Screamo
| Screamo | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Early 1990s, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Typical instruments | |
| Fusion genres | |
| Emoviolence | |
| Regional scenes | |
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| Other topics | |
Screamo (also referred to as skramz) is a subgenre of emo that began in the early 1990s as a more aggressive style of the genre using short songs that grafted "intensity to willfully experimental dissonance and dynamics." It is characterised by a stronger influence from hardcore punk and the use of screamed vocals. Lyrical themes usually include emotional pain, romantic interest, politics, and human rights.
The term "screamo" is complicated in usage, and many bands object to the label. The vocal style it describes is not clearly defined and even some bands using a guttural vocal style can be considered screamo. It has been applied to various genres, especially post-hardcore. Some screamo bands employ strong influences from powerviolence (a fusion sometimes termed "emoviolence") and grindcore.
Screamo essentially is a style of hardcore punk-influenced emo with screaming. Screamo uses typical rock instrumentation, but is notable for its brief compositions, chaotic sounds, harmonized guitars, and screaming vocals. Some screamo music features chaotic noise and quiet, melodic guitar lines put into a song. According to AllMusic, screamo is "generally based in the aggressive side of the overarching punk-revival scene." Screamo often features dynamic shifts that go from soft and quiet to loud and aggressive or loud and aggressive to soft and quiet. Emotional singing and harsh screaming are common vocals in screamo. A lot of screamo bands sometimes play ballads.
In addition to melodic transitions from heavy to soft styles, screamo also is characterized "by frequent shifts in tempo and dynamics and by tension-and-release catharses." Screamed vocals are used "not consistently, but as a kind of crescendo element, a sonic weapon to be trotted out when the music and lyrics reach a particular emotional pitch." Alex Henderson of AllMusic considers screamo a bridge between hardcore punk and emo.
Screamo lyrics often feature topics such as emotional pain, breakups, romantic interest, politics, and human rights. Screamo lyrics are usually introspective, similar to that of softer emo bands.The New York Times noted that "part of the music's appeal is its un-self-conscious acceptance of differences, respect for otherness." Some screamo bands openly demonstrate acceptance of religious, nonreligious, and straight edge lifestyles Screamo fashion includes shaggy "vulcan" haircuts, tight T-shirts, denim jackets and thick-rimmed glasses.
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