Closure

Closure were a five-piece screamo/emo band from Rockville Center, New York that were active sometime in late 90's, most likely 1996-1997. Unsurprisingly, their output is very limited, consisting of one compilation track, a split (with the fantastic Breakwater), and a sole LP, their essential release. They masterfully use loud/quiet dynamics, with wiry and angular guitar leads cutting through hard-hitting chords and pounding rhythms, with a scathing vocal delivery. If you're into bands like Portraits Of Past or Four Hundred Years, this underrated gem will be of massive appeal to you. If you need any coercing, they were also they were tangentially related to Saetia back in the day, playing shows together and sharing a label (The Mountain C.I.A. put out both bands self-titled releases).  Enjoy.

Breakwater/Closure (1996)

1. Closure - Servant To Silence

2. Closure - The Children's Crusade

3. Breakwater - Eleven

I Can't Live Without It (1996)

4. The Trial

Closure (1997)

1. K.M.

2. Sebastian

3. Silhouetted

4. Inferno

5. Time Off

6. Untitled

Last Days Of August

Last Days Of August were a five-piece emo from Long Island, New York that were around from 1997 to 2000. They put out a demo, split with The Remington, a self-titled 7" and self-titled full-length . Their entire output was compiled and released by Beginners Tapes in 2022. They played incredibly melancholic songs with a driving energy, with melancholic guitar noodling indebted to both midwest emo and post-hardcore. As far as "2nd wave emo" goes, they leaned into the poppier side of things, with great distinct songwriting and strong vocal melodies, despite their forlorn delivery. The self-titled LP is essential, though worth digging into their rawer back catalogue found on the discography. If you're a fan of bands including The Get Up Kids, Braid, Jimmy Eat World, Texas Is The Reason, and The Promise Ring, check this out. Enjoy.

Last Days Of August 7" (1998)

1. Written In White Ink

2. Baltimore Again

Last Days Of August (1999)

1. Wishful Thinking

2. Braille

3. In Heaven Everything's Fine

4. A Sailor's Dream

5. Marathon

6. First Light, False Down

7. The Art Of Breathing

8. Carousel

9. Cheating Distance

10. Paper Hearts & Broken Glass

Complete Recordings (1997-2000) (2021)

1. Wishful Thinking

2. Braille

3. In Heaven Everything's Fine

4. A Sailor's Dream

5. Marathon

6. First Light, False Down

7. The Art Of Breathing

8. Carousel

9. Cheating Distance

10. Paper Hearts & Broken Glass

11. Written In White Ink

12. Baltimore Again

13. Six Ways From Sunday

14. Words I Wish Were Mine

15. Dead Boys Club

16. Carousels ("Carousel" Demo)

17. Holy Thursday ("The Art Of Breathing" Demo)

18. My Sky (Demo)

19. Fay (Demo)

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Ennui

Ennui are a five-piece screamo/hardcore band from Long Island, New York that formed in 2020. Thus far, they've released one demo and one split of hardcore-influenced screamo. The band utilizies heavy, discordant, and angular riffs, brooding rhythms and raw vocals in their crushing delivery. Fans of bands including Yaphet Kotto, Joshua Fit For Battle, Welcome The Plague Year and others from that era should definitely check this out. Enjoy.

Two Songs (2022)

1. Apex Homunculus

2. Burial Gift

Ennui/Apostles Of Eris (2022)

1. Ennui - Beside The Door Of Becoming

2. Ennui - Burning Astronaut

3. Ennui - Rude Goldberg

4. Apostles Of Eris - Anxieties From The Material Realm

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This Is Hell

This Is Hell are a five-piece hardcore band from Long Island, New York that began in 2004. Since then, they've released five full-length albums, on top of a slew of other releases and some extensive touring. They've made a name for themselves with their distinct blend of crossover thrash and melodic hardcore elements, with chugging guitars that snap between thick and heavy to open and fully-realized. Topped by vocalist Travis Reilly's distinct delivery, the band has managed to make some of hardcore's most passionate music in the past two decades or so. If you're new to this band, there is a fair amount of material to sink your teeth into, though I think their debut full-length Sundowning is probably their best material and most effective entry point. Black Mass is also fantastic, but their first-album is their most reverred for good reason. To make a comparison to similar bands of this era, it's like Modern Life Is War's Witness or Verse's Aggression. I mean that in the sense that all these bands were incredibly consistent with fantastic material, but one album usually sticks out as the benchmark for the rest of their career, or even for hardcore in its era. And without a doubt, Sundowning deserves to be heralded as a benchmark of its era. Enjoy.

