Fuel

Fuel were a four-piece punk/post-hardcore band from the Bay area that were around from 1989 to 1991. Though short-lived, they've proved to be hugely influential. This is thanks to their sole album, Monuments To Excess, which is an absolute must-listen and includes all their recorded material (after a 1995 reissue). Sonically, they took clear and heavy influence from the DC and Dischord bands that had popped up just before they did. The first two Fugazi EP's were certainly gospel to them, along with other Revolution Summer-era bands such as Rites of Spring, Embrace, Dag Nasty, and Soulside, among others. They were unsurprisingly well-versed with the Dischord roster, and though that influence is very apparent, Fuel took that sound and ran with it, crafting some incredibly dynamic songs and fine-tuning the dual guitar/vocal approach of Fugazi, and that was later carried on by Hot Water Music (a band who have cited Fuel as an influence, and it shows). Enjoy.

Monuments To Excess (1995)

1. Disengaged

2. 2:52 (Instrumental)

3. Some Gods

4. Remains To Be Seen

5. Cue To You

6. The Name Is...

7. Why Can't You See

8. Actualized

9. Habit

10. Not Up For Sale

11. Take Effect

12. Untitled (Instrumental)

13. Incomplete

14. Fuel Hymn (Activate)

15. Turn On

16. Why Can't You (Shield Your Eyes)

17. The Name Is...

18. For Lack of Better Words (Shine)

The Nerve Agents

The Nerve Agents were a five-piece hardcore band from the Bay Area that were around from 1998 to 2002. They played a dark, fast-paced style of punk rock that was typical of the area at the time. They did progress a bit in their few years together though, starting with the straight-forward debut EP and ending with their more progressive LP The Butterfly Collection, which featured some unique guitar work and slower songs. They were also quite well-known for the use of bass in their songs, which functions just as prominently as the guitars. Overall, The Nerve Agents are just a straight-up good hardcore band, with two fantastic LP's and one EP to their name. They also put out a split with Kill Your Idols, but unfortunately I don't have it. Enjoy.

The Nerve Agents (1998)

1. Carpe Diem

2. Unblossomed

3. The War's Not Over

4. Level 4 Outbreak

5. Share The Pain

6. Starting Point

7. Black Sheep

8. I Keep Screaming

Days Of The White Owl (2000)

1. Spring Heeled Jack (Intro)

2. Fall Of The All American

3. Prey

4. Days Of The White Owl

5. Portland

6. Off Come The Blindfolds

7. Your Warning

8. Jekyl And Hyde

9. Next In Line

10. The Invincible

11. Dead Man Walking

12. Out On The Farm

13. A Sad History

14. Just A Visual

15. Evil

16. The Blue Lady (Outro)

The Butterfly Collection (2001)

1. The Poisoning

2. Crisis

3. War Against!

4. The Vice Of Mrs. Grossly

5. Madam Butterfly

6. Princess Jasmine Of Tinseltown

7. What Then?

8. The Legend Of H. Gane Ciro

9. But I Might Die Tonight

10. Metal Pig

11. New Jersey

12. So, Very Avoidable

13. Oh, Ghost Of Mine

14. Frost

15. The Cross

Wild Moth

Wild Moth are a four-piece post-punk band from the Bay Area (San Francisco), California that formed in 2012. They play a dark and noisy style of punk that prominently features loud, angular reverb-laden guitars that are balanced out by the heavy low-end melodies of the bass. The vocals make for some memorable melodies that bring a sense of catchiness to the band's raw energy. Overall, they blend post-punk, indie, shoegaze, and punk together nicely to create a distinct sound that would appeal to fans of classic bands like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine, as well as modern bands like Creative Adult and Cloakroom. Enjoy.

Wild Moth (2012)

1. Morning Sickness

2. The Spectacle

3. Guilt

4. (How) Nothing Moves

5. Shape

Mourning Glow (2012)

1. Mourning Glow

2. Patience

3. Prison

4. Relic

Over, Again (2013)

1. Behave

2. Souvenir (No Future)

3. Coma

4. Into Your Hands

5. The Dreamers

6. Blossom

7. Turn To Never

8. Spiral

9. Window Grey

10. __

11. Pt. Dume

Creative Adult/Wild Moth (2014)

1. Creative Adult - Ephemeral Thing

2. Wild Moth - Rewind

Mirror (2015)

1. Mirror

2. Gallery of Walls

Inhibitor (2015)

1. Mirror

2. Gallery Of Walls

3. Silver

4. Thinner

5. Buried

6. V

7. Hello, Star

8. Traces

9. Drain

10. You Found Out

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Everybody Row

Everybody Row are a four-piece punk band from the Bay Area, California that formed in 2014. They were started by members of Comadre, and definitely fill the void that that band left. Everybody Row are a lot more of a straight-forward rock band than their predecessor. They punch out some energetic, catchy, uptempo songs that are as hard-hitting as they are catchy. Perhaps most notably they include a prominent organ, which gives them both a very unique sound and a very classic rock vibe, which makes for one hell of a good band. They're definitely highly recommended as a straight-up good rock band. You can't go wrong with that. Enjoy.

