Empathetic's 'The Room Collapses Quietly' released!

August 10, 2026 by David Norman

Vancouver’s Empathetic released their long awaited debut EP ‘The Room Collapses Quietly’ last Friday to an overwhelming barrage of support. This is likely the band’s only release as at least one member has moved to another province, but we can all hope that they continue or start another new project because this thing is phenomenal. Part Beau Navire and Brahm, part Crowning and Frail Body, it’s both intense as fuck and gorgeous. CDs /100 and already almost half gone!

Nuvolascura’s ‘As We Suffer From Memory and Imagination’ has a second pressing and it releases on Friday August 14th at 5am PST / 7am CST / 8am CST! Two variants, 215 on A/B merge and 293 on clear splatter. This is a co-release with Dog Knights.

I finally got and finished all of the Constrain variants for ‘1999’. They look pretty sick and they’re already more than half gone without anyone seeing the pics! I love it!!! By the way I got a few extra copies so I made 3 test dips and an /1 transparent yellow.

Protest The Hero’s new album released a few weeks back and Idioteq.com did a feature on it. Remember, I got release all the earlier LPs with the exception of the new one and the first EP! Last copies are below, article linked above and via this text.

PROTEST THE HERO - Pacific Myth (cassette)

CA$10.00

ZBR099

PROTEST THE HERO - 'Pacific Myth' cassette
released October 2017

For fans of: Coheed And Cambria, Thrice and Mastadon

Experimenting with the process leading to, and including, the recording, PROTEST have written six prodigious anthems that take their songwriting to new, epic heights.

300 blue tapes with j-card in a plastic shell. 6 songs.

PROTEST THE HERO - Volition (cassette)

CA$10.00

ZBR098

PROTEST THE HERO - 'Volition' cassette
released October 2017

For fans of: Coheed And Cambria, Thrice and Mastadon

Completely fan funded, this album sparked a resurgence in the band's roots and is a remarkable record. The 11 songs jump all over the map, but generally emphasize insane melodies amidst mass shredding. Rarer than days in a year!

300 green tapes with j-card in a plastic shell. 11 songs.

Letterstoyou got some well deserved coverage from This Noise Is Ours. This release is gettin’ pretty dang low, and there’s only one of the ZBR Fest variant left! Click on the pic above or this text to go to the review, jam/buy below.

Operation X-Ray played an Empathetic song from their new album so here is another reminder to pick that shit up, as it’s easily one of the best EPs of 2026. Features Hayden from Thank You Driver on bass. For fans of: Beau Navire, Brahm, Frail Body, Monterey, Crowning and early Eyelet.

EMPATHETIC - The Room Collapses Quietly (cd)

CA$11.00

EMPATHETIC ‘The Room Collapses Quietly‘ cd (ZBR403)

For fans of: Beau Navire, Brahm, and Monterey.

In true screamo fashion, Vancouver’s EMPATHETIC played a few shows, recorded this EP and then went on hiatus. Their six song EP ‘The Room Collapses Quietly’ shows a band who immediately embraced their best possible trajectory and did so to perfection. The sound found primarily on this is mathy, jarring, heavy-yet-beautiful emo-violence not unlike Beau Navire and Brahm, Tracks like “Culminate”, “Volatile”, and “Yield“ take blasts of grindy screamo and inject some jazzy, gorgeous interludes that lead back to more chaos. Honestly this EP is fucking incredible and will easily be one of the best things to come out of 2026. Features a member of Thank You Driver.

CDs /100 in a slip-sleeve housed in a resealable plastic bag w/insert. 6 tracks.

Listen here:
https://zegemabeachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-room-collapses-quietly

Crossed got some late but very accurate kind words from Crossed Letters. I’d link you to our store but as I stated once we released it…it’s gonna sell out. And yep, it sold out. Click on the pic above or this text to go to the review. Jam/download those digitals below if you’re hella late to the party.

