Squid Pisser

Squid Pisser are a two-piece hardcore/noise rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 2022. They dropped their debut LP via Three One G and Sweatband Records earlier this year. If you're familiar with the former's roster, this band is a welcome addition to its distinct catalogue. It's harsh, chaotic, and noisy hardcore delivered at breakneck tempos with unpredictable rhythms. The band's turbulent, alien sound is rounded out by a laundry list of excellent features and collabortors, including members from bands as disparate as Melt-Banana, Punch, Tera Melos, The Locust,and Starcrawler. My Tadpole Legion is a fresh take on slimy noise rock, and makes for one of the most face-melting 20 minutes you'll probably hear this year. Highly recommended, enjoy! 

My Tadpole Legion (2023)

1. Liquified Remains

2. Violence Forever

3. Marching For Trash

4. Everlasting Bloat

5. My Tadpole Legion

6. Both

7. Vibe Monster

8. Fuck Your Preacher

9. Lord Of The Frog

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Crochet

Crochet are a five-piece screamo band from Las Vegas, Nevada that started in 2022. Earlier this year, they released their debut EP, Birth Piece. From the opening fingerpicked arpeggios and softly spoken vocals of "Centennial", its clear this build-up is to draw you into something spectacular, which is what they deliver in the opening blast-beat frenzy of "Unsex Pledge". Right out the gate, the band establishes what sets them apart, with some very trebly guitars incorporating elements of math rock in the mix, and an intense dual vocal delivery. They soften things up in the latter half of the track, with that clean, trebly arpeggio sound they hinted at on their opener. 

The band plows their way through crescendos of intensity and atmospheric noodling absolutely flawless, which hits its peak at the tail end of "Friends Who Just Sit And Breathe", which closes out with a surprisingly crushing riff that that burns away leaving what can only be described as white sax noise. It left a major impression to say the less, so do yourself a favour and check this out. Enjoy.

Birth Piece (2023)

1. Centennial

2. Unisex Pledge

3. Watcher--Heretic

4. Gibusong

5. Ancient Roman Candle

6. Friends Who Just Sit And Breathe

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Army Of Ponch

Army Of Ponch were a four-piece emo/post-hardcore band from Gainesville, Florida that formed in 2001. They quickly released a demo, which was followed-up by their sole full-length, which came out on No Idea Records. The band also released an EP and a live split, but nothing since. Apparently they disbanded in 2006, but they've been playing occasional shows since 2010 at least. They were also set to record a new LP a few years ago, but nothing has surfaced yet. 

Army Of Ponch are a tough band to nail down, as they exist at the crossroads of a real mix of sounds. They melded this raw, driving punk energy with the dynamic and melancholic influence of acts in the underground emo scene from the decade prior. Think a lot of octave chords and rumbling, melodic bass lines. Their vocals were often shouted, but could also switch up to incorporate some straight-forward melodic singing. I'm just rambling here, but if you're a fan of other No Idea acts such as early Planes Mistaken For Stars, Small Brown Bike, or Twelve Hour Turn, you should check this band out. Those aren't really comparisons, more just like bands that may have existed in the same sonic headspace. Enjoy.

Army Of Ponch (2001)

1. Those Old Hurts

2. Wellington, Ohio

3. So, You Told Your Friend I'm Some Kind Of Jet Pilot?

4. Americas #1 Snackcake

5 Go Lemming Go

6. I Spilled Another Drink In My Mouth

7. Résumé, That Still Sounds Weird To Me

8. Mantight (Red Thunder)

9. These Old Hurts

So Many You Could Never Win (2002)

1. Wellington, Ohio

2. Why Don't We Meet Tonight, We'll Sit On The Porch And Sing With Our Cans Raised High Arm In Arm Swinging Side To Side?

3. Foil Monkeys Or Bread Monkeys Either One

4. There's Shit On These Wings

5. Those Old Hurts

6. Go Lemming Go

7. America's #1 Snackcake

8. The Lively Lex Lopez

9. I Spilled Another Drink In My Mouth

10. Résumé, That Still Sounds Weird To Me

11. So, You Told Your Friend I'm Some Kind Of Jet Pilot?

Vs. The Curse (2003)

1. Where's My Miyagi

2. Joe Versus The Tornado

3. Could I Get More Employee In The Monitors?

Live At The Atlantic Vol 01 (2008)

1. Young Livers - Drinks Are Our Amnesty

2. Young Livers - Fair Well

3. Army Of Ponch - America's #1 Snackcake

4. Army Of Ponch - Could I Get More Employee In The Monitors?

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Jasemine

 Jasemine were a three-piece hardcore/screamo band from France that were active around 1994-1995. They shared members with other bands including Undone and Finger Print. Jasemine's output is incredibly small, with only four songs to their name, but those four songs have certainly left a lasting impact. They debuted with a demo in 1994, then released splits with Ivich and Elements of Need (both bands I'd also recommend) the following year. Jasemine contributed two songs to each of these splits, which were just re-recordings of the songs that had appeared on the demo. As far as emotional catharsis goes, Jasemine had that in spades. The vocals are screamed in such despair, with dynamic instrumentals that's as melancholic as it is raw and impactful. Highly recommended stuff, enjoy.

