Versera

"The perfect ending to this piece of shit story" For the unininitiated, since 2013 this is a day to celebrate forlorn discontment, a day where yearning gives way to utter despondence. Every living creature dies alone, and you're no different. There's links to previous entries at the end of all this if you choose to deepen that wound while turning your tears into lube. Cry alone, die alone. Happy Valentine's Day.

Versera was a four-piece screamo band from Southern California that formed in 2022, played a final show in Deecember 2023 and then a "reunion" show in December 2024, who can keep up with any of it anymore. Anyway, this is another band whose name has been floating around for a while, but took me until recently to finally give them a listen (thanks again Jack for the rec). Especially since after All the poems I wrote about you ended, I knew I had my next V-Day entry selection. This is cathartic and dynamic, with highly distorted melancholic frenzies giving way to clean and lean arpeggios. Their LP from last year is also fantastic, amping up the lo-fi chaotic qualities of their debut EP. I still prefer said EP, but really both are worth your time, as is the split with the also-great onewaymirror. For a point of reference, if you're into iwrotehaikus..., Beau Navire, The Spirit Of Versailles, Orchid, or мища, check this out. You'll still be and feel alone, but maybe slightly less so. Don't enjoy.

All the poems I wrote about you (2023)

1. Je Déteste Ton Abscence

2. We Met At A Place We Both Hate

3. Rome Wasn't Built In A Day, But Maybe If They Had Cofee

4. Just Wait Till Summer

5. We Were Oblivious

onewaymirror/Versera (2023)

1. onewaymirror - Pirate Songs/Milo Joins The Army

2. onewaymirror - Frontlines: And The Stories I'll Take To My Grave

3. onewaymirror - Love Is All That Their Weary Hands Could Hold

4. onewaymirror - (Bonus Track) Feels Like A Change

5. Versera - Anakin vs Fogel

6. Versera - Yea Yea Whatever

7. Versera - How's Life In Oaxaca

8. Versera - Shirtless

Calliope (2024)

1. S.F.Y.R.J.E.C.H.E.D

2. Dried Up Flower Bouquets

3. Interlude

4. Full Circle Moments Will Lead Us Back Into Each Other's Lives Sooner Or Later

5. "Chiavlry is not dead..." Prince Rios Remarks

6. Skip To 0:33 If You Hate The Blues

7. Sorry Lincoln

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Previous Installments

 

2013: The Saddest Landscape

2014: iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook

2015: You And I

2016: Love Lost But Not Forgotten

2017: In Loving Memory

2018: Kite Flying Society

2019: The Khayembii Communiqué

2020: Harrison Bergeron

2021: The Last Forty Seconds

2022: The Apoplexy Twist Orchestra

2023: Vowel

2024: Toru Okada

onewaymirror

onewaymirror are a four-piece screamo/emoviolence band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 2022. This band's name has been cropping up a lot over the past few years, which is unsurprising given how prolific they've been. I finally took the time to give them a listen and they did not disappoint. At their most ferocious this is dark, chaotic, surging, and abrasive stuff, the kind of music that always sounds on the brink of collapse, with enough breathing room to allow for more melodic, dynamic moments. To give you a loose idea, if you're into Jeromes Dream, Love Lost But Not Forgotten, Reversal Of Man, Letters To Catalonia, or In/Humanity, this might be up your alley. I'd suggest starting with the self-titled album, but their most recent EP (released via the ever-reliable Zegema Beach) is also incredibly solid. They've gained an insane amount of traction as frontrunners of the genre this decade, and I look forward to what they have in store for 2025. Enjoy. 

Retrospect (Demo) (2023)

1. Retrospect (Demo)

Demo EP (2023)

1. But Once The Snow

2. For Those We Scream

3. you could try...

4. See You Soon

onewaymirror/Versera (2023)

1. onewaymirror - Pirate Songs/Milo Joins The Army

2. onewaymirror - Frontlines: And The Stories I'll Take To My Grave

3. onewaymirror - Love Is All That Their Weary Hands Could Hold

4. onewaymirror - (Bonus Track) Feels Like A Change

5. Versera - Anakin vs Fogel

6. Versera - Yea Yea Whatever

7. Versera - How's Life In Oaxaca

8. Versera - Shirtless

A Tale Of Two Cities (2023)

1. Burial Etiquette - Hyperviolent Ballet

2. Burial Etiquette - Safe Haven

3. onewaymirror - As I Lay Dying

 4. onewaymirror - Forever Fell Short

onewaymirror (2023)

