Jasemine were a three-piece hardcore/screamo band from France that were active around 1994-1995. They shared members with other bands including Undone and Finger Print. Jasemine's output is incredibly small, with only four songs to their name, but those four songs have certainly left a lasting impact. They debuted with a demo in 1994, then released splits with Ivich and Elements of Need (both bands I'd also recommend) the following year. Jasemine contributed two songs to each of these splits, which were just re-recordings of the songs that had appeared on the demo. As far as emotional catharsis goes, Jasemine had that in spades. The vocals are screamed in such despair, with dynamic instrumentals that's as melancholic as it is raw and impactful. Highly recommended stuff, enjoy.

Ivich were a four-piece emo/hardcore band from Saint-Maurice, Val-de-Marne, France that were around from approximately 1992 to 1997. Their earlier material brought the fast-paced visceral energy of hardcore to its brink, with cathartic vocals and chaotic instrumentals. As they grew, their sound got darker, balancing quiet melodies with climatic, emotional outpourings more akin to the greatest screamo bands of their era. This is definitely evidenced on what could be their best release, La Vie Devant Soi, which came out on the legendary early screamo label Ebullition. Enjoy.

Undone were a four-piece hardcore/screamo band from Mantes-la-Jolie, France that were around from 1993 to 1996. Along with bands like Anomie and Peu Être, Undone were one of the many incredible bands to come out of the French screamo scene in the mid-90s. This band in particular took a darker, hardcore-oriented root to their sound, with influences from bands like Downcast, Frail and Angel Hair being fairly apparent. They've got a solid slew of material here, so enjoy.

Mihai Edrisch were a four-piece screamo band from Lyon, France that were around from 2002 to 2006. They share members with Däitro and (more recently) Celeste. Sonically, they have a lot of commonalities with fellow French screamo bands, such as Amanda Woodward, Sed Non Satiata, and Däitro. They blend lead guitar melodies with dissonant chords, with hints of post-rock influence in the way their songs build, release, and explode. The vocals are incredible, with an insurmountable amount of teary-eyed passion. They only released two albums in their lifetime, both of which are beyond incredible (especially Un Jour Sans Lendemain). Enjoy.

Amanda Woodward were a five-piece screamo/post-hardcore band from Caen, France that formed in 2000 and broke up in 2007. They played an energetic brand of screamo that will build and break in the vein of City of Caterpillar, but with the sonic complexities of other French bands, such as Sed Non Satiata and Mihai Edrisch (both of whom Amanda Woodward were most likely influences on). Fans of European (or obviously more specifically, French) screamo know this band as an absolute classic, with their sole LP La Decadence De La Decadence being held as an absolute essential. Members of this band went on to form another incredible band, Aussitôt Mort. Enjoy.

Dead Like Me are a four-piece hardcore band from Pau, France that formed in 2010. The band pulls from some incredible sources of influence, mainly metallic hardcore in the vein of the Relapse Records roster, most notably The Dillinger Escape Plan, in addition to bands like Coalesce and Converge, among others. The technical riffs, off-kilter rhythms, and brutally guttural vocals are all trademarks of this sound. They also incorporate hints of sludge metal to drag listeners through the mud of their bone-chilling chaos. A 6-song LP was released earlier this month, and I can't recommend it enough for fans of older hardcore with a modern edge. Enjoy.

Celeste are a four-piece post-hardcore/black metal band from Lyon, France that formed in 2005 by formers members of screamo legends Mihai Edrisch. Since then, they've put out a handful of soul-crushing albums, droning and piercing through assaultive darkness. As of September 2017, they are back with their latest one, another incredible addition to their incredible discography. Sonically, they are rooted in hardcore aggression, but with some heavy black metal influence courtesy of the tremolo-picked guitars and blast beats, in addition to hints of sludge and post-metal influence. Enjoy.

Totorro are a four-piece math rock/post-rock band from Rennes, France that formed in 2008. They play a very melodic blend of the aforementioned genres that often draws comparisons to bands like This Town Needs Guns or We Were Promised Jetpacks. This group of fantastic musicians has crafted some amazing music over the years that shows off both their technical and songwriting ability. Their most recent LP, Come To Mexico was released back in October and is an excellent addition to their discography. Also check out Home Alone for a great display of this band's prowess. Enjoy.