(Cover art by Kara Slamka)
ghostar - A Haunting in Two Parts (self-released)
It was inevitable. After the breakout success of 2018's Hereditary, it was only a matter of time before some band sampled one of its iconic scenes. In the case of the new double-single from Madison's ghostar, Toni Collette's dinnertime freakout is the first thing we hear. What ensues is just over seven minutes of potent, multi-faceted music.
ghostar bill themselves as a post-rock band first and foremost, which is surprising for a band who has never released a song that exceeds the six minute mark. Instead of getting lost in the swirl of anthemic crescendo-core, the trio plays around with a variance of guitar-centric genres, ranging from yelpy 90s emo to burnt-out shoegaze. The highlights of their music aren't found in any individual sound; rather, they're most present in the way they weave them all together, like knots of thorny vines climbing the side of a house.
"Part I: Mortuary" is the more immediate of the two tracks, favoring punchy guitar melodies and a surprisingly singalong chorus. A rush of frenetic energy is only matched by vast tremolo shredding, indicating that the band could step relatively naturally into the pyrotechnic metallurgy of a band like Holy Fawn. The seams begin to fray as ghostar transitions into "Part II: Hereditary," a far noisier number that doubles in length. Chaos swallows the band, ascending to a throat-shredding conclusion. It threatens to dissolve more than a few times, glued together by the band members' synchronicity. There's room for both head-pounding cacophony and sweetness in the world of ghostar; A Haunting in Two Parts showcases both sides with deft ease.
Listen to A Haunting in Two Parts below. Watch the music video for both songs here.
Ogbert the Nerd - "Do It for Elio" (Sun Eater Records)
I have my doubts that Ogbert the Nerd is the only emo band in New Jersey, but if indeed they are, we're in safe hands. Following up last year's self-titled EP, "Do It for Elio" is the lead single off their forthcoming full-length I Don't Hate You. The quartet nail classic emo tropes without feeling like the half-baked leftovers of the past — they infuse their songwriting with timeless energy, displaying a key understanding that there's a reason people keep listening to songs with loud guitars and charred vocals. Nearly four decades of bands have led us here. Ogbert the Nerd has absorbed as much of it as they can, letting it inform each aspect of their performances.
It also helps that they're doing all these things at a well-above average level. Madison James' wordplay is familiar in its occasional hyper-specificity and self-awareness, yet it combines the emotionally direct with the metaphorical in a fluid and exciting way. Lyrics like "Don't you dare say 'good night' to me when you know that I'd never leave" line up excellently alongside something like "I'm a cataclysmic summer story waiting to happen." Ogbert the Nerd wields a fundamental understanding of what makes songs like "Do It for Elio" effective that they make something as tried-and-true as building up to a dam-bursting whoa-oh chorus feel fresh and exhilarating. If the rest of the songs on the new record are as good as "Do It for Elio," New Jersey won't even need any other emo bands.
I Don't Hate You is out December 11th via Sun Eater Records. Listen to "Do It for Elio" below.
(Cover art by Taylor Wilkes)
Loser Camp - Boondoggling EP (Sun Eater Records)
Nick Zander is busy. The Toledo, OH resident has many irons in many fires and shows no signs of stopping. Loser Camp is a band he started with his partner, Sam Abrass, releasing their first single just about a year ago. Boondoggling is their first full release, painting with a different palette than the emo pop of Equipment or the gleaming indie rock of Waving.
None of the songs on Boondoggling rise above a gentle campfire singalong, almost entirely consisting of acoustic guitar and soft vocals. They're sweet songs often concerned with the mundanity of life and its myriad experiences. Even as the lyrics shuffle from the slightly absurd to the anxious and back to the humorous, Zander and Abrass create a welcoming atmosphere. The duo's first release was about the surreal realization that we're all full of hundreds of bones, so it makes perfect sense that Boondoggling dances around with similar themes.
