Thursday

This post-hardcore sextet from New Brunswick, New Jersey, helped bring the screamo faction that emerged in the late '90s to the mainstream. From their humble beginnings on the Rutgers basement show circuit to selling out clubs nationwide, Thursday -- Geoff Rickly (vocals), Tom Keeley (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Pedulla (guitar, backing vocals), Tim Payne (bass), Tucker Rule (drums) and Andrew Everding (keyboards, backing vocals) -- merge emotional, poetic lyrics, dramatic sing-screaming, melodic guitars, hardcore breakdowns and, on later records, atmospheric keyboards. After releasing the critically acclaimed tome Full Collapse in 2001 on Victory Records, Thursday butted heads with the label, ultimately parting from Victory and signing with Island in 2002. Two highly praised albums later - War All the Time and A City by the Light Divided - the band departed Island only to find themselves back on Victory for the release of their live record Kill the House Lights in 2007.