Norfair

Norfair are a four-piece screamo band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2021 and put out their debut self-titled EP earlier this year,. It was primarily released as four tracks, but a deluxe/bonus track whatever the hell version you want to call it does exist with three additional songs I surmise were recorded prior to this EP. I have to say, this is the good shit right here. The Spirit Of Versailles and Jeromes Dream inspiration citations is evident right out the gate with the chaotic discordance and rumbling octave riffs. Adding to that are some of the most tormented and agonizing vocals I've heard in a while, particularly the howls on the back half of "Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma". 

The band takes a breather on the nervously tender clean guitar arpeggios of "Lying In A Stream Of Dead Light", which harken back to Indian Summer. They close out the EP with "Woosah!", the culmination of everything previously built up to it. The band also makes use of film samples on a number of cuts, notably Gummo and Donnie Darko (I'm not sure what the others are, but fucking fantastic choices on those two). I'm really digging this, it takes familiar sounds and delivers them with feverish execution. Obviously this is highly recommended, enjoy.

carter has a baggie full of drugs (2021)

1. carter has a baggie full of drugs

I Open My Card, and in it? A Death Threat (2022)

1. I Open My Card, and in it? A Death Threat

Norfair (2023)

1. Asan Song

2. Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma

3. Lying in a Stream of Dead Light

4. Woosah

Norfair (Bonus Tracks) (2023)

1. Asan Song

2. Rowan Warber Was Killed By Big Pharma

3. Lying in a Stream of Dead Light

4. Woosah

5. Carter Has A Baggie Full Of Drugs

6. Jenken

7. Put Your Dick Away, Walter 

Spotify

Apple Music

Bandcamp

The Cardboard Swords

The Cardboard Swords are a four-piece indie/emo band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2014. A year later, they signed to Count Your Lucky Stars and released a 4-way split and their debut LP with the label. Fast-forward to 2018, and they're back with their sophomore LP, Once More, There Is Nothing Left To Figure Out. The Cardboard Swords play an interesting blend of indie and emo, featuring clean guitars, personal lyrics, and melancholic pop melodies. Fans of a variety of bands, including Marietta, Mom Jeans., The Front Bottoms, Grown Ups, Free Throw and Manchester Orchestra will definitely see the appeal in this band. Enjoy.

Remnants EP (2014)

1. (S)He Said

2. Nickels

3. Cardigan

4. Flannel (Spoken Word)

5. Remnants Of My Garden

CYLS Split Series #4 - Dowsing/The Cardboard Swords/Long Knives/Sinai Vessel (2015)

1. Dowsing - Cutoff (Blades, Blades, Blades, & Even More Blades)

2. The Cardboard Swords - How I Met Your Dragon Mother

3. Long Knives - Thaw

4. Sinai Vessels - I Quit The Choir

The Cardboard Swords (2015)

1. (S)He Said

2. Brian's Song

3. Flannel

4. Exit 47A

5. Cardigan

6. Your Dad Is Kirk Hammett?

7. A Year From Now

8. Nickels

9. I Swear I'm Usually Pretty Good At This

10. Remnants

Audiotree Live (2016)

1. (S)He Said

2. Flannel

3. How I Met Your Dragon Mother

4. Bloody Nose

5. Brian's Song

6. Cardigan

Once more, there is nothing left to figure out. (2018)

1. I Don't Wanna

2. Disposable

3. I Admit

4. Worse Moments

5. Bloody Nose

6. Odd Dates

7. Hell No

8. BrekFEST
9. Rejuvenation

Bandcamp

Facebook

Twitter

The Exploration

The Exploration were a three-piece emo/indie/math rock band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2009 and broke up in 2015. They recorded a handful of demos around 2009, which caught quite a bit of attention. The Exploration focused on very clean, noodly guitars that were reminiscent of bands like American Football. On top of that, they often included light percussion in the background, and half-spoken half-wept vocals at the forefront. It's an engaging, overblown emotional mix that diehard emo fans will eat up immediately. They put out a discography and one official EP in 2013, and then sadly broke up in 2015. Here's everything they did, from the early demos to the sole EP. Enjoy.

