State Route 522

State Route 522 were a five-piece post-hardcore/emo band from Seattle, Washington that were active from 1995 to 1997. They released two EP's, a split, and appeared on a handful of compilations during that time, and are notable for being Jake Snider's first band, who later went on to form Sharks Keep Moving and Minus The Bear. Sonically, this scratches a few itches, as they bridge the gap between the tremolo-picked octaves and dynamic angularity of post-hardcore a la Lync or Fugazi with the melodic, noodley arpeggios that would come to define midwest emo, making them also reminiscent of early pioneers like Gauge, Dahlia Seed, and Braid. They've kind of flown under the radar, but this is some really solid stuff that is absolutely worth your time to check out.

This is one of those instances where your best bet is to just get the anthology release (Retrospective), as that contains all their recorded material with better audio quality than the individual releases (which are only useful if you want smaller doses or completionism). Everything below is included on it with the exception of the four tracks on the Forecast compilation. I'm also missing another compilation-exclusive song "Worse For The Wear" and a demo they apparently recorded in 1995, so if anyone has those let me know! Enjoy.

State Route 552 (1995)

1. Find

2. Ten Years

3. Waste Of Skin

4. Hit

State Route 552/Lying On Loot (1996)

1. State Route 552 - Toy Cow

2. Lying On Loot - Skies Of Stars

3. Lying On Loot - Defeatist

Forecast (1996)

9. Standards

10. Sorry

11. Sunday

12. Away Game

Note: Compilation release, State Route 522 tracks only

Samson Is Apollo (1997)

1. I.V.

2. 1910

3. Solid State

4. Avenue Of Giants

All About Friends (1997)

10. Jumpin' Someone Else's Train

Note: Compilation release, State Route 522 track only

Retrospective (2001)

1. I.V.

2. 1910

3. Solid State

4. Avenue Of The Giants

5. Jumping Someone Else's Train (The Cure cover)

6. Toy Cow

7. Find

8. 10 Years

9. Waste Of Skin

10. Unlisted

The Fire Theft

The Fire Theft were a three-piece indie rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 2001 and have been on indefinite hiatus since 2004. Notably, this band was formed by three-quarters of the quintessential Sunny Day Real Estate line-up, including guitarist/vocalist Jeremy Enigk, bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer William Goldsmith. The Fire Theft was formed immediately after SDRE split for the second time, with Mendel rejoining his former bandmates after having joined the Foo Fighters following SDRE's first split. Under this moniker, they released one full-length in 2003, alongside one single. Since the reformation of SDRE in 2009, it's doubtful this project will be ever picked up again, though no definite word has been given on the matter. 

Sonically, this is a pretty notable departure from the sound we've come to know these guys for. There's plenty of lush, arpeggiated melodic guitars, and Enigk's distinct vocal falsetto but with some added instrumentation coming in to the fold (synths, xylophones, strings, etc.) and some odd time signatures being utilized. There's also multiple atmospheric, ambient interludes throughout the album, breaking up some of the heavier-hitting moments. Bands like Gensis and Yes have been pointed to as influences, as though it's definitely noticeable, it's a little overblown to make any direct comparisons. It's a solid album, though admittedly not one I really check in on, and I would take any SDRE album over this. Having said that, it's still worth sharing and checking out if you're a massive fan of theirs and want to hear what they were up during on of their multiple interims. Enjoy.

Hands On You (2003)

1. Chain

2. Sinatra

3. Hands On You

The Fire Theft (2003)

1. Uncle Mountain

2. Wast Time Segue

3. Oceans Apart

4. Chain

5. Backwards Blues

6. Summertime

7. Houses

8. Waste Time

9. Heaven

10. Rubber Bands

11. It's Over

12. Carry You

13. Sinatra

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Sinking Ships

Sinking Ships were a five-piece hardcore band from Seattle, Washington that were active from 2004 to 2008. They released several EP's, a split, and one album, which was released by Revelation Records. As far as goes melodic hardcore in the 2000's goes, this band is often one of the first to come up as an "essential", particularly their sole LP Disconnecting. It's hard-hitting instrumentally, but lyrically poignant and introspective. Plus the guitars sound absolutely lush and soaring at times, which really sets them apart from their chuggy counterparts. If you're already a fan of bands such as Verse, Modern Life Is War, and Ruiner, this will definitely appeal to you. Enjoy.

