their 7" was released on Prohibited Records which released a 7" for the French hardcore band Pregnant and was founded by members of French emocore band Prohibition.

Navio Forge - As We Quietly Burn A Hole Into... 12" (1993)

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Navio Forge was a short-lived, yet influential post-hardcore band from California. The band only ever released one 12" and played two shows in 1993 before splitting up. All of the members were also in other bands around the same time. Sean Linwood was in Admiral, Aaron Arroyo was in Fuel and Sarah Kirsch was in countless other bands including Bread And Circuits, John Henry West, Sawhorse and Torches To Rome.

Hose.Got.Cable - Discography (1992-1995)

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hose.Got.Cable was an experimental post-punk/hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia who were active in the early to mid 1990s. Their discography includes a 12", a 7", a 2x7" and a discography CD released in 2005 long after their break up. They also appeared on four compilations.

Their 12", which is a favourite of mine, was on Old Glory Records along with countless other great bands like Iconoclast, Merel, Avail, In/Humanity, Assfactor 4, the list goes on.

Jara - Discography (1994-1995)

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jara was a hardcore band from Goleta, California who existed for a few years in the 1990s. Members of the band were also in Downcast and Manumission. Jara released two 7"s and a split 12" with Still Life in their time together as a band. One of their tracks also appeared on two compilations, a cassette (with the live version) and a 7".

Jara had that classic mid-90s Ebullition “emo” sound that seamlessly melds fast, heavy hardcore with politically driven lyrics. Jara has such an intensity in their songs, you can hear the passion and anger behind the vocals and the powerful instrumentals. This type of hardcore is without a doubt one of my favourite sounds, the perfect mix of heavy and punk but not lacking reason for the anger. Not just hardcore to be tough, hardcore because the world needs to hear it and there’s a lot to be angry at.

The Fisticuffs Bluff - Discography (1993-2000)

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Fisticuffs Bluff was an emo/punk quartet from Santa Cruz, CA. The band was formed in 1993 by guitarist Drew Gilbert (who was also the vocalist for Floodgate), Bassist Dave Louie and Drummer Jay Con-ui. Vocalist Summer Mastous joined in summer of 1994. Their discography consists of a demo tape, a 12" album, a split 7" with Angel Hair and a split 7" with Carbomb. They also appeared on four compilations.

Pioneers of the sound that later became labeled as “emo”; the band broke ground in the punk and hardcore scene with their unconventional instrumentals, along with a mix of spoken word vocals as well as shrill screamed ones. Mastous has such a unique, engaging voice; this mixed with the thoughtfully written and politically driven lyrics creates an immediately enthralling atmosphere to their songs.

Eucharist - Discography (1996-1997)

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Eucharist was a crusty hardcore band from Richmond, Virginia who were active for a few brief years in the mid to late 1990s. They only ever released one 12" LP and were featured on a few compilations; including a 7" compilation that featured Charles Bronson, In/Humanity and Palatka. One member, Mark Telfian was also in Limp Wrist and Devoid Of Faith among other hardcore bands.

Eucharist’s sound is very heavy with noisey gutiar work, hoarse vocals, fast-paced thrashy drumming and a touch of metalcore influence. They could be compared to Struggle, His Hero Is Gone, Sawhorse or Monster X; but they definitely stand out on their own despite their small discography.

Sleepytime Trio - Discography (1994-2002)

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Sleepytime Trio was a post hardcore band from Harrisonburg, Virginia. Sleeptime Trio were active from 1994 onward; the band began as a side project of Maximillian Colby members Drew Ringo and Ben Davis, along with Jonathan Fuller. After the death of Bob Baynor, the band a full-time band rather than a side project. David Nesmith joined as guitarist in 1995, they then toured the states and Canada. Their discography consists of two 7"s, a split 7" with Four Hundred Years, a 12" EP and a compilation CD including their discography plus live tracks.

