The Early November, a New Jersey-bred rock band, burst onto the scene in 2001. Their raw energy and DIY spirit quickly caught the attention of Drive-Thru Records, who signed them in 2002 after receiving a low-fi demo and a homemade videotape – a testament to their scrappy beginnings. The band, initially comprised of Ace Enders (vocals/guitar), Jeff Kummer (drums), and Sergio Anello (bass), honed their sound in Enders' basement before adding guitarist John Dubitsky.

Their debut EP, For All of This, dropped in December 2002, followed by The Acoustic EP the same year, quickly establishing them on the burgeoning emo scene. Drive-Thru wisely leveraged their new signees, booking them on high-profile tours like Skate and Surf Fest and the Vans Warped Tour. Since then, The Early November have built a formidable discography, releasing seven full-length albums: The Room's Too Cold (2003), The Mother, the Mechanic, and the Path (2006), In Currents (2012), Imbue (2015), Lilac (2019), Twenty (2022), and their self-titled album in 2024. Their enduring career showcases a band that, despite humble origins, has consistently delivered compelling and influential rock music.

Emery, the acclaimed post-hardcore band, emerged from Rock Hill, South Carolina in 2001. Founded by Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Josh Head, Joel Green, and Seth Studley, the group quickly relocated to Seattle, seeking a more vibrant and supportive music scene.

Their early efforts, including the The Columbus EP and the The Weak's End demo, served as potent calling cards, ultimately securing them a deal with Tooth & Nail Records. This partnership yielded a prolific run: five studio albums and two EPs. Their debut full-length, The Weak's End (2004), was followed by The Question (2005) and I'm Only a Man (2007), the latter fulfilling their initial contract. Undeterred, Emery re-signed with Tooth & Nail, releasing ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2009) and We Do What We Want (2011).

The band later signed with BadChristian Music, releasing You Were Never Alone (2015) and Eve (2018), showcasing their continued evolution and enduring appeal within the post-hardcore landscape. The band's name, incidentally, is a tribute to a first-grader Morrell encountered during a college internship.

Hailing from Douglasville, Georgia, Norma Jean (formerly Luti-Kriss) are a metalcore powerhouse that's defied expectations since their 1997 formation. While boasting a prolific career with nine studio albums and a 2006 Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package ( O' God, the Aftermath), the band has undergone extensive lineup changes, resulting in a completely refreshed roster from their initial lineup. Their name, a nod to Marilyn Monroe's real name, perfectly encapsulates their transformative nature.

Initially known as Luti-Kriss, the band's early sound, showcased on the 1999 split EP with Travail and the 2000 5ep, leaned heavily into aggressive nu-metal and rap metal. This aggressive sound was far removed from the band's later stylistic explorations. The original lineup, featuring Josh Scogin (vocals), Scottie Henry and Chris Day (guitars), Josh Swofford (bass), Mick Bailey (turntables), and Daniel Davison (drums), solidified for their debut album, Throwing Myself, though even this era saw shifts, with bassist Swofford replaced by Josh Doolittle and turntable player Bailey exiting during the album's production. This early chapter laid the groundwork for a band that would continuously reinvent itself.

Hailing from Albany, New York, State Champs emerged onto the pop-punk scene in 2010. This powerhouse quartet, initially spearheaded by guitarist Tyler Szalkowski and vocalist Derek DiScanio, quickly made their mark. Their early self-released EPs, 2010 (August 2010) and Apparently, I'm Nothing (January 2011), laid the groundwork for their meteoric rise. The band's relentless energy and catchy hooks soon caught the attention of Pure Noise Records, solidifying their place in the industry.

Since signing, State Champs have unleashed a wave of musical fury, dropping three EPs and five full-length albums. Their debut full-length, The Finer Things (2013), exploded onto the charts, hitting #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. Following up with the acoustic EP The Acoustic Things (October 2014) and their sophomore effort, Around the World and Back (October 2015), including a deluxe edition in May 2017, State Champs continued to build their fervent fanbase. Living Proof (2018), Kings of the New Age (May 2022), and their self-titled fifth album (November 2024) further cemented their status as a major force in modern pop-punk. Their journey showcases a band who've consistently evolved their sound while staying true to their high-energy roots.

