Now synonymous with sourcing the following technology of punk upstarts and different trendsetters, Hopeless Records has remained true to its unbiased roots from their Van Nuys, California beginnings again in 1993. Founded by Louis Posen after a fateful music video filming with Guttermouth, Hopeless has acquired and raised a few of the greatest names within the pop-punk and different scenes.
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In celebration of the philanthropic label’s thirtieth birthday this yr, we’ve drawn collectively the 20 greatest Hopeless signings, each previous and current.
Avenged Sevenfold
Try to think about Avenged Sevenfold with out their seminal sophomore album, Waking the Fallen. Having hassle? That speaks for the influence of A7X’s solely Hopeless output all the way in which again in 2003, a a lot easier time for the metalcore scene and house owners of infinitely saggy denims. Listeners have been launched to the skills of Synyster Gates and Johnny Christ to the tune of “Unholy Confessions” and “I Won’t See You Tonight,” bracing followers for his or her now-traditional screaming guitar solos to border their lyrical bangers. Avenged Sevenfold’s stint beneath the Hopeless umbrella could have been criminally temporary however finally gave the promising Cali outfit an opportunity to make a large leap into their shiny future.
NOAHFINNCE
No offense, however for those who’ve not but found the musical knowledge of influencer-turned-pop-punk-upstart NOAHFINNCE, it’s worthwhile to get out extra. Multitalented, energetic and mob-handed with a pointy tongue and an ear for a catchy hook, the British rising expertise signed to Hopeless Records in 2020 and has since launched two EPs charged with quickfire jibes on fashionable life, love and every little thing in between. The way forward for pop punk is protected within the palms of NOAHFINNCE and Hopeless’ eye for the style’s subsequent landmark artists.
Zeph
Bedroom alt-pop fueled by younger grownup angst has by no means sounded fairly as bittersweet because it does within the palms of one-woman powerhouse Zephani Jong, or Zeph for brief. One of Hopeless’ freshest signings, the Korean-American sensation well-known for her hard-hitting lyrics that give listeners pause for thought at each flip joined the label in March and guarantees a transferring new period judging by her newest single “like everyone else.” Listeners can count on a wild experience of feelings which may be uncomfortable to listen to however however deserve a platform, soundtracked by the dulcet tones of Zeph’s vocal vary.
Waterparks
In 2019, pop-punk sensations Waterparks sought the proper outlet for a change of tact, bringing painfully self-aware lyricism to the desk amid saccharine, electro-pop-infused singalongs. A simultaneous daring shift from their signature pop-punk jams but in addition an ideal transition towards their musical maturity as an outfit, Hopeless Records gave their 2019 album, FANDOM, a soapbox to freely specific itself. The success of the enterprise proved that their sound development was not solely predicted however welcomed by listeners who additionally wanted self-critical anthems to belt out within the automotive on a scorching summer season’s day. Even although their partnership was short-lived, as they solely caught with Hopeless for one report, Waterparks made their final mission assertion loud and clear.
New Found Glory
New Found Glory’s shift to Hopeless in 2014 in time for his or her eighth studio album, Resurrection, gifted the outfit with an opportunity to begin once more. A member reshuffle positioned Chad Gilbert on rhythm guitars in addition to lead, permitting for a extra constant tone on songs like “Selfless” and “Ready & Willing,” establishing a brand new establishment that may survive till NFG’s remaining Hopeless album, December’s Here. The Hopeless period gave the style mainstays a golden alternative to show themselves over again, and it paid off spectacularly.
Scene Queen
The TikTok technology wanted a rebellious icon to name out the scene round them with an acid tongue, but it surely might by no means totally put together itself sufficient for the storming presence of Scene Queen, the brutally sincere outlet for songwriter Hannah Collins. Creating her personal style of self-branded (*20*) to clarify the juxtaposition between her ultra-feminine aesthetics and relentless metalcore instrumentals, Scene Queen delights in difficult the scene’s deep-rooted points via contagious heavy singalongs that you just’ll hear in your For You Page all day lengthy.