Demo (2004)

1. Wreck Your Life

2. Heaven Sent, Hellbound

3. Double Grave

4. Dearest Midge

This Is Hell (2005)

1. Dead Salutes

2. Heaven Sent, Hellbound

3. Diamond Lanterns

4. Moving Targets

5. Ad Infinitum

6. When Death Closes Your Eyes

Sundowning (2006)

1. Retrospect

2. Prelude (Again)

3. Here Comes The Rains

4. Permanence

5. 4.8.05

6. The Polygraph Cheaters

7. Deliver Me

8. The Absentee Ballot

9. Broken Teeth

10. 8.27.05

11. Procession Commence

12. Nobody Leaves Without Singing The Blues

13. Epilogue

This Is Hell/Cancer Bats (2007)

1. This Is Hell - Another Facade

2. This Is Hell - Shillelagh (Cancer Bats cover)

3. Cancer Bats - Let It Pour

4. Cancer Bats - Diamond Lanterns (This Is Hell cover)

Cripplers (2007)

1. Infected

2. Do Something

3. Fight For Your Right

4. Another Facade

5. Double Grave

6. I Hope You Die Soon

Misfortunes (2008)

1. Reckless

2. Infected

3. Disciples

4. In Shambles

5. Realization; Remorse

6. Without Closure

7. Remnants

8. Resuscitate

9. Fearless Vampires

10. You Are The Antithesis

11. End Of An Era

12. Memoirs

13. Last Days Campaign

This Is Hell/Nightmare Of You (2008)

1. This Is Hell - Built Upon Grief

2. This Is Hell - Cement Shoes

3. Nightmare Of You - You Don't Have To Tell Me I Was Terrible Man 

4. Nighmare Of You - Dopesick Couples

Warbirds (2009)

1. The Search

2. Warbirds

3. Worship Syndrome

4. Crazy But Not Insane (Warzone cover)

5. Never Tear Us Apart (INXS cover)

Weight Of The World (2010)

1. No One Leaves Unscathed

2. The Night The Line Was Crossed

3. Out Come The Bastards

4. Bloodlines

5. Eagle Of Justice

6. Death Of World Class

7. The Search

8. Forever Discontent

9. Shadows

10. Destroyer

11. Worship Syndrome

12. Fall And Rise

13. Snake Eyes

Rat Race (2010)

1. Rat Race

Black Mass (2011)

1. Acid Rain

2. Black History

3. Salt The Earth

4. Black Mass

5. The Wars: Pt. I

6. Mi Nombre

7. The Last Outlaw

8. Demons

9. The Reckoning

10. The Wars: Pt. II

The Enforcer (2013)

1. The Enforcer

2. Walking Abominations

3. Flag Of The Serpent

4. Whiplash

Bastards Still Remain (2016)

1. Bastards Still Remain

2. Excuses Pile Up

3. Space Mountain

4. You Think I Don't Know

5. In The Name Of...

6. Anarchy On Atlantic

7. Among Us All

8. Never Will It Stop

9. Absolute Power Corrupts

10. This Is Hell

11. Retaliate

12. No Martyr

Compilation/Cover Songs

Show You No Mercy (Cro-Mags cover) [2008]

Troy's Bucket (Kid Dynamite cover) [2009]

Rise (Pantera cover) [2009]

Dawn Patrol (Megadeth cover) [2011]

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Oolong

Oolong are a five-piece emo/math rock/punk band from Long Island, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that began in 2019. They released their debut album early this year, and after seeing tons of praise for it, figured I'd check it out and share it. I've got to say, this shit slaps. This band has gotten a fantastic energy to them, with plenty of mathy/twinkly guitars sprinkled into each song, and vocals that do that shouty/yelpy singing thing that Algernon Cadwallader, which is absolutely a compliment. About Your Imaginary Friends is a fantastic bridge between fourth and fifth wave emo (if that even means anything) and a solid, fun ride throughout. Enjoy.