BOYS LIKE GIRLS (all caps since 2023), the Andover, Massachusetts-bred rock band, burst onto the scene in 2005. Their self-titled debut album (2006) propelled them to mainstream success, selling over 700,000 copies in the US and achieving RIAA gold certification. Subsequent studio albums followed: Love Drunk (2009) and Crazy World (2012), solidifying their place in the rock landscape.

From 2006 to 2013, BOYS LIKE GIRLS toured relentlessly, hitting major milestones like a main stage appearance at the 2007 Vans Warped Tour, their inaugural headlining "Tourzilla" (2007), and a co-headline slot with Good Charlotte on the 2008 "Soundtrack of Your Summer" Tour. Their music video for "The Great Escape," directed by Alan Ferguson, reigned supreme as MTV's TRL #1 video on August 6, 2007, leading to a performance at the iconic Times Square studio.

The band's resurgence in 2023 saw the release of "Blood and Sugar," the lead single from their fourth studio album, Sunday at Foxwoods.

History:

Formation and Early Years (2005-2006): The band formed in Andover, MA, in late 2005, spearheaded by vocalist Martin Johnson (formerly of Fake ID/The Drive). Johnson, armed with a batch of new songs, recruited bassist Bryan Donahue and drummer John Keefe. Keefe then added lead guitarist Paul DiGiovanni, completing the lineup.

Hailing from Orem, Utah, The Used exploded onto the rock scene in 2000. The original lineup – vocalist Bert McCracken, bassist Jeph Howard, drummer Dan Whitesides, and guitarist Joey Bradford – quickly gained traction, catapulting to fame with their self-titled debut album in June 2002. This explosive release was followed by a string of critically acclaimed albums: In Love and Death (September 2004), Lies for the Liars (May 2007), and the B-sides compilation Shallow Believer EP (February 2008). Their powerful sound continued to evolve with Artwork (August 2009) and Vulnerable (March 2012), showcasing their dynamic range. The band further solidified their legacy with the The Ocean of the Sky EP (July 2013) and their sixth studio album, Imaginary Enemy (April 2014). While the current lineup boasts a consistent core, former members Quinn Allman, Branden Steineckert, and Justin Shekoski also contributed to The Used's rich history.

The Dead Daisies, a hard rock "supergroup" formed in Sydney, Australia in 2012, boasts a revolving door of all-star musicians with pedigrees that read like a who's who of rock royalty. Members have played with legendary acts such as Whitesnake, Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath, and Mötley Crüe, among others. Despite its shifting lineup, the band has consistently been spearheaded by guitarist David Lowy.

Initially founded by Jon Stevens (Noiseworks, INXS) and David Lowy (Mink), the pair were reconnected by former INXS manager David Edwards. Their eponymous debut album, recorded in just two weeks at Los Angeles' Wishbone Studios with producer John Fields, dropped in August 2013 via Caroline/Universal in North America, and later in the UK. The album's lead single, "Lock N' Load," features a guitar solo by none other than Guns N' Roses' Slash, who also co-wrote the track. This Rolling Stone Daily Download and BBC Radio 2 staple launched the band into the international spotlight, setting the stage for a career defined by both its impressive roster and its consistently powerful sound.

Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Wishy is a rising indie rock force. The band, featuring Kevin Krauter (formerly of Hoops), Nina Pitchkites, Conner Host, Mitch Collins, and Dimitri Morris, exploded onto the scene in 2021. After laying down their groundwork with the 2023 EPs Mana and Paradise, Wishy unleashed their highly anticipated debut full-length album, Triple Seven, via Winspear on August 16th, 2024. Already generating buzz, the band is set to hit the road on a late 2024 tour.