Demo (2004)

1. Int (Chi) Ro

2. Roads Leading Midwest

3. Memorial

4. All Paths Of Glory

5. The Limit

6. Angels Live In My Town

7. Kiss The Sharks

Meridian (2005)

1. Exit Strategy

2. Grace

3. 39th And Glisan

4. The Furthest Place From Here

5. The Sound

6. Ten To Five

7. In(chi)ro

8. Roads Leading Midwest

9. Memorial

10. All Paths Of Glory

11. The Limit

12. Kiss The Sharks

Generations (2005)

11. Turn My Headphones Up 

Disconnecting (2006)

1. Give Up

2. Auburn

3. The Next Time I Go

4. The Days You've Come To Fear

5. Ghost Story

6. Deadlocked

7. Shadows

8. Ruin

9. Target Practice

10. Cheated

11. Comfort

12. Wait

Safe / Revenge (2007)

1. Safe

2. Revenge

Ten (2007)

1. Irish Wristwatch/Twice

2. Wallingford Is Still Doomed

3. Losing Skin (Seaweed cover)

Sinking Ships/My Love/As We Let Go (2007)

1. Sinking Ships - Out Of Touch

2. Sinking Ships - Bee Honda

3. My Love - What You Break

4. My Love - Outline

5. My Love - Insight

6. As We Let Go - Out Of The Race

7. As We Let Go - On The Run

8. As We Let Go - Why You Try

Out Of Touch / Bee Honda (2008)

1. Out Of Touch

2. Bee Honda

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These Arms Are Snakes

These Arms Are Snakes are a four-piece post-hardcore/alternative metal band from Seattle, Washington that were initially around from 2002 to 2009. Since then, they played a single reunion show in 2016 and 2021 respectively, and briefly toured this year (2022). They put out three full-lengths, an EP, and a few splits. A lot of their non-LP/EP material was included on a compilation released earlier this year. Right out the gate, I have to admit that I have never really given this band a proper listen, which is insane considering the fact that they've been heavily requested for years. Even crazier than that, they were formed out of the ashes of two of my favourite bands. Vocalist Steve Snere and original drummer Erin Tate were both members of Kill Sadie, while bassist Brian Cook was a member of the metalcore titans Botch. Tate left These Arms Are Snakes after their first album to become the long-time drummer for Minus The Bear, while Cook has been the bassist for post-metal band Russian Circles since 2007. Guitarist Ryan Fredriksen later played in the mathcore band Narrows alongside Botch vocalist Dave Verellen, who put out a few fantastic releases through Deathwish about a decade ago. Despite all of these highly-regarded affiliations, I've never given this band its proper due. I've liked what I've heard so far, so figured I'd share it now for anyone like me, who's put this on the backburner for far too long. Enjoy.

This Is Meant To Hurt You (2003)

1. Riding The Grape Dragon

2. Run It Through The Dog

3. Diggers Of Ditches Everywhere

4. The Blue Rose

5. Drinking From The Necks Of The Ones You Love

Oxeneers Or The Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (2004)

1. The Shit Sisters

2. Angela's Secret

3. Big News

4. Tracing

5. Your Pearly Whites

6. Gadget Arms

7. Greetings From The Great North Woods

8. La Stanza Bianca

9. Darlings Of New Midnight

10. Oxeneer

11. Idaho

12. (silence)

13. Untitled

Like A Virgin (2005)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Payday Loans

