Vs Self is a three-piece screamo band that was formed in 2018 in Apple Valley, California. They had a couple shows in Los Angeles before releasing a demo in 2019. This demo would later appear on their debut album, Everything Seems Better Now.
Vs Self is part of the new wave of screamo bands, and many people seem to hate their music, because they feel that it sounds “not like what it was before.” However, I believe that this is what screamo music should sound like, compared to some hardcore bands in the 2000s, who had elements of screamo but weren’t exactly emo.
Screamo is all about emotion, and how you sound when making it. I believe that screamo is a really good music genre that describes people’s emotions and how they connect to it and feel as individuals. Screamo has evolved individuality with each band, because they add their own little twist to it and change it into something beautiful.
Everything Seems Better Now came out four years ago in April of 2020. This is the first full-length album that Vs Self has released, and they have not released any new albums since then.
The first song off the album is “Homesick”, and it is a great starter into the album and how the flow feels. At times, this album has a melancholy feel to it, and this song perfectly establishes this tone. The riff of the guitar on this track is amazing, and I love it. It sets a warm feeling whenever you listen to it.
But “Waves” is my favorite song off the album, and the best part is how it sounds. I love when songs have an emphasis on the drums, like this song does. The emotion expressed in this song is unmatched compared to others. I feel that this track has to do with an inconsistent relationship, where one person leaves and comes back in waves. It really shows how a person can be one way and then act differently towards others.
The next song is “Heartache”, which is a slow burn. On this track, it feels as if the singer is telling us he is old enough to understand what is going on, but too young to be experiencing this feeling.
“Wake” is the second-to-last song on the album. I think that this track is great because of the rhythm and how it makes you feel. All these songs make you wish you could go back to being a kid and to experience everything over again, but to try it all differently this time.
“Mourn” is the last song worth mentioning, and it proves that wanting to mourn a loss with someone, and experiencing that feeling with another person, can be a really positive experience. This track also shows how life is too short and frail to truly experience everything it has to offer.
Overall, this album is really good. Screamo is making a huge comeback these last couple of years, and it’s great how these artists are experimenting with different sounds in a really unique way to express both emotion and change. And if you like this band, make sure to check out Your Arms Are My Cocoon and Widowdusk.
