Heanvely Blue

Heavenly Blue are a seven-piece screamo outfit from Detroit, Michigan that have been active since 2021, evolving from the band Youth Novel. I went to add a link to my Youth Novel post to explain the backstory there. Turns out, they're one of many bands that slipped through the cracks, as there is no post on them. Thus, I'll either add their material here or make a separate post entirely, time permitting. In summary, Youth Novel were from Ann Arbor, they formed in 2012 and disbanded in 2016. A few members reunited in 2020, but by 2021 there were no original members left. They changed the name, and three years down the line released their first material under this moniker. We Have The Answer came out in April of this year via Jeremy Bolm's Secret Voice label. Though it's technically a debut, the band already sounds honed and refined, brimming with dynamic energy. The vocals are varied, with rolling drums, syncopated riffs, and worming melody abound. If you're into Jeromes Dream, Gillian Carter, or Frail Body, this is a record not to miss this year. Enjoy.

We Have The Answer (2024)

1. Davos

2. We Have The Answer

3. Pando

4. Glass So Clear

5. Certain Distance

6. Static Violence Speaks Static To Me

7. ...And Like That, A Year Had Passed

8. A Part Of Me, A Part Of You

9. Looming

10. Heat Death Parade

11. All Of The Pieces Broke

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

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Instagram

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Constatine Sankathi

Constatine Sankathi were a four-piece screamo/hardcore band from Kalamazoo, Michigan that were active from 1994 to 1996. Their discography consisted of a split, two EP's and numerous compilation appearances (including two Food Not Bombs benefit comps). This was later all included in a single release that came out a few years after they broke up. It's not a word I like to throw around often, but "underrated" or at the very least "underappreciated" do come to mind when thinking of this band. Their limited output is absolutely fantastic, with a sound that could be gut-wrenching and chaotic in its climaxes and almost serene in its more melodic breaks, even incorporating some Indian Summer-esque guitar arpeggios. On top of all that, they would occassionally infuse brass instrumentation into the fold, and did so in an oddly fitting way. Highly recommended for fans of the underground emo/hardcore scene from the 90's in general, this will hit hard. Enjoy.

Bev. Clone/Constatine Sankathi (1995)

1. Bev. Clone - No Reason

2. Bev. Clone - Camp

3. Constatine Sankathi - Esoteric

4. Constatine Sankathi - Canoe

Who Killed The Killed Kid (1995)

1. I Am An Android

2. Husniyah

3. Thanks For The Candy

Baby Unicorn Tripped Over A Rock And Hurt Its Throat And Then Vomited (1996)

1. Listening Palms

2. Painting My Entire Body Black

3. Day

4. Rising Sun

Discography (1998)

1. Husniyah

2. I Am An Android

3. Esoteric

4. Canoe

5. Classical

6. Skies Are Home

7. Thanks For The Candy

8. In December

9. Listening Palms

10. Paint My Entire Body Black

11. Day

12. Rising Sun

13. Classical Part 2

14. Thanks For The Candy Again

15. Some Kind Of Wonderful

16. Cold Air Falls

17. Forget Everything I Told You

18. Fully

19. Husniyah

20. Waxing The Boat

Bandcamp

Norfair

Norfair are a four-piece screamo band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2021 and put out their debut self-titled EP earlier this year,. It was primarily released as four tracks, but a deluxe/bonus track whatever the hell version you want to call it does exist with three additional songs I surmise were recorded prior to this EP. I have to say, this is the good shit right here. The Spirit Of Versailles and Jeromes Dream inspiration citations is evident right out the gate with the chaotic discordance and rumbling octave riffs. Adding to that are some of the most tormented and agonizing vocals I've heard in a while, particularly the howls on the back half of "Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma". 

