If It Doesn't Kill You was a screamo band from Greenville, North Carolina. I was first exposed to this band through their track on the Slave Union 2x7" comp, that one song completely blew me away and stood out as the best track on the comp, beating out a lot of very iconic early 00s bands. It took me a while to find the rest of their stuff as they seem to be quite the obscure band, but I think I ended up tracking most of it down on the Thisendlessbreath blog. A little fun fact: me and Brett are both from Calgary! Anyways if you are a fan of early 00s, intense, metallic screamo, If It Doesn't Kill You is sure to scratch that itch.
Mahria was an emo/hardcore band from Edmonton, Alberta, who formed in late 2010. Their first release was a split with Todos Caerán, followed by an album, a split with Watcher, a split with The Sky Above and Earth Below and finally, another album in 2017. Members of the band also played in Watcher and went on to play in Edmonton band Obroa-Skai who just broke up this year.
Mahria was one of a handful of bands in Alberta and Canada of this era that aimed to keep the 90s emo sound alive. Channelling bands like Yaphet Kotto, Loma Prieta and In Loving Memory, Mahria left their mark on the Canadian underground music scene. Along with fellow Albertan bands Todos Caerán, Rape Revenge, La Luna/Brain Fever, The Discord Of a Forgotten Sketch, and I Hate Sex, Mahria allowed Alberta's emo scene to thrive for the first time since the early 2000s.
Their releases were on various labels, including Bart Records of Calgary, Alberta and their final album, which was released on tapes in 2020, years after the band had broken up, was released by Zegema Beach Records, which gave the band some more exposure.
Garland Briggs is an emo-violence band from Calgary, AB, fronted by me (Maya), along with guitar by Nick, bass by Jake and drums by Miyaki. We have been a band for around 2 years now but played our first show in August of 2024. On March 4th 2025 we released our first album, through Canadian Wasteland, which was initially going to be a demo but we decided it was long enough to be an album so I guess it's our demo/album?
After years of wanting to start a band, especially an emo band, this has been such a rewarding experience for me. Finally having something to pour my inspiration and emotion into is so cathartic and I would recommend it to anyone who has any interest in making music. Being someone who spends so much time listening and reading and writing about the emo bands of the 90s and 2000s, being able to use those influences in my music is so satisfying.
Being in a band has also meant I've made so many great friendships, mainly with everyone in the band, but overall it has introduced me to so many cool and interesting people that I am grateful to know.
With each of us coming from backgrounds of different musical tastes, our sound is a mix of many things including some grindcore elements, but we've all been able to come together and create a sound we're happy with. Some of our main influences are Love Lost But Not Forgotten, Joshua Fit For Battle, Funeral Diner, The Great Redneck Hope, Tears of Avarel and Indian Summer.
If there is one thing I can say, it's START A BAND! We need more bands always! Even if you think you aren't good enough or people won't like what you like or whatever it may be holding you back, please just do it and I promise you it will pay off. I had no experience making music and am a relatively shy person who never thought I could have done something like this, but here I am and it was so worth it!
Lastly, thank you so much to everyone who supports us in any way. Thank you to Ben for all of his support, Marissa for her beautiful photos of us, Meg for her videos of us and incredible visuals at our show, thank you to Neil for recording our album and getting us our first shows, thank you to Thatcher for mixing our album, thank you to NJ for filming our very first show and taking great photos of us and thank you to all of our friends and supporters we love you all so much and couldn't do it without you!
Leaves Of Lothlorien was a indie/emo band from Wolcott, Connecticut. Despite being tagged with the "emo" genre, Leaves Of Lothlorien is about as upbeat and whimsical as you can get. This band is seriously a blast to listen to and I bet everyone who attended their shows walked out with a big smile on their faces. Theres quite a bit of inginuity and creativity going on in Leaves Of Lothloriens discography and they don't much sound like any other indie-emo band.
The band had a loose The Lord Of The Rings theme going on with the bands name and a few of the songs being references. There are some other nerdy references in their work that aren't LOTR related as well. Overall, if you are looking for some good light hearted, fun material look no further.
Lyburnum was a hardcore band from Scottsdale, Arizona. Active only for a couple years in the mid 90s, the band released a demo tape and featured on two prominent hardcore compilations. Lyburnum played with a number of influential bands like; Groundwork, Antioch Arrow, Angel Hair, Evergreen, Julia, Unwound, Portraits of Past, Clikitat Ikatowi, Still Life, Policy of 3, Floodgate and Current.
Despite taking their name from Moss Icons titular 1993 LP, Lyburnum did not share the same introspective and artful sound as Moss Icon. Rather having a chaotic, shredding, twisted and heavy sound comparable to the likes of Three Studies For A Crucifixion. If you have any leads on the 2 missing tracks from the demo (Librarian and Closure) please let us know. Any other information or ephemera on the band (pictures, posters etc) would be greatly appreciated as well.
You And I was an emo metalcore band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. If You And I never existed I don't think the term "screamo" would have ever crossed into the mainstream. You And I created the blueprint that evolved into the 2000s mallcore sound, complete with harsh shrieks, breakdowns and off-key clean vocals. Just putting this on record though, You And I did it with 100% more talent and sincerity than any of those other bands.
You And I's last show
The band made a lasting impact in the New Jersey / New York scene and had some of the most emotional and impactful shows the hardcore genre could offer; with many ending in tears and dogpiles on the floor. Everything that needs to be said about You And I is already included in the discography zine, so make sure to check that out as well.
I will also include Instil's discography here too, they were a band before You And I that contained most of the same members and had a similar sound.