Kill The Man Who Questions - Discography (1996-2003)

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Kill The Man Who Questions was a political hardcore band from Philadelphia, PA who were active from 1996-2003; when they played their final show. They toured the US and Europe extensively and released two 7"s, a split 7" with the Shoplifters, a spit 7" with Del Cielo, a 12" and a compilation CD of unreleased tracks, comp songs and all the 7" tracks. Members of the band played in many other hardcore bands including An Albatross and Limp Wrist.

The Skies Beg To Differ - Demo (1996)

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The Skies Beg To Differ was a post-hardcore band from Ottawa, Ontario who were active from 1994-1996. They were initially known as Insanity Starts At Lake Eerie but changed their name when they finalized their lineup. Their discography consists of just one cassette demo released in 1996 before they disbanded.
The Skies Beg To Differ takes the spoken word element of Indian Summer, Current and Native Nod to a whole new level, opting for a vocal style that is more along the lines of spoken word poetry than singing. Mixed in here and there with the spoken ramblings are some noisy, yelled vocals backed up by angular instrumentals. The bands left-field instrumentals and spoken vocals also sound very reminiscent of Slint but with a touch more of an “emocore” influence. It seems not many people know of this band which is a shame because they’re really interesting and were really doing their own thing in the scene back then. There is some clear influences in their music for sure but they struck me as unique as soon as I listened to them. Demo (my rip)

Kwisatz Haderach - Discography (1998)

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Kwisatz Haderach was an “emoviolence” band from Arlington, Virginia who were active for about a year in the late 1990s. Their discography consists of a self-titled 7" and a split 7" with Encyclopedia Of American Traitors. The band also featured members of Kid Icarus.

They took their name from the book Dune, where translated from fictional language, Chakobsa, it means “shortening of the way”.

They had an intense, heavy sound with screeching instrumentals and noisy harsh vocals similar at times to Hassan I Sabbah. There is also a clear influence of noise in their songs similar to that of Honeywell but not quite reaching that level of chaos. There’s a sense of tension and anger laced throughout their tracks that is contagious to the listener and just makes you want to move.

Trail VS Russia - Discography (2000-2006)

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Trail VS Russia was a math rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia who, despite breaking up and reforming various times throughout the early 2000s, only ever released one album in 2001. The band also recorded a second album at Brackendale Arts Centre in Squamish, BC in 2005 but never released it. The band was an instrumental trio and “resisted all attempts by [their] naysayers to add a vocalist”.

Despite their small body of work, Trail VS Russia was incredibly talented and on point which is evident in their only released album. Sharp, angular guitar riffs, complex and fast-paced drum beats mixed with a slight post-rocky sound at times make for an interesting listen. The band is definitely best described as math rock but it has a more approachable, less abrasive sound than a lot of math rock does. It’s an album you can actually sit and relax to which I find isn’t always the case with the more abrasive, experimental math rock.

Guyver-One - Discography (1996-1997)

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Guyver-One was an emo-hardcore band from San Diego, California who were active for a few years in the mid-late 1990s. Their discography consists of a self-titled 7", a 12" and discography that was released only digitally in 2008. They also appear on the compilation 12" “I Can’t Live Without It”.

Guyver-One has a very harsh, heavy sound consisting of loud, chaotic guitar, fast drums and hoarsely screamed vocals. Guyver-One’s music is fast and passionate and makes you want to move, dance and writhe around on the floor. The band took its name from the 1991 animated sci-fi film The Guyver, which was based on a Japanese manga series. They sample a part of the film that describes what a “Guyver” is in one of the songs on their 7".

Hourglass - Discography (1995-1997)

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hourglass was a chaotic hardcore band from Buffalo, New York who were active for a brief few years in the late 90s and have since reformed to release a reunion album as well as a discography. Their releases consist of a demo tape, a self-titled 7", a split 12" with New Day Rising, all from the 1990s, and then in the past few years, a discography LP and a brand new album

Maximillian Colby - Discography (1994-1996)

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Maximillian Colby was an emotional hardcore band from Harrisonburg, Virginia who were active in the early 1990s. They released a demo, a self-titled 7", a split 7" with Rye Coalition, a split 12" with Shotmaker, and a discography CD during their time as a band. Their rein sadly ended abruptly after their bassist, Bob Baynor passed away. Baynor was beaten badly by police for riding a stolen bicycle and he later passed away in prison due to a spinal infection. Members David NeSmith and Drew Ringo went on to form Sleepytime Trio after the split of Maximillian Colby.

