Deadguy

Following the Kiss It Goodbye post, you know it wouldn't be much longer until Deadguy made their appearance on here. Deadguy were a five-piece metalcore band from New Brunswick, New Jersey that began in 1994 and 1997. Despite their very short tenure, they have become one of the most influential bands in metalcore. Their sole LP Fixation On A Coworker is an absolute staple of the genre, right up there with albums like We Are The Romans or Give Them Rope (albeit less math-y than those two). Deadguy just never got the same widespread reverance as albums like the aforementioned, which is unfortunate for such a seminal band. They were also a major influence on The Dillinger Escape Plan, which tells you all you need to know. Following a few 7"'s and their debut full-length, the band split off, with vocalist Tim Singer and guitarist Keith Huckins (formerly of Rorschach) moving to Seattle to form the aforementioned Kiss It Goodbye in 1996. In Deadguy's final year, bassist Tim Naumann switched to vocals, with a new bassist and guitarist being added to the line-up. This iteration of Deadguy only recorded one EP before splitting in 1997.

They were hinting at a reunion earlier this year. There was a  documentary announcement slated for release in fall 2020, though it appears to remain unreleased as of right now. Regardless, this band is absolute essential, and along with Kiss It Goobye's She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, some of the best and most definitive releases metalcore has to offer. Enjoy.

Just because it's Christmas, grab their full discography in one easy link here.

White Meat (1994)

1. Druid

2. The Extremist

3. John Dear

Work Ethic (1994)

1. Running With Scissors

2. Apparatus

3. Puny Human

Fixation On A Coworker (1995)

1. Doom Patrol

2. Pins And Needles

3. Die With Your Mask On

4. Baby Arm

5. Makeshift Atomsmasher

6. The Extremist

7. Nine Stitches

8. Riot Stairs

9. Apparatus

10. Crazy Eddie

Screamin' With The Deadguy Quintet (1996)

1. Human Pig

2. (Escape From) The Fake Clink

3. Turk 182

4. Free Mustache Rides

5. Angry Dwarf

6. Prosthetic Head

Violent World: A Tribute To The Misfits (1997)

10. Horror Business (Misfits cover)

I Know Your Tragedy (2000)

1. (Escape From) The Fake Clink

2. Doom Patrol

3. Die With Your Mask On

4. Human Pig/The Extremist

5. Makeshift Atomsmasher

6. Baby Arm

7. Pins and Needles

8. Turk 182

9. Apparatus

10. John Dear

11. Electric Funeral (Black Sabbath cover)

Note: Live set at CBGBs, except last track which is a demo

Near-Death Travel Services (2025)

1. Kill Fee

2. Barn Burner

3. New Best Friend

4. Cheap Trick

5. The Forever People

6. War With Strangers

7. Knife Sharpener

8. The Alarmist

9. The Long Search for Perfect Timing

10. All Stick & No Carrot

11. Wax Princess

Spotify

Apple Music

After Words

After Words were a four-piece punk/melodic hardcore band from Atlanta, Georgia that were around from 1987 to 1989. They clearly took a lot of influence from Dischord bands such as Rites Of Spring, Embrace, and Gray Matter. Just a few years prior to After Words, those band had begun hardcore's evolution in a new direction, with melodic instrumentation and melancholic vocals, all while maintaining a distinctly punk energy. For these reasons they are often regarded as one of the earliest "emocore" bands, though that's a semi-controversial term to use in regards to bands from this era. Regardless, After Words put out only one album in their time, which was more than enough to cement their legacy for years. Their 1989 self-titled release is nothing short of fantastic, with dynamic guitar parts, melodic bass lines, and some standout songwriting. Not to mention the production on this album is noticeably clean without being too polished, with the band's strong performances being captured in its clear perfection. Definitely recommended if you're a fan of the aforementioned DC bands. Enjoy.