AMITIÉ - Don't//Try//Let//Die (cassette)

AMITIÉ - Don't//Try//Let//Die (cassette)

from CA$7.00

For fans of: D’Amore, Sweetheart and Emma Goldman.

Part emo and part emo-violence, the concoction is both jarring and amazing. Featuring members of Worst Days, Terror Eyes, etc. with one helluva debut LP. Released on Tomb Tree Tapes.

Tapes /50, 25 silver w/sparkle j-card, 20 on swirl and 5 on swirl w/gold injection. Comes with download code. 9 songs.

Listen here:
https://tombtreetapes.bandcamp.com/album/dont-try-let-die

Colour:

Today Last Fucking Copy goes to Amitie’s arguably best release ‘Don't//Try//Let//Die’. The final copy is the /5 gold injection swirl and it’s embedded above. Listen below. This will not be made again so snag it now or forever hold your peace!

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: COMA REGALIA = Yoooo new Coma album is the best thing since ‘The Mirror’, says I! P.S. we have some copies of ‘The Mirror’ above!

2026 - 8 - 05 /// I'm back + Empathetic cds on Fri!

August 05, 2026 by David Norman

Alright, I’m back! Ontario was awesome but I’m very happy to be home and back at this. A few notes:
- all shipping will be finished today except for Coup D’etat orders and Constrain orders
- EU shipping to those 12 countries that introduced tariffs are still fucked and I cannot ship anything to you until it gets sorted between our governments/postal services
- Coup D’etat 7”s are currently MIA as our package has had no updates since July 18th so I’m just twiddling my thumbs until it gets updated, or better yet, they arrive
- Constrain tapes are in hand and pretty much done, I’m just waiting for the swirl paints to dry then I gotta stamp them, those will be shipped off by Monday
- Empathetic cds release on Friday (which is also Bandcamp Friday so please consider picking up extra stuff and/or getting some digital albums
- ZBR U.S.A. opens up later this month, news incoming

The next ZBR release is in a mere two days and it’s the one and only Empathetic release, their debut/post-mortem EP ‘The Room Collapses Quietly’ on 100 cds. There are two current singles from the past two Zamplers that you can jam above and below - they’re very Beau Navire meets Brahm and it’s fucking incredible. Features a member of Thank You Driver too!!!

Aron from Clay Birds interviewed me for a school project a few months back and I saw it yesterday and was reminded how good the questions were, so I asked if I could share it as I think every answer I gave was new. It’s about 30 minutes in length.

Today Last Fucking Copy goes to my final copy of Brahm’s second EP from 2022 ‘i try to rage against it’. I just sold the second last one last night so this extremely rare gold swirl /13 is officially the final copy! Lathes are also sold out!!! I don’t expect this to be repressed. Snag it below or forever hold your peace!

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: CIENFUEGOS = My friend Jacopo from Joliette introduced me to this band at New Friends Fest 2026 and they blew my mind. Incredible Chilean screamo not unlike Ostraca and A Recorded Dawn. New LP imminent.

2026 - 7 - 03 /// Zampler released + final shirt sale!

July 03, 2026 by David Norman

ZAMPLER #27 released on June 30th! 'Take It Out Easy, Cadet' houses 25 songs including a bunch of previously unreleased stuff from Senza, Our Future Is An Absolute Shadow, Poetry Of Torch, Coup D'etat, The Names Of Our Friends, Hauzu, Empathetic, and Mourn Recif. All bandcamp donations in the first 30 days for this go to the artist, shoutout Sinco from Constrain <3

All orders placed from June 30th-July 6th will include a Zampler cd for free. I heard their might be a golden ticket in there somewhere!!!

Oh shit yo the final T-shirts etc. sale just went up so I’m all outta shirts for sale. I cut down my personal collection from almost 200 to just over 50 so there’s some insanely rare/awesome shit in there. Some cheap…some not so much lol. Click on this text to go to the Shirts section of the store. Remember, each order by July 6th gets a free Zampler #27!!!