Spirit Assembly - Discography (1992-1996) / Fields Lay Fallow - 12" (1998)

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Spirit Assembly was an hardcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania who were active from 1992-1996. Their discography consists of a 12" album, two 7"s and a split 7" with Car vs. Driver; as well as a few compilation tracks. They were highly influential to other hardcore bands throughout the 90s, though they don’t often get much credit for it. They toured the US extensively and played shows with Frail and The Bouncing Souls.

Anomie - Discography (1994-1997)

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Anomie was an emocore band from Orléans, France that was active throughout the 1990s, releasing a discography CD/tape in 2001. Their releases consist of a 12" split with Peace Of Mind, a self-titled 12", a split 7" with Peu Être, a limited edition self-titled cassette and conclusively, the discography CD/tape. Anomie started as Escape and ended as An-Atta. Members of Anomie also went on to form Cromwell O and Aside. When the band formed, their drummer was only 13 years old.

Peu Être - Discography (1994-1997)

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Peu Être was an emotional hardcore band from Niort, France who existed from around 1994-1997. While active they released a split tape with Robot-Monster, a split live tape with Undone, a three way split CD with Carther Matha and Rachel, a split 7" with Anomie, a self-titled 7", and finally a self-titled 10" of their songs off the three way split CD. Members of Peu Être were also in Carther Matha, Alcatraz, Amanda Woodward and Rachel.

Downcast - Discography (1990-1992)

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Downcast was a new school hardcore band from Goleta, California who existed for a few brief years in the early 90s but had a lasting impact on the DIY hardcore scene throughout the rest of the decade. Their S/T 7" was the first release on the now infamous label, Ebullition Records, which would go on to release work from Spitboy, Funeral Diner, Los Crudos, Portraits Of Past and Iconoclast along with many others. During their brief time as a band, Downcast released a demo tape, a self-titled 7", a self-titled 12", a few comp songs and then a reunion album in 2020.

Frail - Discography (1993-1996)

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Frail was a straight edge hardcore band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who were active from 1993-1996. During this time they released three 7"s, a split 7" with Elements Of Need, appeared on multiple compilations and finally released a discography CD. Members of the band went on to form Ink & Dagger and I Am Heaven.

Frail was a true staple of the DIY hardcore scene in the 1990s, seamlessly blending straightforward, heavy hardcore guitars riffs and drums with painfully raw, emotional hardcore vocals. Frail has some of my favourite vocals in the 90s hardcore scene. Something about the way they’re screamed is so full of emotion and power and they have that desperation to them that not many bands could pull off. I’d compare their vocals to Weep or Griver who are also some of my favourites.

Age - Discography (1992-1994)

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Age was a emotional hardcore band from Wolfsburg, Germany who were active for a few brief years in the early 1990s. While active they released a 12" album and a 2x7" before they split up and members went on to form Rusty James and Assay.

Age was unbridled, experimental and incredibly intense. My favourite material from them has to be the 1994 LP, with great tracks like Blocked showcasing the talent of the band. Their music is hard, fast driven and filled with passion that you can hear on every one of their tracks.

Native Nod - Discography (1991-1995)

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Native Nod was a pioneering hardcore band from Essex County, New Jersey who helped define the anxious, emotional, and driven hardcore music that would later be referred to as “emo”. They were active from 1991 to around 1995, making them one of the earlier bands to perfect this sound. During the time they were active, they released a demo tape, three 7"s and later a compilation CD of all their tracks. They also appeared on numerous compilations.

