I think my life passion is listening to emo/ post-hardcore music from different places in the world. Especially releases from the 2000s, because whilst most people could listen to music on the internet there wasn't as much available as there is now so each place sort of had it's own 'local sound'. It's like comparing emo from the east and west coast of America - similar but weirdly so different to the seasoned listener.
The continent of Europe is often overlooked in regards to emo - I mean for sure there were some big names like Wales' Funeral For A Friend or Germany's Tokio Hotel but in general America kinda invented emo so of course the most popular bands were gonna be American ones. However, as emo blew up in the 2000s it seemed like every country was on a mission to have their own My Chem and although many have been lost to time you can still find releases from many emo European bands of the 2000s. So begins this series of posts where I will be looking at a couple different European countries per post and talking about popular bands of the genre and how it's different from elsewhere.
Emo music in Russia
On discogs, the amount of emo releases per European country goes as follows: Germany, France and Russia. However, if you consider how many non-Russian bands had to re-release their music onto Russian labels the country falls even further down the list. This was surprising to me as I feel that the emo music scene was a huge cultural moment in Russia and many popular Russian bands in the 2000s were heavily inspired by it. If I'm gonna share one video which I feel like compiles the vibe for 2000s Russian emo, it's gonna be this slideshow of the song Часть моих мыслей by 6000000000 себя featuring pictures of the band looking all sad and edgy.
6000000000 себя were a weird band, only around for a year but had a supposedly big following in the scene. Their music is heavily inspired by both electronic and classical music whilst still being easily recognisable as emo. This sound combination is heard all over the Russian emo catalogue as well as the rap-metal combo that many bands adopted as well. Compared to other countries music from the scene Russian emo is basically only sung in Russian and many of the lyrics lean further into the depressing lyrics associated with bands like Underoath rather than more humorous and upbeat lyrics associated with the pop-punk side of the genre. The popularity of the more 'gloomy' acts of the genre would actually lead the Russian government to allegedly try and pass a piece of legislation to regulate and suppress emo and other "dangerous teen trends" due to apparent risk of suicide? Crazy. Read the full article here.
Russian emo playlist-- Listen here!
I obviously think everything in the playlist is good but I've written a few words about some standout tracks here:
Idea Fix - Плачь и Танцуй.
Can't get more emo than a sepia filter and a piano intro. Wins award for best video.
6000000000 себя - 28 Дней
Same vocalist as Idea Fix, weirdly cinematic. Probably my favourite band of the genre.
Wasabi - Прости
A win for women! Featuring the vocalist from metal band Rashamba.
KIT-I - После дождя
Mythological ass band. Released about 3 bangers and then broke up. Invented a new genre: emo-chic.
3000 Миль До Рая- Любить Сложнее, Чем Убивать Любовь
Just amazing. Early Brand New/ Emery vibes but heavier.
Jane Air - Мессалина
THE Russian rock/rap hybrid band. This is the song that started it for me. Maybe more pop than anything else here.
Tenkorr - Верю
SO SAD. Grungey alternative rock sound.
ПСИХЕЯ - Бесконечный стук шагов
Almost industrial but sad enough to be emo. Love that one guy just has a whole ass desktop.
MAIO - 99...100.
Classic crab-core Attack! Attack! vibes, super fun.
..В Себе - Дышать
Another female vocalist? Yay! Such a cool band.
Глубина Моих Дней - На секунду
THIS GUY IS SO SAD OMG. Song is beautiful though.
Such A Beautiful Day - Каждый Из Нас
Music video so crazy, like who is the other vocalist and where did he come from? Who are those women??? Good song though.
Дозавтра - Что же будет дальше
Lowkey not emo but adjacent. Late 2000s indie-rock vibes. More great hairstyles...
Фея Драже - Еще Одна Смерть
Such a unique sound, really awesome use of a cowbell. But why are they in a bunker? And why's someone always gotta be shirtless??
Deadkedы - Следующим Утром
So what if they're a Sparta cover band. WHY IS THIS 1min 25?!
Глубина Моих Дней - Если ты
One of my absolute favourites. Midwest emo riffs always gonna steal my heart. Emo divorce in real time.
Radio Cambodia - Трогательная
To quote @yourfavoriteweapon92
"Fuck this is good. Don't understand a word but doesn't matter"
