Boilermaker

Boilermaker were a three-piece post-hardcore/emo band from San Diego, California that were around from 1992 to 2002. They released three full-lengths of incredible material, featuring these sprawling, dynamic instrumentals of octave chords, rumbling bass riffs, and tight drumming. Vocally, they were very intense, and hit the sweet spot between strained and melodic. Without a doubt they are one of most underrated post-hardcore bands of their decade, and deserve a lot more attention than they've gotten.

I've had my reservations about posting them for a long time because I admittedly don't have a good chunk of their material, though you can listen to it on Youtube and such. Currently, I only have one of their full-lengths, a compilation track, and their compilation containing select tracks from all three albums. I'm missing two full-lengths, two EP's, and one split thank you to Juan!. Normally I would not post a band when I have less than half of their recorded output, but I saw a couple requests for them on the Jejune post and just said fuck it. I'm posting this with the hope that someone else out there has the stuff I'm missing, so I can add it in and get a fuller discography for this band, because they deserve the attention. So if you've got anything else by them, please send it my way! Also, the links are Mega because Zippyshare has been giving me issues. Enjoy.

Boilermaker 7" (1993)

1. Used To Be

2. Besame Mucho

Drained Nonsense (1993)

1. Drained Nonsense

2. Mobile Home

3. Why Is Grandma On The Roof?

Watercourse (1994)

1. Roller-Rink Skate Date

2. Hill

3. Switch

4. Ladyfinger

5. Lot 235

6. Crispin Glover Weekend

7. Slingshot

8. Alone

9. Trunk

10. Dark Island

In Wallace's Shadow (1996)

1. Iris

2. Backseat Boat

3. Slow Down

4. Jingle Dell

5. Last Good Growth

6. Shepherd

7. Five Lined Skink

8. Phil The Water Sweep

9. Pathos Delay

10. Breach

Eucalyptus (1996)

5. Slingshot

Boilermaker/Three Mile Pilot (1998)

1. Boilermaker - Last On The Drive

2. Three Mile Pilot - In This Town I Awaken

Boilermaker (1998)

1. Norman

2. Midnight Manager

3. Last Stop On The Way To Vegas

4. Last On The Drive 

5. 01/10/98

6. Sunset Ridge

7. From Phoenix At Four

8. Tumbleweed

9. Here Comes Rolling

10. Thinner Runs Through Her

11. Bluebird

Leucadia (2001)

1. Whitewash

2. Roller Rink Skate Date

3. Hill

4. Switch

5. Lot 235

6. Trunk

7. Iris

8. Slow Down

9. Last Good Growth

10. Pathos Delay

11. Breach

12. Norman

13. Last Stop On The Way To Vegas

14. Last On The Drive

15. Sunset Ridge

16. Thinner Runs Through Her

17. Cruel Heart

Smile To The Wind

Улыбайся Ветру (translates to "Smile To The Wind" are a four-piece screamo band from Saint Petersburg, Russia that formed in 2013. They recently released a new album, Illusions, which has set the bar for screamo this year. Sonically, they can be compared to bands like Loma Prieta and Louise Cyphre, since they play an incredibly crushing and chaotic style of screamo, complete with frenzied drums and dual guitars & dual vocals. There are some incredible instrumental passages here that break up the chaos, featuring gentle yet tense arpeggios and a looming atmosphere. The band throttles through a litany of sounds in an astoundingly short period of time. Illusions is a prime example of modern screamo at its finest, and I cannot recommend it enough. Plus, they put out some fantastic material before it to delve into after all 12 crushing minutes of Illusions. You can pick up the record from friends of the blog Zegema Beach, or one of the many fantastic labels listed below. Side note the links are for Mega because Zippyshare is giving me issues. Enjoy.