Live On WREK (1988)

1. Live At WREK Intro

2. Looking Back

3. Break 1

4. Welcome Again

5. Break 2

6. Third Party

7. Break 3

8. Instrumental

9. Break 4

10. Helpless

11. Break 5

12. No Matter What You've Done

13. Break 6

14. As I See It

15. Break 7

16. Things They Never Taught You

17. Break 8

18. Tell Me

19. Break 9

20. Blame

21. Outro

After Words (1989)

1. Looking Back

2. Helpless

3. Tell Me

4. Ghost Dance

5. Blame

6. As I See It

7. Welcome Again

8. Third Party

Bandcamp

Look Mexico

Look Mexico are a five-piece (originally four-piece) indie/math rock/emo band from Tallahassee, Florida that began in 2004. They've been very consistent for such a long-running band, and were slightly ahead of their time musically. They were playing with very clean, complex math-y guitar bits early on, that tends to fall into both emo and math rock camps. As a good pinpoint, they bridge the gap between Ghosts And Vodka and TTNG. Particularly their early EP's and debut album This Is Animal Music, which are often painfully overlooked. They've been fairly consistent since then, with two solid albums, the latest of which came out in 2016 on Tiny Engines. I think anyone into the early emo revival stuff will undoubtedly dig this band, if they haven't heard them already. Enjoy.

So Byzantine EP (2005)

1. Comin' In Hot With A Side Of Bacon

2. Whose Ship Is This

3. I Had A Wrench...

4. Me And My Dad Built Her

5. Oh, The Things I'm Going To Do For My Country

6. Variations On A Theme (Guys, I Need A Helicopter)

The Hang Loose Collection (2005)

1. Comin' In Hot With A Side Of Rucker

2. Guys, I Need A Helicopter (Live From V89)

3. Remember That Favorite Game of Yours?

4. Me And My Dad Built Her (Remix)

5. Eastern And Western

6. Shipped To Who?

7. Jacob

8. Not On My Watch

The Crucial EP (2006)

1. He Bit Me

2. I Can't Today I'm On Duty

3. Call Off Your Lapdog

4. Guys, I Need A Helicopter

5. Come On, We Are Talking About You Here

This Is Animal Music (2007)

1. You Come Into My House, While I Sleep?

2. It's Been A Long Time Since I Smelled Beautiful

3. I Promise We'll Swing For The Fences

4. I Had A Wrench And I Hit Him

5. Watch Out For This

6. Dude, You Have A Bazooka

7. You Ever Get Punched In The Face For Talking Too Much?

8. Me And My Dad Built Her

9. I Mean Pushups?

10. Not On My Watch

11. Done And Done

12. Comin' In Hot With A Side Of Bacon

13. Half That Money Is Mine And I Want It

14. I Like Being A Millionaire. You Will Too, Believe Me

The Crucial Collection (2008)

1. He Bit Me

2. I Can't Today I'm On Duty

3. Call Off Your Lapdog

4. Guys, I Need A Helicopter

5. Come On, We Are Talking About You Here

6. Whose Ship Is This?

7. Oh, The Things I'm Gonna Do For My Country

8. Variations On A Theme (Guys, I Need A Helicopter)

9. Math Is Everywhere

10. I Meant Pushups

11. Me And My Dad Built Her (remix)

12. You Ever Got Punched In The Face For Talking Too Much? (History Invades remix)

13. You Come Into My House, While I Sleep? (Chris Rucker remix)

14. Done And Done (The Dark Romantics remix)

Note: Contains The Crucial EP, select songs from the So Byzantine EP, as well as b-sides and remixes

Gasp Asp EP (2008)

1. You're Not Afraid Of The Dark, Are You?

2. Don't You Dare

3. I'm Not Guilty But I'm Used To It

4. A Survivors' Code. My Code.

Under The Influence Vol. 1 (2008)

1. Fake Problems - I'm A Ramblin' Man

2. Look Mexico - Brand (You're A Fine Girl)

To Bed To Battle (2010)

1. You Stay. I Go. No Following.

2. No Wonder I'm Still Awake

3. Take It Upstairs, Einstein

4. I Live My Life A Quarter Mile At A Time

5. Until The Lights Burn Out

6. They Offered Me A Deal (I Said No, Naturally)

7. Get In There, Brother!

8. They Only Take The Backroads

9. Time For You To Go Down Your Own Thing

10. Just Like Old Times

Real Americans Spear It (2011)

