First Day Back

First Day Back are a five-piece emo/indie band from Santa Cruz, California who released their debut LP earlier this year, Forward. This is the good stuff right here; harkening back to an era of midwest emo dominated by the likes of Cap'n Jazz, Braid, Penfold, Rainer Maria, and The Jazz June without sounding like an exact replica of any of them. First Day Back favour bright, crisp guitar tones that wallow in melancholic chords and arpeggios over gloriously strained vocals, with the occasional use of a harmonica or violin that adds a truly unique dynamic layer to their already-tight and sundry sound. This album offers nine unique tracks that ebb and flow as one of the year's stand-out emo releases, so naturally I highly, highly recommend giving it a listen. Enjoy.

Forward (2025)

1. Sure, Ok

2. Upstairs (212)

3. Moving Out

4. Us

5. Gone On

6. Lines

7. Wait, Do You Hear That?

8. Paint

9. Twelve Mile Train Tracks

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I Never Knew You

I Never Knew You were a two-piece screamo band from Orange County, California that were around from 2010 to 2013. They only put out one release, which came out in December 2010 which is why it's sometimes listed as a 2011 release online. There's possibly also a demo floating around, but I unfortunately don't have that. End Of Seasons is absolutely fantastic and I wish I found it sooner. Impassioned and cathartic, the band melds melancholic arpeggios and crushing metalcore-ish chords and riffs into something seethingly chaotic, cleanly melodic, and remorseful. For a loose comparison, if you're into Funeral Diner, Sed Non Satiata, You And I, We Were Skeletons, L'Antietam, Xerxes, check this out. Enjoy.

 End Of Seasons (2010)

1. Beads

2. Null

3. A Frown For You

4. A Void In Hearts

5. Far

6. This Shadow Needs Me

7. Seasons Come To An End

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Jabberjaw

Jabberjaw were a three-piece punk/emo band from Oakland, California that were active around 1992. The band is notable for giving way to Indian Summer, which singer/guitarist Adam Nanaa formed as he moved away from the pop punk direction of this band. Sonically, they're somewhere between Jawbreaker, Screeching Weasel, and Crimpshrine, a little rough around the edges but melodically inclined. The band only put out one EP and one split (with The Bloodhound Gang, but not the one you're thinking of), both of which were put out by Nanaa's own Homestead Records. Naturally this doesn't compare to the monumental work of Indian Summer (who I returned to recently and still astounded by). But as for as scrappy, melodic punk that sounds like a young band still carving out their sound, it's decent, with added historical signifigance to boot. 

Novelty EP (1992)

1. Two Days

2. Wonder

3. Looking Down

4. Ending

Jabberjaw/The Bloodhound Gang (1992)

1. Jabberjaw - Dividing

2. Jabberjaw - Sometimes

3. The Bloodhound Gang - Past The Fence

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

The Snowball Effect (2025)

1. onewaymirror - An Ocean Forms

2. onewaymirror - Untitled Number 1

3. Kiowa - From Me To You, Always

4. Kiowa - What's The Message Sent

5. I Promised The World - Lost At Sea

6. I Promised The World - Future Worth Dying For

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Gameface

Gameface are a four-piece emo/punk band from Orange County, California that formed in 1991 and disbanded in 2003, before reuniting in 2013 and remaining active to this day. They tend to fly under the radar a bit, especially for a band that's been at it as long as they have. Which is unfortunate, because they've been consistently solid over the years. They play an energetic, melodic, and refined blend of thick rhythm guitars, shimmering leads, and catchy-as-anything vocals. If you're a fan of bands such as Samiam, Hey Mercedes, Sense Field, Saves The Day, or Knapsack, this may be up your alley. There's a lot of material here to sift through, so if you're new to them, start with Every Last Time since that's generally considered their strongest album, then I'd suggest Three To Get Ready after that. Enjoy.

