If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands
Even when we say “emo,” there are a variety of interpretations.
Sometimes the bands themselves don’t embrace the label, and fans may be divided, but in this article we focused on bands that are widely recognized and loved as emo bands.
When you think of emo, the common image might be introspective lyrics that pour in everyday emotions paired with melodic, dark tunes.
Still, this article highlights a broad range—from bands leaning more alternative to those closer to pop-punk.
From the timeless staples to the hidden gems, we’ve selected many bands, so be sure to give them a listen!
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If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands (21–30)
sweet.Static Dress
Static Dress, a rising force in the post-hardcore scene taking flight from Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, has been turning heads with their unique sound that fuses emo, screamo, and metalcore since their formation in 2018.
Since their 2019 debut, they’ve released a string of buzzworthy works, and in 2021, their EP “Prologue…” even came packaged with a comic book written by lead vocalist Olli Appleyard—showcasing their ambition beyond music alone.
Nominated for “Best UK Breakthrough Band” at the 2021 Heavy Music Awards and winning “Best Breakthrough Live Artist” in 2023, they’re a band highly recommended for music fans seeking intense sonics and an introspective worldview.
FirefliesOwl City
Owl City is the solo project of Adam Young, who creates wistful, beautiful synth-pop and electronica shaped by the emo sounds of the 2000s.
In the late 2000s, as music-focused social networking services like MySpace began to take hold, he uploaded tracks online, and Owl City’s name gradually spread among quick-eared music fans.
His earliest releases were entirely self-produced and sold directly through requests to Adam himself.
After signing with Universal Music, the signature song Fireflies— which introduced Owl City to the world—hit No.
1 in the U.
S.
He also became popular in Japan as a new-generation singer-songwriter.
Can’t Kick Up The RootsNeck Deep
A five-piece band from the UK that quickly became a scene favorite, armed with sparkling pop sensibilities and refreshingly catchy melodies reminiscent of 2000s pop-punk and emo-inflected tunes.
Their third album, The Peace and the Panic, released in 2017, was a remarkable success, reaching high chart positions not only in their home country but also in the United States, elevating them into one of the flagship bands of modern pop-punk.
While their appeal undoubtedly lies in their upbeat, pop-punk-based sound and melodies, you should also take note of their knack for crafting gems like IN BLOOM, whose bittersweet, emotional lyricism is deeply moving.
They’re a group from whom we can expect even greater strides in the future.
Take CareCopeland
From the early to mid-2000s, there was a period when bands dubbed “beautiful emo” or “piano emo,” beloved especially by devoted emo fans, drew significant attention.
Among the many great bands that debuted then, Copeland was particularly popular in Japan.
The excitement of their several Japan shows that actually happened has become an unforgettable, wonderful memory for me as well.
If you want to feel poignant emo, I recommend their 2003 debut, Beneath Medicine Tree.
But their masterful second album, In Motion—where a delicate fragility that feels like it might shatter at a touch coexists in perfect balance with the dynamism of a rock band—is my personal top recommendation!
ATTACKThirty Seconds To Mars
Watching Jared Leto—the frontman, songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist—makes you wonder just how much talent heaven decided to give him.
The band, formed in 1998 around Jared, who is also highly acclaimed as an actor, and his older brother Shannon Leto, released their self-titled debut album in 2002.
Unfortunately, it didn’t achieve commercial success at the time, but their second album, A Beautiful Lie, released in 2005, sold 1.
2 million copies in the U.
S.
, establishing them as a popular band despite a relatively sparse output.
That second album clearly bears influences from then-trendy screamo and post-hardcore sounds, while unfolding a uniquely grand, dramatic style that’s distinctly their own, and it includes many classic tracks that have become live staples.
Highly recommended even for those who only know Jared for his acting!
Until The Day I DieStory of the Year
Story of the Year, formed in 1995 in St.
Louis, USA.
They were on Maverick Records starting in 2002 and have been with Epitaph Records—home to many emo bands—since 2008.
Their signature track, ‘Until The Day I Die,’ grabs you from the intro, pairing their hallmark heaviness and delicate melodies with smooth, pleasing vocals—irresistible for emo fans! In recent years, they’ve released more tracks with a louder, heavier edge, widening their fan base.
Wake UpBlack Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides are known as a glam metal band from the United States and are mainly supported by devoted music fans.
The members all dress in fashion influenced by KISS, and their cohesive look is really cool.
In their early years, their songs were mostly metalcore and emo, but lately they’ve been releasing more tracks in the vein of hard rock and heavy metal.