The Sea Inside (2014)

1. The Sea Inside

2. Coming Out Close

3. Escape Plan

4. Keep Running

Tiny Empires (2015)

1. Tiny Empires

2. No Direction Home

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Culture Abuse

Dirty, dirty fuzz. "Up to no good" is an understatement. If you want to hear 2016's greatest "rock n roll" offering, here it is. It's loud, it's raw, it's pumped full of energy and packed with insane hooks. Culture Abuse are a five-piece "kinda grunge, kinda punk, kinda hardcore, definitely a good time. yes, we like to party" band from San Francisco, California. After releasing two killer tracks last year, they just put out their debut full-length with 6131 this year. And it is exactly as you'd expect if you've heard their shit before. It lets its balls hang low and its amps be soaked in beer. And these boys can't stay away from that goddamn distortion pedal. Culture Abuse are just a straight-up fun band that have the songs, the energy, the melodies, the lyrics, you name it, they've got it. As much as I say it, this is some highly recommended stuff. They're infectious, and I guarantee it'll be hard to stop listening once you start. Enjoy.

The Day Dreams Of Nothing (2013)

1. Happy Ending

2. Take It Out On Yourself

3. My Only Sunshine

4. Clean Skin

5. Sing To Me

6. Wet Lashes

Spray Paint The Dog (2015)

1. Nicotine

2. Perfect Light

Peach (2016)

1. Chinatown

2. Jealous

3. Dream On

4. Rainy Days

5. Don't Worry

6. Peace On Earth

7. Turn It Off

8. Living In The City

9. Yuckies

10. Heavy Love

Bay Dream (2018)

1. Bay Dream

2. Rats In The Wall

3. Dip

4. Bee Kind To The Bugs

5. S'Why

6. California Speedball

7. California E

8. Dave's Not Here (I Got The Stuff Man)

9. Dozy

10. Bluebird On My Shoulder

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6131

Look Back And Laugh

Look Back And Laugh were a hardcore punk band from the Bay Area that began in 2003 and ended in 2007. They shared members with Yaphet Kotto as well as a bunch of other bands. As their name suggests, Look Back And Laugh take a ton of influence from 80's hardcore bands, from the snarling vocals to the raw assault of the instruments, they're grit and dirt in the best form. Enjoy.

Demo (2003)

1. Smear Campaign

2. Hooked

3. Run Silent, Run Deep

4. Charred Flock

5. Truth And Error

Look Back And Laugh (2003)

1. This Cost We Absorb

2. Midwestern Train Wreck

3. Blinders

4. Hooked

5. Hawks

6. Smear Campaign

7. Run Silent Run Deep

8. Slogans

9. Charred Flock

10. Exhaust Filled Damnation

11. Blank Compliance

12. Martyrs

13. Caste System

14. Truth And Error

Dropdead/Look Back And Laugh (2004)

1. Dropdead - What Could Be

2. Dropdead - Boxed In

3. Dropdead - Brick By Brick

4. Dropdead - A Final Question

5. Dropdead - Words Of Truth

6. Dropdead - Another Stone

7. Look Back And Laugh - Fuel The Conquest

8. Look Back And Laugh - Hero's Salute

9. Look Back And Laugh - Kick The Chair 

2nd LP (2005)

1. By The Pound

2. Crusade

3. Power Corrosion

4. Throne Of Blood

5. Heathen

6. Violent Coercion

7. Empty Hand

8. Division

9. Masters

10. Rockets

11. Christened

12. Sinking Ship

Street Terrorism (2006)

1. Street Terrorism

2. Step Forward

3. Open Wounds

4. Shut It Down & Marginalized

5. None Dare Call It Treason

State Of Illusion (2007)

1. State Of Illusion

2. Cannibal

3. Trashed

4. The Path

...Who Calls So Loud

...Who Calls So Loud were a screamo/emotional hardcore band from the Bay Area that were around from 2007 to 2008. They share members with a ton of other phenomenal bands, including Portraits Of Past, Funeral Diner, iwrotehaikus..., and Beau Navire. So naturally it's expected that ...Who Calls So Loud are at that same caliber. Their sole LP is amazing, featuring lengthy, post-rock influenced skramz sessions that burgeon without falter. It's a need-to-listen for people into Portraits Of Past and City of Caterpillar. Their EP is also solid, though not quite on par with the LP. Still worth the listen though. Enjoy.

