Relive Your Emo Era but make it Pinoy | 6 Filipino Pop Punk Bands that you’ve never heard of

Teenage angst, yelling songs at the top of my lungs, and wearing all black wasn’t a phase Mom, it is a lifestyle! Well at least the music part is still a lifestyle, because anytime we hear the classics like Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco, you can see everyone in the room simultaneously and instantly tap into their high school selves, singing all the lyrics as if it was just yesterday. That pop punk influence has had a global impact and has even birthed a lot of talented pinoy punk bands that deserve a lot more attention. So dust off your skinny jeans, add hair gel to those spikes, and buckle up that studded black belt, because we are taking a dive into 6 Pinoy Pop Punk bands that you can rock out to.

If you like Taking Back Sunday then we think you’ll like Snakefight 

This 4 piece rock band brings high energy that will immediately make you want to headbang. Their sound has lots of fun melodies and harmonies with a drummer that really encourages listeners to dig their ears into and dance. I love this quote from an article with 10 Years of Bandwagon when the band says “So aside from new music, we’re hoping we can do another tour this year so we can get to meet new people in the scene along the way, rock out with them (safely), and they can get to know the new Snakefight.” They’re pumped and excited to bring their music to your ears, will you be rocking out (safely) with Snakefight sometime in the future? Listen to their most recent single, ‘Wishful Thinking’.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0gDkZHk6Wq1QSAevfs7lP7?si=ff4f8c2970f5427e

If you like New Found Glory then we think you’ll like Way To Fall

Coming from Cebu City, this pop punk band brings so much fun to rock music. Being named after a lyric by All Time Low’s song ‘Painting Flowers’, Way To Fall started out by covering pop rock legends like Blink 182, We The Kings, and All Time Low. We can really hear those inspirations in their music and how it has grown and evolved into its own youthful angst, it really brings me back to jamming out with my buddies in our parents garages. Don’t believe me? Check out my new personal favorite song from them,  ‘Slow Down, It’s Friendzone’ from their 2019 Homebound album.  

https://open.spotify.com/track/3KfLbrvAvfx42gaWHrWs9q?si=47ff1455da0c4092

If you like Secondhand Serenade then we think you’ll like December Avenue

Maybe you want to slow things down and just sing your heart out? Then we encourage you to check out Spotify’s Most-Streamed Artist of the Philippines in 2019, December Avenue. With over 2.5M monthly listeners on Spotify, December Avenue has music dating back to 2008 with English and Tagalog songs that hit you in all of the feelings of love, loss, and bittersweet moments, I’m not crying, you are! Listen to their song ‘Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw’ below.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2KjZEVkRS7wStfRygdRnso?si=563ebaac4d5344a3

If you like Relient K then we think you’ll like Andrøid-18

I’m sure you’re thinking that I should have chosen Paramore because both groups have a strong female lead but upon further listening, Andrøid-18’s upbeat, fun nature of their music really reminds me of early 2000’s Relient K. It’s the kind of music you would put on full volume and have an imaginary sold out concert in your bedroom. I think this blurb from their Spotify sums it up best, “With colloquial lines and catchy melody as their trademark, listeners continue to grow, calling them one of the underrated OPM bands today.”  Take a listen to their original song, ‘KSP’ from their 2019 album, Saves The Day. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/25OkA6btdXxDJzrzMW4iFs?si=8eaf2e98f49945b1

If you like Saosin then we think you’ll like Now You Make Me Angry

With such a tasteful balance of harmony and screamo, I quickly became a fan of this Malolos City rock band. Their Spotify bio describes them as “A camaraderie of nobodies aiming for one goal, HAVE FUN.” Originally a group of 3, they added 3 more to finalize their “band of six morons constantly making stupid decisions in life”. Honestly, the fun loving way they present themselves paired with their melodic vocals and screamo backing, they sound like that group of friends that everyone wants to hang out with. Scream your lungs out to their song ‘When She Turned 18’ from their first album, Anger Management. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/4rP2M67a2uOC7Vbye5y0Lc?si=16de29a3decd4a95

If you like The Starting Line then we think you’ll like Endstreet

End street is a 5-piece pop punk band that is multi Awit Award nominated and has been called one of the top 5 local acts to listen to by ABS-CBN in 2019. Their lovestruck harmonies and tight knit vocals tug on your heartstrings while bringing that iconic emo / punk vibe that we all craved as kids. I know comparing Endstreet to The Starting Line might be a tall order, but tell me their song ‘Sandali Lang’ doesn’t give off the same energy as ‘Island’? Edgy vibes complimented with upbeat harmonies that bring joy to the soul! Maybe you just need to listen and tell me what you think.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3Tvywgscf8uxVrdGn3Zamv?si=aeea7b6822bd4729

Already putting your playlist together? Here are a couple more acts you’ll want to add:

• Save Me Hollywood

• Concrete Sam

• Faintlight

• Happy Three Friends

• Kamikazee

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Written By Niko Del Rey

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