Mainstremo

a current scene in rock music that contains numerous bands who identify themselves or are labelled as emo, but share none of the stylistic traits of foundational emo bands such as fugazi, rites of spring, sunny day real estate, or texas is the reason. this style began in the d.c. hardcore scene during the revolution summer of 1985. earlier bands often sounded akin to hardcore punk, but utilizing more dissonance and more varied time signatures. nineties bands were often softer and focused on intricate guitar work and melodies.

such bands may include taking back sunday, my chemical romance, hawthorne heights, fall out boy, something corporate, as i lay dying, and panic! at the disco, among others. most of these bands fit more comfortably into the post-hardcore, alternative rock, or modern rock categories. these bands are known for a generic sound, whiny and/or nasally vocals, and for overtly depressing and sad lyrics. most of the bands adhere to the stereotypes of the emo fashion, but some, like my chemical romance, have adopted their own identifiable look. their guitar work usually consists of power chords, tuned to drop-d with heavy distortion, not unlike nu-metal. some of the more musically technical bands likely fit better into the fashioncore, metalcore, or post-hardcore scenes.
taking back sunday is mainstremo. fugazi is emotional/emotive hardcore, the true meaning of emo.