Demo (1994)

1. Silence

2. Heritage

3. Choix

4. Restriction

Ivich/Jasemine (1995)

1. Ivich - H.I.V.

2. Jasemine - Restriction

3. Jasemine - Choix

Elements Of Need/Jasmine (1995)

1. Elements Of Need - On 7

2. Elements Of Need - Industry Falls

3. Elements Of Need - I Bet You Look Great In Silicon

4. Jasmine - Heritage

5. Jasmine - Silence

Note: Credited as "Jasmine" on this release

Cayetana

Cayetana were a three-piece indie/pop punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 2011 and have been on hiatus since 2019. They put out two full-lengths, three EP's, and a split with Camp Cope in their time together. This is one of many bands that have been criminally absent for being posted on here for years, so now is as good a time as any to share them. If you're not familiar with them, they played a lyrical and energetic brand of power pop, with prominent, melodic bass lines influenced by Joy Division and New Order and raw guitar chords, leaving the emphasis on some incredible songwriting. Enjoy.

Demo (2012)

1. Mountain Kids

2. Ella

3. South Philly

Hot Dad Calendar (2014)

1. Hot Dad Calendar

2. Ella

Nervous Like Me (2014)

1. Serious Things Are Stupid

2. Black Hills

3. Dirty Laundry

4. Animal

5. Mountain Kids

6. Madame B

7. Scott Get The Van, I'm Moving

8. Favorite Things

9. Hot Dad Calendar

10. Busy Brain

11. South Philly

Tired Eyes (2014)

1. Freedom1313

2. Age Of Consent

Camp Cope/Cayetana (2017)

1. Camp Cope - Keep Growing

2. Cayetana - Mesa

3. Cayetana - Trails

4. Camp Cope - Footscray Station

New Kind Of Normal (2017)

1. Am I Dead Yet?

2. Mesa

3. Too Old For This

4. Bus Ticket

5. Easy To Love

6. Side Sleepers

7. Certain For Miles

8. Phonics Failed Me

9. Grumpy's

10. Follow

11. Dust

12. World

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Praise

Photo by: Farrah Skeiky

Praise are a five-piece melodic hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland that formed in 2009. Thus far, they've released three full-lengths and a handful of EP's, mostly through React! Records and their latest LP through Revelation. I just have to say, I have been sorely missing on this band for years now. This is so up my alley that I'm kicking myself for not having checked them out sooner. In the most basic terms, they pay homage to the huge, bright distorted and chorus-laden work of Hüsker Dü with heavy influence from DC acts such as Embrace, Dag Nasty and One Last Wish that first incorporated melodic elements into hardcore. It's an incredible blend that still manages to sound truly modern, with some top-tier musicianship to boot. That's unsurprising, given that this band includes members of Turnstile, Angel Du$t, Mindset, Give, and a ton of other incredible projects. I cannot recommend this enough, I highly, highly suggest checking it out if you're as late to the punch on this as I am. Enjoy.

Growing. Changing. Healing. (2010)

1. Caught In A Cycle

2. I Believe

3. Peace Is The Solution

4. Healing

Two Songs (2011)

1. Afraid To Ask

2. Autumn

Lights Went Out (2014)

1. Accept

2.Safe Place

3. Lights Went Out

4. To Be Me

5. Reach Deep

6. Write It Down

7. Give Me The Pain

8. Afraid To Ask

9. Restless Minds

10. Weight

Leave It All Behind (2016)

1. Makes No Sense

2. Crash Into My Life

3. Settle Down

4. Leave It All Behind

5. Song For You

6. Walk To The Edge

7. We All Fall Down

America's Hardcore Volume 4 (2017)

3. Return To Life

All In A Dream (2022)

1. All In A Dream

2. Return To Life

3. Hotline To Memory

4. Suddenly Human

5. Peace Of Mine

6. Limited Sense Of Possibility

7. Eyes In The Dark

8. Life Unknown

9. Keep Hanging On

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Another Breath

Another Breath were a five-piece melodic hardcore band from Fulton, New York that were around from 2003 to 2011, with a one-off reunion show occurring in 2018. Across three releases (and a demo that I'm missing) the band brought vigor and earnestness to their tried-and-true sound, which incorporated anthemic vocals and an instrumental energy that makes it hard to sit still. If you're familiar with the melodic hardcore of the 2000's, this band will be undeniable to you. This may be way off, but they sort of sit somewhere between Kid Dynamite and American Nightmare. Not Now, Not Ever is my personal favourite from them, so that's probably the best jumping off point (literally and figuratively). Enjoy. 

