There’s something comforting about emo-core. Hate it as I might, it’s probably because the bands are so sincere. And hate it as they might, it’s also because they’re so safe. I think emo-core is precisely the type of music smart teenagers should be making. I also subscribe to the idea that teenagers don’t really know what they’re doing.. and shouldn’t.

Along those thin lines, mycomplex walks. They make competent emo-core. But it sounds like all the rest of the emo-core bands out there. Now, I’m sure the band might object and point to some of the cool riffs they put into their songs, but it just isn’t enough to separate them from a genre that they clearly belong to. The drums whirr along at breakneck pace. The vocals sometimes harmonize and always stretch out their words in that this-will-suffice-for-a-melody way. The guitars are pretty damn fine. Lots of octaves, of course, but also tons of cool little riffs to get one part to another. And is it me, or are tons of emo bands slipping little Ozzy-like riffs into their songs? Are they aware of their own metallitude?

The lyrics are another story altogether. They’re downright embarrasing when comprehensible. But, you know.. pretty typically teenage. Which is, in its own way, sweet. The acoustic guitars have got to go, though. Especially the last song “Vent” which is, for lack of a better term, a ballad. It’s like an emo-band with their (intentionally?) flat, stretched out vocals tried to write that Green Day ballad..

I would never purchase any emo-core. But if you like it, you’ll like mycomplex. The good news is they’re teenagers (hopefully) and they’re good at what they do. So maybe they’ll outgrow this emo crap and do something a little more interesting.

To their credit “we have seasons here” is actually a pretty good song. I just don’t know why a band elects to play emo with all the emo they clearly see around them.