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, start here! List of overseas emo bands (41–50)
Quality Revenge at LastHey Mercedes
Hey Mercedes is a band formed by three out of four members of Braid, a pioneering group in the ’90s emo scene.
As a result, their sound carries on Braid’s legacy, but this band’s music is more accessible—simpler and more powerful.
In the end, they reunited as Braid in 2013.
The Boys of SummerThe Ataris
If you want to listen to Western emo, I definitely recommend The Ataris! They formed in 1995 in Indiana, USA, right in the midst of the early emo boom.
After several label changes and lineup shifts, they’re still going strong today.
From the start, their driving performances—evoking the keywords “summer, nostalgia, and sentimentality”—and the vocals that stir listeners’ hearts remain intact.
The album So Long, Astoria, which includes their cover of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” that brought them wide recognition, is packed with timeless tracks!
Pacific 231BURNING AIRLINES
Burning Airlines is a band led by J.
Robbins, renowned as a top producer in the emo scene.
J.
Robbins originally played in Government Issue, a band from around Fugazi’s Dischord circle, and after they broke up he formed Jawbox.
Jawbox went on to have a huge influence on later emo bands.
While continuing his work as a producer, Robbins also poured his energy into this band, Burning Airlines.
Their songs are wonderful—complex in structure while carrying on the lineage of Jawbox.
Happiness is all the rageThe Promise Ring
The Promise Ring is a band formed around Davey von Bohlen, formerly of Cap’n Jazz.
This song opens their third album, Very Emergency.
With its poppy sound, it feels closer to guitar rock than emo.
It was released on JADE TREE, a label representative of emo, while the Japanese edition was inexplicably released through Avex’s Cutting Edge imprint.
Your World Is OverJoshua
A track from Joshua’s first album, “A Whole New Theory,” released on Doghouse Records, which played an important role as an emo label.
The album was produced by J.
Robbins.
Although not widely known, they enjoyed popularity at the time for their delicate songwriting and strong sense of rhythm.
Such Small HandsLa Dispute
La Dispute, formed in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2004, build on a post-hardcore foundation while unfolding a multilayered sound that weaves in spoken word, emo, and even hints of jazz and blues.
Their 2008 debut album, Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair, left a vivid mark on the scene with its profound, folklore-inspired poetic worldview.
They went on to craft introspective and dramatic works such as Wildlife, an album that tells stories based on true events, and the acclaimed Rooms of the House, which reflects the members’ lived experiences; the latter was included in Paste’s 50 Best Albums of 2014.
Jordan Dreyer’s vocals—ranging from spoken narration to soul-baring shouts—and the band’s literary lyrics resonate deeply with listeners who seek delicate emotional nuance amid intensity, or who want to immerse themselves in music rich with narrative.
To Hell and Backblessthefall
If you enjoy intricate guitar work, low-pitched shouts, and heavy beats that feel good to listen to, you might be a fan of screamo bands.
The metalcore elements are quite strong, giving it a solid, weighty feel, but the beauty of the vocals layered on top is pleasing, and that contrast is striking.
It’s a band with a strong, distinctive character in the vocals and instruments—really in everything.