If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands

Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade [Official Music Video] [HD]

In 2019, My Chemical Romance made an unexpected reunion.

They’re not only central to the 2000s emo boom but also a globally popular band.

Formed in New Jersey, USA, in 2001, they first made their mark within the punk and hardcore scenes.

Their sound, which also reflects a gothic aesthetic and influences from classic hard rock, drew attention especially among fans of the so-called screamo and post-hardcore genres.

Their third album, The Black Parade, released in 2006, became a massive hit, with its outstanding songs and conceptual theme earning widespread acclaim.

They even appeared on Japan’s Music Station and played at the Nippon Budokan, cementing their popularity in Japan.

With a catalog full of catchy songs, they’re a great recommendation even for newcomers to Western music.

That’s What You GetParamore

Paramore: That’s What You Get [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

They’re a band from Tennessee, USA, featuring the sole female member Hayley Williams, who has been immersed in singing since childhood and boasts standout vocal ability.

Discovered by the esteemed label Fueled by Ramen—indispensable when discussing the 2000s emo boom—they made their album debut in 2005.

At the time, Hayley was just 17.

I fondly remember being astonished by the members’ overwhelming youth, especially Hayley’s, when they came to Japan for the first time in 2006.

Since then, they’ve broadened their musical palette, risen to become a scene-defining rock band, and even won a Grammy.

If you’re looking to savor wistful emo sounds and a sense of speed, I recommend their debut album “All We Know Is Falling” and their second album “Riot!”

Dance, DanceFall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance (Official Music Video)

When it comes to the most famous and successful band of the emo boom of the 2000s, it has to be Fall Out Boy from Chicago, Illinois.

Lyricist/bassist Pete Wentz and guitarist Joe Trohman originally came from metalcore bands, which is why, even in Japan, they drew attention among enthusiasts from the time of their debut—something I remember fondly.

Their illustrious career needs little retelling, but it’s worth reemphasizing how Patrick Stump’s soulful vocal style—he handles composition, vocals, and guitar—had a tremendous influence on the bands that followed.

Their success stems from the members’ flexible approach to genre; they never confined themselves to just emo or pop-punk.

If you want to savor their emo/pop-punk era, check out their first through third albums.

SweetnessJimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World – Sweetness (International Version)

Since their formation in 1993, Jimmy Eat World have long remained a conscientious presence in the American rock scene.

For many, their name is one of the first that comes to mind when you hear the word “emo.” In the beginning, guitarist Tom Linton handled most of the lead vocals and the band played a raw, punk-driven sound, but later Jim Adkins took over as lead vocalist, steering them toward a style that would profoundly influence what came to be known as emocore.

From the 2000s onward, they released the masterpiece Bleed American, growing into a rock band that represents the United States across genre boundaries.

Their driving guitar sound, solid songwriting, and Jim’s vocals—combining a tender, youthful sensitivity with real power—never fail to deliver a stirring, heart-shaking experience.

I Write Sins Not TragediesPanic! At The Disco

Panic! At The Disco: I Write Sins Not Tragedies [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Although it has effectively become a solo project led by frontman Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco originally debuted—while still in high school—as the first band on Decaydance Records, the label run by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz.

The tracks they had uploaded online, while clearly descended from the Fall Out Boy sound, also carried a uniquely theatrical vibe born of their Las Vegas roots, generating buzz even before their album was released.

At the time, bands labeled as “emo” often faced criticism from peers and the media, and the members themselves rejected the emo label.

That said, including their habit of changing musical styles from album to album, they can still be seen as an iconic act that emerged from the emo culture of the 2000s.

If you want to enjoy their more emo-leaning sound, start with their debut album—no question about it!

El ScorchoWeezer

Weezer – El Scorcho (Director’s Cut)

When it comes to the universally beloved Weezer, they’re a band revered even by those considered part of the so-called emo scene—so much so that tribute albums have been released in their honor.

Back then, they were described as anything from “crybaby rock” to “power pop,” but when faced with their exquisitely bittersweet melodies and aching emotion, you couldn’t help but be convinced.

Noisy, grunge-influenced guitars, a propulsive rhythm section, a slightly deadpan air, and lyrics that are almost too naive by frontman Rivers Cuomo—Weezer’s early musical style, in particular, has continued to inspire countless bands in Japan as well.

HolidayThe Get Up kids

The Get Up Kids – “Holiday” [Official Video]

They’re the best five-piece to come out of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Not Nirvana or Weezer, but The Get Up Kids are the band that inspired many people—even in Japan—to start their own groups.

I’m sure there are plenty like me who discovered ’90s emocore in their teens through bands like them.

They did break up once, but later reunited and continue to be active as a band even in the 2020s.

If you’re curious about them, start with their 1999 masterpiece, Something to Write Home About—famous for its robot cover.

Matt Pryor’s cool, husky vocals, the achingly bittersweet melodies, and the guitar sound bursting with youthful sparkle—everything is perfect.