1. Rock Bottom Has A Basement

2. Better Read Than Dead

3. Biting The Hand That Feeds Me

4. Letters Write The Stories, Paper Sets The Stage

5. The People, The Internet

6. No I'm Not A Thief, I'm A Goddamn Minister!

7. If You're Me, Then Who's This Asshole?

8. There's Only Two Things Certain In Life, Death And Taxis?

Live Songs (2023)

1. Rock Bottom Has A Basement (10/7 at Back To The Grind Cafe)

2. Better Read Than Dead (10/13 at The Haven)

3. Biting The Hand That Feeds Me (8/11 at The Dogpark VFW)

4. Letters Write The Stories, Paper Sets The Stage (8/12 at M.O.M.S.)

5. The People, The Internet (10/7 at Back To The Grind Cafe)

6. No I'm Not A Thief, I'm A Goddamn Minister! (9/23 at The Eagle Rock Community Center)

7. If You're Me, Then Who's This Asshole? (10/13 at The Haven)

8. There's Only Two Things Certain In Life, Death And Taxis? (9/23 at The Eagle Rock Community Center)

onewaymirror/Gxllium (2024)

1. onewaymirror - Let's Make The Most Of This

2. onewaymirror - She's Only Yours For A Minute

3. Gxllium - Who Pooped?

4. Gxllium - If Hector Was  Beaver

5. Gxllium - The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs

Two Songs CD (2024)

1. Fendi "Fuck You" Glasses

2. Untitled

Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive (2024)

1. Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive

2. This Is My Way Of Saying Hello

3. Fourth Song

4. First Song

5. The Difference Between Said And Done

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

Sinema

Sinema are a five-piece post-hardcore/screamo/emo band from Denton, Texas that formed in 2023. They've put out one EP, one split, and one album up to this point. I was recommended this band recently by Jack and wanted to thank him for that, because this is some fantastically eclectic stuff. Sonically, they're a seamless blend of influences, with vocals as stylistically disparate as clean, screamed, and growled; their heavy riffs chug out dissonance inflections, while the more melodic moments feature midwest emo arpeggios and even some post-rock elements. It's a throwback to the MySpace sounds of 20 years ago, but assimilated into something distinctly modern. I've find myself listening to this quite a bit lately, and they've quickly become one of the newer bands I'm most excited about, they're working with a unique energy here. Give them a try, After The Flatline is my personal favourite of theirs, as it leans towards the more emocore side of their sound, but the album and split are worth a shot as well. Take this with a grain of salt, but if you're into bands including Alexisonfire, You And I, Thursday, and Saosin, check this out. Enjoy.

After The Flatline (2023)

1. Stutter

2. ...And You Already Forgot

3. Hard To Get By

4. Speak Your Mind

5. I Can't See Through The Mirror

Consider It Your Fault (2024)

1. Sinema - The House Always Wins

2. XheartworksX - Oh, Gone From Me

Fear Of The Fall (2024)

1. 01

2. On A Broken Edge

3. Tears On The Moon

4. 02

5. Weather To Believe

6. Don't Just Stand There

7. I Hold On Twice

8. At Least, Be Human

Spotify

Apple Music

Instagram

She Died Real Pretty

She Died Real Pretty were a five-piece screamo/emoviolence band from Derry, New Hampshire that were around from 2005 to 2006. They only put one EP, which came with a bonus CD-R that consisted of demos, both of which are included separately below. They almost released a split with iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook, which you can read more about a find a rip of over at This Endless Breath. Sonically, they played the kind of frantic and throat-scorching screamo that will appeal to fans of bands like Orchid and Usurp Synapse. Since they disbanded, one of their guitarists has remained active, going on to play in Alessa and New Forms. There was also renewed interest in this band last year, when their track "Industry Sets In" was prominently included as a sample on Don Toliver's "Tore Up". Enjoy.

