2015 will see the release of a devastating and jarring screamo record, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the early ’00s. Youth Funeral’s See You When I See You was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Will Killingsworth (Orchid, Ampere, Magrudergrind) at Dead Air Studios. The New Hampshire band paint in colors familiar to fans of screamo’s old guard – the full-throttle blasts of Jeromes Dream and Usurp Synapse, the melodic detours of Saetia and Off Minor – but these kids own their sound. No tribute act, Youth Funeral know their history but this music is theirs. From the chaotic to the serene, they play it like they mean it.
Ghettoblaster recently caught up with vocalist/guitarist Casey Nealon to discuss some 2014 release that saw bands playing like they meant it. This is what he was into this year.
01. Total Control, Typical System
I love every song on this record. Iron Lung Records is my favorite current label for a number of reasons, and this Total Control LP is one of them
02. Spooky Black, Black Silk
When my friend showed me this record, I judged a book by its cover and assumed I would hate it. After listening and being unable to deny how much Spooky Black’s smooth voice and cheesy lyrics appeal to me, I  realized I couldn’t get enough.
03. Timber Timbre, Hot Dreams
Sounds like a sexy escapade into a cowboy-era middle America that feels familiar but has some strange purple hue to it that you can’t quite put your finger on, but it feels good.
04. Failures, Decline And Fall
Killingsworth and McCoy nailing it again with a challenging hardcore punk LP that packs more interesting parts into 50 seconds than any techy metal band could dream of.
05. Iceage, Plowing Into The Field Of Love
I could never get into Iceage until this LP. Feels lazy and incompetent, but has a self-deprecating charm to it that strikes me as intentional, making the parts where dissonance and sloppiness are traded for harmony and precision all the more powerful and savory. The Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds vibes don’t hurt either.
06. Ritual Mess, Vile Art
I feel goofy having two projects with Mr. Killingsworth at the helm on my list, but this LP seriously impressed me. The guitar work—to be expected— is intriguing and takes a lot of unexpected turns. Quite possibly the  only record of its kind that came out this year that I can fully get behind.
07. This Will Destroy You, Another Language
Combines the hopeful melodies of their earlier work and the droning, matured composition found in their previous LP: a perfect recipe for my approval.
08. The Coneheads, Demo 2014
The most interesting punk demo I have heard in years. Super catchy and weird. Sounds like aliens who landed on earth, found instruments and recording equipment in a basement, and composed a wild trip of music.
09. Young Widows, Easy Pain
Every Young Widows record somehow tops the last. Easy Pain is a refinement of their sound and the production and songwriting is top-notch. Super full and heavy. My only complaint is that my favorite song on the record—The Money—isn’t included on the vinyl release. For shame.
10. Hounds Of Hate, Hate Springs Eternal
The Hounds are my favorite current hardcore band. Braddock Straight Edge, fools.
(Visit Youth Funeral here: https://www.facebook.com/youthfuneral.)