Gameface (1991)

1. Puzzle

2. Just Like Night

3. Noticed Too Late

4. Need

Beach Chair / Home (1992)

1. Beach Chair

2. Home

Good (1993)

1. Election Year

2. Only One

3. Organization

4. Soap

5. Backwards

6. Common Ground

7. Scared

8. Friday Matinee

9. The Last Song

10. Retraction

11. Good

12. Different Strokes

A Day In June (1995)

1. A Day In June

2. Fun

3. Thrift

Three To Get Ready (1995)

1. Start Me Over

2. Ten Blue Sticks

3. Greentree

4. Guess What

5. Only Chance We Get

6. June

7. Song

8. The Big Deal

9. Gibberish

10. Daylight Savings

11. Undone

12. Home

13. Time After Time

Cupcakes (1997)

1. Cupcakes

2. Only Souvenir

3. Somebody Save This Boy

4. Chasing The Sun

5. House

Gameface/Pinto (1998)

1. Gameface - Somebody Save This Boy

2. Gameface - Chasing The Sun

3. Pinto - Trading Places

4. Pinto - A-Song

Every Last Time (1999)

1. The Pirate Song

2. Sweet Wreck

3. My Star

4. What I Learned In School

5. Shock Tester

6. Mean

7. The Easy Way

8. If You Want My Advice

9. Last Of The Good Guys

10. Boy Wonder

11. Hey Radio

12. Everything I Do Is Wrong

13. The Difference Between Flying And Falling

14. Mercury Dimes

What's Up Bro? (2000)

1. Gameface - How Far Is Goodbye?

2. Gameface - Wartime Hero

3. Gameface - Change Of Heart

4. Errortype:11 - Ticket To Listen To Ride

5. Errortype:11 - I Got You

6. Errortype:11 - Clan MacGregor And The Drunk Boys

Always On (2000)

1. Laughable

2. The Warmest Heart Attack

3. Angels On The Wing

4. Balance

5. Anyone Can Write A Song

6. New Landscaping

7. Robots

8. Accidental Clarity

9. The Problem With Me

10. Awkward Age

Feels A Lot Better (2002)
1. Everyday I Write The Book (Elvis Costello cover)

2. Sing Your Life (Morrissey cover)

3. How Far Is October?
4. Angels On The Wing (Acoustic)

5. Song Five

Natural Selection (2003)

1. Daylight Savings

2. Friday Matinee

3. How Far Is October?

4. The Big Deal

5. Balance

Four To Go (2003)

1. This Old House

2. Everybody

3. Four Chords, Seven Years

4. When You've Had Enough

5. The Word

6. Crash Course In Polite Conversation

7. Give Me Something Real

8. Stop Anytime

9. Rescue Mission

10. How Far Is Goodbye?

11. Don't Get Me Started

12. A Test

Regular Size (2014)

1. Regular Size

2. Mirrors

Now Is What Matters Now (2014)

1. Come On Down

2. Swing State

3. Regular Size

4. Now

5. Picture Day

6. Lifetime Achivement Award

7. Always On

8. Save Your Words

9. The Quiet Type

10. Frames

11. My Troubled Half

IOU1 (2019)

1. I Owe You One

2. Two Gunslingers

Every Last Tape (2019)

1. Everything I Do Is Wrong

2. Mean

3. Boy Wonder

4. Shock Tester

5. Last Of The Good Guys

6. If You Want My Advice

7. What I Learned In School

8. Sweet Wreck

9. The Easy Way

10. Hey Radio

11. The Difference Between Flying And Falling

12. (unlisted insane jam)

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Crimpshrine

Crimpshrine were a three-piece punk rock band from Berkeley, California that were active from 1982 to 1989. They were essentially a teenage garage band for their first few years, with Jesse Michaels (later of Operation Ivy and Classics Of Love) even being their vocalist for a duration. By 1986, a soldified line-up of vocalist/guitarist Jeff Ott, drummer Aaron Cometbus, and bassist Pete Rypins had emerged. They regularly shows in the Bay Area, and were regularly featured on various compilations, in addition to releasing two EP's, an LP, and and a handful of splits, all in the span of just a few years. Despite their short tenure, they're regarded as incredibly influential in their equally melodic and aggressive approach and prominent, technical bass lines. In a broad sense, they're kind of like the bridge between Descendents and Green Day or Jawbreaker, but grittier. I don't know, they're worth checking out if Bay Area punk is up your alley. Just a quick note on the two compilations here: Sound Of A New World Being Born includes their early material, including their first two EPs. Duct Tape Soup consists of tracks intended for an LP in 1988, but released over a variety of splits and compilations instead. Enjoy.

