Emo

Emo Merchandise

Admittedly, the term "Emo" has not always had an easy standing in the core scene. Yet, everyone has had their emo phase and perhaps still fancies one or two bands that partly or entirely rely on the explosive formula of Emocore: compelling arrangements, catchy guitar riffs, and gripping lyrics.

The Beginnings of Emocore

In the mid-80s, a new movement emerged from the growing American hardcore scene. Some bands were opposed to the increasingly prominent macho image, believing it was incompatible with the ideals of hardcore. Driven by the musical legacy of Minor Threat and the highly influential Bad Brains, these groups sought new ways to express emotions and feelings in their music. Rites of Spring, Hüsker Dü, Embrace, and Fugazi made significant statements that showed the direction the genre would take. In the early 90s, the emo sound increasingly diverged from the original hardcore punk. Frequent tempo changes, a strong variation of quiet and loud elements in songs, and alternating use of clean vocals and shouts became some of the new genre trademarks. Bands like Fire Party, Moss Icon, Policy of 3, and Still Life were particularly influential and defining during this time, even though they never rose above the underground status. After the turn of the millennium, emo reached the commercial music world. Funeral For A Friend from Wales hit it big with their debut album CASUALLY DRESSED & DEEP IN CONVERSATION in 2003. Bands like Silverstein, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, Thursday, and AFI rode the wave and achieved notable chart successes. Simultaneously, a second wave of bands emerged, also categorized as emo, though their roots lay in indie rock rather than hardcore. Among the most successful representatives of this direction were Jimmy Eat World and The Get Up Kids. The primary reason for the sudden success was the bands' mass-appealing development of the style.

Emocore Becomes a Youth Movement

While complex song structures, dissonances, and unusual arrangements dominated earlier, Emocore in 2005 sounded much more straightforward and hook-driven. Bands like Escape The Fate, Thrice, Fall Out Boy, Alesana, The Used, and especially My Chemical Romance took this development to its peak. The latter became the face of a scene whose titles sold well but for many bands, it was akin to a stigma: they faced mockery and hate from outsiders due to their association with a despised youth movement - a label the bands typically did not choose for themselves. The importance of the emo wave's influence on the entire core scene becomes apparent when looking at today's band outputs. The topic of mental health is now a central element in the entire core scene, supported by numerous organizations and bands like The Amity Affliction, Bring Me The Horizon, and Asking Alexandria.

Shop Emo Merchandise Items

Do you have a passion for compelling, emotional hardcore, or do you enjoy reminiscing about nostalgic moments from your youth? Then you'll find a range of cool Emo merchandise items in our shop.