Basement Demo (2009)

1. This Will Blossom

2. I Guess, I'm Leaving

3. The Ocean

4. Somewhere In The Middle

Summer Demo (2009)

1. Gone

2. Meeting

3. Watch It Pass

Demography (2013)

1. This Will Blossom

2. I Guess I'm Leaving

3. The Ocean

4. Somewhere In The Middle

5. Gone

6. Meeting

7. Watching It Pass

8. Untitled

9. Goodbye

10. An Ending

For Cabana (2013)

1. Meeting

2. Sergue

3. K____n

4. Nostalgical

Bandcamp

Facebook

Nohealth

Band submission, though I was already familiar with their split with I'm Dead To Me (another great band to check out). Nohealth are a really intense three-piece post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan. These guys are killer. Their bass and drums are really deep, thick, heavy, and pulsating, which is complimented by the dark noodling of the guitar (which has some really interesting ideas put into it). All of this is topped by some sinister, screamed vocals that sink like teeth into the skin. Michigan has a reputation for great post-hardcore (with some screamo influence) bands (Victor! Fix The Sun, The Reptilian, etc.), and Nohealth are certainly carrying that legacy, though in their own way. Highly, highly recommended stuff here.

I'm Dead To Me/Nohealth (2013)

1. I'm Dead To Me - Simon Says

2. I'm Dead To Me - Abandoned On The Ice Planet Hoth

3. Nohealth - Detention Level 3263827

4. Nohealth - Long To Call

5. Nohealth - Long To Call (Pt.2)

Lifelike (2013)

1. The Inner Monologue Of Simon Lovechild

2. Wilted Blooms

Deathrattle (2014)

1. The Waining Sear

2. Bruised Talk With the Girl Who Wore Flowers on Her Boots

3. Seventh Octave

4. Faux Pas & Fox Paws

5. Mother: Blood!

6. Wilted Blooms (Reprise)

7. The Visitant (Pt.1: Ripped Limb From Limbo)

8. The Waining Sear (Demo)

9. Bruised Talk With the Girl Who Wore Flowers on Her Boots (Live Demo)

10. Seventh Octave (Demo)

11. Untitled (Demo)

Bandcamp

Facebook

La Dispute

Bear with me here, I've never done this before. What better way to start this then with the best band ever?

La Dispute are a five-piece "post-hardcore" band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, formed in 2004 but have only really been active since 2006. Common influence citations include mewithoutYou, At The Drive-in, and Saetia, as well as contemporaries Pianos Become The Teeth, Touché Amoré, etc. One can rant on for hours about their music, but I think it speaks for itself. Besides, does this band really need an introduction?

Though if you are new to this band, check out "Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair", "Searching For A Pulse/The Worth Of The World", and "Wildlife" first. Without further ado, I give you their discography (to date):

Vancouver (2006)

1. Future Wars
2. A Word Of Welcome And Warning
3. See You In Vancouver
4. To Withstand The Force Of Storms
5. He Is Here, He Is Not Afraid
6. The Surgeon And The Scientist
7. Fairmount
8. Untitled

Untitled 7" (2008)

1. Only Everything Below
2. Shall Never Lose Its Power

Hardcore, Punk, Etc. 2008 (2008)
14. Said The King To The River (Demo)

Here, Hear. (2008)

1. one
2. two
3. three
4. four

Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair (2008)

1. Such Small Hands
2. Said The King To The River
3. New Storms For Older Lovers
4. Damaged Goods
5. Fall Down, Never Get Back Up Again
6. Bury Your Flame
7. Last Blues For Bloody Knuckles
8. The Castle Builders
9. Andria
10. Then Again, Maybe You Were Right
11. Sad Prayers For Guilty Bodies
12. The Last Lost Continent
13. Nobody, Not Even The Rain

Here, Hear. II (2008)

1. five
2. six
3. seven
4. eight

Winter Tour Holiday CD-R (2008)

1. Twas The Night Before Christmas

2. First Snow In Silent Grand Rapids

Here, Hear. III (2009)

1. nine
2. ten
3. eleven
4. twelve

Searching For A Pulse/The Worth Of The World (2010)

1. Touché Amoré - I'll Get My Just Deserve
2. Touché Amoré - I'll Deserve Just That
3. La Dispute - How I Feel
4. La Dispute - Why It Scares Me

