How did screamo start?

The origins of screamo can be traced back to the early 1990s in the San Diego music scene. It is widely considered to have begun with the band Heroin, who combined elements of hardcore punk, post-hardcore, and emo into a new, more extreme sound. Heroin's music was characterized by its use of screamed vocals, dissonant chords, and chaotic song structures. Other early screamo bands from the San Diego scene included Antioch Arrow, Swing Kids, and Portraits of Past.

Screamo quickly spread to other parts of the United States, gaining popularity in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. In the mid-1990s, a second wave of screamo bands emerged, including Orchid, Saetia, and pg.99. These bands pushed the genre even further into experimental territory, with their music becoming more intricate and complex.

By the late 1990s, screamo had become a global phenomenon, with bands from Europe, Japan, and Australia also embracing the genre. In the 2000s, screamo began to be incorporated into other genres of music, such as metalcore and post-hardcore. Today, screamo remains a vital and influential force in the underground music scene.