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

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Party Hats

Party Hats are a three-piece emo/screamo band from Denton, Texas that began in 2021. Since then, they've put out two demos, a split, and an incredible EP released earlier this year. Instrumentally, they take the bright, noodly sound of midwestern emo and mesh it with vocals shrieked at the top of the lungs. Party Hats manage to balance those extremities with dexterous ease, encapsulating both chaos and melody in each song. Fatima makes for an amazing listen, with 8 tracks in 18 minutes, the band wastes no time displaying their full dynamic range, with subdued lone guitars crashing into shriek-laden blasts within seconds of each other. Fans of bands such as Merchant Ships, The Reptilian, and Father Figure will definitely love this, though I'd enourage just about anyone to check it out. This is music done right. Enjoy.

demo (2021)

1. still can't tell up from down

2. litter boxes/changing tires

3. one time i got poison ivy so bad i went blind

insideoutside demo (2021)

1. Indian School Rd

2. I hate buccees

3. So far

4. Squid ink

Party Hats/Leroy Trinket (2021)

1. Party Hats - Maybe

2. Leroy Trinket - ...But It Smelled Like Flowers

Fatima (2022)

1. Tearjerker

2. Boxcutter Pt. 2

3. I Trapped A Fly In The Fridge

4. Baby Bob Ross

5. The Future Ain't What It Used To Be

6. Pinch Hit

7. Moe's Song

8. It's Not The Heat, It's The Humility

Autobiographic Autopsy (2023)

1. New Tricks Off The Table

2. Autobiographic Autopsy

3. My Big Fucking Head

4. Belly Up

5. Fish Hook

Catalyst/Vs Self/Knumears/Party Hats (2024)

1. Catalyst - Yesterday's Apology

2. Knumears - No Count

3. Vs Self - Tide And Swell

4. Party Hats - Today's For Sale

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Record Setter

Record Setter are a four-piece screamo/emo band from Denton, Texas that began in 2011. After a few sporadic releases, they released I Owe You Nothing this month via Topshelf Records. This is an absolute statement of a record, with powerful performances and a literally seamless delivery. Each track flows effortlessly into the next, making for one unforgettable, singular experience. Sonically, I don't think I've ever heard a record that appeals to virtually every niche this blog thrives in.. It's even hard to nail down particular elements of this, as every turn is another resounding "fuck yes", with something fresh and unequivocally unique. Instead of just rambling here, I highly, highly suggest you check this out. Without a doubt this is one of the best records I've heard this year, and an absolute listen for anyone fans of anything screamo-adjacent. Enjoy.

Dim (2014)

1. Dim Lit Streets

2. Rentative

3. Two Transitions

4. Sleep

5. Oil and Water

6. Down To Earth

7. The Road

8. Wild Card

Purge (2017)

1. A Realization

2. Wishing Your Life Away

3. We Let Our Youth Fail Beautifully

4. Multiple Attempts At The Same Thing

5. Losing Hope

6. Talking To Yourself Shouldn't Be An Argument

7. Purge

8. If You've Ever Wondered

Sylvania Ave./Genius Christ/Record Setter (2019)

1. Sylvania Ave. - A Different Point Of View

2. Sylvania Ave. - When You Tried To

3. Genius Christ - Mind Sweeper

4. Genius Christ - Merchant of Doubt

5. Record Setter - Self Of Steam

6. Record Setter - Is This Existing

I Owe You Nothing (2020)

1. Someplace

2. Sometimes

3. Humus

4. Present Tense

5. A Portrayal

6. An Impression

7. An Explanation

8. Rigor Mortis

9. Reprise

10. Future Tense

11. Fail And Fall

dissection lesson (2022)

1. Home Is Where - names

2. Home Is Where - creationish (feat. Pierce Jordan)

3. Record Setter - a world without you

4. Record Setter - plain english

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Topshelf Records

Innards

Innards are a four-piece screamo band from Fort Worth, Texas that formed in 2010. In my opinion, they're one of the best screamo bands to come out in the past decade, with two incredible full-lengths and countless amazing splits under their belt. They play a highly cathartic, noisy, and technical style of music that features some bright, twangy, and noodly guitar parts, as well as some incredibly pained screaming that just flat-out sounds awesome. Any fan of screamo/emotional hardcore must have either heard of have to hear these guys, so enjoy.

cool out, mthrfkr (2010)

1. the fight to stay awake// phone doc

2. pitching pennies

3. still smoldering

4. guess what? you're dead

5. hey what's up with that basket of crinkle fries behind your ear?

