10 Crucial Punk Rock Bands Currently Active

Post-pop punk, a new wave of society was forming. An underbelly, not of mohawks and studded chokers, but of sad kids, who had nothing a drive to tell their own stories of depression, loss and hurt. Emo.

Jimmy Eat World, Paramore and Fall out Boy. Naming some of these bands to people who grew up in the same era as them will evoke special memories of a time when life seemed like it was out to get them and they had no place in the world to call their own. The music of the mid 00s was an era when punk found itself strangely in a similar state of mind.

People who once had donned leather jackets and pocket chains had hit midlife and the pop punkers had all left college and got monotonous day jobs. A gaping void remained for this branch of subculture, too young to appreciate the complexities of politically-charged 40 year olds and too emotional for the upbeat nature of pop.

The Black Parade, led by an emo renegade band of outcasts, My Chemical Romance.

To attempt to put into words how impactful My Chemical Romance were on the punk and rock scenes wouldn't begin to tell the full story. Gerard Way knew how to write lyrics that spoke to people who had felt loss and pain like he had.

While their initial run was short but sweet, the news of a reformation and release of new material has seen the relevancy of MCR worm its way back into conversation. The leaders of the black and white marching band are back.