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| 1996: The State of Screamo - Abridged Edition
Continuing on from my series Establishing Screamo Canon, this is The State of Screamo for 1996. 1 = Screamo HoF inductee, 2-6 = Screamo HoF nominee, 7-10 = Connective Tissue (notable splits), 11 = Holy Grails (celebrated compilations) and 12-16 = additional releases from the year that I didn't cover. If you'd like to follow along daily on my socials, I'm posting this on Reddit, FB and IG. | | 1 |  | Portraits Of Past
01010101
From the opening salvo, a dark, barring bassline that transitions into an all-out assault of dissonance, chaos and an emotionally intense vocal delivery, you can tell Portraits of Past meant business. As the lightning-fast intro song fizzles out as quickly as it came, the chunky, melodic guitar of Bang Yer Head begins and opens up the universe to the listener. Lengthy, dynamic tracks filled with melody, atmosphere and passion comprise the bulk of this album while Emoviolence-esque outbursts give the music vigor and boisterousness. Expect monumental peaks and crescendos against dark, frenetic valleys as you listen through this behemoth. Although definitely influenced by Post-Hardcore, this album was a huge sonic step forward toward carving Screamo’s unique identity.
Although the term “Screamo” wasn't even in use yet, these Bay Area legends managed to craft the first truly great, epic Screamo album on 01010101. The band wore their influences on their sleeves with punishing Post-Rock... | | 2 |  | In/Humanity
The Nutty Anti-Christ
Grueling distortion, breakneck tempos, angry shrieks and general musical mayhem are found all over this record. A typical song on The Nutty Antichrist is shorter than a minute, so a rapid-firing of musical ideas is often at play, particularly in the songs with blistering drums and dissonant, syncopated guitar. However, the band knows when to adjust the tempo and the intensity to fit their needs, transitioning between the two often enough to break up any monotony. Vocally, the screamer sounds as hateful as the music, though these extreme swellings of negativity are broken up by the many samples that flow between tracks and the occasional playful song here and there.
Grueling distortion, breakneck tempos, angry shrieks and general musical mayhem are found all over this record. A typical song on The Nutty Antichrist is shorter than a minute, so a rapid-firing of musical ideas is often at play, particularly in the songs with blistering drums and dissonant, syncopated guitar. However... | | 3 |  | Sidekick Kato
1st Class Chump
Sidekick Kato employs that early Post-Hardcore-influenced Midwest Emo sound, encapsulated by the first few seconds of the intro track: a loud, brazen chord progression transitions into a delicate, twinkly arpeggio with melodramatic crooning. This formula is quite reminiscent of Midwest Emo contemporaries like Texas Is The Reason, though these Illinois folks iterate even further by adding in some bold, cacophonous Screamo instrumentation and some emotionally resonant screams to the equation. I’d say the bulk of the music here leans Midwest Emo, however.
To my knowledge, this is the very first attempt at weaving Midwest Emo with Screamo ever attempted, so kudos for that accomplishment right off the bat. Because Midwest Screamo wasn’t even an obscure subgenre of Emo yet and wouldn’t be for over a decade, this forward-thinking curiosity is an undeniable part of Screamo Canon, despite its minimal direct influence on the genre. | | 4 |  | Reversal Of Man
Reversal Of Man
On this 1996 s/t, Reversal of Man crafted three different ideas to switch between dynamically: slow, sinister and clean guitar melodies with light accompaniment, crushing, dissonant, mid-tempo Screamo that bares its fangs, and blistering, extreme, turbulent Emoviolence. Does this formula simplify the actual music found on here? Yes, but putting this together with a keen sense of songwriting, harrowing high-pitched screams and endless passion transforms this from formulaic to trailblazing.
Reversal of Man pushed forth with their blistering take on Screamo, emerging as one of the early trendsetters of the Emoviolence movement, even before it had a name. Taking spastic elements of Powerviolence and combining them with the emerging and dynamic force of Screamo was quite novel, even if several bands around the US were also pushing similar boundaries. | | 5 |  | Combatwoundedveteran
11 Song 7"
With the average track being less than a minute, CWV attempts the most extreme version of Screamo we've heard yet. Taking the metallic nastiness of Grind and the unpredictability and dynamism of Powerviolence, CWV threads these elements together with politically charged sampled interludes and merciless guttural screeches from three different vocalists.
This debut EP is one of the first examples of Emoviolence getting fleshed out. Although Grindcore wouldn't be the most popular mixer for this genre, its inclusion as a strong influence showcases the desire for early Emoviolence to branch away from its humble beginnings into its own plane of musical insanity.
With sarcastic song titles and critical, biting lyrics, Comwbatwoundedveteran are unabashedly Hardcore in their approach to song themes. Touching on issues of consumerism, authority, conformity, toxic masculinity and toxic work culture, among others, in a straightforward and pissed-off way puts the listener right in the... | | 6 |  | Guyver-One
Guyver-One
Simply put, Guyver-One’s debut EP is chaotic and boisterous. They played their own brand of Emoviolence featuring loud, dissonant chord progressions, tumultuous song structures, a helter-skelter drumming performance and gnarly, scratchy screamed vocals. The San Diego natives put this in a blender, added in Grandmaster Flash samples between songs and called it a day.
Coming from the fabled San Diego scene, this particular band is often overlooked in the crowded legacy of this scene. Regardless, Guyver-One put out one of the most demented pieces of Screamo / Emoviolence until the likes of Orchid would take the mantle. The sampled interludes are one of the only measures of reprieve on this entire record. Unfortunately, this release was destined for obscurity, even by today’s standards where Zoomers will seemingly find any and all good obscure 90s Emo.
