Spirit Scars

Band submission. Spirit Scars are a two-piece band from Pennsylvania that just released their debut EP a few days ago. The band plays indie rock in the vein of bands such as Beach Fossils and Pity Sex, which is certainly a testament to how great Spirit Scars are. The vocals are moody, and remain distant with a lo-fi recording quality to them, which certainly adds to the overall aesthetic. The guitar takes considerable influence from dream pop, with reverb and slight chorus being slathered on. The drums balance this out by being somewhat bouncy in sound. This EP is great, and each track certainly contributes to that equally, so be sure to check it out. Enjoy.

Spirit Scars EP (2013)

1. Train Set

2. Return to Sender

3. Bending Corners

4. Blossom

Locktender

Label submission. Locktender are a four-piece hardcore/screamo/post-rock band from Cleveland, Ohio that was birthed from the remnants of another band called Men As Trees. Locktender recently released their debut full-length titled Kafka, after writer Franz Kafka, whose work inspired the lyrical content of this album (more information about this on their Bandcamp).

The band bangs out five beasts of songs which stylistically roam in a blend of hardcore and screamo, with many aspects of post-rock integrated in as well. The atmospheric, melodic, reverb-laden guitar parts particularly demonstrate that aspect, as well as the lengthy, dynamic song structures that feature many crescendos and climaxes. The vocals are very guttural for the most part, though often break into a clean, desperate, singing-style during more melodic interludes, which serves as a parallel to the emotional face punch of the aggressive moments. The first four songs on here are epic, in the truest sense of the word. Each song spans a large range of musical ideas which seaminglessly flow into each other, and give the listener a sense of adventure as they explore each eloquently-written asphorism-inspired song and the sound of giants backing them. This particular notion somewhat reminded me of bands such as Envy or Deafheaven, if those could be used as possible comparisons.  The album ends with the fifth and final track "Aphorism 103", which features a hauntingly vulnerable acoustic guitar-driven song, and one final crescendo to bring Kafka to a close.

This album absolutely blew me away from start to finish, I highly, highly recommend checking it out. They have their entire discography up for free download, which earns them some major respect, and more reason to try and support them. You can find it here.

Kafka (2013)

1. Aphorism #17

2. Aphorism #16

3. Aphorism #87

4. Aphorism #63

5. Aphorism #103

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Dirty River

Band submission. Dirty River are a three-piece rock/garage/alternative band from the Hudson Valley, New York. They dropped their debut self-titled album in June of this year. The band incorporates a lot of blues influence into their music, which is often played with some slacker-rock sensibilities. The vocals are sung (almost spoken) with a lonely, lazy drawl that rarely carries a proper melody, but always matches the lyrical themes and the musical attitude they put forward, which is usually very bleak and bored, in a good way. The vocals could be said to sound like somewhat reminiscent of Lou Reed or Ian Curtis, if they were to be compared. The guitar lets out a thick, warm, down-trodden rumble on the low end, and a sharp bite on the high end. It's backed by drums that can either be punchy with the snare, or meandering with the toms. This album is great, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and definitely suggest checking it out. It's definitely got a unique reverb-coated sonic aesthetic which is certainly worth experiencing. Enjoy.

Dirty River (2013)

1. No Place Else

2. Bard

3. Releaf

4. F.A.D.

5. Letter

6. Perfect World

7. Owl Church

8. Like You

9. Warlock Blues

10. Dark Summer

11. Headed South

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Life On The Sideline

Band submission. Life On The Sideline are an alternative rock/pop punk band from Hartford, Connecticut that formed in 2012. This band plays music in a very passionate way, and the results are breathtaking. They're very melodic, particularly with the guitar work, with both guitars constantly intertwining and pulling out all the best techniques one can equip their arsenal with. There's a plethora of great lead lines that are backed by octaves and every emo band's favourite chords, all with a keen sense of melody. The drums are very tight and make great use of the toms, and the bass is rock steady and holds each song together while driving them forward. The vocals sound particularly "emotional", with every line sounding like it's being shuddered with honesty. They also make great use of gang vocals at perfectly placed points that make me feel as if I'm a part of the song almost, which really made me connect and relate to these songs more. This band has really impressed me, if you can't already tell. It kind of sounds like they're channelling Taking Back Sunday, The Get Up Kids, Transit, and Real Friends into this one glorious entity.