Not Now, Not Ever (2004)

1. Racing A Fading Image

2. Token

3. Rotting

4. Clio

5. Passing The Torch

6. Surfacing

7. 17 Minutes

8. Truth In The Television

Mill City (2006)

1. Jailbreak

2. Marla

3. A Tragic Hero

4. Coward

5. Sincerity

6. I'm Pro-You-Shutting-The-Fuck-Up

7. Diesel And Gunpowder

8. Organized Crime

9. Spineless

10. Orange

11. Coming Home

12. Off With Your Head

13. Anchors

14. Walls Without Windows

15. Catharsis (The Conclusion)

The God Complex (2009)

1. No God

2. Sin Eater

3. Nausea

4. I Want To Live

5. The God Complex

6. Belly Of A Whale

7. Dogtown

8. Weight

9. Mayko

10. I Am The Messiah

11. Eleventh Hour

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Boxcutter

Boxcutter are a three-piece screamo band from Toronto, Ontario that formed in 2022. They put out their debut EP that same year. It's a raw recording in the best sense, capturing the band's cutting guitar and pounding rhythm section in its most organic essence. They often tread the light between melody and abrasion, with an insanely heartfelt vocal delivery and incredible lyrics to boot. It's an incredible document that I think captures the appeal of screamo, which is found in its vulnerability and kinetic energy. I don't know if that makes any sense, but this band is not to be missed and I highly recommend giving them a listen. Enjoy.

it's more like embracing (2022)

1. the surface of lake ontario lies below the bottom of lake erie

2. navier stokes would have a field day with this one

3. at 6:45am i saw your ghost by my bedroom window

4. quetiapine is a beautiful name for a girl

5. a girl is a knife

What Good Does Getting Angry Do? (2023)

1. Treehouse Of Horror - Jeff The Killer

2. Please Don't Crash - Quiet 

3. boxcutter - stray

4. Treehouse Of Horror - Ben Drowned

5. Please Don't Crash - Cut Off My Hands

6. boxcutter - she/her/hearse

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Treehouse Of Horror

Treehouse Of Horror are a three-piece emo/screamo band from Toronto, Ontario that formed in 2021. Following a single demo, their debut EP came out in October of last year. This band plays an energetic style of twinkly emo, with tons of tight instrumental interplay amidst the expected clean noodley bits.  The dual vocals are also a major highlight as an additional dynamic layer, and as they often veer into screamo territory with some impassioned execution. It's a solid EP I'd definitely recommend checking out if you're a fan of bands like Grown Ups, Hightide Hotel, CSTVT, or Merchant Ships, and look forward to what this band does next. Enjoy.

See you next Tuesday - Demo (2021)

1. See you next Tuesday - Demo

Songs We Wrote (2022)

1. See You Next Tuesday

2. Catnip

3. Joan Of Arc

4. Sadgasm

What Good Does Getting Angry Do? (2023)

1. Treehouse Of Horror - Jeff The Killer

2. Please Don't Crash - Quiet 

3. boxcutter - stray

4. Treehouse Of Horror - Ben Drowned

5. Please Don't Crash - Cut Off My Hands

6. boxcutter - she/her/hearse

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Constatine Sankathi

Constatine Sankathi were a four-piece screamo/hardcore band from Kalamazoo, Michigan that were active from 1994 to 1996. Their discography consisted of a split, two EP's and numerous compilation appearances (including two Food Not Bombs benefit comps). This was later all included in a single release that came out a few years after they broke up. It's not a word I like to throw around often, but "underrated" or at the very least "underappreciated" do come to mind when thinking of this band. Their limited output is absolutely fantastic, with a sound that could be gut-wrenching and chaotic in its climaxes and almost serene in its more melodic breaks, even incorporating some Indian Summer-esque guitar arpeggios. On top of all that, they would occassionally infuse brass instrumentation into the fold, and did so in an oddly fitting way. Highly recommended for fans of the underground emo/hardcore scene from the 90's in general, this will hit hard. Enjoy.

Bev. Clone/Constatine Sankathi (1995)

1. Bev. Clone - No Reason

2. Bev. Clone - Camp

3. Constatine Sankathi - Esoteric

4. Constatine Sankathi - Canoe

Who Killed The Killed Kid (1995)

1. I Am An Android

2. Husniyah

3. Thanks For The Candy

Baby Unicorn Tripped Over A Rock And Hurt Its Throat And Then Vomited (1996)

1. Listening Palms

2. Painting My Entire Body Black

3. Day

4. Rising Sun

Discography (1998)

1. Husniyah

2. I Am An Android

3. Esoteric

4. Canoe

5. Classical

6. Skies Are Home

7. Thanks For The Candy

8. In December

9. Listening Palms

10. Paint My Entire Body Black

11. Day

12. Rising Sun

13. Classical Part 2

14. Thanks For The Candy Again

15. Some Kind Of Wonderful

16. Cold Air Falls

17. Forget Everything I Told You

18. Fully

19. Husniyah

20. Waxing The Boat

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