Carpe Diem Is Dead (2006)

1. Can Your Mother Sew?

2. Nails, Get The Nails

3. Death Of A Modern Eden

4. Donny Moore Vs the Timberlane Superfan

5. Requested Anethesia

Fucking Dead (2006)

1. Never Again In The World

2. Industry Sets In (Original Cut)

3. Donny Moore Vs the Timerlane Superfan (demo)

4. Requested Anethesia (demo)

5. Nails, Get The Nails (demo)

6. Nails, Get The Nails (recroded at Rj's)

7. They Never Warned Us About the Robots

8. Nocture (Original Cut)

9. Industry Sets In (recorded at Rj's)

10. Nocture (recorded at Rj's)

Spotify

Apple Music

Friends Unseen

Friends Unseen were a five-piece emo/indie band from Umeå, Sweden that released a single two-song 7" in 1998 via Subjugation Records. Other than that what's included with this record, there's really no other information out there on them. One of their members was also in Separation and The International (Noise) Conspiracy, but those are far cries from the sound heard here. These two tracks are slightly overdriven, lo-fi and melancholic, with impeccable vocals. You guys are going to love this, that's all I have to say to implore you to give this a listen. Enjoy.

The Usual Dilemma / Drowning Act (1998)

1. The Usual Dilemma

2. Drowning Act

Joy Division

Your eyes do not deceive you. To close out 2024 we're doing Joy Divison, because nothing rings in the New Year better than this optimistic bunch. They may be in an echelon of popularity not usually shared here, but I figured why not, we've got a few major bands on here, and it doesn't get much more influential on the usual fare shared here than this. Ergo, Joy Division. They were a post-punk act hailing from Salford, England that lasted from only 1976 to 1980. In the span of just a short few years, they cemented their legacy as one of the most important and influential bands of their era, with a widespread relevance across multiple genres that has not wavered in the years since they met their untimely end.

For a quick history lesson, the band was technically first formed in 1976 by guitarist (later keyboardist as well) Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook, who were then joined by drummer Terry Mason and vocalist Ian Curtis. Their early inspiration was taken from the burgeoning punk scene at the time, featuring the likes of The Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks. The band was initially called Stiff Kittens before changing their name to Warsaw. With drummer Stephen Morris taking over in 1977, their line-up was finalized, and changed their name to Joy Division shortly before self-releasing their debut EP An Ideal For Living in 1978. The power chord-driven punk influence is most present on this, though the stiff rhythms, prominent punchy bass work, and Curtis' frenetic vocal delivery do suggest the band was already headed in a different direction. After scrapping their planned debut LP with RCA Records in 1978 (though the recordings have been circulating as bootlegs since 1980), they reconvened in the studio in 1979 for what became their true first full-length, Unknown Pleasures. 

Their debut album is so celebrated that its artwork has taken on a life of its own. I don't know what else I can add to the conversation here; the chilling synths, wiry guitars, airy reverb, driving melodic bass lines, and Ian Curtis' emphaticly poignant lyricism have all transcended its era to create a bona fide classic album. Joy Division could be as dancey as they were brooding, as rhythmic as they were melancholic. Picking a "favourite song" of all time is virtually impossible, but "New Dawn Fades" off of this album is a definite contender. That track simply makes time stop, with some of most devasting lyricism ever written. In addition to that, you've got the cavernous question posed on "Day Of The Lords", the spindly whirring of "Disorder", the frantic chugging dynamics of "Shadowplay", the jittery centerpiece "She's Lost Control", and the dismal clanking atmosphere of "I Remember Nothing" all playing integral roles in making this a virtually perfect album. If you haven't heard this album yet, please do yourself a favour and give it a listen.

For years Unknown Pleasures was my preffered dose of Joy Division, but as I've gotten older I find myself gravitating towards their sophomore effort Closer more and more. It's a colder, more percussive, sheeny slow burner that doesn't have the same immediacy as tracks like "She's Lost Control" or "Disorder" do, but is an equally astounding effort as far as I'm concerned. "Isolation" is as catchy as it is morose with one of the most walloping verses ever penned, "Heart and Soul" is a pulsating night crawler,"Twenty Four Hours" is pure poeticism, "Atrocity Exhibition" is a noisy masterpiece that pulls you into its trance, and "Decades" is a synth-laden closing statement of youthful retrospection.

Unfortunately, Closer was released with an irreplaceable shadow cast over it, as singer/lyricist Ian Curtis had taken his own life two months prior to its release. He had struggled with depression and epilepsy for much of his life, and prior to the band's North American tour he died at the age of 23. As tragic as this was, his music and lyrics have had such an indelibly cathartic impact on generations since with his transparent conveyance of introspection and distress.