Honeywell - Discography (1989-1996)

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Honeywell was a groundbreaking hardcore band with noise elements from Corona, California who were active from late 1989-1996. During these years they released a 12" album, a few live cassette tapes, two 7"s, a split 7" with Reach Out, a few demo tapes and two compilation tracks. Honeywell’s first lineup in the late 1980s was under the name Subterfuge, the lineup would change slightly before they became known as Honeywell and established their sound.

Alcatraz - Discography (1997-2000)

Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Alcatraz was a 1990s hardcore/punk band from Niort, France who were active for a few years in the late 1990s. They are often described as “emo” today along with many other similar bands, but I will neglect to call them that because in the insert in one of their 7"s, member of the band, Thierry Rambaud says not “mistake in labelling Alcatraz as ’emo’” as it would “irritate” him. The band released two 7"s, one self titled and the other a split with Italian band Tempo Zero. Then in 2000 they released a discography CD.

Portraits Of Past - Discography (1993-1996)

Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Portraits Of Past was a hardcore band from the San Francisco Bay Area who were active from 1993-1995. During this time they released two demo tapes, a 12" album, a split 7" with Bleed, a compilation CD of all their tracks in 2008 and then a reunion 12" EP in 2009. They also had tracks on two compilation LPs. Members of the band went on to join a multitude of other bands including Funeral Diner and Torches To Rome.

Jasemine - Discography (1993-1995)

Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Jasemine was an emo-hardcore band from France who were active from 1993 to around 1995. They released a demo tape and two split 7"s, one with Ivich of France one with Elements Of Need of the US. Each 7" contained two of the tracks on the four song demo tape (re-recorded). Members of the band were also in Ananda, Finger Print, Undone and L’invention De Morel.

Jasemine has a similar sound to a lot of the bands they share members with but stand out to me as particularly vulnerable and raw sounding. Despite their small discography they really were a staple of the early 90s French emo scene and their songs are burning with passion and intensity. The early to mid 90s in France had so many incredible bands it’s hard to keep track, but it stands to reason that so many of the bands shared members.

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - IE 12" (2000)

Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out was a hardcore punk/emo band from Tokyo, Japan who were active from 1998-2002. They are named after the song of the same title by The Smiths. During the four years they were active they released a full length album on LP/CD, a split 7" with French band Vanilla, a split cassette tape with The 100 Lots and then a posthumous CD with a compilation of tracks and a bonus DVD. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out also played many shows with bands such as Nine Days Wonder, Envy, 400 Years, Kulara and With Love to name a few.

Nuzzle / My Friend Chopper Split 7" (1993)

Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Nuzzle was a Santa Cruz based punk band that later became associated with the emo scene of the 1990s, including bands like The Fisticuff’s Bluff, Evergreen and Unwound. The band was active between 1992 to 2001 and during this time released two full length LPs, two 7" EPs, a split 7" with My Friend Chopper and a compilation CD of their singles from 1992-95.

There isn’t much information on My Friend Chopper available online but they did share a drummer, Ricardo Reano, with Nuzzle. Reano played in both bands simultaneously before leaving My Friend Chopper and staying with Nuzzle. Their only recorded track is the song on their split with Nuzzle to my knowledge, but they had a quite similar sound to Nuzzle, especially their more indie/emo sounding tracks.

Angel Hair - Discography (1993-1995)

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Angel Hair was a hardcore band from Boulder, Colorado active from September 1992 to January 1995. During this time they released three split 7"s with The Fisticuff’s Bluff, Bare Minimum and Kerosene 454 respectively, a S/T 7", a 12" entitled Insect Mortality and appeared on various compilations. After the band split up a discography of all studio recordings was released on CD entitled Pregnant With The Senior Class.

Angel Hair has an incredibly unique sound and were extremely influential on the hardcore scene coming out of the late 1990s. They seamlessly blend elements of metallic hardcore with elements of emo-hardcore and put their own chaotic, experimental flair on it. It’s hard to compare them to many other bands because they were really doing their own thing. Bits and pieces of their experimental sound became more consistent in the late 1990s, however in 1992 when the band formed, they definitely stood out as different.