1. You Hungry? Good Cause You're Saying Grace

2. Arrest? I Don't Feel Like I'm Under Arrest

3. That's Funny Cause It Goes Both Ways

4. Where Were You, Vince?

5. Runnin' Ain't Freedom (You Should Know That)

Uniola (2016)

1. Ride Or Die, Remember?

2. Well, Kansas Ain't What It Used To Be.

3. You're Lucky You Didn't Lose Your Arm

4. I Even Got This Scar To Match

5. Next Time, Send A Limo

6. We Are Groot.

7. Ice? Yeah, You Could Chisel Some Off Your Heart, If You Could Find It.

8. Ok, Ok, I'll Turn Down The Music

9. My Superman Seat-Grab Barrel Roll? I'm Still Working On It.

10. I Was Raised With A Different Kind Of Loyalty, You Know What I Mean. I Vote No. (Remember The Second You Go Through That Door, Everything Changes. Our Old Life Is Done.)

11. That Was The Flame Thrower. Use The Rockets. (digital only)

Bandcamp

Facebook

Tiny Engines

Spotify

Black Tambourine

Black Tambourine were a four-piece indie pop band from Washington, DC that were initially around from 1989 to 1992. They took influence from bands such as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Beat Happening, The Vaselines, and My Bloody Valentine. Black Tambourine crafted simple, cheery songs with 60's pop sensibilities and added twangy guitars slathered in reverb and distortion. During their initial incarnation, they only put out two singles and a few compilation tracks. That small output would prove to be immensely influential, as their noisy, lo-fi sound, and sweet, airy vocals became staples of twee, dream and indie pop as a whole.

Their legacy was cemented on a compilation released in 1999, titled Complete Recordings. This was a widely-circulated discography, as their actual 7"'s had become hard to find. The title is slightly misleading, as it didn't include all of their recordings. In 2010, another discography was put out to replace the previous one. This new one ncluded the same tracklist as Complete Recordings, in addition to six additional songs. The band reconvened in 2009 to record four new tracks that they used to play live but never recorded. The new songs included two originals and covers of "Heartbeat" by Buddy Holly and the classic "Dream Baby Dream" by Suicide. These four songs were included on the 2010 discography, along with two previously unreleased demos. Two years after that, they released a newly-recorded EP of Ramones covers in celebration of the 20th anniversary of singer Pam Berry's magazine Chickfactor. 

It's been a few years since I've listened to this band. Revisiting them is a fantastic reminder of how irresistibly charming these songs are, and how clear their influence can be heard in so many bands from the past decade or so. Enjoy.

Complete Recordings (1999)

1. For Ex-Lovers Only

2. Black Car

3. Pack You Up

4. Can't Explain

5. I Was Wrong

6. Throw Aggi Off The Bridge

7. Drown

8. We Can't Be Friends

9. By Tomorrow

10. Pam's Tan

Black Tambourine (2010)

1. For Ex-Lovers Only

2. Black Car

3. Pack You Up

4. Can't Explain

5. I Was Wrong

6. Throw Aggi Off The Bridge

7. Drown

8. We Can't Be Friends

9. By Tomorrow

10. Pam's Tan

11. For Ex-Lovers Only (demo)

12. Throw Aggi Off The Bridge (demo)

13. Heartbeat (Buddy Holly cover)

14. Lazy Heart

15. Tears Of Joy

16. Dream Baby Dream (Suicide cover)

OneTwoThreeFour (2012)

1. I Want You Around

2. What's Your Game

3. I Remember You

4. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend

5. I Remember You (Violens Remix)

Bandcamp

Slumberland Records

Spotify

Dead Broke

Dead Broke are a four-piece punk/garage rock band from Oakville, Ontario that began in 2013. They play a high stakes style of garage rock that absolutely epitomizes the definition of "energy". Their self-titled debut record is an absolutely no holds-barred, vicious release, which each track bringing something new to the table while maintaining their distinctive attitude. Their sparse releases since then have also held up while too. Loose comparisons can be made bands such as PUP, The Dirty Nil or Single Mothers, so chances are if you dig them, you'll love this. But really, Dead Broke's appeal lies in every fan of rock n roll caked in fuzz and turned up to 11. Enjoy.