Post-Closer, the remaining members of Joy Division decided to carry on together, reforming as New Order. Guitarist Bernand Sumner took over lead vocals, with Gillian Gilbert joining them soon after as a keyboardist/guitarist. Under the new moniker, they released a slew of incredible albums throughout the 80's, including some radio hits that are staples to this day ("Blue Monday", "Bizarre Love Triangle"). Their debut album (1981's Movement) is clearly bred with Joy Division DNA, but following that they fully embraced the synth/electronic sound that they had been tinkering with and went full-fledged in the dance/pop/new wave arena to critical and commercial successs. New Order are an incredible band, but Joy Division has always been the project nearest and dearest to me, and I think that's true for most people.

To wrap this up, we've got a couple of discography notes. Unknown Pleasures and Closer are the obvious two essentials as the only two studio albums here. They released a slew of singles, including some of their most seminal songs including "Transmission", "Atmosphere", and "Love Will Tear Us Apart", not to mention essential deep cuts like "Digital", "Dead Souls", and An Ideal For Living's "Warsaw". I've included the aforementioned EP because I tend to think of it as its own proto-thing, despite its inclusion on Substance. I didn't include individual singles because I consider Substance a quintessential piece of their discography, which covers all essential non-album bases. If there's demand for them individually then sure, I'll add them, but for now, Substance is what's required. To add to that, the Still compilation is a crucial component of their discography, but will appeal to dedicated fans moreso than casual listeners. It contains select studio outtakes and b-sides, along with a live recording of their final show that includes "Ceremony", one of their final songs written together, which was later recorded and released as New Order's debut single. We've also got the Warsaw album bootleg (including a 1977 demo), the self-explanatory Peel Sessions (which are worth your time if you're interested), some later live releases which are decent, and The Best Of Joy Divison. I'm not normally one for "greatest hits" albums, but just in case there's someone out there that has yet to sink their teeth into this wonderful band, I do think it's an effective career-spanning on-ramp for a first-time listener, especially since it consists their most beloved and (I mean this positively) accessible songs. Finally, there's the gargantuan Heart And Soul box set. It contains nearly every recorded track by the band between 1977 and 1980, with some anecdotal exceptions. The vast majority of their discography is here, so if you're interested in a singular comprehensive release, this is for you.

In summation, not many bands last for a few short years and have the immense, everlasting effect that Joy Division has had. There are tons of artists cropping up today that are clearly influenced or indebted to this band in some way, even beyond the goth rock/post-punk stuff that they're most closely associated with. On a personal note, they've steadily remained one of my favourite bands for a long time now, and have yet to cease being profoundly resonant, on top of just awe-inspiring to listen to. Two perfect albums, a slew of stellar singles, and a deep well of underrated cuts, it doesn't get much better than this. To close out 2024, thank you again, and I'll see you in the New Year. Enjoy.

An Ideal For Living (1978)

1. Warsaw

2. No Love Lost

3. Leaders Of Men

4. Failures

Unknown Pleasures (1979)

1. Disorder

2. Day Of The Lords

3. Candidate

4. Insight

5. New Dawn Fades

6. She's Lost Control

7. Shadowplay

8. Wilderness

9. Interzone

10. I Remember Nothing

Closer (1980)

1. Atrocity Exhibition

2. Isolation

3. Passover

4. Colony

5. A Means To An End

6. Heart And Soul

7. Twenty Four Hours

8. The Eternal

9. Decades

             

Still (1981)

1. Exercise One

2. Ice Age

3. The Sound Of Music

4. Glass

5. The Only Mistake

6. Walked In Line

7. The Kill

8. Something Must Break

9. Dead Souls

10. Sister Ray (The Velvet Underground cover) (Live)

11. Ceremony (Live)

12. Shadowplay (Live)

13. Means To An End (Live)

14. Passover (Live)

15. New Dawn Fades (Live)

16. Transmission (Live)

17. Disorder (Live)

18. Isolation (Live)

19. Decades (Live)

20. Digital (Live)

Note: Compilation including studio outtakes and select b-sides, along with a recording of their final show, which occurred at High Hall in Birmingham University on May 2, 1980

Substance (1988)

1. Warsaw

2. Leaders Of Men

3. Digital

4. Autosuggestion

5. Transmission

6. She's Lost Control

7. Incubation

8. Dead Souls

9. Atmosphere

10. Love Will Tear Us Apart

11. No Love Lost

12. Failures

13. Glass

14. From Safety To Where...?

15. Novelty

16. Komakino

17. As You Said

18. These Days

19. Love Will Tear Us Apart (Pennine Version)

Note: Compilation including singles and b-sides

The Peel Sessions (1990)