Philadelphia's They Are Gutting a Body of Water (TAGABOW), the lowercase-loving shoegaze outfit, has evolved from the solo project of songwriter and guitarist Douglas Dulgarian into a fully formed band. Initially a solo endeavor crafting the atmospheric tapes They Are Gutting a Body of Water and Sweater Curse, Dulgarian, born circa 1990-91, brought TAGABOW to life after relocating from his New York roots (Middletown and later Albany, where he fronted the band Jouska, releasing the album topiary in 2016). Teaming up with drummer Ben Opatut, TAGABOW solidified its sound, releasing its debut album, gestures been, in 2018.

The band's evolution continued with the release of 2019's Destiny XL, a cyberpunk-tinged effort recorded in a repurposed West Philadelphia house show venue and heavily influenced by William Gibson's Neuromancer. Re-released in 2021 by Citrus City Records, Destiny XL cemented TAGABOW's place in the shoegaze scene. 2022 marked another significant milestone: the signing to California's Smoking Room Records and the release of both the An Insult to the Sport split EP and the full-length album lucky styles. The current lineup includes bassist Emily Lofing and guitarist PJ Carroll, completing the sonic tapestry that defines TAGABOW's unique brand of atmospheric rock.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sadurn exploded onto the indie rock scene. What began in 2017 as a solo project for G DeGroot, armed with a newly acquired guitar and a songbook brimming with potential, quickly evolved. The addition of Jon Cox on guitar later that year solidified the duo, who began making waves in the city's vibrant DIY circuit as an acoustic act.

By 2019, Sadurn had inked a deal with Dead Definition Records, releasing two EPs: "Gleam" and a highly-anticipated split with Ther. A significant lineup expansion in 2020 saw Amelia Swain joining on drums and Tabitha Ahnert on bass, bolstering their sound. This expanded lineup culminated in the announcement of their debut album, Radiator, via Run for Cover Records in February 2022. Released on May 6th, 2022, Radiator cemented Sadurn's position in the indie rock world. Their impact was undeniable, earning them the coveted "Best of What's Next" accolade from Paste magazine, a testament to their undeniable talent and potential.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Portrayal of Guilt emerged in 2017, a potent force in the American black metal scene. The band's genesis lies in the fusion of two distinct Austin hardcore scenes: guitarist/vocalist Matt King and drummer James Beveridge, veterans of the hardcore outfit Illustrations, joined forces with bassist Blake Given of the screamo band Lyed.

Their self-titled 7" EP, dropped in May 2017, immediately announced their arrival, propelling them onto extensive US and European tours alongside heavy hitters like Centuries, Majority Rule, Planning for Burial, Street Sects, and Slow Fire Pistol. The critical acclaim continued with their March 2018 split EP with industrial hardcore act Street Sects – a collaboration forged on the road – further solidifying their reputation. Deathwish Inc. also reissued their self-titled 7" that same month.

Building momentum, they released a single-sided 5" single, "Chamber of Misery (Pt. 1)," in July 2018, a precursor to their debut full-length. This cleverly orchestrated campaign, launched just before a US tour with French post-hardcore mainstays Birds in Row, culminated in the September 2018 announcement of their debut album, Let Pain Be Your Guide, alongside the premiere of the single "A Burden." The album’s sonic assault was further previewed with the October release of "Your War," a track featuring guest vocals from Dylan Walker of Full of Hell.

Hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, My Fictions exploded onto the post-hardcore scene. Their journey began in 2011 with the I Want Nothing EP, released on Flannel Gurl Records. Quickly gaining traction, they signed with Topshelf Records in 2012, dropping the Always Trapped EP that same year. Further solidifying their presence, a 2013 split with The Saddest Landscape, When You Are Close, I Am Gone, also via Topshelf, showcased their evolving sound. The band culminated this early period with their highly anticipated debut full-length album, Stranger Songs, released by Topshelf Records in 2014.