Dead Broke (2014)

1. Baby's Leavin'

2. Sweet Talk

3. Miles Away

4. Moonshine Queen

5. Lookin For LA

6. Vapour Lock

7. Bullet

8. Odds

9. Resistor

10. Gen X

Nice Words (2017)

1. Moss Park

2. Unlovable

3. Salem

Druids (2020)

1. Druids

2 Sludgehammer

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Spotify

Oolong

Oolong are a five-piece emo/math rock/punk band from Long Island, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that began in 2019. They released their debut album early this year, and after seeing tons of praise for it, figured I'd check it out and share it. I've got to say, this shit slaps. This band has gotten a fantastic energy to them, with plenty of mathy/twinkly guitars sprinkled into each song, and vocals that do that shouty/yelpy singing thing that Algernon Cadwallader, which is absolutely a compliment. About Your Imaginary Friends is a fantastic bridge between fourth and fifth wave emo (if that even means anything) and a solid, fun ride throughout. Enjoy.

About Your Imaginary Friend (2020)

1. About Your Imaginary Friend

2. Welcome To Destiny Island

3. Roxies and Cigarettes

4. Miller's High Life

5. Ricky Murphy

6. Mount St. Mary

7. Dude, It's Painfully Obvious

8. My Afternoon's Shotgunned

9. Sinking Stone

Fatal 4 Way Split (2020)

1. Arcadia Grey - Wildmutt

2. Arcadia Grey - Braum

3. Oolong - Dippin Daniel

4. Oolong - Guts

5. Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly - Lite Wotus

6. Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly - Seasalt Ice Cream

7. dannythestreet - Mystery Faded

8. dannythestreet - Letterboxd

Edema Ruh (2022)

1. Camp Trash - Blazing Trash

2. Weatherday - Nostalgia Drive Avatar

3. Oolong - Bicycle Day

4. Michael Cera Palin - Crypto

Bandcamp

Twitter

Facebook

Spotify

Viva Belgrado

Viva Belgrado are a four-piece screamo/post-hardcore/post-rock band from Córdoba, Spain that began in 2012.  They've released three albums since that, a demo, and a fantastic EP. Sonically, they play heavily into their post-rock influences, with melodic, delayed guitars slathered in reverb and tons of tremolo picking. In quieter moments, they also incorporate some spoken word. When the songs build up, they hit their screamo peaks, with throat-searing vocals and powerful instrumentals. On their latest album, they slightly eschew their screamo roots for a cleaner sound, with a mix of singing and sing-speaking taken the forefront. There's some clear La Dispute influence here, especially with the vocal flows and post-hardcore instrumental leanings. This band crafts some absolutely beautiful songs, and are a prime example of how emotion can transcend language. Enjoy.

Demo 2012 (2012)

1. Conflagración

2. Ego Redibo, Tu Nunquam

3. Ersa 

4. Crisálida

5. Uróboros

El Invierno (2013)

1. Catedrales

2. Reykjavík

3. El Gran Danés

4. ( )

5. Terminalia

Flores, Carne (2014)

1. Báltica

2. De Carne y Flor

3. Madreselva

4. Höstsonaten

5. Los Olivos

6. Cáncer, Capricornio

7. ~

8. La Reina Pálida

9. Osario

10. Córdoba 2014

Ulises (2016)

1. Calathea

2. Pleiades/Pasaportes

3. Por la mañana temprano

4. Aeropuertos

5. Erida

6. Annapurnas

7. Transatlántica

8. Fresas Salvajes

9. Apaga la llum

10. Cassiopeia/Contraluces

11. Ravenala

Bellavista (2020)

1. Una Soga

2. Bellavista

3. Cerecita Blues

4. Más Triste Que Shinji Ikari

5. Un Collar

6. Ikebukuro Sunshine

7. Vicios

8. Shibari Emocional

9. Amapolita Blues

10. Lindavista

11. ¿Qué Hay Detrás de la Ventana?