They're going to be recording a new EP in August, which I am highly, highly anticipating and looking forward to. You can check out a live session above where they play one new song from their upcoming EP, and "Malone Avenue" from Outpatient. I seriously advise listening to this band. Their previous material is available below, which is definitely worth your time, and I'm sure the new EP will deliver the same amazing result. Enjoy.

To Whom It May Concern (2012)

1. To Whom It May Concern

Outpatient (2012)

1. Malone Avenue

2. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Honesty Is A Dying Breed (2014)

1. Wake Up

2. Everything I Lost

3. Honesty Is A Dying Breed

4. Surround

5. I'm A Wreck

6. Drive

7. Artless

8. I'd Be Nothing

9. Rough Draft

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You Blew It!

Thanks to Awo for the request.

You Blew It! is a five-piece band from Orlando, Florida, though they play emo/indie as if they were from the Midwest, Cap'n Jazz/American Football-style. Modern bands like Algernon Cadwallader, Joie De Vivre, Dikembe, Dowsing, etc. could work as comparisons as well, I guess. Very clean, noodly guitar parts decorate each song, which occasionally turn into slightly overdriven, full, ringing chords or octaves. The vocals are another great point with this band. They're usually really catchy, but with the perfect amount of melancholy thrown in. They can get fairly strained and off-key at times (in a good, gruff way), but can also turn quiet and melodic, which is a dynamic they often employ to their benefit. They're currently signed to Topshelf Records. That's it, I guess. These guys are a fucking awesome band, and personally one of my favourites in this niche of music, so check them out. Enjoy.

EP (2009)

1. Kevin, You're Such A Disease

2. Goodbye A.M.

3. Hope It's Not A Deposit Bottle!

4. He's Grumpy, He's Broke

5. Just To Make A Sound

The Past In Present (2010)

1. Hope It's Not A Deposit Bottle!

2. LB Jefferies

3. To The Moon

4. Kevin, You're Such A Disease

5. Sneaky Fuckin' Russian

6. Saddle Up, San Antonio

7. Sorry 'bout That

Grow Up, Dude (2012)

1. Grow Up, Dude

2. Pinball House

3. The One With David

4. Terry v. Tori

5. Medal of Honor

6. The One With Marc

7. I Am, I'm Trying

8. The Fifties

9. Good For Bond, Bad For You

10. I'm Bill Paxton

11. A Noble Black Eye

12. There's Nothing I Love More Than Baseball

 

Fake Problems/You Blew It! (2013)

1. Fake Problems - Small Devil Song

2. Fake Problems - Gone Before Dawn

3. You Blew It! - Batavia, NY

4. You Blew It! - I'm A Kid, That's My Job

June 4-Way Split (2013)

1. You Blew It! - Medal Of Honor (Acoustic)

2. Nai Harvest - Washy (Acoustic)

3. Marietta - You've Got The Map Backwards, Matt (Acoustic)

4. Dikembe - Untitled (How Demos Feel)

Keep Doing What You're Doing (2014)

1. Match & Tinder

2. Award Of The Year Award

3. Strong Island

4. Regional Dialect

5. House Address

6. A Different Kind Of Kindling

7. Rock Springs

8. You & Me & Me

9. Gray Matter

10. Best To Best

You Blue It (2014)

1. In The Garage

2. My Name Is Jonas

3. Only In Dreams

4. Surf Wax America

5. Susanne

Pioneer of Nothing (2015)

1. Lanai

2. Beside Manor

3. Your Side

Abendrot (2016)

1. Epaulette

2. Like Myself

3. Sundial Song

4. Greenwood

5. Autothology

6. Hue

7. Canary

8. Forecasting

9. Minorwye

10. Arrowhead

11. Basin & Range

12. Kerning

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Self Proclaimed Narcissist

Band Submission. Self Proclaimed Narcissist is a one man (sometimes three piece) folk punk band from Roseburg, Oregon, formed in 2009. I just started listening to these guys, and I'm loving it so much, This genre is one of my favorite, and it's one of the best, in my opinion. SPN has awesome lyrics and this great raw sound, and it's just all-around amazing. Linked below is the EP they sent us to upload, but if you like it, go to their Bandcamp and download some more stuff, and if you can, pay them for their great work!

