Existential lyrics, loud-quiet-loud dynamics and emotive guitars might have some confusing Deserve to Die for another entry in the current emo revival. Don’t get it twisted, however — Woolworm are a hardcore band who have decided to play pop music.

Birthed from Vancouver’s hardcore scene, the band have perfected peppy pop songs that simultaneously bear the crushing weight of being alive. On the surface, the music falls somewhere between vintage indie-pop like the Chameleons and fuzzed-out stadium alt-rock like the Smashing Pumpkins, but every once in a while they drop nods to aggressive influences like Integrity and Cold World.

Dead Soft is a three piece rock n roll band from Vancouver, BC comprised of members Nathaniel Epp, Keeley Rochon, and Alex Smith. Formed in 2011 by Nathaniel and Keeley, Dead Soft released a string of EPs and singles leading up to their debut self-titled album, originally released by Vancouver indie label Kingfisher Bluez and later on by JEFF The Brotherhood’s Infinity Cat Recordings. Blending hefty portions of heavy, dirge-like punk with an upbeat pop flourish, Dead Soft has been known to evoke an aesthetic of doom and sweetness in equal measure.

Hillsboro delivers a cathartic blend of early 90s shoegaze, infectious rhythms, haunting violin, and the plaintive vocals of Nima Walker, striking a balance between nostalgic and original sounds.