By Rodrigo Feijao
University at Buffalo
Screamo. A hardcore punk-influenced subgenre of emo that emerged back in the early 90s and has seen its ups and downs.
Born from the aggression of punk and the sorrow of the early emo scene, screamo came into existence when bands began pushing sonic boundaries with more dramatic instrumentation and vocals. Built on a DIY ethos, it flourished through self-released records, basement shows and word-of-mouth promotion.
Though the term is often misapplied as an umbrella term for any music that contains screaming, genuine screamo, derived from “scream” and “emo,” is much more deliberate.
What defines screamo?
To the unaware — looking at you, TikTok — its loose definition may reduce it to directionless angst, but it is often marked by common elements such as harsh dissonance, mixing of melodic passages with blast beats, spoken word sections and a combination of distorted and twinkly guitars.
Its defining feature is the piercingly emphatic screamed vocals, which prioritize raw emotion and intensity over polished delivery.
Ironically nicknamed “skramz,” screamo was pioneered in the 90s by East Coast bands like Saetia, Pg. 99 and Neil Perry, with post-Y2K acts Thursday and Alexisonfire later helping it get its first taste of mainstream attention.
During its heyday, screamo bands performed on MTV, shows got sold out overnight and merchandise would find its way into your local Hot Topic. But the spark began to dwindle by the 2010s, forcing the genre back to the underground.
Screamo in Rochester
Up until recent years, Rochester hadn’t seen much of a scene, especially since the quiet dissolution of obscure local bands like The Kwakiutl Cannibal Society. As time went on, other regions saw an abundance of groups representing their respective territories, leaving the reasons behind Rochester’s two-decade-long screamo drought a mystery.
Enter Debatably Stable.
The Rochester quartet has emerged at the forefront of the city’s screamo revival, along with many other acts in what feels like a genuine new wave for the scene. Formed in 2022, the band came together when stepbrothers Tom and Nick began jamming together and developed their lineup with the inclusion of Tom’s college friends Zach and Julian.
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Debatably Stable’s raw approach sets them apart
With Tom behind the drum kit, Zach and Julian on guitars and Nick handling vocals and bass, they quickly found common ground in their love for emotionally raw music. They drew influence from a wide range of musical acts both within and beyond screamo, including Tears of Avarel, The Great Redneck Hope and Tom Waits.
After a limited demo release in 2023, they independently released their debut LP, “Fake Ideas For Unhappy People,” this past June. The record directly captured the band’s raw energy and set them apart from the more conventional musical acts in their surrounding areas.
With its emotional urgency and dynamic songwriting, the album helped bring life back to Rochester’s previously stagnant screamo scene.
Despite being one of the more well-known names on screamo bills, the group was hesitant to call themselves the main driver of the revival, believing their local success came by chance and crediting other local groups that were around before them. “I feel like us being a part of [the scene] is almost kind of coincidental,” Nick said. “[Bands like] picknumberthreemyLord! were doing it before us without any real scene to go around, people start bands regardless.”
Zach matches that idea, believing the Rochester screamo revival had deeper roots.
“I think COVID had had a lot to do with it,” he said. “Kids being inside and not knowing what to do with their emotions or how to feel about things, then they find a creative outlet to go and disperse negative energy in a positive way. I think the Rochester scene is pretty beautiful for that.”
Touring before an album
Even before the release of their first album, Debatably Stable had already developed a reputation.
The group of twenty-somethings would go on a relentless streak of live shows, performing on multi-genre bills with various hardcore and screamo groups along the Northeast. Taking the stage with unbridled energy and enthusiasm, all while having nearly no music available on any streaming service or platform.
Before their album, their released discography consisted only of two compilation appearances: a Northeast screamo charity album and a benefit for Palestine compilation organized by Rochester-based collective Heart of Hardcore.
In an era where streaming and online promotion dominate music consumption, Debatably Stable built their following the old-fashioned way: relying mostly on their alluring performances and constant touring to leave an impression on the crowd.
The aforementioned demo, which was briefly available on Spotify, has since been removed, with members citing its hastily recorded and unfinished nature as reasons for its lost media status.
A nod to the past
Adding to their mystique, the members perform live shows with their backs to the crowd, screaming their hearts out while facing each other rather than the audience; a subtle gesture that pays homage to the formative era of screamo and the bands that came before them.
“That’s how we practice, facing each other,“ Zach said. “It’s a callback to OG screamo groups, but it’s also a statement. There’s no separation between the stage and the people in the crowd, it’s about the music, about the emotions, about everything.”
While the band embraces the chaos and emotional intensity of screamo, they’re also aware of the genre’s divisive reputation among casual music consumers. However, Julian, who initially wasn’t a fan before joining Debatably Stable, believes there are ways around it.
“You have to get behind what the vocals sound like, understand how they make you feel and what the vocalist is expressing,” he said. “A lot of people are like ‘I can’t even hear the words.’ You’re not really supposed to. It’s more of an emotional release, and if you can’t pick up on that, there’s something wrong.”
What’s next for Debatably Stable?
As Debatably Stable looks to the future, they hope for more than just continuing to play as a group for as long as they can, but to continue fostering collective harmony among scenes across nearby cities — connecting bands, genres and crowds.
“I would love to see copious amounts of cross-traffic between Syracuse and Buffalo,” Zach said. “[Rochester] could be like a meeting spot, maybe try to get Toronto involved, too.”
Nick endorsed the sentiments, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and connecting screamo to its parent genre.
“I hate clique-ness. We’re still able to do mixed-bill shows, hardcore kids are still able to come out to screamo shows and vice versa. Full scene solidarity is very important.”
His advice for the scene is as blunt and simple as can be: “Regardless of what genre you play, just be f—— nice. Support each other.”
— Rodrigo Feijao is an intern for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, focusing on sports-related stories and local music. He can be found on Instagram @rfeijao_777 and can be reached at RFeijao@gannett.com.