The band takes a breather on the nervously tender clean guitar arpeggios of "Lying In A Stream Of Dead Light", which harken back to Indian Summer. They close out the EP with "Woosah!", the culmination of everything previously built up to it. The band also makes use of film samples on a number of cuts, notably Gummo and Donnie Darko (I'm not sure what the others are, but fucking fantastic choices on those two). I'm really digging this, it takes familiar sounds and delivers them with feverish execution. Obviously this is highly recommended, enjoy.

carter has a baggie full of drugs (2021)

1. carter has a baggie full of drugs

I Open My Card, and in it? A Death Threat (2022)

1. I Open My Card, and in it? A Death Threat

Norfair (2023)

1. Asan Song

2. Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma

3. Lying in a Stream of Dead Light

4. Woosah

Norfair (Bonus Tracks) (2023)

1. Asan Song

2. Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma

3. Lying in a Stream of Dead Light

4. Woosah

5. Carter Has A Baggie Full Of Drugs

6. Jenken

7. Put Your Dick Away, Walter 

Spotify

Apple Music

Bandcamp

Saturdays At Your Place

Saturdays At Your Place are a three-piece emo/indie band from Kalamazoo, Michigan that got started in 2021. They released their debut full-length that same year, which was followed up earlier this year with an EP released via No Sleep Records. Always Cloudy is a collection of bangers from start to finish, and liking it this much was a genuine pleasant surprise for me. They bring an energy to each well-crafted track, utilizing poppy melodies and vocal harmonies, alongside some really fun guitar interplay that bounces between a twinkly styling and big, distorted chords. These aren't direct comparisons, but if you're into bands including Free Throw, Hot Mulligan, Arm's Length, Charmer, or Ben Quad, you will absolutely love this. Even if you're not familiar with those, I'd implore anyone interested in the poppier side of emo to give this a shot. Enjoy.

Something Worth Celebrating (2021)

1. First Of All

2. Mood Swings

3. Existential Shred

4. Coffee Cups

5. One Track Mind

6. Never Sweater

7. Desk Van

8. To The Moon

9. Getting Better

For Tortus (My Cat)

1. For Tortus (My Cat)

Always Cloudy (2023)

1. Future

2. Fetch

3. Tarot Cards

4. Hospital Bed

5. It's Always Cloud In Kalamazoo

6. Eat Me Alive

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Jacques Rocque

Jacques Rocques were a three-piece emo/screamo band from Rochester, Michigan that formed in 2011 and have been inactive since 2013. They only put out two EP's, at least as far as I'm aware of. Their input is minimal, limited to only 6 songs of noisy, jittery math rock-esque screamo with fairly lo-fi recording quality. If you're into bands like Merchant Ships and William Bonney, this will be up your alley. Enjoy.

Jacques Rocque EP (2011)

1. Dire, Dire Docks

2. Calluses And Celandars

3. The Void of Space

Mamihlapinatapai (2012)

1. Bayesian Network

2. An Abstraction Of Feeling

3. Numerals

Bandcamp

Spotify

Facebook

Mt. Oriander

Mt. Oriander is the latest project from Keith Latinen, who you most likely know as the founder of Count Your Lucky Stars and as a member of Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate). With this new solo project, he's released an EP and LP thus far (both with CYLS, of course). Sonically, this does bear a fairly close resemblance to his previous work, with melancholic, clean arpeggiated guitars inspired by the likes of Mineral, large crescendos and his distinctive quivering vocal delivery. It's a sound that he has mastered, and this project definitely scratches the itch on the void left by E!E!(IWALE) without feeling reductive or repetitive. Enjoy.

This Is Not The Way I Wanted You To Find Out (2021)

1. It's Always Been Wankershim

2. If I Fail To Return, Cast It Into The Bugross Sea

3. Dream Ruby Glitch

4. I'm Never Going To Say My Lines Faster Than Jamie Taco

5. Nothing After Nothing Came Bursting Out

Deck The Halls (2021)
1. Deck The Halls

Then The Lightness Leaves And I Become Heavy Again (2022)