Bandcamp

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Spotify

Battle Of Wolf 359

Battle Of World 359 were a five-piece hardcore/screamo band from the UK that were around from 2006 to 2012.  They were fairly prolific in that time, with a sound that was uniquely their own. They utilized these thick, distorted guitars tuned way down to give them this dark, heavy and menacing sound. Between the blast beats and elements of d-beat, you could almost say they sit on the fringes of crust punk. Add in their distinct dual vocals which just add to the abrasive chaos and the occasional clean arpeggiated break to catch your breath, and you've got one of the best and most unique screamo acts. Fans of bands such as Trainwreck, June Paik, Zann and even Orchid absolutely must check them out. Enjoy.

Demo (2007)

1. End Times

2. Anfal

Tour Demo (2007)

1. It's Not Higher Service You're Just Dead

2. Cyberdine Systems Model 101, Series 800

3. In Search Of Gaia

Singaia vs. Battle Of Wolf 359 (2007)

1. Singaia - Stagnation Und Dasein

2. Singaia - Standby

3. Singaia - Betäuben

4. Singaia - Untitled

5. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Apostasy

6. Battle Of Wolf 359 - It's Not Higher Service (You're Just Dead)

The Emo Annihilation (2008)

3. Tsunkatse

Note: Full compilation available here

Battle Of Wolf 359/Kaddish (2008)

1. Battle Of Wolf 359 - In Search Of Gaia

2. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Neptune's Navy

3. Kaddish - Combray

The Death Of Affect (2009)

1. Martyr O.D.

2. Cyberdine

3. Surveiller

4. Beneath The Paving Stones

5. End Times

6. The God Particle

7. Anfal

8. Glenfield

Resurrectionists/Battle Of Wolf 359 (2010)

1. Resurrectionists - Schein Und Lüge 

2. Resurrectionists - Momentaufnahme

3. Resurrectionists - In Der Stille

4. Resurrectionists - Traumtänzer

5. Resurrectionists - Xx

6. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Rimba

7. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Bore Into Fire

8. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Union

June Paik/Battle Of Wolf 359 (2010)

1. June Paik - Grenzwert

2. Battle Of Wolf 359 - We Can't Go On Like This

3. Battle Of Wolf 359 - Eclipse Chasing

Spotify

React With Protest

New Lows

New Lows are a four-piece hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts that began in 2006. Started by members of Think I Care and The Prowl. Sonically, they can be loosely compared to hardcore bands such as Ringworm and take pretty strong death metal influences from Entombed and Bolt Thrower. New Lows put out a slew of heavy, aggressive and unceasing music, with their best known work (their last EP and LP) being released by Deathwish. Enjoy.

The 2007 Demo (2007)

1. New Lows

2. Lowest Depths

3. Lucifer Crucified

4. Loathe

New Lows (2008)

1. Hatchethead

2. Lowest Depths

3. Hung Up On The Crossroads

4. Lucifer Crucified

5. Compulsive Repulsion (It Never Ends)

Live On WERS (2008)

1. Hatchethead

2. Lowest Depths

3. Hung Up On The Crossroads

4. Loathe

5. Lucifer Crucified

6. Compulsive Repulsion (It Never Ends)

Paincave Session Vol. 1 (2009)

1. Intro/Born And Razed

2. Plague Grounds

3. Compulsion Repulsion (It Never Ends)

4. Raise The Curtain

Harvest Of The Carcass (2010)

1. Stagnant Strides

2. Born And Razed

3. Plaguegrounds

4. Last Of The Rats

5. Harvest of The Carcass

6. The Horrible & The Miserable

7. Blinding Grief

8. Anguish

9. New Lows

10. The Pounding & The Hollering

Abhorrent Endings (2014)

1. Abhorrent Endings

2. There's No Roses In The Rubble

3. Osaka Sun

4. Carving Crosses

5. Shelter Shard

Bandcamp