Lustre King - The Money Shot (1997)

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Lustre King was a math rock trio from Chicago, Illinois active from 1996 to 1999. Their songs are largely instrumental but have some vocals here and there mixed among the complex guitar riffs. They released one album on CD, an EP 12"/CD, a 7" as well as a split 7" with The Five Deadly Venoms. They also appeared on a number of compilations.

Vocalist/bassist Craig Akerman played in post-rock band Abilene (with ex-Hoover/Regulator Watts and ex-Crownhate Ruin/June of 44 members) as well as in Gainer (with a member of Punjab).

Salpetriere - Discography (2008)

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Salpetriere was a very short lived emo/hardcore band from Moscow, Russia active for a year in the mid 2000s who released a 7" as well as a demo tape. The band was formed by members of more well known Russian bands such as Ricochet, Monfaucon and Marschak however this project has a distinctly different sound.

Their discography is short, but powerful with its mix of emo influenced hardcore instrumentals and vocals with a distinctly neocrust sound to them. I like all the bands these members were in, all of them each with a slightly different sound and feel, however I believe the Salpetriere 7" is some of their best work. Something about the tracks on both their demo and 7" feel so raw, imperfect but very emotionally charged which to me is what makes any music good.

Clikatat Ikatowi - Discography (1994-1997)

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Clikatat Ikatowi were an experimental hardcore/emo band from San Diego, CA who were extremely influential. They were well loved in San Diego, but also throughout the whole hardcore scene in the 1990s. They were active from 1994-1997 and released an 12" album, 12" EP, 12" live album as well as a demo tape and a few compilation tracks. All releases except the demo tape were also available on CD.

Ivich - Discography (1992-1997)

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ivich was a hardcore/punk band from Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France who were active for most of the 1990s, beginning in 1992 and ending in 1997. In these years they released two demo tapes, a 12" album, a 10" EP, a 7" EP, and two split 7"s, one with Jasemine and one with E 150. They also appeared on 17 different compilations such as Le Garage, Illiterate and Reconstruction to name a few.

Griver - Discography (1996-1998)

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Griver was an emotional hardcore band from Wilmington, NC who were active from the mid to late 90s. They released a 12"/CD, two 7"s, a split 12" with The Exploder, a split 7" with Hellbender, a tour tape as well as a few extra tracks that appeared on compilations.

Griver started off as a fairly basic Pop Punk band that quickly started exploring the more experimental routes in hardcore, Griver’s sound noticeably develops with each release to become something truly unique and exciting. Griver expertly blended groovy, post-rock instrumentals with the classic half-screamed emo vocals. Their sound reminds me of a slightly less hardcore Maximilian Colby and a slightly more emo/punk Hoover. They have a really versatile sound that isn’t at all hard to get into, they’re a very approachable emo band.

Anasarca - Discography (1994-1997)

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Anasarca was an emo/hardcore band from Cockeysville, Maryland that were active from 1994-1997 and released a 7", a split 7" with Anonymous and a demo tape during this time. All of their tracks including the demos were later compiled on a discography available as a 12" or a CD.

Despite their relatively small discography, Anasarca left a lasting impression on the scene at the time. They seamlessly blend together DC style hardcore/post-punk instrumentals with intense and desperate sounding vocals. At times Nick Pimentel’s vocals sounds like he’s on the verge of tears, so much raw emotion is evident in the way he screams which makes them one of the most distinctly emo bands in my mind.

Son Of The Castellan - Six CD (1998)

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Son Of The Castellan was a post-hardcore band based in Blacksburg, Virginia who were active in the mid to late 1990s and only released one CD EP during this time.

The band’s sound has a lot of evident influences, including the stylized post-hardcore sound of Hoover and Regulator Watts as well as the distinct mathy post-rock sound of Slint. Their mix of slow instrumentals, half spoken vocals and high energy screamed choruses mix together in a very satisfying way. Their songs sound like a meld of a bunch of things you’ve heard before, however the more I listen, the more I appreciate their work. There’s a certain groove to their songs that I find always gets stuck in my head.