2. Harkonen - Standing On Holey Soles

3. These Arms Are Snakes - Hook On This

4. Harkonen - Neverlanders

5. Harkonen & These Arms Are Snakes - Touched For The Very First Time

Good Friday (2006)

1. Horse Girl

2. Old Paradise

Easter (2006)

1. Mescaline Eyes

2. Horse Girl

3. Subtle Body

4. Desert Ghost

5. Child Chicken Play

6. Hell's Bank Notes

7. Abracadabra

8. Deer Lodge

9. Lady North

10. Perpetual Bris

11. Corporeal

12. Crazy Woman Dirty Train

Tail Swallower And Dove (2008)

1. Woolen Heirs

2. Prince Squid

3. Red Line Season

4. Lucifer

5. Ethric Double

6. Seven Curtains

7. Long And Lonely Step

8. Lead Beater

9. Cavity Carousel

10. Briggs

These Arms Are Snakes/Tropics (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Meet Your Mayor

2. Tropics - Future Gets Tense

These Arms Are Snakes/Russian Circles (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Camera Shy

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Trix

3. Russian Circles - Philios

These Arms Are Snakes/Pelican (2008)

1. These Arms Are Snakes - Pink Mammoth

2. Pelican - Gold Diggers

All The Saints/These Arms Are Snakes (2009)

1. All The Saints - Host

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Washburn

In Utero, in Tribute, in Entirety (2014)

3. Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana cover)

The Coathangers/These Arms Are Snakes (2014)

1. The Coathangers - Sex Beat (The Gun Club cover)

2. These Arms Are Snakes - Energy Drink And The Long Walk Home (The Lost Sounds cover)

Duct Tape & Shivering Crows (2022)

1. Meet Your Mayor

2. Camera Shy

3. Trix

3. Energy Drnk And The Long Walk Home

4. Heart-Shaped Box

5. Washburn

6. Old Paradise

7. Payday Loans

8. Hook On This

9. Riding the Grape Dragon (Demo)

10. Run It Through The Dog (Demo)

11. Diggers Of Ditches Everywhere (Demo)

12. The Blue Rose (Demo)

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Caustic Wound

Caustic Wound are a five-piece grindcore/death metal band from Seattle, Washington that have been around since at least. They were formed by members of Mortiferum, Magrudergrind, and Cerebral Rot. Their debut LP came out last year on Profound Lore, and is an unabashedly brutal take on deathgrind with some incredibly heavy, guttural vocals at the forefront. I don't like to a ton of stuff in this realm anymore, but Death Posture has undoubtedly stuck like an icepick. Enjoy.

Grinding Terror (2018)

1. Alone In The Aftermath

2. Guillotine

3. Visions of Torture

4. Cabal

5. Writhe

6. Mutated Reality

7. Insolvent Blood

8. Grinding Terror

Death Posture (2020)

1. Death Posture

2. Cemetery Planet

3. Visions of Torture

4. Black Bag Asphyxiation

5. Terror Bomber

6. Blast Casualty

7. Ritual Trappings

8. Uranium Decay

9. Cabal

10. Acid Attack

11. Invisible Cell

12. Guillotine

13. Autonomous Weapons System

12. Cataclysmic Gigaton

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Kiss It Goodbye

Kiss It Goodbye were a four-piece metalcore band from Seattle, Washington that were around from 1996 to 1998, with one reunion tour in 2012. They were started by former members of Deadguy and Rorschach, both groundbreaking bands in their own right. They brought the early metalcore sound pioneered by the former, and took it to a darker, dissonant and unorthodox place like the latter. What resulted is 1997's She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, put out by Revelation Records. It's an album that builds tension just to release unbridled anger, and a classic of the era. I cannot recommend it enough, along with Deadguy's sole LP (which I jsut realized I have yet to post). These are some of both the best and most influential albums metalcore has to offer, so enjoy.