9 Song Demo (1987)

1. Over The Years

2. Wake Up

3. Another Day

4. RDC

5. Walk Away

6. Can You Feel That?

7. I Don't Know Why

8. My Friend

9. Tomorrow

Sleep, What's That? EP (1988)

1. Bricks

2. In My Mind

3. Sleep, What's That?

4. Tomorrow

Quit Talkin' Claude... EP (1989)

1. Butterflies

2. Situation

3. Easy Answers

4. Inspiration

Lame Gig Contest (1989)

1. Left Outside Again

2. Safely Wasting Away

3. Along The Way

4. WNWSFK - Can You Feel That?

5. R.D.C.

6. The Tour

7. My Friend

8. Wake Up

9. New Scenery

10. Concrete Lawns

11. 2nd Generation Junkies

12. MSFMB

13. Another Day

14. Rearranged

Crimpshrine/Mutley Chix (1989)

1. Crimpshrine - Closed Doors

2. Crimpshrine - Caught Up

3. Crimpshrine - Fucked Up Kid

4. Mutley Chix - Small Town, Big Hell

5. Mutley Chix - Lamp

Jawbreaker/Crimpshrine (1993)

1. Jawbreaker - Better Half

2. Crimpshrine - Sanctuary

Duct Tape Soup (1992)

1. Trying Too Hard

2. Summertime

3. Caught Up

4. Left Outside Again

5. Safely Wasting Away

6. Wake Up

7. Pick Up The Pieces

8. RDC

9. Construction

10. Closed Doors, Closed Minds

11. Pretty Mess

12. WNWSFK

13. Can You Feel That?

14. Along The Way

15. Free Will

16. Fucked Up Kid

The Sound Of A New World Being Born (1998)

1. Another Day

2. Rearranged

3. Over The Years

4. Walk Away

5. Bricks

6. Sleep, What's That?

7. MSFMB

8. Second Generation Junkies

9. In My Mind

10. Tomorrow

11. Butterflies

12. Situation

13. Direction Of Things To Come

14. Sanctuary

15. My Friend

16. Tour

17. Easy Answers

18. Inspiration

Filth

Filth were a five-piece hardcore/crust punk band from the East Bay, California that formed in 1989 and disbanded in 1992, with reunion shows occurring in 2010. They released one EP and two splits, with the Blatz split later being re-released to include both bands full discographies. Thus, sometimes you'll see Destroy Everything as a compilation, but everything's included on their individual original releases here. Even with their minimal output Filth proved to be highly influential, with their throat-scorching vocals, brash dual guitars that occasionally slip into some semblanc of melody. Lyrically, they can be both life-affirming and vitroilic, calling out hypocrisies and injustices seen outwardly while on a quest of self-expression and individual freedom. You may incidentally already be familiar with one song of theirs, since pg.99 cover "The List" (originally included on their City Of Caterpillar split, though now often included on reissues of Document #8). Enjoy.

Live The Chaos (1990)

1. Today's Lesson

2. Lust For Glory

3. Hate

4. Freedom

Shit Split (1991)

A Touch Of Blatz

1. Blatz - Homemade Speed

2. Blatz - Lullaby

3. Blatz - Chuck

4. Blatz - Berkeley Is My Baby (And I Wanna Kill It)

5. Blatz - Cockroach Cafe

6. Blatz - California

7. Blatz - Dolly

8. Blatz - I Don't Care About You

9. Blatz - Fuk Shit Up

Destroy Everything

1. Filth - The List

2. Filth - You Are Right

3. Filth - Night Of Rage

4. Filth - Filth

5. Filth - Violence As A Solution

6 Filth - Scarred For Life

7. Filth - Banned From The Pubs

This Is Why We Are The Drunks (1992)

1. Submachine - Suicide Drive

2. Submachine - Laughing

3. Submachine - Beer Song

4. Filth - Buttshits

5. Filth - Dear Fuck