Everything Is Noise included the new Mal Criado album ‘Ni Todo La Tierra Entera’ that was released a month ago on Tomb Tree in their monthly blast! Click on the pic above or this text to go there, jam/buy below!

Gus (bass/vocals) from Ostraca joined me on the most recent OMSB Podcast! Check it out, we talked about a bunch of stuff including their sick new record (embedded below), bands that helped form him, his musical journey, and more! Click on this text for the full blog post or just listen/download the podcast above.

Today’s Last Fucking Copy goes to another CanaDave (now just Dave) release, as I am down to the final Apostles Of Eris x Encarsia split cassette. Arguably some of the best AOE material and pretty much the only proper release from the prog skramz gods Encarsia. This will not be made again. Snag it now below or forever hold your peace.

APOSTLES OF ERIS + ENCARSIA - Split (cassette)

APOSTLES OF ERIS + ENCARSIA - Split (cassette)

from CA$10.00

APOSTLES OF ERIS + ENCARSIA ‘Split‘ tape (ZB276)

For fans of: Via Fondo, Majorel, Edhochuli, and Leer

After CanaDave heard the early Encarsia material he flipped his lid and asked the band to do a split with Jesse Mowery and their Apostles Of Eris project. The result is a six-song blast through mega riffage, soaring solos, and shrieky screams supplied by both bands. Imagine Via Fondo meets Cease Upon The Capitol for AOE (also featuring Sammy from Warren Of Ohms on vocals!) and anything mathy/amazing for Encarsia. Art by Joshua Criss @robotarmart.

Cassettes /110 breakdown:
Golden Afterburner Swirl (/70)
Currency of God aka Shit Brick (/25)
Test Dip w/matching swirl case (/5)

All tapes come with two-sided j-card. 3 songs by each band.

Listen here:
https://zegemabeachrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-14

Variant:

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: MIEKE = This Kiwi all-star just released another new jam, and I have 12”LP for ‘Frau Eva’ on Softseed Music so you can snag it directly from this store!

MIEKE - Frau Eva (12")

CA$40.00

For fans of: Smush, Julie, Bok Suna, and Mage Tears.

I am beyond stoked to announce the pressing of one of my favourite 2025 releases, New Zealand's MIEKE (pronounced "ME-kah") and her genre-bending 'frau eva' full length. This sophomore full length houses 15 songs that range from experimental ("Intro: the garage splits in two") to shoegaze ("Nuclear") to ethereal beauty ("Forest"). The art for this is incredible and includes a full-color inner-sleeve with lyrics. Easily one of the most exciting artists releasing today! And you can catch her at ZBR Fest 2026 in Vancouver as well as her band Wallflower!!!

12”s /243 on clear with six-colour splatter + 5 test presses, includes new art with printed inner sleeve and download code.

Listen here:
https://softseedmusic.bandcamp.com/album/frau-eva

2026 - 4 - 10 /// April's Schedule

April 10, 2026 by David Norman

April schedule

Tuesday April 14th = DENTAL OFFICE PARKING 3”cd (Tomb Tree) glitchy screamo by John of Usurp Synapse

Friday April 17th = NSIXHUNDRED cassettes (Zegema Beach) California breakdown mathcore not unlike Hayworth and Gxllium!

Friday April 24th = DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD cds (Zegema Beach) Vancouver legends compilation featuring all of the Jens material (aka everything recorded to date)

Friday May 1st = FINGERSWOVENTOGETHER 12” (Zegema Beach)
Friday May 1st = DETACH THE ISLANDS cassettes (Tomb Tree)

Also in May: Orphan Donor, I.O., Sungaze, Letterstoyou, and Hillsboro!!!

