Calabash Case - Discography (1995-1998)

     Calabash Case were a emo-hardcore band from San Diego, California. The band were Wrenched Records alumni like Evergreen, The Shortwave Channel (covered earlier this month) and The Interstate Ten. Like their contemporaries in the San Diego scene, Calabash Case refused to conform to any one sound and put out a myriad of electic songs with influences stemming from post-hardcore, emo, indie rock and dream pop.

    I could compare Calabash Case's sound to bands like Thumbnail, Unwound and even Portraits Of Past at some points. The vocals are a little rough around the edges at points but it does add to the charm of their music, which is stylish, youthful and full of interesting melodies. The song Land A Plane off the self-titled LP is a great representation of Calabash Case's sound, complete with a very Unwound-sounding section to close of the track.

    This band took a little while to grow on me but they have been a go-to for me this month and I highly reccomend checking them out if you have been enjoying the Wrenched Records catalog. Wrenched is really up there for me as one of my favourite "emo" labels of the 90s!

Discography

ST 7" 1995 (Wrenched Records)

(i'd love better pictures/scans of these releases if anyone has them)

Parading Constantly CD 1998 (Wrenched Records)

ST LP 1998 CD/12" (Wrenched Records)

The Shortwave Channel - Bright Lights They Hurt 12"/CD (1997)

    The Shortwave Channel was a post‑hardcore band from San Diego, California. A somewhat unorthodox band even for the San Diego scene, The Shortwave Channel was a three piece band that featured drums, bass, and Moog synthesizer. The band's sound was a surprisingly well meshed mix of post‑punk and post‑hardcore, comparable to fellow rockers Antioch Arrow and Giving Up The Ghost. 

    The Shortwave Channel's songs are hypnotic and repetitive, prone to breaking out into bursts of energy; the bass is played as a lead instrument most of the time, which reminds me a lot of Canadian indie rockers The Inbreds, while the Moog either slips in sparingly or rises up to give the songs an extra atmospheric push. In their short existence, the band only managed to release one album, "Bright Lights They Hurt," on Wrenched Records. Fellow Wrenched bands included Evergreen, The Interstate Ten, and Antioch Arrow.

Bright Lights They Hurt

Bright Lights They Hurt CD 1997

Absinthe - Discography (1995-1997)

    Absinthe was a metalcore band from Tucson, Arizona. Forming after the dissolution of the seminal and influential early 90s band Groundwork, Absinthe quickly set out to rip and tear through the Arizona hardcore scene, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Featured on the legendary (and somewhat newly revived) label King Of The Monsters, Absinthe had big shoes to fill from their conception, but they had no issue doing so. Absinthe came out swinging with their 1995 10" release and topped that with an incredibly solid 7" two years later in 1997. Despite their impressive background and killer lineup of releases, I still find them to be quite underrated in the grand scheme of things. Maybe if Absinthe ended up doing the planned split 7" with Minneapolis's Disembodied, one of the heaviest bands of the 90s, they would have gotten the recognition they deserved. Absinthe is one of the bands I'm most hoping to see reissued by King Of The Monsters, along with blog favourite Puritan. If you are a fan of political metalcore like Groundwork, Morning Again, and Unbroken; I can't recommend Absinthe enough.

Discography

Absinthe 7" 1997

Absinthe 10" 1995

seeyousoon - Showcase (2024-Present)

    seeyousoon is a screamo band from Edmonton, Alberta. I have had the privilege of seeing these guys play live a few times now and I have to say they are getting better every time I see them. Their guitarist Ben is incredibly talented and a pleasure to watch live, especially with those twinkly parts he plays on "It's Fall Again" that are straight up mesmerizing. I was really excited to hear they had finally made a small batch of physical releases (a handstamped manilla envelope CDr, no less) that compiles their recorded works up until 2026, and I'm happy I got to pick up a copy on Saturday at the show. seeyousoon takes heavy inspiration from the 2010s Edmonton screamo scene (I Hate Sex, Mahria, etc.) and a wealth of 90s bands, meshing together a sound that recalls both the 90s emocore scene and the underground indie influence of the 4th wave. I was super happy to have had them included on the Book Burner/Canadianwasteland YAAMC bill; those guys made up a huge part of why that night was so special. I'm glad to see them touring and recording more music, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the future.

Bandcamp

8 Songs CDr 2026

Life At These Speeds - Discography (2004-2007)

    Life At These Speeds was an emo/hardcore band from Portland, Oregon. Rising from the ashes of the seminal aughties band Arroyo Seco; Life At These Speeds quickly established themselves as a creative powerhouse. Along with Owsla label-mates The Pine, the band represented a return to form for the emo-hardcore scene at the time. LATS had a mature and driven sound akin to 400 Years, Ten Grand and Shotmaker; harkening back to that loud quiet dynamic that mid-90s bands loved so much. I first came across this band digging in the half-price punk records at Turn It Up! in Calgary; I got both the 2004 LP and the Science of Yabra split 12" for 3$ each and I have to say that was one of the best blind purchases I have ever made.  

Solo Releases

Thank God Split 7"

Science Of Yabra Split 12"

Wayfarers All Comp

Life At These Speeds 2004 (Owsla)

Science Of Yabra Split 12" 2005 (Grey Sky)

End On End Split 7" 2005 (Coldbringer)

Sinaola Split 7" 2005 (Waking)

Thank God Split 7" 200? (Tick Tock)