Never Come Undone (2011)

1. La Dispute - Sunday Morning, At A Funeral

2. Koji - Peacemaker

3. La Dispute - Last Blues

4. Koji - Biomusicology

Wildlife (2011)

1. a Departure

2. Harder Harmonies

3. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Blues

4. Edit Your Hometown

5. a Letter

6. Safer In The Forest/Love Song For Poor Michigan

7. The Most Beautiful Bitter Fruit

8. a Poem

9. King Park

10. Edward Benz, 27 Times

11. I See Everything

12. a Broken Jar

13. all our bruised bodies and the whole heart shrinks

14. You and I in Unison

Conversations (2012)

1. Interview

Note: This is an hour-long interview with Jordan discussing Wildlife backed by various recordings done by Chad (similar to the Here, Hear. series). This was included in a package they sold on the Wildlife tour with all the proceeds going to an organization called 826michigan.

Violitionist Sessions (2012)

1. a Departure

2. nine

3. a Broken Jar

Note: This is a live in-studio session they did back in April, but released in August. Additional information, videos, and an interview can be found here. The version of 'nine' on here is glorious.

Rooms Of The House (2014)

1. HUDSONVILLE MI 1956

2. First Reactions After Falling Through the Ice

3. Woman (in mirror)

4. SCENES FROM HIGHWAYS 1981-2009 - 2009

5. For Mayor in Splitsville

6. 35

7. Stay Happy There

8. THE CHILD WE LOST 1963

9. Woman (reading)

10. Extraordinary Dinner Party

11. Objects in Space

Maida Vale Session 2011 (2014)

1. a Departure (Live @ the BBC)

2. Sad Prayers for Guilty Bodies (Live @ the BBC)

3. Edit Your Hometown (Live @ the BBC)

4. Why It Scares Me (Live @ the BBC)

Maida Vale Session 2014 (2014)

1. Extraordinary Dinner Party (Live @ the BBC)

2. HUDSONVILLE, MI 1956 (Live @ the BBC)

3. First Reactions After Falling Through The Ice (Live @ the BBC)

4. Woman (in mirror) (Live @ the BBC)

Whatever Nevermind (2015)

6. Polly (Nirvana cover)

Note: Full comp here

Tiny Dots (2016)

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

5. E

6. G

7. a Departure

8. For Mayor in Splitsville

9. Woman (in Mirror)

10. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Blues

11. a Broken Jar

12. Objects in Space

Thirteen (2016)

1. Thirteen

Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair (10th Anniversary) (2018)

1. Such Small Hands
2. Said The King To The River
3. New Storms For Older Lovers
4. Damaged Goods
5. Fall Down, Never Get Back Up Again
6. Bury Your Flame
7. Last Blues For Bloody Knuckles
8. The Castle Builders
9. Andria
10. Then Again, Maybe You Were Right
11. Sad Prayers For Guilty Bodies
12. The Last Lost Continent
13. Nobody, Not Even The Rain

Panorama (2019)

1. Rose Quartz

2. Fulton Street I

3. Fulton Street II

4. Rhodonite And Grief

5. Anxiety Panorama

6. In Northern Michigan

7. View From Our Bedroom Window

8. Footsteps At The Pond

9. There You Are (Hiding Place)

10. You Ascendant

No One Was Driving The Car (2025)

1. I Shaved My Head

2. Man With Hands And Ankles Bound

3. Autofiction Detail

4. Environmental Catastrophe Film

5. Self-Portrait Backwards

6. The Field

7. Sibling Fistfight at Mom's Fiftieth / The Un-sound

8. Landlord Calls The Sheriff In

9. Steve

10. Top-Sellers Banquet

11. Saturation Driver

12. I Dreamt of a Room with All My Friends I Could Not Get In

13. No One Was Driving The Car

14. End Times Sermon

Well, that was a much more infuriating and tedious endeavor than expected. These guys are an absolutely amazing band (as you know), so please support them as much as you can. Buy a record, go to a show, grab a shirt, whatever.

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If you like La Dispute, you might also like: Touché Amoré, Pianos Become The Teeth, Caravels, Balance And Composure, Title Fight, Native, Hot Cross