Underneath Eddie’s nearly indecipherable screaming lies inescapable existential dread. Eddie brutally conveys the futility of... | | 7 |  | Puritan / Reversal of Man
Puritan / Reversal of Man
At the time of release, Puritan was a brand new band with perhaps only a two-song tour demo released to their name. Reversal of Man, on the other hand, had already established themselves the year before across three releases and seven songs. Both artists would release another split this very same year.
This split brings two very similar, very violence-oriented bands together, showcasing emotive hardcore’s evolution into Screamo and Emoviolence. Puritan’s punishing tracks emphasize the disparity between dissonance and melody with slower, discordant madness that changes to rapid-fire Emoviolence. By comparison, Reversal of Man is a bit more straightforward in their approach, but every bit of noisiness, dissonance, emotion and dynamism is present. Interestingly, they close their half out with the opener of their s/t EP of the same year, though I’m not sure which came out first.
With Emoviolence (and Screamo as a whole) in its infancy, these two burgeoning artists reached over 1,000... | | 8 |  | Reversal of Man / Holocron
Reversal of Man / Holocron
Holocron is a band whose entire output was released in 1996, the same year of this split. Reversal of Man put in tons of work over 1995 and 1996 to appear in numerous splits and release a couple of EPs. Foundational releases like this split would elevate Reversal of Man in step with Screamo and Emoviolence’s rise to underground prominence. Their most well-regarded works would be released in the near future.
Contrasting this with their split with Puritan, Reversal of Man embraced a more deliberate pace and longer songs. Although their take on Emoviolence is still present on this album, RoM take great care in dynamically switching between intimidating, dissonant mid-tempo destruction and an all-out aural assault. Holocron’s half starts and the lower production values are immediately evident, but it’s not a knock against the music. Holocron’s music has more traditional Hardcore elements to it, though they are still achieving the Emoviolence aura... | | 9 |  | December / Puritan
A Split Record
December’s only known material is on this split, two songs that add up to a little more than four minutes. Meanwhile, Puritan had a rewarding year with a demo and two splits released. However, they’d only release an EP in 1997 before calling it quits.
Two similar bands whose style is a cross between the emotive dynamism of Screamo and the more extreme side of Emoviolence, combined with some truly Metalcore chugging riffs. The screams from both bands on this quick split are gnarly and high-pitched while the music is a constant tug-of-war between wailing, dissonant guitar and tense moments of quiet, just waiting for the insanity to ensue.
Emoviolence was just emerging during this year, and this split put a heaping teaspoon of Pennsylvania in the mix, with both bands only within a couple hours’ drive from each other. Although this split didn’t singlehandedly put the state on the map as a Screamo hotbed, it does showcase 10 invaluable minutes of Emoviolence history. | | 10 |  | Breakwater
breakwater / closure split
Almost all of Breakwater’s other material was released in 1995, demo and a single that contains two songs from the demo. Barring the song Twelve that appears on a comp, this is their only other recorded track. Closure had just formed before this EP dropped and would only last one more year with a full-length album.
Melodic, long-form, Post-Rock-driven Screamo with tons of dynamic intensity is found on both sides of this excellent split. Breakwater’s passionate track is a heartbreaking journey of soft vocals and cathartic screams, melodic lead lines and heavy, dissonant chord progressions and devastating crescendos. Closure is a bit more straightforward in their songwriting but features incredibly driving rhythms, heavier production and more bounciness. Though quite contrasted, these two bands complement each other. MAGIC TURTLE!
I initially assumed Victoria was on the East Coast of Canada, which would make sense considering the ties to New York. However, I learned that these two... | | 11 |  | Finger Print
Discography
Despite only being active for two years, Finger Print was a surprisingly prolific band. Though very influenced by the straightforward nature of early 90s Hardcore, Finger Print was one of the first artists in Europe to add such a level of dynamism and melody to their songs, incorporating acoustic guitars and intensity switches. Following closely behind the gnarly emotive screeches from the vocalist is a chugging guitar that breaks things up with some early Metalcore riffage. The further into this comp you get, the stronger the presence of melody is, marrying it with the aggression you’d expect to find in Hardcore. Refreshingly, the bassist is quite prominent in the mix, giving the songs a sense of immediacy and danger. The two EPs are both great, showcasing the band’s evolution as they helped shape Screamo history, though the comp tracks, original tracks and even the live versions (although quite roughly recorded) are all recommended... | | 12 |  | Bombs Lullabye
Bombs Lullabye
Additional Release
AKA In the Event That I Do Not Succeed at Anything, Please, Throw My Body in a Ditch and Destroy My Fingerprints, Pulverize My Teeth; Erase Every Trace of My Existence... Let Me Succeed at Death: Let Me Become Whole, and Forgotten | | 13 |  | Honeywell
Electric Kool Aid
Additional release | | 14 |  | Envy
Breathing and Dying in this Place
Additional release | | 15 |  | Holocron
Celestial Sphere
Additional release | | 16 |  | Grade
And Such Is Progress
Additional release | |
Uzumaki
03.06.25 | Let’s
Fucking
Go
Happy to be here for this | EmoEmporium
03.06.25 | Thanks! | swallowtales
03.07.25 | Damn good year 1996, I say as someone born in it. Only one I don't know here is 3 which given the quality of the company I had better fix. | Jash
03.07.25 | Hell ya, just followed on IG! Thank you for your service | EmoEmporium
03.07.25 | @swallow 1996 was really good, but the years just keep getting better. Stay tuned!
@Jash Thanks! |
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