Note: All links removed due to copyright, all music still available on their Bandcamp

Моменты (2013)

1. Кометы

2. Моменты

3. Второй рассвет

4. Поезда

5. Принадлежать

6. Д-503

7. Рефрен

8. Последний миг наедине

9. Лица наших идей

10. Под замком

11. Улица Думская

12. Мы снова на родине, мы снова никто

13. Всё сначала

Улыбайся Ветру/МАЯК (2013)

1. Катастрофы

2. Чужой огонь

3. Лето, прощай

4. В руинах

Note: Улыбайся Ветру side only

Øjne/Улыбайся Ветру (2014)

1. Øjne - Sotto i Tigli

2. Улыбайся Ветру - Изгнание и царство

3. Улыбайся Ветру - Без снов

4. Улыбайся Ветру - Смерть Прометея

5. Улыбайся Ветру - Триумф тишины

Invasion USSR Compilation: A Tribute To Orchid (2014)

2. The Action Index (Orchid cover)

Note: Full comp here

Tufàgne (2017)

1. Пустые надежды

Note: Full comp here

Illusions (2018)

1. Whisper Of The Forests

2. Wormwood Grass

3. Shroud

4. Homecoming

5. Towards The Time

6. Grave of Kings pt.I

7. Grave of Kings pt.II

8. Grave of Kings pt.III

9. Resin

10. Unbearably Cold And Silent

11. Where Do Ships Go To Die?

Pick it up here:

Zegema Beach Records (Canada, ON)

Zegema Beach Records (Canada, BC)

Dead Tank Records (USA)

Upwind Productions (Italy)

Trace In Maze (Germany)

Unlock Yourself Records (Russia)

Улыбайся Ветру

Bandcamp

Facebook

Guyver-One

Guyver-One were a hardcore/screamo band from San Diego, California that lasted for a very short time, possibly only between 1996 and 1997. They released a one 7" and one 12" during this period. Their sole EP is incredibly raw and chaotic, and pre-dates the sound that bands like pg.99 and Orchid would champion in just a few years to come. Their LP is slightly more experimental, with some mellowed-out interludes in the mix. This band is definitely underrated, and one of many phenomenal offerings San Diego had in the decade's underground. In 2008, the band released their full discography on Bandcamp (now taken down), which includes both formal releases, as well as alternate versions of some songs and a compilation-only track. Enjoy.

Guyver-One (1996)

1. Blurden

2. ø

3. O.K. Bye

4. The Problem With Teenagers Today

5. Goodtimes

Obsessed With... (1997)

1. In Close

2. Psychic Space (Sanguine Fluid)

3. My Own Movie

4. Rickets Shingles

5. Nine Pints

6. Like You

7. The Mission

8. The Ex-Whore-Schism Of Reverend Mcbride

Discography (2008)

1. Zero (version 1)

2. Nine Pints (version 1)

3. Blurden

4. Zero (version 2)

5. O.K. Bye

6. The Problems with Teenagers Today

7. Goodtimes

8. In Close

9. Psychic Space

10. My Own Movie

11. Rickets Shingles

12. Nine Pints (version 2)

13. Like You

14. The Mission

15. The Ex-Whore-Schism Of Reverend Mcbride

Algae Bloom

Algae Bloom are a two-piece screamo/emo band from Norwich, UK that have been around since 2014. You may recognize from the incredible split they put out with Foxtails last month, and since their back catalogue is just as good, I figured I'd feature it all here. They play a fantastic blend of math-y midwestern emo and screamo, with relatively clean and melodic guitar work, but absolutely throat-shredding vocals akin to the most violent of screamo bands. This combination makes them a must-listen for fans of Merchant Ships and other bands associated with that sound. Algae Bloom have such a captivating energy to them, paired with solid songs and musicianship. Highly recommended. Enjoy.

Horrible Demos (2014)

1. Bed Springs (Demo)

2. I'm Not Strange (Demo)

3. Ground In My Mouth (Demo)

i am still scared of living (2015)

1. The Pull Of Thoughts At Dawn

2. Bed Springs

3. I'm Not Strange

4. Ground In My Mouth

5. Osmosis Jones

6. My Most Fragile Self

7. Codicil (Getting Better)

Algae Bloom/Cop Gravyard (2015)

1. Algae Bloom - untitled. (demo)

2. Algae Bloom - This Isn't The Tenka-Ichi Budokai (I Hate Myself cover)

3. Cop Graveyard - Staying Upright

4. Cop Graveyard - The Hole Inside You

5. Cop Graveyard - Balloon (Ernest Street House)

i am everyone i've ever met (2016)

1. A Fanfare

2. Lists/Leaves

3. Safer Scene

4. Thorns

5. "Existenial Crisis" As A Wave Machine Setting (Interlude)

6. untitled.