Rocks caught in your sock, spilling coffee on yourself before the day has even began, watching a professor vainly try to get a PowerPoint presentation to work, a childhood birthday party gone wrong — all these and more are filtered through the prism of Loser Camp's point of view. "L.M.A.O. (Leave Me Alone, Okay?)" is a reminder that doing the absolute least isn't enough in any relationship, friend or more. Zander and Abrass' voices unify beautifully as they plea the titular request to be left alone. Closer "Lucky Maxwell Daisy" unfortunately isn't a song about Nintendogs; the duo pairs a slingshot acoustic rift with bruised poetry. Abrass sings quietly of being gaslighted, ending the EP on its most emotionally vivid note.
Boondoggling is a beautiful, light-footed collection of songs. It might be a stripped-down and simple affair, but the beating heart at its center is absolutely overflowing. Listen to Boondoggling below.
FATAL 4 WAY SPLIT (Open Door Records)
The nice thing about splits is that they're a pretty much built-in way to keep track of certain scenes. A handful of bands get together and each contribute a song or two and voila! You get a better idea of who's who in DIY. The FATAL 4 WAY split, compiled by Open Door Records, is even better because it transcends state boundaries and offers a sampling of some of the best emo in the entire United States. It's a culmination for all four bands — Indiana's Arcadia Grey, New York's Oolong, Tennessee's Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly (GFx3C), and Florida's dannythestreet. All four bands have released debut full-length albums within the past 18 months, so it makes natural sense for them to end up together on a glorious split.
Arcadia Grey kicks things off with an eruption on "Wildmutt." The quartet dives deep into the volcano and swims around in the lava of chugging riffs, self-deprecation, and one of the most stirring conclusions I've heard on an emo song in a while. It's a reminder of the cathartic power of music, and it's only the first track. Humor is a coping mechanism that the band used across their 2019 debut Konami Code, and Arcadia Grey haven't lost a step. They toe the line between over-the-top and genuine easily; it's something to scream along to just as much as it's something to laugh along with. They pivot with expertise, launching off into a new direction like a teenage bottle rocket.
Oolong is a band with its own gravity. The riffs fly by so fast you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was an asteroid and the sky is falling. Chaotically good musicianship is the name of the game for the Long Islanders, and their two contributions to FATAL 4 WAY are ineffable. No wonder they were accused of r/emo payola. "Dippin Daniel" and "Guts" are infuriating songs — not because they're bad (they're actually very good), but because no one can lose their minds to them while moshing in a basement. It's a bit cliché to praise an emo band for evoking a house show; I can't help it. Oolong are too fiercely good at what they do to not mention it.
GF3xC have had a wild past few months, releasing the incredible Soak just this past August. "Lite Wotus" and "Seasalt Ice Cream" would have fit snugly alongside the stormy twinkle-riffs of that record. The trio flaunts two variations on their combustible theme — the former track makes you want to punch a hole in a wall and fight the first person you see on the street (that's a good thing), the latter chooses to make some breathing room rather than detonate a riff-bomb. With GF3x3C, you get the best of both worlds.
FATAL 4 WAY was my first introduction to the final competitor, Miami's dannythestreet, and what an introduction it was. They take up the least amount of runtime (only four minutes), so they make every second count. The sparkle-punk genre tag makes sense — these songs are like finding a unicorn at the end of your journey. dannythestreet is probably the poppiest of the four groups, which could be a turn-off if someone were expecting the more frenetic side of Midwest emo. Here's the trick: the band stuffs their songs with singalong melodies and unhinged shredding. They bring the split to a surprisingly gradual ending. I'd argue that it's for the best, since you'll probably tired after moshing in your bedroom for the last 20 minutes.
A split is a snapshot. They (unfortunately) tend not to have the staying power of an album or even an EP. They become a poorly-kept secret, buried beneath a few layers of solo releases but still revered by anyone that hears them. But in the moment, something like FATAL 4 WAY burns brighter than the hottest sun. Four of the best damn bands working at the moment teamed up for what might be one of the most fun listening experiences of 2020. Keep it close, it'll be worth it.
Listen to FATAL 4 WAY below. Pre-order the vinyl from Open Door Records here.
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