About Your Imaginary Friend (2020)

1. About Your Imaginary Friend

2. Welcome To Destiny Island

3. Roxies and Cigarettes

4. Miller's High Life

5. Ricky Murphy

6. Mount St. Mary

7. Dude, It's Painfully Obvious

8. My Afternoon's Shotgunned

9. Sinking Stone

Fatal 4 Way Split (2020)

1. Arcadia Grey - Wildmutt

2. Arcadia Grey - Braum

3. Oolong - Dippin Daniel

4. Oolong - Guts

5. Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly - Lite Wotus

6. Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly - Seasalt Ice Cream

7. dannythestreet - Mystery Faded

8. dannythestreet - Letterboxd

Edema Ruh (2022)

1. Camp Trash - Blazing Trash

2. Weatherday - Nostalgia Drive Avatar

3. Oolong - Bicycle Day

4. Michael Cera Palin - Crypto

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Macseal

Macseal are a five-piece emo/indie/math rock band from Long Island, New York that began in 2014. They play a unique style of emo incorporates the "twinkly" math rock guitar sound with a heavy focus on vocal melodies and lyrics, in the same vein as bands like Oso Oso or Modern Baseball. Thrown in the harmonies of Tigers Jaw and a shade of pop punk influence, and voila, you've got Macseal. They've put out a string of EP's thus far, with the most recent one Map It Out being released today by 6131 Records. Each release thus far has been solid, with a natural evolution in sound. Definitely recommended for fans of the aforementioned bands, or anyone who enjoys the occasional visit to the emo mecca of "twinkletown". Enjoy.

Macseal EP (2015)

1. Cats

2. Going Away

3. Gentle Giant

4. Applications

5. Kathy Bates Motel

6. 5:45 a.m. (Not Fun)

etc. (2016)

1. 5:45 a.m. (acoustic)

2. Applications (acoustic)

3. Kathy Bates Motel (demo)

4. 5:45 a.m. (demo)

5. Attractive Today (Motion City Soundtrack cover)

Yeah, No, I Know (2017)

1. Twilight Funzone

2. Harry

3. Next To You

4. Sandbox

5. These Things Happen

Map It Out (2018)

1. Sure Thing, Shelly

2. Golden Hour

3. Old Halls

4. Sleeping In

Super Enthusiast (2019)

1. Lucky For Some

2. Without A Trace

3. Always Hazy

4. Mystery Inc.

5. Irving

6. Upside Down Again

7. Nothing's A Sure Thing, Baby

8. Graduating Steps

9. Problem Solved

10. Picture Perfect

11. Safe Spot

Permanent Repeat (2024)

1. A+B

2. Golden Harbor

3. Four Legs

4. Easily Undone

5. October

6. Permanent Repeat

7. Beach Vacation

8. Your Door

9. Dinner For Two

10. Hide Out

11. Afloat

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Oso Oso

Oso Oso is an emo/indie project primarily consisting of Jade Lilitri from Long Beach, New York. The project began in 2014 under the name osoosooso before being shortened to Oso Oso. Prior to beginning this solo endeavor, Lilitri was better known as a member of State Lines. Thus far they've released two stellar full-lengths, and a recent EP out on Triple Crown.

Sonically, this is a pretty tough project to pin down. Without a doubt they are one of the most unique and beloved modern emo bands around, though they don't really sound like a lot of their contemporaries. Instead, they take influence from major bands such as Death Cab For Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, and Built To Spill, and create these incredible songs with pop exteriors and emo interiors. Lilitri is an incredible lyricist, which has been obvious since the first State Lines record, but with Oso Oso he has really stepped up his craft to string together some beautiful lines to cut underneath the catchy melodies.

I can't recall exactly where I first heard this description (probably some online comment), but it was something along the lines of "Oso Oso is the sound of being sad at the beach", which is a pretty accurate description of their duality. This applies in particular to The Yunahon Mixtape, his most celebrated release. There's not much more to rant about here, this band has been requested to death for years upon years, so here ya finally go. Enjoy.

osoosooso (2014)

1. Moving In

2. A Bunch Of Things I Don't Know

3. Neighbors

4. Safe

5. The Expiration Date

6. Para 'effin dise, Baby!

7. Mike Isn't Down With Punctuation

Free Throw/Oso Oso (2014)

1. Free Throw - Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer

2. Oso Oso - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Real Stories Of True People Who Kind Of Looked Like Monsters (2015)