Merel - Discography (1991-1995)

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Merel was an experimental emo/hardcore band from New Jersey that existed from 1991 to 1995. They released a demo tape, a 12", a 7", a split 7" with Iconoclast, appeared on a few compilations, as well as a CD containing all of their tracks aside from the demo and Superpowers compilation tracks. Their style was a mixture of more straightforward hardcore and emocore with chaotic instrumentals and were extremely influential many bands from the later 90s. Members of Merel went on to form Rye Coalition which is evident in the similar sounding rhythm sections. Merel used a mix of both abrasive screamed vocals and the quieter talking vocals reminiscent of Indian Summer or Native Nod.

Subtracttozero - Discography (1996-2001)

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Subtracttozero was an experimental hardcore band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin that was active from 1996-2004. They released two self titled 12"s and a self titled 7". The band toured the US and Canada four times. Subtracttozero mixes angular, post rock influenced instrumentals with high intensity shrieking vocals creating an interesting and unique sound. At times they sound a little like Hose.Got.Cable of Richmond, Virginia.

Subtracttozero is extremely underrated in my opinion, and I had never heard anyone talk about them until I stumbled on their two 12"s at a record store in Montreal. The eye catching, screen printed covers had me interested right away and I was not disappointed.

Undone - Discography (1991-1997)

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Undone was an emo-hardcore band from Mantes-La-Jolie, France. Undone shared members with other prolific French hardcore bands like Finger Print and Ananda. Undone’s sound was raw, passionate and explosive. They fit in with the rest of the scene well, while still setting themselves apart by having a more unrefined and desperate approach to hardcore. I love the messaging and effort in the packaging of their records.

Undone was one of the first French bands to really catch my attention and has been a go-to ever since. I especially love the “The Other Side” 7" which has been thankfully transferred from its DAT tapes by stonehenge records.

L'Invention de Morel - Discography (1995-1997)

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

L’Invention de Morel was an emo/hardcore band from Paris, France that existed from December of 1995 to May of 1997. Thomas Guillanton of the band was also a member of similar sounding French bands Undone, Finger Print, Jasemine and Ananda. L’Invention de Morel released one demo EP during this time, four out of the five tracks of which would later be released as a 7" on US label, Unfortunate For The Fortunate Records. The same label also released one of Ananda’s 12"s which also included members of Undone, Finger Print and Jasemine.

Tidal - Discography (2000-2005)

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Tidal was a post-hardcore band from Germany with clear emocore influence, formed in 1999 and splitting up in 2005 with one reunion show in 2013. They released two 12" albums, one 10" album, as well as a 12" split with Acabah Rot and a 10" split with Hablan For La Espalda. Most members of the band were also formerly in Mindsofconfusion, who’s 7" and CD E.P. sound very similar to Tidal but not quite as refined or stylish. Boris Mauch did vocals, sometimes saxophone and guitar, Julian Breuling played drums and percussion, Patrick Hespelt played bass and Fabe Schaller and Christian Spaeth played guitar. All except Schaller played in both Tidal and Mindsofconfusion.

Weep - Discography (1994-1998)

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Weep was an emocore band from Bordeaux, France that existed for a short period in the mid 1990s. While active, they released a 7" and two demo tapes. As far as I’m aware, the band members were all only ever in this band.

Despite a fairly short active period, Weep is one of the quintessential French emo bands in my opinion. Their songs, especially the tracks on their demo tapes, are drenched in anger, pain and emotion to the point of sending chills up your spine. In one track on their second demo tape, the vocalist, Sebastien Lacoste, quite literally breaks down sobbing mid track and if that’s not the most “emo” song to exist I’m not sure what is.