7. We Met Upon The Level

8. We Part Upon The Square

9. (；⌣̀_⌣́)

I Hate Sex/Black Knight Satellite/Algae Bloom (2016)

1. I Hate Sex - This Floating World

2. Black Knight Satellite - Unrequited Love! The North Pole Aurora

3. Black Knight Satellite - Nü Jersey

4. Algae Bloom - A Weight in Space

It's More Like An Homage To You (2017)

16. Just Down The Hall From Room 526 (Jeromes Dream cover)

Note: Full comp here

You'll Live/Solanas/Algae Bloom/Good Times (2017)

1. Algae Bloom - Tedious & Brief

2. Good Times - Reticent

3. Solanas - Bleakest Jazz

4. You'll Live - Still Feel The Same

Foxtails / Algae Bloom (2018)

1. foxtails - To Kitty, Love Bunny

2. foxtails - Cucaracho

3. algae bloom - How Are You?

4. algae bloom - Life In Brio

5. algae bloom - If I Was To Talk Meaningfully With My Friends

6. algae bloom - Understanding In Negative

I am less than I expected to be (2019)

1. Nothing Has Changed In Years

2. "Enjoy Your Life"

3. Club Insomnia

4. Soft Focus (Breathe In)

5. I'm Checking Out

6. Life In Bluster

7. A Thought (Breathe Out)

8. Elliptical Thinking

9. Holding Out, Holding On

Bandcamp

Facebook

The Van Pelt

The Van Pelt were a four-piece indie/emo band from New York City that formed in 1993 and broke up in 1997. They have since reunited a few times in 2009, 2014, and 2017. They were formed by Chris Leo, who was formerly in the seminal band Native Nod (he's also Ted Leo's brother). The Van Pelt took a decidedly less aggressive approach than Leo's previous band, and instead focusing on clean, winding guitar arpeggios, with odd song structures that fall and rise. Vocally, the stream of conscious, sung/spoken vocal he is renowned for are still present, though far more intelligible and a little more opaque. They released two full-lengths during their initial run, and a new album in 2014. If you dig 90's emo with some heavy post-hardcore leanings, you'll dig this. Enjoy.

The Van Pelt/Radio To Saturn (1994)

1. The Van Pelt - His Saxophone Is My Guitar

2. Radio To Saturn - Young Friends

3. Radio To Saturn - (She Likes The Part) About Wolves

4. Radio To Saturn - Somber Town

(Young) Pioneers/The Van Pelt (1995)

1. (Young) Pioneers - April Violence

2. (Young) Pioneers - Great White Hope

3. The Van Pelt - Everything's Alright

Stealing From Our Favorite Thieves (1996)

1. His Steppe Is My Prarie

2. It's A Suffering

3. Shame On You

4. Magic Fantasy (We Are Provincial)

5. You Are The Glue

6. Simone Never Had It This Good

7. His Saxophone Is My Guitar

8. It's New To Me

9. Turning Twenty Into Two

The Speeding Train (1997)

1. The Speeding Train

2. Evil High

3. The Democratic Teachers Union

Sultans Of Sentiment (1997)

1. Nanzen Kills A Cat

2. The Good, The Bad & The Blind

3. Yamato (Where People Really Die)

4. My Bouts With Pouncing

5. Don't Make Me Walk My Own Log

6. The Young Alchemists

7. We Are The Heathens

8. Pockets Of Pricks

9. Let's Make A List

10. Do The Lovers Still Meet At The Chiang Kai - Shek Memorial?

Live! at WMUC FM on Third Rail Radio (1997)

1. The Van Pelt - Yamato (Where People Really Die)

2. Chisel - Towncrusher

Same As Stone (2005)

