Hope For Post-Hardcore
unedited rambling and brief show recap.
Sometimes I find it difficult to hold out hope for post-hardcore, or at least for particular styles within it. Certain elements have faded with time, and bands who lived on the edge of post-hardcore and metalcore chose sides (usually metalcore). From my perspective, the 2010s had post-hardcore blend even more with alternative rock and screamo, and the main emergent style settled into was ‘swancore’. I’ve got nothing against that style, I enjoy it myself from time to time, especially since it’s scene somewhat Sacramento-centered, but I miss certain things about other styles of post-hardcore. Newer bands fit firmly into one archetype or another. I understand to a certain degree; if you really want to get people moving you’re gonna have to throw in a breakdown or two, chug a bit more, but the delicate elements of post-hardcore have been somewhat lost in the mix. The balance of heavy, emotional, chaotic, and especially sensual is rare when there was once a near over-abundance of it. I can see things moving closer to the styles I enjoy though, and knowing that there’s plenty being released and even more in the works gives me hope for the future of the genre.
Recent & Contemporary Releases
Aiko - @scream.aiko (Post-Hardcore album)
mydiarytoyou! - Your Knife Vs My Heart (Post-Hardcore single)
death_on_impact - Eyes: Like Birds (post-hardcore album)
Carmen Sixteen - ...And Grins With Sharpened Teeth... (mathemowhatever Album)
we’re the currency - an ode farewell (post-hardcore album)
I mentioned them in an earlier blog post but they really have got that nostalgic style down with this release with it still feeling fresh somehow.
Pacific Skyline - monochromatic blue (metalcore/post-hardcore album)
Car Underwater - Call This Healing (Post-Hardcore single)
bloke. - Assorted Singles (post-hardcore)
Older Bands, Styles, and Releases
A Static Lullaby is one band I can point to and say I really miss that style. They’re doing a little two-day run this weekend with A Skylit Drive but unfortunately I can’t go. Hopefully I’ll catch them another time.
Boys Night Out is another band who’s style I’d like to see make a comeback. I had the pleasure of seeing them earlier this year with Armor for Sleep. Although I wasn’t able to make it for the Trainwreck tour, it was really nice to hear them live. It reminds me as well of the light prevalence concept albums in 2000s post-hardcore.
I also saw Drop Dead, Gorgeous this year. This album in particular is probably my favorite concept album, even though I haven’t experienced it in it’s fullness (there was a website dedicated to the mystery, but it’s unfortunately long gone). This was also my last show at Chain Reaction, although I didn’t know it at the time. I will miss that venue so much.
Closure in Moscow is really one of the best bands to ever do it in my humble opinion. Each album stands out with remarkable craftsmanship, for almost 20 years now. I got to see them this year too, and not only watch them perform, but had some pretty good conversations as well. Their newest album is so much fun to listen to, there’s a lot of interesting things going on rhythmically and lyrically and it’s beautiful and all of their albums are great. I love the direction that they took with being “progressive”. Progressive post-hardcore is more than one thing thanks to them.
The Glorious Return of Sycamour
In 2025 quite a few post-hardcore bands showed signs of life after so much silence. The Receiving End of Sirens, Jamie’s Elsewhere, A Lot Like Birds (sure they’ve been kinda back for a while but they were really back this year), Signal the Escape, and most surprising to me, Sycamour. If you’ve never listened to Sycamor, you are missing out. That “balance of heavy and sensual” I was talking about earlier, that’s here in plenty. Sycamour held a reunion show earlier this year in their home state of Michigan, and of course I wasn’t there because that’s a bit too far for my driving comfort. Recently Sycamour announced a new single coming out next month, early January of 2026, and together with EPs by I Promised the World and mydiarytoyou! set to be releasing around the same time, I’m sure to be blissfully occupied.
P.S.
I saw Norma Jean this past week and it was incredible. Cake Eater and Roman Candle opened and they set a really fun tone for the whole night. I enjoyed most of the show without taking photos with the ferocity I usually do. I really need to see Roman Candle at a venue without a barrier, hopefully they come out to California again soon. Good Tiger said new album 2025, they’ve got 20 more days… I don’t think it’s coming. I hope it is, but it’s been radio silence since 2023 on their social media so…
Recent Deathcore Releases I’ve Been Enjoying
Adalina - Desolate (Deathcore EP)
Favorite track: Anathema
Execution - Its About Murder (Deathcore EP)
Favorite track: If cameras didnt exist