1. Exercise One

2. Insight

3. She's Lost Control

4. Transmission

5. Love Will Tear Us Apart

6. Twenty Four Hours

7. Colony

8. Sound Of Music

Note: Tracks 1-4 recorded on January 31, 1979, tracks 5-8 recorded on November 26, 1979

Warsaw (1994)

1. The Drawback

2. Leaders Of Men

3. They Walked In Line

4. Failures

5. Novelty

6. No Love Lost

7. Transmission

8. Living In The Ice Age

9. Interzone

10. Warsaw

11. Shadowplay

12. As You Said

13. Inside The Line

14. Gutz

15. At A Later Date

16. The Kill

17. You're No Good For Me

Note: Bootleg including the 1978 RCA recordings (1-12) and a 1977 demo (13-17)

Heart And Soul (1997)

Disc 1: Unknown Pleasures Plus

1. Digital

2. Glass

3. Disorder

4. Day Of The Lords

5. Candidate

6. Insight

7. New Dawn Fades

8. She's Lost Control

9. Shadowplay

10. Wilderness

11. Interzone

12. I Remember Nothing

13. Ice Age

14. Exercise One

15. Transmission

16. Novelty

17. The Kill

18. The Only Mistake

19. Something Must Break

20. Autosuggestion

21. From Safety To Where...?

Disc 2: Closer Plus

1. She's Lost Control (12" Version)

2. Sound Of Music

3. Atmosphere

4. Dead Souls

5. Komakino

6. Incubation

7. Atrocity Exhibition

8. Isolation

9. Passover

10. Colony

11. A Means To An End

12. Heart And Soul

13. Twenty Four Hours

14. The Eternal

15. Decades

16. Love Will Tear Us Apart

17. These Days

Disc 3: Rarities

1. Warsaw

2. No Love Lost

3. Leaders Of Men

4. Failures

5. The Drawback (RCA demo)

6. Interzone (RCA demo)

7. Shadowplay (RCA demo)

8. Exercise One (John Peel demo)

9. Insight (Genetic Records session)

10. Glass (Genetic Records session)

11. Transmission (Genetic Records session)

12. Dead Souls (Transmission sessions 1)

13. Something Must Break (Transmission sessions 1)

14. Ice Age (Genetic Records session)

15. Walked In Line (Piccadilly Radio session)

16. These Days (Piccadilly Radio session)

17. Candidate (Piccadilly Radio session)

18. The Only Mistake (Piccadilly Radio session)

19. Atmosphere (Chance Version)

20. Colony (John Peel session)

21. Colony (John Peel session)

22. As You Said

23. Ceremony (rehearsal)

24. In A Lonely Place (detail) (rehearsal)

Disc 4: Live

1. Dead Souls

2. The Only Mistake

3. Insight

4. Candidate

5. Wilderness

6. She's Lost Control

7. Disorder

8. Interzone

9. Atrocity Exhibition

10. Novelty

11. Autosuggestion

12. I Remember Nothing

13. Colony

14. These Days

15. Incubation

16. The Eternal

17. Heart And Soul

18. Isolation

19. She's Lost Control

Preston 28 February 1980 (1999)

1. Incubation

2. Wilderness

3. Twenty Four Hours

4. The Eternal

5. Heart And Soul

6. Shadowplay

7. Transmission

8. Disorder

9. Warsaw

10. Colony

11. Interzone

12. She's Lost Control

Les Bains Douches 18 December 1979 (2001)

1. Disorder

2. Love Will Tear Us Apart

3. Insight

4. Shadowplay

5. Transmission

6. Day Of The Lords

7. 24 Hours

8. These Days

9. A Means To An End

10. Passover

11. New Dawn Fades

12. Atrocity Exhibition

13. Digital

14. Dead Souls

15. Autosuggestion

16. Atmosphere

Note: Live album, tracks 1-9 recorded at the titular venue in Paris, December 1979. Tracks 11-16 are from two separate shows in the Netherlands, January 1980

The Best Of Joy Division (2008)

1. Digital

2. Disorder

3. Shadowplay

4. New Dawn Fades

5. Transmission

6. Atmosphere

7. Dead Souls

8. She's Lost Control

9. Love Will Tear Us Apart

10. These Days

11. Twenty Four Hours

12. Heart And Soul

13. Incubation

14. Isolation

Spotify

Apple Music