FFO: Andrew Jackson Jihad, Johnny Hobo, Ghost Mice, Defiance Ohio, Modest Mouse, etc.

Honesty Folk EP (2012)

1. Surgical Extraction

2. 90 lb. Wuss

3. Shallow Water

4. I Am Narcissist

5. Fantasy

6. Trainwreck

7. [Bonus Track]

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Transit

Thanks to Justin and Anonymous for the request, and thanks to Shadman for helping out with the post.

Transit are a five-piece pop punk/emo band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in 2006. They've been one of the most prominent and noteworthy bands in modern pop punk, and for good reason. Transit consistently knock out great songs that are infectiously catchy, but still personal and relatable. As their sound developed, they began to incorporate a strong influence from bands such as American Football, most notably with the guitar work. They're currently signed to Rise Records, though they have worked with Run For Cover and Mightier Than Sword in the past, among others. Transit are a great band, I don't know what else to say. Enjoy.

Let It Out (2008)

1. Shift On

2. Bowline

3. Analucia

4. Cast Away

5. Waterways In New England

This Will Not Define Us (2008)

1. Opener

2. Castaway

3. Radio Flyer (Away From Home)

4. Rule Of Nines

5. For The World

6. Lexington Park

7. Dead Weight

8. Scrape and Claw

9. Changing Season

10. Empty Shell

11. Giving In

12. Parking Lot Nights

Stay Home (2009)

1. Stay Home

2. Namesless (Songs To Static)

3. Stays The Same

4. Atlas

5. Riverside

6. Outbound

Transit/Man Overboard (2009)

1. Transit - Please Head North

2. Transit - Riding The Bullet

3. Man Overboard - I Ate My Gluestick

4. Man Overboard - Basics 101

Keep This To Yourself (2010)

1. Dear Anyone

2. Please Head North

3. Footwork

4. Hope This Finds You Well

5. Return Address

6. A Living Diary

7. No Inbetween

8. I Was Going to Cross This Out

9. The Downsides

10. Photographic Memory

11. PS

12. Keep This To Yourself

13. Our New Year

14. Love____

Something Left Behind (2011)

1. Indoor Voices

2. Please, Head North

3. For The World

4. Just Go, Just Leave

5. Castaway

6. I Hope This Finds You Well

7. Stay Home

8. Something Left Behind

9. 1978

Listen & Forgive (2011)

1. You Can't Miss It (It's Everywhere)

2. Long Lost Friends

3. Listen & Forgive

4. All Your Heart

5. Asleep At The Wheel

6. Cutting Corners

7. Skipping Stone

8. I Think I Know You

9. Don't Make A Sound

10. 1978

11. Over Your Head

12. The Answer Comes In Time

Skipping Stone (2012)

1. I Told You So

2. Skipping Stone (Alternate Version)

3. Forgive Forget Space (For Future Reference)

Glamour Kills Tour Split (2012)

1. The Wonder Years - Anchor (Into It. Over It. cover)

2. Polar Bear Club - Skipping Stone (Transit cover)

3. Transit - Resent And Resistance (Polar Bear Club cover)

4. The Story So Far - Wrightsville Beach (A Loss For Words cover)

5. A Loss For Words - Quicksand (The Story So Far cover)

6. Into It. Over It. - Don't Let Me Cave In (The Wonder Years cover)

Young New England (2013)

1. Nothing Lasts Forever

2. Second To Right

3. Young New England

4. Sleep

5. So Long, So Long

6. Weathered Souls

7. Hang It Up

8. Don't Go, Don't Stray

9. Thanks For Nothing

10. Summer, Me

11. Hazy

12. Bright Lights, Dark Shadows

13. Lake Q

Futures And Sutures (2013)

1. Long Lost Friends

2. So Long, So Long

3. Listen & Forgive

4. Young New England

5. Over Your Head

6. Futures And Sutures

Joyride (2014)