1. The Dark Parts Of The Map Are Places You Have Not Yet Visited

2. What We Have Is You

3. We Measure Our Distance In Time

4. If This Is Sadness, I Don't Like It One Bit

5. A Drawing Of A Bird That You Have Never Seen Before

6. We Should Get Out Of Here Before Something Goes Terribly Wrong!

7. You Were Part Of Me When We Came Here

8. If Only Something Would Go Right For A Change

9. Rare Frog Coin

10. Lillput Steps

11. We Are Not In This Alone

12. You Don't Have To Keep Trying Anymore

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Facebook

Flight Patterns

Flight Patterns are a six-piece emo/indie band from Ann Arbor, Michigan that formed in 2017. They released their self-titled debut full-length back in August, which has been a standout release in a year of fantastic albums. Its 11 tracks consist of punchy midwest emo, with flashes of math rock noodling, gang vocals, and screams. Melancholic nostalgia is the thematic glue, a familiar subject for the genre but hit home on this album by its stellar songwriting, relatable lyrics and its old soul/problems of youth dichotomy. Fans of bands such as Dowsing, Dikembe, Glocca Morra, Hightide Hotel, and Everyone Everywhere absolutely have to check this out, its reminiscent of a recently by-gone era while still carving its own niche in modernity. Pretension aside, this is a fun time with sad jams. Enjoy.

Vapetrails (2017)

1. Vapetrails

There Is No Montauk (2017)

1. thank god for brollinger

2. if ur leffen then i'm chillen dude

3. crab with knife

4. i would throw my vape in a cornfield for you

Spaceshow/Flight Patterns/Harvey Waters (2018)

1. Spaceshow - Lookalike Wannabe

2. Spaceshow - Coin Operated Yes Man

3. Flight Patterns - Matt youre a flake but i still love you

4. Flight Patterns - Disney World Parking Lot

5. Harvey Waters - The Crunch Of Leaves

6. Harvey Waters - Beth

Note: Harvey Waters tracks missing

Flight Patterns (2022)

1. you can't be siruis

2. march comes in like a lion

3. dormitory coffee stains

4. letters taped to pens

5. cadence

6. beach town

7. tiny frames

8. infinitely deep lake

9. faces that we used to make

10. if you look hard enough you can see chicago from here

11. spectral energy

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Facebook

Sender Receiver

Sender Receiver are a four-piece grindcore band originally from Knoxville, Iowa that were around from 2006 to 2008. When they reformed in 2010, they had relocated to Detroit, Michigan. In their initial run, they released one EP, a split, and a sampler. There was word of new material being recorded after they reunited, but nothing ever came of it. Regardless, we're left with this minimal but noteworthy discography, with its crowning achivement being Plague Notes. It explores all the bombastic and chaotic aspects of extreme music that leaves a lasting impact in its 4 and half minute runtime, and doesn't need any more than that to do it. Highly recommended, enjoy!

Summer Sampler (2006)

1. The Human Torch Was Denied A Bank Loan

2. I Guess We Wont Starve As Long As We Have That Old Oak Tree

3. Shut Up, Incest Is Cute

Sender Receiver/The Muzzler (2007)

1. Sender Receiver - The Sudden Realization

2. Sender Receiver - Putting The Sensual Back In Non-Consensual

3. Sender Receiver - This Pillow Tastes Like I'm Choking

4. Sender Receiver - This Could Be The Very Reason Keith Richards Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Warfare

5. The Muzzler - The Loose Cannon

6. The Muzzler - Pass The Buck

Plague Notes (2007)

1. Putting The Sensual Back In Non-Consensual

2. This Pillow Tastes Like I'm Choking

3. The Ocean Is No Place For A Squirrel

4. The French Have To Unhinge Their Jaws To Express Emotion

5. This Could Be The Very Reason Keith Richards Cannot Be Killed By Conventional Warfare

Spotify

Apple Music

Men As Trees

Men As Trees were a four-piece screamo/post-rock band from Auburn Hills, Michigan that were around from 2003 to 2009. When hearing that genre blend, certain greats immediately come to mind such as Envy, City of Caterpillar, and Funeral Diner. Though lesser known, Men As Trees mastered that sound, crafting gorgeous, extensive ambient moments of genuine serenity before exploding in a chaotic onslaught that brought these songs to new emotional levels. With a good portion of their released songs stretching past the 10-minute mark, Men As Trees are one of few bands capable of maintaining a sense of entrancement through a song's multiple movements. Their output is relatively small, but definitely worth a listen. The band reconvened a few years after their dissolution to form Locktender. They are another incredible band that has put out a steady amount of material in the past few years, and are also worth your attention. Enjoy.

