In Defense of the Genre is a column on BrooklynVegan about punk, pop punk, emo, hardcore, post-hardcore, ska-punk, and more, including and often especially the bands and albums and subgenres that weren’t always taken so seriously.
Hey it’s Andrew, making a brief return from my sabbatical to tell you about the 11 punk, emo, and/or hardcore songs that I loved the most this past month. Gonna keep the intro short and get right to the list but browse the “punk” tag on BrooklynVegan for more punk news, pick up punk vinyl in the BV shop, and lastly, if you’re a fan of this column you may want to know that I officially announced my first book EMO REVIVAL this past month. You can pre-order that from the Clash Books website or the BV shop now.
Also, this list is about March (not April) but don’t miss that today Converge announced their second album of 2026, Dillinger Four released their first song in 18 years, and members of The Starting Line and Algernon Cadwallader launched a new band!
Read on for my list of the 11 best songs from underneath the punk umbrella released this March…
Basement – “Wired”
This is no attempt to capitalize on the surprise TikTok vitality of 2012’s “Covet” that ensued in the years since Basement last released an album; this is one of the best Basement songs yet and totally new, exciting territory for them. It’s caught between Jawbreaker/Samiam/Knapsack emo/punk and Gin Blossoms/Goo Goo Dolls alt-rock and then filtered through John Congleton’s noisy production and Basement’s trademark power. It’s the title track of their first album in 8 years, and an absolute banger.
Grab our limited, color vinyl variant of ‘Wired’ in the BV Shop.
Gouge Away – “Figurine”
If Deep Sage was Gouge Away pulling out every single tool in their toolbox and coming out with a potential magnum opus, then “Figurine” is the victory lap. Throughout these two minutes and 30 seconds, Gouge Away swirl together no-frills hardcore ferocity and melodic post-hardcore expansiveness and they make it look too damn easy.
Prince Daddy & the Hyena – “Big-Box Store Heart”
Prince Daddy in pure ripper mode is impossible to deny. Comparisons to Green Day, Weezer, and Joyce Manor are warranted for the uninitiated but, comparisons aside, this is a band who knows exactly who they are.
Piebald – “Still on the Couch”
As their last decade or so of reunion shows have reminded us, Piebald are true cult heroes—unknown to most but rock stars in the eyes of those who love them. Not content to keep playing the classics, they’ve announced their first album in nearly 20 years and lead single “Still on the Couch” has all the same punky, quirky power pop charm that made We Are the Only Friends We Have so enduring. It’s like they never left.
Grab our limited, color vinyl variant of ‘Tales For The Rages’ in the BV Shop/
Drug Church – “Pynch”
Drug Church doing what Drug Church do best, busting out some of the best hardcore/alt-rock crossover you can get.
Secret World – “It Hurts”
In that same lane, “It Hurts” is more proof that Secret World are ones to watch in the hardcore/alt-rock crossover space. They get catchier and catchier every time.
Tiny Voices – “(how can I) take it one step at a time when everything is happening at once?”
Rising emo/pop punks Tiny Voices released one of my favorite albums in this genre of last year and they’re back with another dose of their sugar-sweet melodies and post-hardcore grit. Members of Hot Mulligan produced this one and fans of that band should not sleep.
Lambrini Girls – “Cult of Celebrity”
Lambrini Girls know how to turn anger and disgust into addictive punk songs and this time they’re doing it while taking aim at the elite.
Oakwood – “A Tangled Mess”
2010s-era emo revivalists Oakwood played some big reunion shows last year and now they announced their first album in over 10 years, Blurred Away, due May 29 via Will Yip’s Memory Music label. Here’s their mix of mathy Midwest emo noodling and gnarly post-hardcore shouts on “A Tangled Mess.”
Balmora – “Ophelia”
Balmora have been helping to lead the latest metalcore revival (they’re opening the upcoming Poison the Well/Converge tour, which is a perfect combo), and now they’re finally set to release their first full-length (and first release with new vocalist Paul Cole of Since My Beloved). On first single “Ophelia” (which features Brie Percy of Holder, who were in this column earlier this year), they leave no doubt about why this band has been getting all the hype that they have.
Grab our limited, color vinyl variant of ‘These Graven Halls’ in the BV Shop/
The Saddest Landscape – “The Invisible Hurt” (ft. Julien Baker)
It’s always cool to hear Julien Baker sing with heavier bands, and this is not just a well-curated backing vocal. It’s a 7-minute epic that sounds like a true meeting of the minds between Julien and screamo veterans The Saddest Landscape, who will be including this song on their first album in 10 years.
Grab our limited, color vinyl variant of ‘Alone With Heaven’ in the BV Shop.
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In an effort to cover as many bands as possible, I try to just do one single per album cycle in these monthly roundups, so catch up on previous months’ lists for even more:
For even more new songs, listen below or subscribe to our playlist of punk/emo/hardcore/etc songs of 2026:
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Read past and future editions of ‘In Defense of the Genre’ here.
Browse our selection of hand-picked punk vinyl.