1. The Only One

2. Saturday, Sunday

3. Rest To Get Better

4. Sweet Resistance

5. Nothing Left To Lose

6. Ignition & Friction

7. Fine By Me

8. Loneliness Burns

9. Summer Dust

10. Too Little, Too Late

11. Pins And Needles

12. Follow Me

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Rise

The Space Between Thoughts

Band submission. The Space Between Thoughts is the one-man project lead by Aidan Morley, who put out his debut album earlier this month (July). The entire thing was written (with the exception of a Joy Division cover) and recorded by him over a two-year period. The result: There It Is! I Can Almost See It!. This album is entirely instrumental (again, with the exception of the Joy Division cover), and certainly contains many post-rock leanings. The album is mostly guitar-based, featuring a nice blend of both electric and acoustic guitars, though there is occasionally some drums and bass (though the drums sound like they were done using a program). This album is nicely varied, and each song brings some new ideas to the table. Overall it's quite atmospheric and reverb-laden, though can still range from being ambient, to melodic, to dark, heavy, and ominous. This is certainly an interesting album that features some great and innovative guitar work, so check it out. Enjoy.

There It Is! I Can Almost See It! (2013)

1. The One Who Heals

2. You Know, Babe, There Isn't Much Else To Live For Besides Pomegranates

3. Her Eyes Were Half-Open. No. Half-Closed.

4. Okay, you know what, I'm so, well because I, but that's not, because she, ... Let's go to the Movies.

5. Disorder (Joy Division cover)

6. Birdo

7. 1-5-9

8. Stay Afraid

Sed Non Satiata

Sed Non Satiata are a screamo band from Toulouse, France that began in 2003. There are a bunch of amazing French screamo bands (Daïtro, Le Pré Où Je Suis Mort, Amanda Woodward, Anomie, etc.), and Sed Non Satiata are among the best. They basically cover all possible aspects of screamo you can think of. They're intense, dark, chaotic, heavy, passionate, dissonant, melodic, bludgeoning, noodly, etc., etc. This band is essential, so check them out. Enjoy.

Demo (2004)

1. Pessimiste, Toi Aussi Saisi Ton Rêve

2. Ambition Transverse Part 1

3. Ambition Transverse Part 2

4. Valse Of Coffins

Aghast/Sed Non Satiata (2005)

1. Aghast - [virus]

2. Aghast - Erase Data

3. Sed Non Satiata - Pessimiste, Toi Aussi Saisis Ton Rêve

Le Ciel De Notre Enfance (2005)

1. Moi Le Premier

2. Spirit Fuel

3. En Attendant L'aube

4. Hypocrisie Des Sentiments

5. Urgent D'attendre

Daïtro/Sed Non Satiata (2007)

1. Daïtro - De L'eau Coule Sous Les Ponts

2. Daïtro - Place Tolozan

3. Daïtro - Nous Ne Participons Pas Tous à La Même Utopie

4. Daïtro - Un Fléau Pour Un Autre

5. Sed Non Satiata - Les Hommes Sans Visage

6. Sed Non Satiata - Mask

7. Sed Non Satiata - Interlude

8. Sed Non Satiata - Des Ruines

Sed Non Satiata (2009)

1. Les colonnes de soie

2. Osögõ orõ

3. Calle Jaen 23... ou l'antre de la bête

4. L'arrache cœur

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

24. None More Black + Impersonating Martin Rev (Orchid covers)

Full comp here

Mappō (2013)

1. Extrospection

2. Sehnsucht

3. San Andrea

4. Ghost

5. Entropia

6. Nemesis

7. Vague a l'ame

8. Soma

Sed Non Satiata/Carrion Spring (2014)

1. Sed Non Satiata - Dans Le Tumulte Et Les Lumiäres

2. Sed Non Satiata - Mineral

3. Sed Non Satiata - Interlude

4. Sed Non Satiata - Aldebaran

5. Carrion Spring - Frackture

6. Carrion Spring - Roofed

7. Carrion Spring - It's Like Swallowing Shit Meets Life.Love.Regret.

8. Carrion Spring - Rest

9. Carrion Spring - Degenerator

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Raein

Raein is a screamo band from Italy that began in 2002, went on hiatus in 2005, returned in 2007, and are still around today. They share members with fellow screamo titans La Quiete. Raein are one of the most essential and influential bands within their genre, and for good reason. I don't think this band needs much more of an introduction, since the music can speak for itself from here. Seriously, check this band out if you haven't already, you're missing out. Here's everything that I have from them. Enjoy.