1. Same As Stone

2. The Swede's Down At The Beach

Imaginary Third (2014)

1. Infinite Me

2. The Threat

3. ABCD's Of Fascism

4. Three People Wide At All Times

5. The Betrayal

6. Democratic Teacher's Union

7. Evil High

8. The Speeding Train

Artisans & Merchants (2023)

1. We Gotta Live

2. Image Of Health

3. Artisans & Merchants

4. Punk House

5. Old Souls From Different Epochs

6. Grid

7. Cold Coconuts

8. Did We Hear The Same Song

9. Love Is Brutal

Bandcamp

Slow Bloom - Hex Hex Hex REVIEW

Long-time friends of the blog Slow Bloom are back with a fantastic new EP, titled Hex Hex Hex. It was released on January 26, 2018 by No Sleep Records and Dog Knights Productions. They return with their trademark ferocious energy and post-hardcore/post-punk blend, but with some new sounds in the mix.

The EP kicks off with 30 seconds of feedback that throttles into the first track, "Neon Sequitor". This introduces the defining sound of the band, with chorus-laden angular leads, fully fleshed-out chords, and shaking vocals that build into screams. The refrain hits with a memorable intensity, something that's immediately noticeable about these songs. They are just as easy to sing along to as they are to mosh the fuck out to. The band established such a high, fast-paced energy on this first track, it's bound to grab you out of your seat. "Immaculate" continues to crank it out, with skull-fracturing verses, and an incredibly catchy melody in the chorus of straight-forward singing. The bass and drums roll steadily in the bridge, allowing the guitars to shimmer in atmospheric noise.

"Sarcophaguts", the first song released from the EP, features a call-and-response verse between the vocals and instrumentation. The vocals are manic throughout the track, except for the chorus, which cuts through with one of the EP's strongest melodies to tie the track together. This is a personal highlight on this thing, especially when it breaks to just guitar and vocals before bringing it back full-force for the outro. Simple things like this can often be the most effective, and Slow Bloom absolutely kill it on this track. They waste no time launching into "Cataracts", with a spoken-sung vocal passage, which is why I've often drawn comparisons to ATDI in the past. This track is a bit more winding than the previous ones, and burns slower, but with the same intensity.  The vocals hit soaring highs in the choruses, and rally throughout the rest. Plus, the bass tone here is impeccable.

"Hex Hex Hex" closes this 5-track EP out with a wall of sound for rhythm. The echoed background vocals playing off the lead vocals in the chorus makes  for a definite highlight, as well as the change-up of vocals about half-way through, which are a little toned down, but twice as seething. This song is undeniably memorable, with catchy melodies, solid lyrics, and a climax build-up into the final chorus that's sure to snap your neck back. They finally pump the brakes to leave some breathing room at the end, letting the EP exhale to a close.

Overall, there are not enough good things I can say about this. They are absolutely recommended for people who just want a high-energy, catchy band with some instrumental chops to boot. You can stream the entire EP on Bandcamp below,  or pick up the 12" from No Sleep or Dog Knights Productions. Also, check out the dates for their upcoming US West Coast Tour in April.

Slow Bloom
Bandcamp
Facebook

No Sleep Records
Purchase

Dog Knights Productions
Purchase

Spurn

Spurn are a four-piece hardcore/grindcore band from Calgary, Alberta that have been around since 2015. Their debut LP, Comfort In Nothing, was released in 2016, and absolutely rips. The band play this noisy blend of grindcore and metallic hardcore, with elements of death metal in the mix. They utilize very technical, chunky riffs, blast beats, and some guttural, throat-shredding vocals. Lyrically, they tend to focus on sociopolitical subjects. If early Dillinger Escape Plan were really into grind, this would be it. It's a fantastic full-length spanning a ton of extreme genres, and I highly recommend it. Apparently there is a follow-up in the works, which is something to look forward to. Enjoy.