Neck Deep
Some partnerships are supposed to be, significantly if they arrive collectively to create 4 phenomenal pop-punk information inside a decade and consequently hearth a Welsh band from the obscurity of the nonexistent Wrexham punk scene proper up into the stratosphere. Neck Deep have loved a fairytale journey via the ranks as payback for his or her arduous work in crafting endlessly contagious summer season anthems, standing to today as a testomony to Hopeless Records’ talent-picking aptitude.
Thrice
The tough relationship between artist and sophomore report held true for Thrice, having acquired quite a few rejections to launch 2002’s The Illusion of Safety on account of its unpredictable sound, various from frenetic melodic hardcore to self-reflective post-hardcore. Luckily for the band, Hopeless imprint Sub City Records took an opportunity and consequently enabled the now-legendary emo trendsetters to unleash songs like “Deadbolt” upon an unsuspecting world grabbing its skinny denims and studded belts in preparation for a breakthrough.
Pinkshift
Visceral punk instrumentals and gloriously slick, grunge-esque vocals meet in No Man’s Land by the hands of Pinkshift, Baltimore’s reply to No Doubt with a refreshing 2023 tinge. Scooped up by Hopeless simply in time to drop their debut full-length, Love Me Forever, this trio of pals need to shake up the scene with teeth-baring, confrontational jams that sound as a lot enjoyable to create as they’re to listen to. Pinkshift have their brightest days forward of them with the continued help of a label synonymous with punk discoveries that push the boundaries of a style designed for reinvention.
The Used
With their fifth report, Vulnerable, in 2012, emo mainstays the Used started fusing experimental digital components into their signature venomous and gloriously heavy anthems as in the event that they at all times belonged there. Leaving the security of Reprise Records for a brand new begin with Hopeless, the transition into their newfound method appeared fairly seamless. For the following three earworm-inducing eras, the band referred to as Hopeless Records their dwelling and produced a few of the most emotionally stirring, evocative albums of their lengthy profession, from the confrontational Vulnerable and the politically enraged Imaginary Enemy to the grieving The Canyon.
illuminati hotties
Sometimes one of the best collaborations are the shortest lived. In the case of illuminati hotties, their temporary encounter with Hopeless Records to launch second studio album, Let Me Do One More, in 2021 allowed the LA indie set to announce themselves to the mainstream. What began as an outlet for former production-engineer-turned-vocalist Sarah Tudzin’s skills quickly turned a totally unpredictable mixture of punk, indie and no matter Tudzin appears like on any given day. illuminati hotties are a real aural expertise that defies a big label title to encapsulate their success, however their dalliance with Hopeless cemented their promise for the longer term.
DE’WAYNE
In a badass world, different music wants an equally badass consultant for 2023. Case in level: DE’WAYNE. His slick mixture of organized hip-hop chaos and reckless punk abandon has crafted relentlessly contagious singalongs which have earned the Hopeless seal of approval and consequently garnered the hype he totally deserves. Living his greatest life beneath the Hopeless umbrella since his debut album, STAINS, DE’WAYNE’s genre-fluid method brings again echoes of nü steel’s glory days when the 2 genres coexisted harmoniously throughout the mainstream market. There is hope that the scene can rejuvenate its relationship with the polar reverse style, and that hope falls into the palms of 1 Texas-born future icon.
Stand Atlantic
When you discover a label that understands your targets, your journey towards them and the way you intend on getting there, maintain onto them. Stand Atlantic have settled neatly into the Hopeless household as in the event that they at all times belonged there, signing for his or her debut full-length, Skinny Dipping, in 2018 and staying out nicely into their third album, F.E.A.R., final yr. Distributing their very own taste of pop punk with blends of digital twinkles, their tracks are worthy of limitless replays, led by the versatile tones of vocalist Bonnie Fraser. The solely method is up for the Sydney crew.