Demo (2005)

1. Trespass And The Wood Of The Suicides I

2. Trillium

3. Trespass And The Wood Of The Suicides II

4. Et Tu Brute (St. Yves Down The Hatch)

5. Treebark, Cricket And Stone: Attornies At Law

6. An Epic Novel by Space & Co.

7. 400 Wisemen Bearing Rifts In Time

Warred On By Cranes (2006)

1. Treebark, Cricket and Stone: Attornies at Law

2. An Epic Novel by Space and Co.

3. 400 Wisemen Bearing Rifts in Time

From The Crow's Nest, Looking Out (2007)

1. Come Outside And Warm Yourself By The Wolf's Sun

2. Driving North On Withered Winds

Six Waves In (2007)

1. Sometimes, We All Fight the Tide

2. Would They Were Now, I Was Then

3. Scenes From a Voyage

4. Autumn

Weltschmerz (2008)

1. Germinal

2. Good Luck To You

3. Late Words Of A Reasoning Man

4. If There Was Any Wisdom Left They Would Send It Back Up The Mountain

5. Dead On The Bank

6. Swa Cwæð Eardstapa

Single State Of Man/Men As Trees (2009)

1. Single State Of Man - Health & History

2. Men As Trees - Wreckage

Le Pré Où Je Suis Mort/Dolcim/Men As Trees/Dying In Motion (2010)

1. Le Pré Où Je Suis Mort - L'Avenir Nous Appartiendra

2. Dolcim - Claire, Advertising, 31

3. Men As Trees - Discovery

4. Dying In Motion - In Meiner Welt

5. Dying In Motion - Fürchtet Unsere Sanftmut

6. Dying In Motion - Komet

Website

Locktender

Call It In The Air

Call It In The Air were an emo/indie band from Michigan that were active some time in the late 90's to early 2000's. Deriving their name from a Jimmy Eat World song, their debut LP came out in 1998, and is a criminally underrated gem. Just A Morning Thought is an incredible album, and one that fans of bands like Texas Is The Reason and Christie Front Drive have been longing to hear. The band exudes an incredible variety of sounds throughout its tracklist, all with an honest and impassion delivery. They pull influence across the board of the emo/indie underground of the time, from the distorted pop punk of "Against The Wall" or "Atarri" to the clean midwest arpeggios of "Useless" or "Lava". Vocals can drift from airy and lightly sung to full-blown screams of desperate hope. Album highlight "Turn On Softly" elevates heavenly, and is one of many great examples of the band incorporating unique instrumentation (in this case, a glockenspiel). Admittedly this is a relatively new discovery for me, but I have played this album a few times in the past few days and had to share it, as I think a lot of people would love this if given the chance to even hear it. Enjoy.

Just A Morning Thought (1998)

1. Two Suns

2. Sometimes Hello

3. Against The Wall

4. On A Ride

5. Useless

6. You'll Never Dance Again

7. There I Was

8. Turn On Softly

9. Tel-13

10. Charlettes Web

11. Atarri

12. Lava

The Maccabees/Call It In The Air (2000)

1. The Maccabees - Perron

2. The Maccabees - Ghost And Hollow Eyes

3. The Maccabees - Sleepyhead

4. The Maccabees - The Wait

5. The Maccabees - No Secrets Between Sailors

6. The Maccabees - Another Day

7. Call It In The Air - Growing Old

8. Call It In The Air - Three Piece

9. Call It In The Air - Time After Time

10. Call It In The Air - Low And Behold

11. Call It In The Air - Lockwood's Revenge

12. Call It In The Air - My New Book

Current

Current were a post-hardcore/emo band from Dearborn, Michigan that were around from 1992 to 1994. I have very little info on this band, to be honest. Aside from their years active, they put out a discography LP on Council Records, a label run by one of its band members posthumously. Current are best remembered for their sole seminal LP, Coliseum, as well as their split with the legendary Indian Summer pre-legendary status. Members of Current were also active in another band called Ottawa. If you're looking for an early marriage of hardcore and emo that pre-dates screamo as we know it, you're in the right place. Enjoy.

