Ambretta
This Arizona band plays a wicked concoction of blackened hardcore and screamo that sometimes veers into deathcore territory. Following up on two EPs was the band’s sensational debut full length ‘Something Has to Change’ in late 2026, and with the cd version of said release ending up on ZBR this was a match made in heaven. Fans of Ostraca, Nuvolascura, and Truman should take note.

And Its Name Was Epyon
Following a brief releasing stint from 2018-2019, this seminal anime-screamo band started playing shows again recently and are inviting you to come scream along with them. Truly a rare sight, the band excels in a live setting (I saw them at New Friends Fest 2026) and are goddamned sweethearts to boot. Features members of Bloom Dream, Heaven Through Violence, Iwan, We Will Keep You Safe, etc.

Athousandangelsandseven
After decimating ZBR Fest 2025, bringing back this Colorado quintet was an absolute must. With their debut 12″LP ‘Every Day Is a New Hell’ set to release on February 5th, this band is ready to turn a ton of heads with their phenomenal recorded output and devastating live show. Part black metal, mathcore, dark hardcore, metalcore, grind, with a pinch of screamo – it’s a deadly recipe.

Bok Suna
After playing some show with Seattle’s solo artist, it was a no-brainer to get BOK SUNA on this year’s fest. Following a lo-fi debut album, they came back in 2025 with a honed, gorgeous, and biting attack. The songs showcase skill and talent that bloomed at a very young age. Part bedroom pop. Part shoegaze. Absolutely spectacular stuff for fans of: Lomelda, Mieke, Mage Tears, and Frankie Cosmos.

Crowning
This ZBR house band has been a staple on the label since their inception in 2016 that includes an EP, and LP, and splits with Naedr, Swallows Nest, Oaktails, Maree Noire, Eyelet, Hundreds Of AU, Life In Vacuum, and Canyons. Truly seasoned vets of the dark, posty, screamo realm that have also spent time in Frail Body, Black Nail, Biological Fathers, Itto, Ghola, etc. This is their first time back to the Canadian west coast in almost a decade.

Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead
Vancouver’s emo-violence all-stars return for their second straight ZBR Fest appearance. Last year they unveiled a bunch of new material with a new bassist/vocalist, and in 2027 we’ll hear the final version of those songs plus a few newbies! Precise, crushing, and screamy as all hell.

Emma Goldman
Vancouver’s reigning screamo champion nearly brought the venue to collapse last year, and with their second LP on the horizon it’s a massive chance to see the new material live before it hits the world digitally. Truly a force to be reckoned with, you can get your gabber on in between bouts of utter annihilation. Fantano approves.

Fainting Dreams
Ethereal post-rock with both singer-songwriter and black metal tendencies is a bit unbelievable on paper, but this Colorado four-piece pulls it off effortlessly. Fresh off of an album with Midwife and Alison Lorenzen as well as an EP that leaned into Rolo Tomassi territory, the band is ready to unleash new songs from their upcoming full length that will really wow all in attendance.

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This Richmond, Virginia supergroup has been releasing steadily for almost a decade by combining mind-melting mathcore, lightning screamo, and brutal death metal by featuring two vocalists and members who have spent time in Ostraca, Kaoru Nagisa, Caust, 60659-C, Age Sixteen, and Truman!

Hayworth
One of two resurrections include the almighty HAYWORTH! This mathy shriek fest returns after being a huge influence on a bunch of incredible bands like .gif from god and SeeYouSpaceCowboy. The band’s catalogue was recently released on vinyl by Wax Vessel and Zegema Beach Records but in no way were we expecting a reformation. Fans of Gxllium, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Antarctica, Rex Kwon Do, and Nsixhundred will be absolutely smitten.

Me And Him Call It Us
This once-in-a-lifetime reformation of this extremely influential screamo/math/grind Georgia band began the planning stages years ago, and we are so stoked to finally move the talks into physical reality. It’s been about 20 since anyone was able to witness one of the best bands to ever do it, and for the first time ever there will be about 500+ die-hard fans ready to make that pit evolves into a perpetual sinkhole.

Monterey
Fresh off of their debut 12″LP release, Florida’s MONTEREY boasts members of Concealer and Rosemary Nods Upon The Grave while not really sounding like either of those bands and instead going down the sometimes posty sometimes emo-violence road, bringing to mind bands like Beau Navire, Brahm, Loma Prieta, Empathetic, and Massa Nera.

Often Wrong
This young Vancouver-based trio shares two members with Taking Tiger Mountain but inject less darkness and more melody. They lie somewhere between screamo and emo spectrum, as they sweep across multiple genres but generally fall into the twinkly emo and posty screamo categories.

Orphan Donor
The Pennsylvanian solo project turned full band gave us a few years to recouperate after their last destructive fest appearance in 2023. Following up on their newest endeavor ‘Ailments’, the band set their sights on balancing hypnotic grooves with utter annihilation and the worst nightmares imaginable…and they nailed it.

Ostraca
Returning for the third time (and second in a row!) is the cream of the current screamo crop, Richmond, Virginia’s OSTRACA. This three-piece has been tearing folks apart for well over a decade and are as inspiring on the stage as off, so get prepared for absolute annihilation followed by a very positive/friendly conversation. They released both ‘Eventualities’ and ‘Thread’ in 2026 to widespread acclaim.

Taking Tiger Mountain
On the heels of this Vancouver four-piece’s self-titled debut they are set to open up the last day of the fest with their gritty, disjointed, grindy, screamy hardcore. I saw videos of their first show and they’ve literally been slaying it for their entire tenure thus far. Fans of Grimlitter, Shesmadefromsuede, and Orchid should be taking notes.

Teeth To Your Throat
After watching this Vancouver supergroup open for Usurp Synapse it became apparent that they were a band bubbling over with passion and anger, translating that perfectly into a barrage of deep, dark, subterranean hardcore not unlike Yellfire, Botch, and The Chariot. Features members of Anchoress, Friolento, Griefwalker, etc.

Wollruss
Boasting members of I.O., A Recorded Dawn, Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow, Hillsboro, Cadere, etc. this enigma of a band plays shows sporadically and has zero online presence. Boasting one of most ridiculous drummers in Canada, the four-piece plays wild, unrestrained screamo/post-hardcore with dancey, chill, and mathy moments with the occasional massive breakdown.