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| Photo Courtesy Molly Kinnunen / Speaking With Ghosts performing at The Waiting Room |
Speaking With Ghosts
Speaking With Ghosts is my favorite hardcore band in Chicago. I have been stanning them all over social media since last spring—but only because of how much I appreciate what they are doing for the local scene! Speaking With Ghosts' motto is to always "shine light and inspire," as they claim in their song "Woven in Gold," and that is exactly what keeps me coming back to them. Toward the end of last spring semester, I was going through a lot emotionally and mentally, and listening to SWG was a beautiful reminder that I am loved, wanted, needed and so important, no matter what I might feel at times in my life. Their latest album "Illuminated" constantly brings up that idea that we can have hope in this life, while maintaining that lighter, metalcore sound.
VCTMS
VCTMS is a slightly heavier hardcore band. The thing that actually really pushed me to get into this band is the fact that Meredith Henderson is their drummer—I've always dreamt of being a drummer myself, so it's actually incredible to see her doing such amazing things and creating such powerful art through her band VCTMS. This heavy metal band just recently released their album "Vol. III Halfway Happy" on August 31. I am particularly obsessed with this album for the sole reason that Henderson is featured several times on vocals—ah. It's so refreshing to hear a woman doing heavy metal. I love her. Overall, this local band is insanely talented and continues to touch on issues such as abuse and depression, while maintaining that heavy sound, almost touching on deathcore.
Erabella
Erabella put on a damn good show at the Wire this past summer. Their EP "Kingdoms" was released, and the show was heavy and loud—both good things—and they made sure to include several friends, allowing guest-vocals and moshing throughout the set. More recently, they had a house show in order to create a music video for their heaviest track, "Low Life." Though I wasn't able to make it out that night, the show was intentionally designed to include friends, showcasing the connection between artist and those in the audience, the listeners. I love this about them—Erabella is always looking out for their friends and fans. After one of their shows, they gave me some free merch just for supporting them. I'm always excited to head-bang to their extremely passion-filled music—it's a clear picture of who they really are as a band. They bring something sweet (in the least literal way) to the local scene.
TanZen
TanZen is an "extreme metal band," according to Reggies' website. This band has been around since the spring of 2013. Their album "Shizoku" was released May 30, 2017, and their official music video for their track "Left Swipe" was released Sept. 17—the music video was directed by Alex Zarek. TanZen has kid of always been pretty dark sounding, and their most recent single is almost more melodic in sound, rock-inspired, maybe, but with spooky riffs and gritty screams. I've seen them a couple times at shows, and I've always been impressed by the overall mood that they project in their music, performing and generally as a heavy metal group.
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| Photo Courtesy Molly Kinnunen / Luca performing at The House Cafe |
Luca
We love Luca! Lead vocalist Adrian Dabu carries along with him this passion and dedication to the band, friends in the local scene and the lyrics he sings throughout his performances. I am reminded of Being As An Ocean when I listen to Luca's album "Vera Corda," and I get these comforting vibes—I feel loved, not alone. Welcomed, needed. This band is another piece to this inclusivity in the Chicago local scene for the fact that Adrian himself is a friend; he does not choose to step away from those offering him support in his musical endeavors. Luca's music is melodic/post-hardcore, and the band's excitement to be a part of the local scene is one thing that keeps me interested.
With this, I hope you can appreciate each one of these bands with more than all of your heart; love them more than the scene loves you. Even if you aren't particularly into hardcore music, you actually just might be. I never thought I would be into it, but here I am—obsessed with several of these artists. There is so much passion in what they are doing for the local scene, and I love knowing I have a friend in many of the individuals in these bands—they're always going to support me.
There is a lot of love here. Go with that in mind.
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