...Who Calls So Loud (2008)

1. Sleeplike

2. I Need To Experience The Ultimate

3. 4.4.4.4.

4. Assume The Power Focus

5. What I Learned In The C.O.U.M.

6. Any Color I Want

7. Coming Together Over A Black Sun

8. Slip Step

...Who Calls So Loud EP (2008)

1. Hey, I'm Outside

2. M'ed Palms

3. Resonant Grain Silo

4. Lark Vs. Rascal

Navio Forge

Navio Forge were a four-piece emo/hardcore band from the Bay Area, California, that were really only around for a year, 1993. They only played a total of two shows, which were both at the legendary Gilman Street. Despite that, they've become a very well-known name in the development of emotional hardcore/screamo/whatever you want to call it. This is mostly due to their sole record, As We Quietly Burn A Hole Into.... Navio Forge took what was happening with DC/Dischord in the late 80's and pushed it to its boundary. Their songs really retained an element of hardcore a lot of their peers were slightly eschewing in favour of quieter and more dynamic parts. Though they did still make use of spoken word, their instrumentals rarely relax. Navio Forge went full-force on every song, with distorted, chaotic guitars, ripping bass riffs, and beating drums. Their vocals are shredded in anger and distraught, which comes to a climax at the end of "Haloed Eyes", when he literally begins crying. This could be excessive to some, but is pretty much what put Navio Forge on the map, so evidently some must love it. Enjoy,

As We Quietly Burn A Hole Into... (1993)

1. Hate Machine

2. Yellow And Fed

3. Manufactured Images Of Jesus Christ

4. Weaponizing

5. A Hole Into

6. Haloed Eyes

Comadre

This is a band that should have been on here from day one. Regardless, better late than never, and thanks for the constant requests for them, it was a good reminder to finally introduce one of the best bands from the past ten years to this blog.

Comadre were a five-piece hardcore/screamo band from Redwood City, California, that formed in 2004 and disbanded in 2013. For most of their career, they remained relatively underground, though they did begin to garner quite a bit of attention with the release of their last album, Comadre. Regardless, their entire discography is absolutely phenomenal. They released four of the best albums within their genre, and were active with a ton of other great bands. Comadre's sound was energetic, to say the least. Although a lot of bands boast that adjective, very few come even close to the spastic frenzies and throat-shredding lyrical genius that Comadre was. Their songs were incredibly intense, and carried an energy even punk purists couldn't deny. They have a ton of melodic moments, whether they be quieter moments, or fun, catchy (but still screamed) choruses, they could do it all. They wrote great songs, with each being distinct from each other, they experimented quite a bit, and penned a ton of incredible lyrics to boot.

They really took what earlier bands like pg.99, At The Drive-In, and Kid Dynamite were doing, and ran with it to create their own, unique sound. I would go as far as to say that bands around today like Touché Amoré wouldn't be the same without them. Comadre were personally one of my first introductions to more modern screamo/hardcore/punk/whatever, and still remain one my favourites. I'm sure a ton of people who have not heard them will still be absolutely blown away by them, and people who have heard them will continue to. Here's their discography, most of which they've been giving away for free anyway. Definitely check them out if you're already into a lot of Bay Area punk (such as Punch, Dangers, and Loma Prieta), or just want to hear a band giving it their all. For starters, try Burn Your Bones, but everything has merit, so enjoy.

The Youth (2004)

1. The Trees Are Moving...

2. City Slickers Part 6

3. Mess With The Best, Undress Like The Rest

4. Well Damn, If We All Ate The Berries We Might As Well Die Together

5. Slangin' Rocks In The House Of God

6. Remind Me Never To Stick My Hand Out The Window Again

7. I Think We're Alone Now

8. Are You Guys Telling Jokes? I Like Jokes

9. Welcome To Blood Town, Population Buried

10. The Trials

11. I Sleep With My Eyes Open

12. ...And Everything Is Falling Together.

