Tetrapodwhy - Showcase

    Tetrapodwhy is a new four piece emo band from Calgary, Alberta. They formed sometime in summer of 2024 but only played their first shows late summer 2025. Melding mathy, noodley guitar parts with dissonant half-screamed vocals, Tetrapodwhy is bringing a fresh sound to Calgary. You can certainly tell they spent about a year perfecting their sound and style before releasing music or playing anything live. 

    Their first EP was released September 23rd, 2025, not long after their impressive first show (aside from a tiny basement set) opening for Chicago-based band Your Arms Are My Cocoon along. The EP is titled "long way from your heart", which features 6 tracks. The EP was released digitally through Luv Bugs Records, Connor of Montréal-based bands Eric Spinelli, Computer Science and Twine's DIY label. 

Their EP gives you a taste of what this band is going for and leaves you wanting more. Their mixture of 2010s style indie emo is sprinkled with discordant, twangy riffs and raw vocals that are reminiscent of the 90s DIY emo scene. This makes for a sound that is both approachable to newcomers and enjoyable for long-time fans of the genre alike. 

    Their show opening for Your Arms Are My Cocoon left me very impressed with how tight and in sync the band sounded with one another. They had good stage presence and a lot of emotion exuded from vocalist Ty Schwarzenberger's strained screams. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this band goes. 

    Seeing the emo/screamo scene being re-energized in Calgary is so refreshing and exciting to me, we have the beginnings of something really good and I hope that it continues to grow and evolve. Everyone check out Tetrapodwhy!

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Bandcamp

Current / Ottawa - Discography (1992-1994)

     Current was an post-hardcore band from Dearborn, Michigan. One of the first bands, along with split mates Indian Summer, to be banned from MRR for being too emo; Current was a bastion of the early 90s post-hardcore scene in the US, boldly going where no hardcore band had gone before. My personal favourite release by them, even though they are all iconic in their own respect; is Current's posthumous "Is 4" 7". This release contains the song "Basis" which along with Leech is one of my favourite Current tracks that really encapsulates their sound and mastery of the loud-quiet emo dynamic. Current is an essential band to listen to if you want to further your understanding on the history of 90s emo and post-hardcore.

Bandcamp

    Tired of being called "too emo" and "too progressive" for hardcore, the members of Current decided to record a studio session of "pure hardcore", retitled as Ottawa, to show the world that Current could do straight up hardcore as well as anyone else. This 14 track session which has been released in demo, split and LP form (twice!) is thrashy, grinding and angry as fuck. This material stood the test of time and is lauded by many an oldhead as one of the best hardcore recordings of the 90s. 

Bandcamp

Is 4 7" 1995 (Council)

Split 7" w/ Indian Summer 1993 (Repercussion)

Coliseum 12" 1993 (Council)

Could I 7" 1992 (Council)

Current / Chino Horde 7" 1992 (Council)

Ottawa / Jihad Split 12" 1994 (Council)

Jihad - Discography (1994-1997)

    Jihad was a hardcore band from Kalamanzoo, Michigan. Despite their unfortunate and poorly aged name, Jihad remains an staple in the 90s hardcore sphere. Mainly in part to their contribution to the Ottawa / Jihad split 12", one of the most important artifacts of the 90s era, a release that many consider to be the Faith/Void split of the 90s. My personal favourite release by them however, is their final 7" tilted New Testament; which really caught my attention when I first got into the genre. The 7" is a great representation of the sound and direction of the mid 90s emo/hardcore scene. 

    Jihad walks the line between the more introspective leanings of the 90s emo scene, while retaining a harsh and heavy sound clearly influenced by the metalcore bands of the era. One thing that really stands out to me is the unique, piercing vocals of the vocalist that really contribute to the whole feel of Jihad's sound, which is incredibly fierce and righteously pissed off. 

Discography

New Testament 7" 1997 (Makoto)

Ottawa / Jihad Split 12" 1994 (Council)

Gods Forsaken People 7" 1995 (Schema)

Jihad / Insourselves Split 7" (Checker)

Demo 1993

Old Testament CD 1996 (Makoto)