6. memories imploding// accidents bring expletives

Tracing (2010)

1. Wall

2. Memories Imploding

3. Polynesian Business Ethics

4. Speedvayne

5. S.gze

6. Man, Fuck

7. Clean Cut, Rough Trade

8. Scamming For Underage Hunnies On X

9. Hard To Swallow

424/7 (2011)

1. мища - I've Built Plenty Of Houses, But I've Broken More Homes

2. Innards - slothbear

3. Innards - s1mpl3 decisions

innards/Two Knights (2011)

1. innards - brain

2. innards - chumpchange

3. Two Knights - thomas rabon: rydel high class president

4. Two Knights - what would zooey deschanel do?

Completely Fucked/Innards (2011)

1. Completely Fucked - September

2. Completely Fucked - Burn September

3. Completely Fucked - T.L.B.

4. Completely Fucked - Men Too Gentle To Live Among Wolves

5. Completely Fucked - September III

6. Innards - It's Gonna Be A Bloodbath

7. Innards - Memories Imploding

The Reptilian/Innards (2011)

1. The Reptilian - Gold Blooded

2. The Reptilian - Old Blooded

3. Innards - Goro

4. Innards - No Money, More Problems

I've Lost Everything (2012)

1. Tight Eyes

2. Dboles

3. Ponzi Scheme

4. Teachers, Lawyers, and Bicycle Shop Owners

5. Smear

6. Maple Bar

7. Large Milk

8. Coffee

9. Baby Carrots

10. Moonpie

11. Spaghetti

12. Cheeseburger In Heaven

Adobe Homes/Innards (2013)

1. Adobe Homes - You're More Like A Sunflower Than A Rose

2. Innards - College House

3. Innards - Construction

Epilogue Of A Car Crash...A Tribute To Orchid (2013)

23. Discourse Of Desire (Orchid cover)

Note: Full comp here

The Sound of Young America (2014)

1. Calculator - Only The Winds Home

2. Calculator - You Say It, We Play It

3. Calculator - Victoria

4. Innards - July 5th

5. Innards - Slow And Repeat

6. Capacities - This Man's Navy

7. Capacities - The Art Of Excuses

8. Capacities - Advice From Tyrion

9. Capacities - Condolences

10. Ittō - Death Frenzy

11. Ittō - Daigoro

The Caution Children/Innards (2016)

1. Innards - Lil Man

2. Innards - Knowing About Bombs (The Caution Children cover)

3. The Caution Children - Populate Landscapes

4. The Caution Children - Smear (Innards cover)

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Two Knights

Two Knights are a two-piece emo/math rock band from Denton, Texas that began in 2009. They've worked with awesome labels such as Count Your Lucky Stars and Skeletal Lightning, and played with tons and tons of awesome bands. They also share members with Father Figure, who you should also definitely check out. As far as sound goes, this band has got one formula down, and one formula is all they need to be awesome at what they do. All of their jams come down to the four essentials of emo: noodly guitar + complex drums + whiny vocals + self-deprecation = Two Knights. Enjoy.