Discography (1998)

1. Basis

2. Repetition

3. Continued Rantings

4. Overbearing

5. Leech

6. Bastille

7. Frayed Ends

8. Monument

9. Key

10. Representation

11. Dial

12. Pave

13. Bag Of Threads

14. Two And a Dime

15. Ruin

16. Outside Is Better

17. Coliseum

18. She Can't Write

19. Hark

20. Member

21. Could I

22. Silvered Lead

23. Come Down

24. Left At The Right

Note: 

Tracks 1 - 4 from Is 4 EP (1995)

Track 5 - 7 from various compilations (1995-1996)

Track 8 from Chino Horde split (1994)

Track 9 from Indian Summer split ((1993)

Track 10 - 20 from Coliseum LP (1993)

Tracks 21 - 24 from Could I EP (1992)

Dogleg

Dogleg are a four-piece punk band from Detroit, Michigan that began in 2015. They play an with a unique blend of sounds that combines the rousing energy of Against Me!, Cloud Nothings, Crash Of Rhinos, and PUP. Complete with jumpy riffs, gang-chorus shouted vocals, a strong use of dynamics, and enough raw energy to power a small country, Dogleg make music that's meant to be moved to. They recently signed to Triple Crown Records and released the single "Fox", which is everything and more I could ask for out of a track like this. They presumably have a full-length coming next year, which is a sure sign that we're starting the next decade off on a high note. Enjoy.

Dogleg (2015)

1. Moonlight

2. Jetpacks

3. Calling Collect

4. Modern Language

5. 11 AM Drunk

6. Spaceman Stu

Remember Alderaan? (2016)

1. Star 67

2. Crimes

3. Prince Is Little

4. Remember Alderaan?

Fox (2019)

1. Fox

Melee (2020)

1. Kawasaki Backflip

2. Bueno

3. Prom Hell

4. Fox

5. Headfirst

6. Hotlines

7. Wartortle

8. Wrist

9. Cannonball

10. Ender

Worst Party Ever/Dogleg (2020)
1. Worst Party Ever - Star 67 (Dogleg cover)

2. Dogleg - Ganon Main (Worst Party Ever cover)

3. Worst Party Ever - Fos (Dogleg cover)

4. Dogleg - Road Trip (Worst Party Ever cover)

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Greet Death

Greet Death are a three-piece shoegaze band from Flint, Michigan that began in 2011 under the name Pines. To date they've released an EP and two LP's, the most recent of which was released on Deathwish today. Sonically, they make constant use of ethereal reverb, droning chords, that come together in crushing, distorted climaxes that ascend incredible heights when played past max volume. Their songwriting ability is also noteworthy, with the vocals often taking the forefront in ways slightly unexpected from the genre. Fans of bands like Cloakroom, Nothing, Thunder Dreamer, Ovlov and Hum will take particular interest in here, especially considering some of the slowcore and alternative rock influences thrown into the mix. Their debut LP is a solid outing, with stand-out tracks including "Black Hole Jesus Christ" and "Cumbersome". Their most recent album, New Hell is an incredible outing that shows the band coming into their own with a unique style and interpretation of their influences. Each new song offers up a different idea, with standout track being "Strange Days" (it'll take a few more listens to determine more, but so far it's fantastic from start to end). Enjoy.

In Heaven // Your Lull (2016)

1. In Heaven

2. Your Lull

Dixieland (2017)

1. Sheets of White

2. Bow

3. Valediction

4. The Waste

5. Black Hole Jesus Christ

6. Dragged To Hell

7. Again

8. Cumbersome

9. Dixieland

New Hell (2019)

1. Circles Of Hell

2. Do You Feel Nothing?

3. Let It Die

4. You're Gonna Hate What You've Done

5. Entertainment

6. Strange Days

7. Strain

8. Crush

9. New Hell

New Low (2022)

1. New Low

2. Panic Song

3. Punishment Existence

4. Your Love Is Alcohol

5. I Hate Everything

Bandcamp

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Website

Deathwish