Demo (2015)

1. Spoiled Failures

2. Newsfeed

Comfort In Nothing (2016)

1. Spoiled Failures

2. Comfort In Nothing

3. News Feed

4. Reproduction

5. Obsolete

6. Quota To Meet

7. No Next Time

8. Old Man

9. No Safety

10. Refugees

At The Precipice Of Excitation (2019)

1. Clapping Seals

2. Gioblastoma

3. Lepa Radic

4. Confusing Ignorance For Innocence

5. Eating The Rich For Self Defense

6. The Eleventh Hour

7. Looking Past Your Own Nose

8. Pushing The Flat Earthers Off The Earth

9. Hoist That Rag (Tom Waits cover)

Bandcamp

Facebook

thisishowitendedintokyo

thisishowitendedintokyo are a five-piece screamo band from Chicago, Illinois that formed in 2017. Their debut album, april(s)in came out last month, and it is a true spectacle to behold. They mix very upbeat drum patterns with bright, slightly noodley guitars typical of midwestern emo, with some of the rowdiest screaming imaginable on top of it. They are undoubtedly an interesting band, and their debut has a very unique energy that's hard to really pin down. It seems lodged between melodrama and a fun time, which is a strange mix, but I love it. Definitely recommended if you need some new screamo in your life. Enjoy.

demo (2017)

1. i may be a scumbag but i'm not a fucking loser

Plutonium Brood (2017)

1. Martha's Got a Limp Wrist - Worthless

2. Martha's Got a Limp Wrist - Cannibal

3. Martha's Got a Limp Wrist - Suicide

4. thisishowitendedintokyo - dies irae 

5. thisishowitendedintokyo - tantrum of a 3rd grade boy

6. thisishowitendedintokyo - daemon 

april(s)in, (2018)

1. 3

2. november snow

3. math song

4. theoneishowedjeffreyatwillsuncleshouseonmapleinbrookfield

5. i may be a scumbag but im not a fucking loser

6. boys life

7. chanting song

Note: You can grab the cassette from Mount Seldom Records here

somehow soon! (2018)

1. harriett

2. these moments

3. cap tap.

4. split

5. The Comforts You Seek Before And After Sleep

Bandcamp

Facebook

Think I Care

Think I Care were a four-piece hardcore band from Winchendon, Massachusetts, that were around from 2000 to 2007. They released a few fantastic EP's, as well as two LP's in their time. Their sound is heavily influenced by Boston hardcore, and early on in their career they played with such speed and ferocity, I wouldn't be surprised if Infest also had a hand in their sound. As they progressed, they slowed down a bit in tempo, but never aggression. They began taking a heavy Celtic Frost influence, in addition to their hardcore roots. They made the jump to hardcore titans Bridge 9 for their final record, and broke up after that. They've played reunion shows in 2015 since. Enjoy.

Draw The Lines (2000)

1. Draw The Lines

2. Trapped

3. Stay Home

4. First Things First

5. Think I Care

6. Persist

7. No Turning Back

8. Quick To Quit

9. Where's The Courtesy

10. Without

Think I Care 7" (2001)

1. Phase

2. Belong

3. Burn

4. Force Fed

5. Different Face

6. Toy Town Crew

7. Doubt It

8. How's It Feel?

Think I Care (2003)

1. Broken Neck

2. Easy Answers

3. Stepped On

4. For Real

5. 28 Visions

6. No Chance

7. Black Out

8. Move Back

9. It Surrounds

10. What A Pity

11. Struggle

12. Bitter End

Mongrel (2004)

1. The Hammer

2. Disease

3. Drain

4. Fifty Two Pickup

5. Choke

6. Rotting Away

7. Scraps

8. March Of The Mongrels

Fucked Up/Think I Care (2006)

1. Fucked Up - Color Removal (Live)

2. Fucked Up - Police (Live)

3. Think I Care - 28 Visions (Live)

4. Think I Care - Disease (Live)

5. Think I Care - Nature Of The Beast (Live)

World Asylum (2006)

1. World Asylum

2. Chains

3. Nothing Means Nothing

4. Life Sentence

5. Nature Of The Beast

6. Reality's Nightmare

7. No Where Man

8. Heads Will Roll

9. Matter Of Time

10. Survival Machine