The new Fainting Dreams EP ‘The Silence of Birds That Rarely Sing’ is out! We already moved a lot of tapes so snag one if it tickles your fancy. The incredible mixture of gorgeous bits and crushing, posty black metal is untouchable but will definitely appease fans of Oathbreaker, Chelsea Wolfe, Shedfromthebody, and Deafheaven.

Vibora has arrived and started shipping, Canada/International orders should start moving mid-April (cuz we gotta send them from the US store to Canada still). US restock of 3 copies per variant, 1st record still in stock.

Carrion Spring are today’s ZBR Fest 2026 Profile Feature! Featuring my good friend Adam and a host of other fantastic people, this Portland, Oregon band has been kicking it for almost two decades and recently released a phenomenal album that was recorded by Kurt Ballou of Converge! There’s a clip of them at the ZBR Fest 2024 above, their new album embedded below, and you can click on this text to get tickets to the fest !!!

Operation X-Ray Dental Office Parking premiere of “Ninja Troll” as well as Concealer, Soastasphrenas, Clout Funeral and Fainting Dreams! Dental Office Parking 3” cds release on April 14th on Tomb Tree, you can scope a music video above!

Dead Internet sent me this live cover of Loftus’ “Next Step, New Boundary” and it slaps. Check it out and then buy the album.

Today’s Last Fucking Copy goes all the way back to the second ZBR release and first one that was in hand. We sold out years abo but I had kept a copy of each variant of every release for a long time, before recently deciding to just keep a single copy. So this used to by mine but now it can be yours! Shall not be repressed. No more are available. It looks amazing. Snag it below or forever hold your peace.

Dagerman and Carrion Spring came in on The Noise of March via Everything Is Noise. That new Dagerman moved very quickly along with their first 12”LP, so I recommend snagging those asap! Click on the pic above or this text to go to the full list, jam/buy Dagerman below.

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: CASSUS = This album has been in the making for almost a freakin’ decade. And yes, it was worth the wait.

2026 - 4 - 04 /// Fainting Dreams premiere + ZBR Fest 2026 is one month away!!!

April 04, 2026 by David Norman

Fainting Dreams releases in full on Monday April 6th but New Noise has a full EP premiere going down right now! The incredible mixture of gorgeous bits and crushing, posty black metal is untouchable but will definitely appease fans of Oathbreaker, Chelsea Wolfe, Shedfromthebody, and Deafheaven. Click on the pic above or this text for the full premiere. Jam their previous (and softer) album below.

Concealer came out and, as predicted, sold out same day. ‘This Room Could Be Heaven’ ripped up the scene immediately and I promise you’ll be seeing way more of them in the future. You can check out No Clean Singing’s ‘Things You May Have Missed But Shouldn’t’ list which is linked above and to this text. Jam the album below, but sadly, no more vinyl until it’s repress time.

Today’s ZBR Fest 2026 Profile Feature is for Jisei! Featuring members/ex-members of Androgyne, Lord Wrought, Sissy XO, and Emma Goldman and have been kicking ass around here for the better part of half-a-decade. Here’s a clip of them at the Coup D’etat release show, and you can click on this text to get tickets to the fest !!!

The second half of the Everything Remade podcast aired (part I is linked here) with Adam of Carrion Spring! Another great listen, embedded above. Jam the album below and catch them at the ZBR Fest pre-show AND the main fest!

Speaking of Jisei, CanaDave will be in attendance at the the above show with distro in hand. Hope to see you there! Josh from Wollruss also plays in Csilla’s Star Is Gone and the Wollruss drummer Max is in Pet Retina! Also, a member of Mourn Recif (Drue/bass) plays in Internal Dialogue so check out this show below if you can.

March’s Anti-Fascist Scrub from Toilet OV Hell rounded up our very own Dagerman for their list. Love it. Click on the pic above or this text to go there. Jam/buy below.

Thought I’d post this Wollruss video from our most recent show. Twas fun.

Johnny’s Reco-mmendations: PASTEL = This Italian band has new music on the way, including this first music video linked below.