Bleed - Discography (1993-1996)

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Bleed was an emo/hardcore band from Pennsylvania active from 1993 to 1996 and releasing an 12", a 7" and two split 7"s during this period. Their split 7’s were with the New Jersey hardcore band Chain To Thread and San Francisco hardcore band Portraits Of Past. Bleed also had a song on the 1995 “Education” compilation, as well as two songs on the “Follow N’ Believe” Compilation CD.

Bleed has a similar sound to a lot of Ebullition releases, however their two vocalists are one of the many things that make them stand out and gives them a unique, intense sound.

Happy Sockmen - Discography (1993-1994)

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Happy Sockmen were a Canadian punk band from Cobourg featuring three members of the hardcore band Holocron; who released a split with Reversal of Man in 1996. Happy Sockmen sound quite mellow in comparison to Holocron, however the vocals still have the shrieking, desperate sound that makes Holocron so good. I had never heard of Happy Sockmen and bought the 7" blind based on the fact that it had members of Holocron and because the seller I was already buying a bunch of things from had a copy. I wasn’t sure what to expect and couldn’t find much info about them online, however I was pleasantly surprised and really like the two tracks they have on this split 7".

Hinge - Discography (1993-1994)

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Hinge were a political hardcore / punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their sound is quite similar to Downcast or even Spitboy but they garnered far less attention in their short lived active period. Their mix of more classic sounding hardcore punk with just a tinge of emo is one of my personal favourite combinations.

I initially discovered them after picking up their 1994 7" at a local store (Turn It Up or Recordland I believe?), because of the booklet that comes with it. The booklet immediately got my attention because of its content. It includes the lyrics to the songs and some artwork both of which are about colonization and the destruction of Indigenous peoples and culture. From there I eventually got my hands on their demo tape which made me love them even more.

Joule - Discography (1994-2005)

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Joule was a hardcore band from Calgary, Alberta that existed from around 1994-1998 and then again from 2001-2005. At their earliest stages Joule was influenced by the D.I.Y hardcore scene in the states and France, with Devin citing bands like Julia and Finger Print as major influences. They captured the heart of the scene so perfectly; their handmade demo release contained a poignant political zine and patch with every copy.

The Corta Vita - Non, Je Suis Mort!/Discography (2001-2005/2022)

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

(TCV at the Ship & Anchor) The Corta Vita was a hardcore band from Calgary, Alberta. They sounded similar to Ten Grand and had some great influences from across the board. There is an endless energy to their songs that really gets your blood pumping. I was so surprised, way back when, to have found a “screamo” band that is this good and also from my hometown. Their CDEP “Communication Means Nothing Without Feedback” is a completely classic Calgary punk release that still stands up to this day.

Impetus Inter - Discography (1994-1996)

Thu, 12 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Impetus Inter Van

Impetus Inter was a hardcore band from St. Paul, Minnesota who were active from 1994-1996. The band released a demo tape, a 12" LP, two 7"s and had one track on a compilation 7". Impetus Inter is one of those bands that nobody seems to know, but those that do love them to bits. They sounded one part Born Against, one part Angel Hair and 3 parts madness; sporting bizarre guitar-work, ferocious drums and shrieking vocals.

CanadianWasteland's Digital Archive

Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Archive(Alternatively, use Soulseek user: Canadianwasteland)This is where I keep my entire digital archive of music, zines, scans and other media. I have put a considerable amount of time into making it coherent, well organized and the best quality possible.
Most of the vinyl sourced FLAC files are my personal rips; I don’t have time to clean most of them but a fair few have been digitally repaired in Izotope to remove most vinyl noise.

About This Project

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

A Known Place Archives is a project dedicated to the preservation of music and bands that otherwise might one day disappear or be forgotten entirely. This project mainly focuses on punk, hardcore, emo, grindcore, etc from the 90s and onward to the 2000s, an area of expertise for myself as well as an era where a lot of music is forgotten to time. There will be some spotlights of current bands or already well-archived bands too, but the emphasis is keeping knowledge, music, photos and more accesible and available to as many people as possible.

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000