Sum 41
Sum 41’s again catalog could be the definition of All Killer No Filler, however the newest piece within the Ontario band’s jigsaw was a signing to Hopeless simply in time for his or her 2016 album, 13 Voices. Introducing what was as soon as a frightening step into the unknown for the noughties trendsetters, the crowd-funded effort 13 Voices additionally paved the way in which for a delicate fragility in Deryck Whibley’s lyricism to mirror his personal well being revelations whereas taking a daring step away from their pop-punk roots towards a heavier steel sound. Ever since, Sum 41 have persistently adopted their musical instincts to the bitter finish.
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday’s innate reliability to provide an album chock-full of belters, earworms and tracks that arrogantly refuse to age has carried them lengthy into their 25-year profession. It comes as no shock that their debut look within the Hopeless household was no completely different, bringing 2011’s Happiness Is as a chance to remind the world round them simply why TBS are the choice family title you’ll be able to belief. Their second Hopeless outing, 2016’s Tidal Wave, could be founding guitarist Eddie Reyes’ final with the Long Island outfit and subsequently made a becoming finish of an period.
PVRIS
PVRIS have shifted to the Cali label in time for his or her fourth album, EVERGREEN, to be launched this July. Dominating the choice scene since their 2012 debut album, White Noise, demonstrated their heavy chops, their sound has comfortably developed right into a theatrical type of electro-pop rock that totally showcases the complexity and flexibility of frontwoman Lynn Gunn as a performer, songwriter and vocalist. The newest singles from EVERGREEN, “ANIMAL” and “GODDESS,” counsel that listeners are in for a wild experience with PVRIS this yr.
The Wonder Years
If you thought your favourite pop-punk bands would ultimately outgrow their adolescent anxieties and youthful despairs, the Wonder Years have matured and grown into their very own sound whereas nonetheless retaining the fist-clenching angst from their debut. Over a decade beneath the Hopeless umbrella since their third studio album has enabled the Wonder Years to really discover their very own identities each as a bunch and as particular person artists. Signing with the label for 2011’s Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing and remaining with Hopeless ever since, the band have discovered the proper outlet for his or her emotional grievances throughout 5 gut-wrenching albums.
Tonight Alive
Despite the musical way forward for Tonight Alive remaining largely unsure, their signing to Hopeless for his or her newest album, Underworld, in 2018 provided the world with their newfound inventive method to their conventional alternative-rock sound. Never taking the obvious path via the business, the Sydney outfit branched into an empowering new period with the assistance of Hopeless. Although Underworld would show to shut a chapter of their historical past with the departure of founding lead guitarist Whak Taahi, and it might seem to be this fourth album could also be their final, the Australian rockers produced a fittingly stunning finish to a band that introduced familial togetherness to each stage they’ve graced.
Silverstein
Victory Records’ loss is inevitably Hopeless’ acquire, and the identical goes for Silverstein again in 2011 on the cusp of releasing their fifth post-hardcore triumph, Rescue. It’s unattainable to think about this emo-forging outfit with out songs like “Massachusetts” and “Burning Hearts.” Not to say, the sudden hit of the whole Short Songs album modified the way in which we eat the style’s output altogether. For their dedication to their stylistic endeavors, Silverstein will at all times should be up there with the emo trinity, as they’re masters of making devastatingly catchy scream-alongs and heartbreak anthems that hit your emotions like no different.
We Are The In Crowd
Without the resounding success of their partnership with Hopeless Records, it’s arduous to think about if We Are The In Crowd would ever have emerged from their native Poughkeepsie, New York scene, not to mention change into an enormous title of their temporary time collectively. What started as a MySpace submit declaring {that a} former band member had hacked and deleted their web page’s contacts and content material later cast a bond with the minds behind Hopeless and would result in releasing each of the outfit’s albums beneath the label. Although their final launch dropped again in 2014 and their 2016 hiatus broke in 2019, the prospect of latest WATIC music is low however by no means zero.
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