Raein (2002)

1. Shout The Silence

2. ...So We'll Be The Winners (Sure?)

3. Straight To The Mirror

4. Bright Key

5. Chains

6. Sad's Swing A.K.A. Deadly Kiss

7. Like A Batman Dressed Clerk

8. The Monitor Told Me To Kill Her!

Il N'y A Pas D'Orchestre (2003)

1. The Tree

2. The King Is Dead

3. From 3 To 1 In 2 From 4

4. Il N'y A Pas D'Orchestre

5. Tetraedycal Fluctuating Faster Than The Speed Of Light

6. Artmachine Observation Tower

7. Miss Kelly Dathe

8. Tigersuit

9. She Wears My Blood

10. I Was Fine Before You Came

Döden Marscherar Åt Väst (2004)

1. Döden Marscherar Åt Väst

2. Den Bästa Tiden i Våra Liv

Phoenix Bodies/Raein (2004)

1. Phoenix Bodies - The Future Is Eating

2. Phoenix Bodies - Sense Is Out Of Style

3. Raein - Endless Tourlife

Raein/Funeral Diner (2004)

1. Raein - This Life My Cage

2. Raein - On Air

3. Funeral Diner - Welcome To My Book Collection

Raein/Daïtro (2004)

1. Raein - Faithless

2. Raein - New Day Scenario

3. Raein - Blue Lines

4. Daïtro - Au Bout De Mes Lèvres

5. Daïtro - Un Bateau Ivre

6. Daïtro - A Chaque Fois

The Harsh Words As The Sun (2004)

1. Raein - Part 1

2. Raein - Part 2

3. Lhasa - Mother Earth Father Sky

4. Lhasa - Fallen Grace

5. Lhasa - Bogged Horizon

6. Daïtro - Une Fois Encore Aka Redrum JR

7. Daïtro - Un Bateau Ivre

8. Daïtro - Le Bout De Mes Levres

From 3 To 1 In 2 And 4 Remix (2004)

1.  From 3 To 1 In 2 And 4 Remix

2. Untitled Track

The Emo Armageddon (2004)

18. Armento Zo Bota

Ogni Nuovo Inizio (2008)

1. 1 Di 6

2. 2 Di 6

3. 3 Di 6

4. 4 Di 6

5. 5 Di 6

6. 6 Di 6

Sulla Linea D'Orizzonte Tra Questa Mia Vita E Quella Di Tutti (2011)

1. Se La Notte Sogno, Sogno Di Essere Un Maratoneta

2. Nirvana

3. Trasparenti Oscure Virtù

4. Costellazione Secondo Le Leggi Del Caso

5. Raein: Rumore.Tre

6. Oggi Ho Deciso Di Diventare Oro

7. Attualità Dell'Utopia

8. Abitudine, Cerimonia, Magia.

9. Dopo Di Noi La Libertà

10. Come Materia Infinita

Loma Prieta/Raein (2013)

1. Loma Prieta - Immemorial

2. Loma Prieta - Poverty Map

3. Loma Prieta - Mansion Fire

4. Loma Prieta - Spray Paint (Black Flag cover)

5. Raein - Amore & Guerra

Perpetuum (2015)

1. Salvia

2. Tutte Parola D'Amore

3. Drvenik

4. Giovanni Drogo (Requiem)

5. Polline. Pensieri Generosi Delle Donne

6. Senza Titolo

Ampere/Raein (2015)

1. Raein - Comete

2. Raein - Spaccare Il Mondo

3. Ampere - Parallels

4. Ampere - Holding Pattern

5. Ampere - On Form & Function

Forme Sommerse (2025)

1. Primo Movimento

2. Secondo Movimento

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