Be Afraid Demo (1996)

1. Manthing

2. Afterschool Special

3. Target Price

4. Hartley

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (1997)

1. Helvetica

2. Hartley

3. Fire Drill

4. What If

5. We'll Burn That Bridge When We Get To It

6. Ammunition

7. Man Thing

8. Sick Day

9. Put Your Head Down And Run

Choke (1999)

1. Choke

2. Cement

3. Watching Hellraiser

4. Preacher

5. Target Practice

Regional Justice Center

Regional Justice Center are a powerviolence band from Seattle, Washington that began in 2017. Initially the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ian Shelton, they have expanded into a full-piece band since. RJC came bursting out last year with the release of their full-length album, World of Inconvenience, with a personal statement regarding the American incarceration system, which is as powerful as the rage-fueled music on it. If anger was an energy, this record could fuel the universe. Or something like that. It's an incredible album and an intense listen, I don't know what else needs to be said. Oh, and it was produced by Will Killingsworth. Enjoy.

Demo (2017)

1. Duplicity

2. Privilege

3. Fearful

4. Cannibalized

5. Iron

World Of Inconvenience (2018)

1. Indecency

2. Control

3. Sperm Donor

4. Muck

5. Amnesia

6. Incompetence

7. Exploitation

8. Class A

9. Trapped

10. Bureaucrat

11. Community Standards

Wound Man/Regional Justice Center (2019)

1. Regional Justice Center - Aspirations

2. Regional Justice Center - Amphetamines

3. Regional Justice Center - To Cope

4. Wound Man - Manslaughter

5. Wound Man - Pound For Pound

6. Wound Man - Chain

7. Wound Man - Bone

Institution (2019)

1. Dismantled

2. Confrontation

3. Medication

4. It Only Gets Worse

5. Institution

Crime And Punishment (2021)

1. Taught To Steal

2. Dust Off

3. Absence

4. Inhuman Joy

5. Sickness on Display

6. Conquest

7. Concrete

8. Solvent

9. Violent Crime

10. ...And Punishment

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Black Breath

Black Breath are a five-piece hardcore/metal band from Seattle, Washington that formed in 2006. They've put out one EP and three full-lengths, all with Southern Lord, which should immediately conjure up an indication of their sound. Black Breath take hardcore and throw in shades of death metal (i.e. Entombed) and thrash metal (i.e. Slayer) to create some of the fastest and most aggressive music to come out in the past few years. Their sheer grit and blunt force trauma attack puts them right in the same league as some of their contemporaries (Nails, Trap Them, etc.) as hardcore's finest offerings. However, Black Breath don't just rely on a strong offence as their sole trait. They've come up with a slew of solid riffs that are quite technical and refined, which makes for some very interesting tracks. There's a few moments on their most recent album where they introduce some melodic instrumentals, which is a marked difference to the chainsaw-sound of their average song. Black Breath are an essential for any fan of aggressive music, especially Sentenced To Life. If you're going to listen to anything by this band, make it that. Enjoy.

Razor To Oblivion (2008)

1. Razor To Oblivion

2. Fatal Error

3. Beneath The Crust

4. Murder

Heavy Breathing (2010)

1. Black Sin (Spit On The Cross)

2. Eat The Witch

3. Escape From Death

4. I Am Beyond

5. Virus

6. Heavy Breathing

7. Children Of The Horn

8. Fallen

9. Unholy Virgin

10. Hewhocannotbenamed

Sentenced To Life (2012)

1. Feast of the Damned

2. Sentenced to Life

3. Forced into Possession

4. Home of the Grace

5. Endless Corpse

6. Mother Abyss

7. Of Flesh

8. Doomed

9. The Flame

10. Obey

Slaves Beyond Death (2015)

1. Pleasure, Pain, Disease

2. Slaves Beyond Death

3. Reaping Flesh

4. Seed Of Cain

5. Arc Of Violence

6. A Place Of Insane Cruelty

7. Burning Hate

8. Chains Of The Afterlife

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