BY: Claire Borgelt

On Double Bind, Madison-based Midwest emo group Excuse Me, Who Are You? delivers a perfect blend of powerful vocals, glistening, instrumentals and intimate, confessional lyricism. Since 2021, the intensity of their live performances and their commitment to DIY ethics have earned them a dedicated fanbase in their home state of Wisconsin and beyond. Their debut EP, About that Beer I Owed Ya, was released in 2022 via Thumbs Up Records – it blurs the lines between fourth-wave emo, post-hardcore and traditional screamo, but has gone on to help define today’s thriving scene at the intersection of all three genres. On their long-awaited debut LP, EMWAY’s sound exists as a brilliant contradiction – it’s anthemic and twinkling, yet raw and devastating. It’s nuanced and fresh, yet lived-in and nostalgic. They’re writing the soundtrack to your late-night breakdowns and your best mosh pit memories at the same time. 

The album opens on a buildup of pure potential energy. Against a humming, rattling guitar riff, a question is repeated. “Excuse me, who are you?” The looped sample, which doubles as the band’s namesake, comes from Perfect Blue, Satoshi Kon’s 1997 animated psychological horror film. It’s an instantly iconic moment – a callback to the blood-soaked imagery surrounding the band but also a clever allusion to the themes of identity, grief and resilience which the record explores. An unmistakably bright tone and intricate, fractal riffs from guitarist Stuart Benjamin help “EMWAY?” live up to its unique position as both a self-titled track and the opener for the album. 

The transition into “Maybe That Truck Hit Me… And This Is All A Dream” is seamless, throwing listeners directly into a flurry of furious rhythm-driven instrumentals and heartbroken honesty. This track features Tyler Stodghill, vocalist of Iowa-based Midwest Emo group Stars Hollow (which feels like a full-circle moment for longtime EMWAY fans who remember screaming along to the band’s early covers of “Tadpole” and “Drinking Buddies). Stoghill’s contributions pair wonderfully with those of EMWAY’s vocalist, Kyle Kinney. It’s a carefully crafted ode to loss and limerence – that relentless delivery seems the only thing suitable for the subject matter. Later in the track, though, the group’s trademark guitar tone shines through. Ultimately, as Kinney says “This life is brief / I’m learning to love it.” While the album continuously touches on notions of darkness, loss and confusion, those threads of hope and healing are woven throughout it as well. 

The feverish crescendo that the album builds to reaches its height on the third track, “Curses! I’ll Get You Next Time, Powertron!” It opens on another expertly placed sample before allowing listeners to appreciate Kinney’s full vocal range. A soft, melodic introduction is quickly replaced by the abrasive, cutting body of the song. Percussion gives way to raw repetition: “Are you happy now?” It introduces dynamics for the rest of the album to expand upon – moments of subdued introspection play against a broader context of chaos and catharsis in a way that enhances both. 

Nowhere is this harsh-soft dynamic more visible than “https://mimasroom.com”. This song acts as a space for the album’s established themes of healing and heartbreak to connect against a background of faint harmonies and fuzzed-out, floating guitar. References to “the friends we made along the way” join a bittersweet parallel to the lyrics of “Chicken Cock” off the band’s debut EP. It’s easy to find yourself reflecting on how far the band has come in just four years. As someone who’s been a massive fan since their early days, this one stands out in countless ways and is a strong contender for my favorite on Double Bind’s tracklist. 

As quickly as it appeared, that haze of introspection vanishes to make way for the racing, discordant chorus of “Volcano Balls.” This track features members of Tiny Voices, another household name in the modern Madison emo scene. It’s been a highlight from live performances for some time, but takes on an extra layer of brilliance in a recorded format. Lyrics pit confusion and uncertainty against finality and resolve; “I am who I am / I know I’ll never see her ever again.” Samples from Perfect Blue make another appearance, a motif which speaks to deeper attempts to process a troubled past. “<3” follows as an interlude, a way to cope with the fallout of the previous track’s inner turmoil. 

The album’s title track, “Double Bind,” is by far its most explosive, with a feature by Maxwell Culver, Madison’s resident screamo-style vocal powerhouse and frontman of post-hardcore supergroup Endswell. It channels all the power of EMWAY’s lineup, while allowing the history of collaboration between Kinney and Culver to shine through as well. Its lyrics are self aware, self destructive and, in line with the rest of the album, absolutely brilliant.

The closing track, “Let’s End All of This” works on multiple levels. It echoes expressions of loss, despondence and mortality found elsewhere on the album but concludes by putting them in conversation with fierce devotion and love. It’s deeply emotional but still makes me want to get thrown around in the pit. It’s distinctively EMWAY and distinctively Double Bind – bittersweet, beautiful and instantly classic.