Hailing from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, MS PAINT exploded onto the scene in 2019. This fiercely independent quartet—vocals, drums, synth, and bass—boldly eschews the guitar, a surprising omission in their otherwise raw, energetic sound.

Launched in March 2020 with their debut release, MS PAINT quickly established themselves, collaborating with fellow genre-benders Militarie Gun. Their unique blend of synth-punk has been described as industrial art-punk—a visceral, uncompromising attack on the senses.

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Great Grandpa emerged onto the indie rock scene in 2014. Their initial foray, the Can Opener EP, dropped in 2015 via Broken World Media, showcasing their raw talent. The band solidified their presence with their debut full-length, Plastic Cough, released in 2017 on Double Double Whammy. Following up on this success, their second album, Four of Arrows, arrived on October 25, 2019, garnering significant critical acclaim. Stereogum premiered the lead single, "Mono No Aware," in August 2019 and later crowned Four of Arrows their "Album of the Week" upon release, solidifying Great Grandpa's place within the indie rock landscape.

Gouge Away: A Florida Hardcore Punk Force

Emerging from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2012, Gouge Away quickly established themselves as a vital force in the American hardcore punk scene. Their sound, a potent blend of post-hardcore and noise rock, draws heavily from influential acts like Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, Fugazi, Unwound, the Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower, and Nirvana. This eclectic mix fuels their raw energy and distinctive sonic attack.

The band cut their teeth playing shows and releasing two self-released EPs, Still Bored and Focus Your Anger, in 2013, using their platform to support local charities and activist groups. This commitment to social action became a hallmark of their ethos.

Their debut full-length, , Dies, dropped in February 2016 via Eighty-Sixed Records, earning immediate underground acclaim. The album's impact was significant enough to land it at #17 on BrooklynVegan's "The 20 Best Emo/Punk Albums of 2016" and among Noisey's "37 Best Overlooked Albums of 2016." This success led to high-profile touring opportunities, including slots with Touché Amoré, Ceremony, G.L.O.S.S., and Paint It Black—a testament to their growing reputation.

Gouge Away further solidified their position with their 2018 sophomore album, Burnt Sugar, released through Deathwish Inc., cementing their place as a key player in the contemporary hardcore landscape. Their uncompromising sound, combined with their strong social conscience, has earned them a dedicated following and solidified their legacy within the genre.

Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, Enumclaw—named for their hometown—burst onto the indie rock scene. Signed to Luminelle Recordings (a Fat Possum imprint) in February 2022, they quickly made their mark. Their debut album, Save the Baby, dropped October 14, 2022, followed by a triumphant first European tour in May 2023, hitting 15 cities. Already prolific, the band released their second studio album, Home in Another Life, on August 30, 2024, solidifying their place as a force to be reckoned with in the indie rock world.

Hailing from Fairfield, Connecticut, Anxious are a rising force in the emo scene. Currently signed to Run for Cover Records, the band exploded onto the scene with their critically acclaimed debut album, Little Green House, released in 2022. The album earned the coveted "Album of the Week" accolade from Stereogum and garnered widespread positive reviews.

A History Forged in Connecticut:

Anxious' journey began in 2016 in Darien, Connecticut, with the core trio of Grady Allen (vocals/guitar), Sam Walter (vocals/bass), and Michelle Siegel (drums). Siegel departed in 2017, making way for Dante Melucci on drums. That same year, the band independently released their debut EP, Carved, showcasing their raw talent. Adding lead guitarist Ryan Savitsky to the lineup in 2019 further solidified their sound. The year also saw them sign to Triple-B Records and unleash two more EPs: Promo 2019 and Never Better, building momentum towards their full-length breakthrough.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Sweet Pill emerged onto the emo scene in 2019. Fronted by vocalist Zayna Youssef, the band—which also includes guitarist Jayce Williams, guitarist Sean McCall, bassist Ryan Cullen, and drummer Chris Kearney—quickly made their mark. Formed while Youssef was a student at Rowan University, the band wasted no time, dropping their debut single, "Doubt," in March 2019, followed a month later by their first EP, Lost In It.

Building momentum, Sweet Pill announced their debut full-length album in March 2022, previewing it with the singles "Blood," "High Hopes," and "Diamond Eyes." Where the Heart Is finally landed on May 25th, 2022, solidifying their place in the emo landscape. Their rising profile earned them a coveted support slot opening for post-hardcore giants La Dispute on their extensive US and Canada tour in Fall 2022, showcasing their talents to a wider audience and cementing their position as a band to watch.

American Football, the seminal indie rock band from Urbana, Illinois, first emerged in 1997, leaving an indelible mark on the emo and math rock scenes before disbanding in 2000. Their reunion in 2014 reignited a fervent fanbase.

The band's core initially comprised Mike Kinsella (guitar/bass/vocals – formerly of Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc, currently of Owen), Steve Holmes (guitar – also of The Geese), and Steve Lamos (drums/trumpet – formerly of The One Up Downstairs, a brief stint with The Firebird Band and Edward Burch & the Staunch Characters, and currently of The Geese and DMS). Lamos departed in 2021 but rejoined in 2023.

Their self-titled debut album, released during their original run, achieved legendary status, solidifying their place as a cornerstone of the genre. The reunion saw the addition of Nate Kinsella (Mike's cousin), resulting in two further self-titled releases: American Football / LP2 (2016) and American Football / LP3 (2019).