FFO: Tiny Moving Parts, Native, Merchant Ships, Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)

Quilt Chamberlain (2011)

1. Quilt Chamberlain

2. Bangarang!

3. Lois Lame

4. If You Knew Me Like I Knew Me, You'd Hate Me Too

5. Ilsa

6. (If You're) Sleeping On The Floor (You Won't Fall Out Bed)

innards/Two Knights (2011)

1. innards - brain

2. innards - chumpchange

3. Two Knights - thomas rabon: rydel high class president

4. Two Knights - what would zooey deschanel do?

Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)/Mountains For Clouds/Two Knights/Driving On City Sidewalks (2012)

1. Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) - Everything Small Is Just A Small Version Of Something Big

2. Mountains For Clouds - Does It Really Antimatter?

3. Two Knights - Solo Swimming

4. Driving On City Sidewalks - For You, Celeste

A Lot Of Bad Things Have Happened, But We're Still Here (2013)

1. Devonte's Inferno

2. I'm Your Dad And You're My Dad

3. We Are At Max Creed

4. I'm Here For The Pizzah Partie

5. D4 What The Puck (Like if They Made Another Mighty Ducks Movie Except This Time They're Pissed)

6. A Dime Is A Titan

7. It Sucks When You Hate Everyone

Shut Up (2014)

1. If It's Brocken, It's Brocken

2. It Doesn't Matter Matt, I'm Never Going to Cast Boulderfall

3. Just Pick a Dead End and Chill Out Till You Die

4. Clark Can't

5. Symphony for the Righteous Destruction of Humanity

6. Dear God, This Parachute is a Knapsack

7. Everything Will Kill You

8. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

9. Dangerously

10. Leave My Body in Milwaukee

11. Dawg... You Watch Smallville?

12. Sorry: The Musical

13. Major League Bullshit

Sundae Bloody Sundae (2014)

1. The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - Fat Heaven

2. Rozwell Kid - The Weather (Spirit Night)

3. Kittyhawk - Soft Serve

4. Two Knights - Benji's Cool Times Summer Jamz

The Reptilian/Two Knights/Victor Shores/Boy Parts (2015)

1. The Reptilian - nahimastay

2. Two Knights - Dazzler

3. Victor Shores - Not Yeti

4. Boy Parts - Live a Long Time and Take Care of Yourself

6 Covers By 2 Idiots (2017)

1. Hi (Hannah Diamond)

2. Bubblegum K.K. (Animal Crossing)

3. Daylight Robbery (Imogen Heap)

4. K.K Disco (Animal Crossing)

5. Stuck With Me (Green Day)

6. Theme From a Hotdog On A Roll

Effing (2017)

1. Straight To Crackle

2. Stoned Legends of the Hidden Temple Pilots

3. Titan A.F.

4. Regina's Specter

5. I Ate An Entire Pizza During One Episode Of The West Wing

6. Lex Loser

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father figure

father figure are a three-piece screamo/emo band from Denton, Texas that formed in 2011 and unfortunately broke up in 2013. The band features members of Innards and Two Knights, and basically sounds like an amalgamation of the two. These guys are great. They aren't groundbreaking or anything, they just have a fucking great sound that they pull off flawlessly, and I'd go as far as to say that they're one of my personal favourite modern screamo bands. I love the lyrics, as overdramatic as they are, and their delivery, as overdramatic as it is. But that's kind of what makes them so awesome. Enjoy.

demo (2012)

1. royal pain is ramona flowers

2. the side of me i hope you'll never see

3. hugh jazz

4. hot wads to stop the bleeding

5. mary 'wrestlemania' spuckler

6. your best is an idiot

死の手 (2012)

1. Black

2. (Ears of a Beagle) The Rockland Mann Love Story, Pt. 2

3. Dreams

4. Ted, Dancing

5. Slideshow

6. (B.Y.O.K.) The Rockland Mann Love Story, Pt. 3

7. Mark of Shane

8. Dad Libs

9. Together We're Alone

10. Flowers

jumping off a building (2013)

1. what the hell is on jonny's head?

2. death is my way out (d.i.m.w.o)

3. mean girls ripoff

4. maybe i'm upset, no, wait, definitely

5. this is my attempt at an apology 

father figure/Marcy (2013)

1. father figure - Dakota's Incredible Droopy Impression

2. father figure - I Think I'm Immune to Hangovers (Either That or I'm So Use to Feeling Like Shit It Goes Unnoticed)

3. Marcy - One

4. Marcy - Two

5. Marcy - Three

6. Marcy - Four

7. Marcy - Five

8. Marcy - Six

9. Marcy - Seven

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