Songs About The Man (2005)

1. Burn the Scene!

2. Fill the Void!

3. Who's got the Golden Ticket Now!

4. The Hole in the Ship, S.O.S.!

5. Pause (Kid Dynamite cover)

6. Sweet Thing (Van Morrison cover)

7. The Trials! (live on KZSU)

8. There is no Title, Only Zuul! (Lev Perry remix)

9. Mess with the Best, Undress like the Rest! (demo version)

10. Instrumental! (demo version)

11. Are you Guys Telling Jokes? I like Jokes! (demo version)

12. Welcome to Bloodtown, Population Buried! (demo version)

Burn Your Bones (2006)

1. Make Me Believe

2. Breakfast of Champions

3. El Padre Macho

4. The Southern Comfort Smile

5. Sabado Gigante

6. Blackland Dirt

7. Hey Holmes, Slow Down

8. Naw, You Catch Up

9. The Hole In The Ship S.O.S.

10. Give Me Hell

11. Hit Me Up On My Celly Cell

Trainwreck/Comadre (2007)

1. Comadre - Camel Bucks

2. Comadre - The Best Snakes Bite Back

3. Comadre - Teeth Versus Teeth

4. Comadre - 60 Grit

5. Comadre - Crimes And Cadillacs

6. Trainwreck - Bared Teeth

7. Trainwreck - Home Sweet Home

8. Trainwreck - Living Like The Living Dead

9. Trainwreck - On Our Losses And Our Tears

The Emo Annihilation (2008)

7. Hector The Collector

A Wolf Ticket (2009)

1. Hamlets

2. Tannerisms

3. Viva Hate Pt. 1

4. Viva Hate Pt. 2

5. Word Is Bond

6. Grow Worms

7. King Jeremy

8. Suicides May Have Been Pact

Carry The Torch: A Tribute To Kid Dynamite (2009)

12. Death And Taxes (Kid Dynamite cover)

Comadre/Glasses (2010)

1. Comadre - The Sweeter the Juice

2. Comadre - Byrne'in Down the Haus

3. Comadre - Count Basie Box Set

4. Comadre - "Living Differently?!"

5. Glasses - Tigers

6. Glasses - So Right

7. Glasses - Lydia

Mixtape Vol. 4 (2010)

1. Intro

2. Good Night Sweet Prince (feat Dead To Me)

3. Hamlets Remix (feat P.O.S and Atlas)

4. Sleep is the Cousin of Death (feat Ghostlimb)

5. 18 Wheels (The Murder City Devils cover, feat Glasses and Trainwreck)

6. King Jeremy (feat Broadway Calls)

Mixtape Vol. 5 (2011)

1. Intro

2. Comadre - Free Based

3. Loma Prieta - Trilogy 4

4. Daikon - It's Either Raining Or It's Not

5. Punch - Four Letters

6. Funeral Diner - Two More

7. Ghostlimb - Bearing Witness

8. Broadway Calls - Heartbreak In Portland's Living Room

9. Trainwreck - Crooked Rooms

Cold Rain (2012)

1. Cold Rain

2. Too Much TV

3. Free Based

Comadre (2013)

1. Color Blind

2. Cold Rain

3. King Worm

4. Summercide

5. The Moon

6. Drag Blood

7. Must Be Nice

8. Storyteller

9. Hack

10. Untitled

11. Binge

12. Date Night

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Worthwhile

Thanks to Patrick for the request.

Worthwhile are a five-piece melodic hardcore/pop punk band from the San Francisco Bay Area that formed in 2009. Their earliest material is definitely more pop punk-oriented, which can be kind of obnoxious-sounding at times, I'll be honest, but for the most part is pretty solid, and they do hint at the melodic hardcore influence that would take over on Carry On Kid, which is my personal favourite from them. They're a cool band, check them out. Enjoy.

FFO: Such Gold, The Wonder Years, Verse, Have Heart, Defeater, Touché Amoré

 

Miracle Me (2009)

1. Intro

2. Left And Right

3. Good Guys Win

4. A Dream Lead Here

5. Hear Us Out

6. Simple In Theory

7. Phileo

8. Miracle Me

9. Outro

Not Fixed But Found (2010)

1. Second Chances

2. Sixes To Sevens

3. Homegrown

4. Unlovable (Lost Son)

5. Recover

Carry On Kid (2012)

1. Evergreen

2. Homebuilder

3. Melody, Save Me

4. Full Hands, Empty Hearts

5. Live For What Lasts

6. 1937

7. At Sea Point

8. How Do I Look Up To A Man In The Ground

9. Vagrant

10. Unlovable

11. Messy Masterpeice

Old World Harm (2015)

1. Relentless

2. A Fool's Paradise

3. Journal Of A Mad Scientist

4. October Of '29

5. A Name, Two Dates, And A Phrase

6. Lazy Lullably

7. No Man's Land

8. A Requiem For The Sons Of Harmony

9. Hollow Son

10. To My Mother

11. To My Little One, Someday

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