History:

Formation:

Mike Kinsella and Steve Holmes, former classmates at Wheeling High School in Wheeling, Illinois, forged a musical connection early on. Kinsella drummed for Cap'n Jazz, while Holmes played guitar in various bands and shared a room with Kinsella. Before American Football, Kinsella, Lamos, and the Johnson brothers (David and Allen) formed The One Up Downstairs in 1997. Kinsella focused solely on vocals in this project, which recorded three songs intended for a 7" release on Polyvinyl Records.

Hailing from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Balance and Composure emerged from the ashes of two local bands in the winter of 2007. Quickly establishing themselves, their sound drew comparisons to grunge giants Nirvana and fellow Pennsylvanian post-hardcore act Title Fight, but also revealed influences ranging from the indie-rock of Neutral Milk Hotel and Sunny Day Real Estate to the emo intensity of Jawbreaker and Braid.

Over their career, the band released three critically acclaimed studio albums and two EPs, culminating in their sophomore effort, The Things We Think We're Missing. This album climbed to impressive heights on the Billboard charts, reaching #51 on the Billboard 200, #10 on the Independent Albums chart, #13 on Modern Rock/Alternative Albums, and #16 on the Rock Albums chart.

However, their journey came to a close. In a surprise announcement on Taylor Madison's Strange Nerve podcast (December 14, 2017), vocalist Jon Simmons revealed their upcoming anniversary tour would be their last. A subsequent press release on January 14, 2019, confirmed a farewell tour—initially six dates, expanded due to overwhelming demand—with select shows featuring support from fellow scene heavyweights Tigers Jaw, mewithoutYou, and Touche Amore. This marked the end of a significant chapter in the emo/post-hardcore scene, leaving behind a legacy of powerfully emotional music and memorable live performances.

Morning Call (English: Morning Call) is an independent Taiwanese band formed in 2009. Its members include vocalist Sui Ling, guitarist and band leader Liu Yihao, synthesist Yu Yingji, bassist Li Mengshu, and drummer Xia Da Kai. They began performing in 2011 and continue to perform to this day.

On March 30, 2016, they were nominated as the third best Taiwanese independent band by Internet Thermometer.

== Introduction ==

Morning Call upholds the belief that even amidst the crashing waves of rock and roll shouting, there should be some gentle weight of sound. Therefore, their music incorporates not only electronic, post-rock, and pop elements, but also many alternative and unique influences. Morning Call primarily releases their original music through online platforms. Furthermore, their singles "Fine" and "The Coast After That" topped the electronic and rock charts on the well-known music website StreetVoice for several consecutive weeks.

Guitarist and band leader Liu Yihao is a popular rising star in the Taiwanese entertainment industry. Vocalist Sui Ling graduated from the Department of Drama at Chinese Culture University. In addition to her modeling work, she also participates in various acting projects. Bassist Mengshu was originally a model for 伊林 (Eelin Model Agency), and in 2017, he appeared in the student short film Song Na.

== Members ==

== Former Members == Keyboard/Synthesizer: Yu Yingji (Xiao Ying) Drummer: Haru Halu

== History ==

=== Formation ===

Morning Call was founded in 2009. Before band leader and guitarist Liu Yihao rose to fame, he quietly laid the groundwork for Morning Call. As the founding member, he spent a year gradually assembling the band members before officially launching. Morning Call began performing in 2011, appearing in numerous large and small live houses and releasing original music on the well-known online platform StreetVoice, thus gaining some recognition within the independent music scene.

San Jose, California's Mugshot burst onto the scene in 2016 with their debut album, Dull Boy. Five years later, the band achieved widespread recognition with their EP, Empty Heaven, rapidly gaining a devoted following within the metal and hardcore communities. The current lineup features drummer Connor Haines, guitarist Michael Demko, and vocalist Ringo Waterman.

Hailing from Karlskoga, Sweden, Allt is a progressive metalcore band established in 2020. Their innovative approach to metalcore, coupled with compelling audiovisual storytelling, sets them apart.

Hailing from the Los Angeles underground, HEALTH is a genre-bending force in industrial/noise rock. The current lineup features vocalist/guitarist Jake Duzsik, bassist/producer John Famiglietti, and drummer B.J. Miller. Formerly including guitarist Jupiter Keyes (who departed in 2015), the band first gained traction with their remix of Crystal Castles' "Crimewave." Their self-titled debut album dropped in 2007, launching a prolific career.

Since then, HEALTH has unleashed a sonic assault across six full-length albums: Get Color (2009), Death Magic (2015), Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear (2019), and Rat Wars (2023), alongside the collaborative double album Disco4 (2020/2022). Their distinctive sound has also infiltrated the world of video games, with contributions to soundtracks for Max Payne 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto V, and Ultrakill.

History:

The band's genesis lies in a chance encounter between vocalist Jake Duzsik and bassist John Famiglietti at the flagship Los Angeles Guitar Center. They recruited guitarist Jupiter Keyes (a university acquaintance of Duzsik's) and drummer B.J. Miller, solidifying their lineup. The name "HEALTH," chosen from a long list of possibilities, was simply the only "everyday word" still available.