There is no secret that there is an emo revival taking place.
In the 1990s, the genre was headed by bands such as American Football, Mineral, Sunny Day Real Estate, and many more, but by the early 2000s, this genre was a shadow of what it used to be. Bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy exploded into the mainstream, changing the sound and style. These bands took away the lightheartedness, in favor of a much more serious approach, essentially killing what was left of the 90s bands.

These bands lead for years, and emo became a term synonymous with something laughable and dramatic, but over the past few years, more and more bands are returning to the 90s sound and aesthetic in what’s been called the “emo revival.”

These bands include Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), Snowing, Dads, and as of recently, Foxing.

Although this band is pigeonholed in that genre, it pulls inspiration from a wide variety of different music scenes. While maintaining the genre-defining twinkly guitar sounds, this band also presents an airy and free moving atmosphere, which gives them almost a post-rock appeal. This sets them apart from the other bands in that way, pulling more from post-rock than math-rock.

This album kicks off with the track “Bloodhound.” Already we are given an interesting take on the genre, with a very minimal take on instrumentation. A violin, flute, and piano are shown off this song, setting up a beautiful melody that flows nicely into the next track “Inuit,” which explodes into an almost Explosions in the Sky-like crescendo.

Featuring an orchestra and group harmonies, it is an excellent example of this bands skill at arranging a number of different instruments into a single song. Everything fits perfectly, and not a single vocal or instrument feels constraining or overbearing.

The next stand out track is “The Medic,” featuring almost jazz- like flowing guitars. There are two guitar players in the band, and this song is an obvious reason as to why. Foxing is no stranger to intricate melodies, and complex guitar sequences, and this song displays that.

Although this band excels in intricate instrumentation, it also shines in minimalism. The explosive single “Rory” is the next shining track. This song focuses on a hushed piano and vocals for the early half, and it is another fine example of why this band has grown so quickly. Vocalist Conor Murphy really shines on this track, achieving a falsetto that rivals Jónsi of Sigur Rós.

This track also displays their post-rock influence, building into an intense crescendo, featuring trumpets and destructive guitars. This is one of the shining moments on the LP, and is definitely a memorable track, to say the least.

The next stand out track is “Bit by a Dead Bee pt.II”, which is another one of the slower tracks on this record.
The first minute is just ambient guitar noises, and drums, displaying how beautifully intricate this band truly is. After this, it picks up and fits into a groove that is essential to this record.
Another almost jazzy take on their usual style, featuring airy guitarist and a moving drum pattern, this song makes you feel everything, and is essentially a summarization of the entire album.

Although this band is relatively new to the scene, they’ve quickly become one of the most recognizable bands in it. After how much they have developed since their split w/ Japanese Breakfast, I am eagerly awaiting their next step forward, and I am also eager to see how much they mature between this release and their next.

If you enjoyed this album you should listen to: What It Takes to Move Forward by Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), Two Conversations by the Appleseed Cast, and American Football by American Football.