1. Track One, Side A

2. Wet Grass or Cold Cement

3. Another Night

4. Where You've Been Hiding

5. How It Happened

6. Josephine

7. Interlude

8. Easy Way Out

9. This Must Be A Place

10. This Must Be An Entrance

11. This Must Be My Exit

The Yunahon Mixtape (2017)

1. the cool

2. reindeer games

3. the walk

4. the bearer of the truths

5. get there (when you're there)

6. great big beaches

7. shoes (the sneaker song)

8. the slope

9. the secret spot

10. the plant mouth

11. out of the blue

gb/ol h/nf (2018)

1. gb/ol h/nf

2. subside

basking in the glow (2019)

1. intro

2. the view

3. basking in the glow

4. dig

5. one sick plan

6. a morning song

7. priority change

8. wake up next to god

9. impossible game

10. charlie

sore thumb (2022)

1. computer exploder

2. nothing to do

3. father tracy

4. give a fork

5. all love

6. fly on the wall

7. describe you

8. pensacola

9. sunnyside

10. because i want to

11. nothing says love like hydration

12. carousel

De Facto (2022)

1. De Facto

Life Till Bones (2024)

1. many ways

2. the country club

3. all of my love

4. that's what time does

5. stoke

6. dog without its bark

7. seesaw

8. application

9. skippy

10. other people's stories

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Iron Chic

I think I've mentioned this band a few times before, but never actually did a post on them. This is a crime since it doesn't get much better than Iron Chic. They're a five-piece punk band from Long Island, New York that have been kicking since 2008. Along with RVIVR, Iron Chic are one of the offspring birthed by the break-up of Latterman. The band's former two vocalists both went their own ways, and we got two amazing bands because of it. Iron Chic continue Latterman's legacy of catchy pop punk and undeniable energy. They've made a name for themselves in their own right, and I've got to specifically mention 2010's Not Like This, because that is a fucking awesome album, and if you're going to listen to anything by them make it that. Otherwise, they've put out a ton of good, catchy songs that are guaranteed to be stuck in your head for days. Enjoy.

Demo '08 (2008)

1. In One Ear

2. Timecop

3. Steel Wall Method

4. Sensitive Dependence

5. Cry-Baby

Shitty Rambo E.P. (2009)

1. Shits/Giggles

2. The Worlds Greatest Detective

3. Don't Tell Me Stupid, Don't Show Me Fuck You

4. (I Never Get) Winded

Not Like This (2010)

1. Cutesy Monster Man

2. Time Keeps On Slipping Into The (Cosmic) Future

3. Timecop

4. I Always Never Say That

5. Black Friday

6. Know What I Mean, Jellybean?

7. Awes-nificent

8. In One Ear

9. Bustin' (Makes Me Feel Good)

10. Every Town Has An Elm Street

Split N' Shit (2011)

1. Those Heads Are Our Heads

2. Climate Is What We Expect, Weather Is What We Get.

3. Langoliers

4. Jet Ski (Bikini Kill)

5. 85 E. Cleveland (Plow United)

Spooky Action (2013)

1. Spooky Action At A Distance

2. Less Rest For The Restless

3. Goofy's Concern (Butthole Surfers cover)

4. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg (The Ramones cover)

The Constant One (2013)

1. The End (Intro)?

2. Bogus Journey

3. (Castle) Numbskull

4. Wolf Dix Rd.

5. Prototypes

6. Spooky Action At A Distance

7. Sounds Like A Pretty Brutal Murder

8. A Serious House On Serious Earth

9. True Miserable Experience

10. Don't Drive Angry

11. What Ever Happened To The Man of Tomorrow?

Iron Chic/Low Culture (2015)

1. Iron Chic - L'esprit de L'escalier

2. Low Culture - Not A Machine

3. Iron Chic - Subhumanoid Meltdown

4. Low Culture - Oh Jazelle

Ys (2015)

1. Ys

2. The Dreaming And The Waking World

3. Dog Bite (Dead Kennedys cover)

You Can't Stay Here (2017)

1. A Headache With Pictures

2. My Best Friend (Is A Nihilist)

3. You Can't Stay Safe

4. Let's. Get. Dangerous.

5. Thunderbolts!

6. Planes, Chest Pains, And Automobiles

7. Golgotha

8. Profane Geometry

9. Invisible Ink

10. Ruinous Calamity

11. To Shreds, You Say?

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