When Zegema Beach Records launched its Zampler series over a decade ago, the vision was simple: showcase the underground, celebrate the uncompromising voices of post-hardcore, screamo, and beyond. Now, with Zampler #24: Remember Your Training, this mission remains steady but has grown sharper with time—a curated snapshot of a scene that thrives on raw emotion and relentless experimentation.
This edition compiles tracks from a global roster of bands including Emma Goldman, Athousandangelsandseven, Excrucis, Senza, Mahria, Återstod, Dagerman, Examination of the…, Mourn Recif, Keratin, Die Princess Die, Blue Youth, Febuary, Onewaymirror, Bloom Dream, Meißel, Animal Faces, Hallam Foe, Gxllium!, Concealer, Crowning, Máu, and Tenue.
At the heart of Zampler lies a labor of love, detailed in our brief conversation with Zegema Beach Records founder David Norman.
The interview unpacks the method behind these compilations, from their roots in low-fi CD-Rs scattered at Toronto shows to digital-only releases driven by rising costs and environmental considerations. David also reflects on his enduring connection to the scene, the shifting dynamics of underground music in the digital age, and the process of selecting unreleased tracks to spotlight on each installment.
David’s perspective on Zegema Beach’s evolution adds a reflective dimension. From surviving tough mid-2010s moments to hosting major events like the Chicago fests, the label’s journey mirrors the resilience of the bands it supports. Looking ahead, David sees a balance of smaller, intentional releases and bold experiments, ensuring the label remains a pillar of screamo and the DIY community.
In other news, before we dive into the interview, Dave has dropped a new episode in his long-running podcast series, (((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))). Episode #173 features none other than Johnny Whitney of The Blood Brothers.
In this hour-and-a-half conversation, Whitney reflects on fan outreach, family life, and a whirlwind of topics including 80-minute sets, false chord engagement, vocal mantras, touring with Orchid, and the chaos of birthing and inducing vomiting at shows. The episode also dives into Blood Brothers’ ties to Zegema Beach Records, their struggles recreating certain songs live, and the nostalgia of peak Nintendo games.
The podcast, as always, features a killer soundtrack with tracks from Botch, Gxllium!, The Locust, The Murder City Devils, and Transistor Transistor.
Check out the full episode of Dave’a podcast and check out our interview below. Also, be sure to visit our previous multi-artist features focused on Zamplers HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
How did this series start, what the inspiration was, and what’s behind the new cover art? What’s the story there? And how do you go about creating these compilations in the digital age with such independent and underground bands? What’s the step-by-step process for putting together this kind of material?
This series started in late 2013 when I came up with the idea of doing a sampler cdr for my new label Zegema Beach Records. I didn’t have any releases out at that time, but ZBR had about four releases lined up and I had been in discussion with Trachimbrod about helping with their next release (one that wouldn’t come out for almost half-a-decade).
I used the picture I had drawn for my blog (((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))) for the cover, and just changed the text. In large part the sampler (not called the Zampler until #2 when my wife came up with the idea) was influenced by the Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph’s ‘Punk-O-Rama’ compilation cds that always housed unreleased tracks, hooking me good. I printed the covers on low quality paper and most likely ended up on the floor of shows in Toronto and Hamilton in late 2013 and early 2014.
By the time Zampler #2 came around, I started asking artists (usually friends of mine in bands releasing on the label) to do the layouts. The stipulation was, “watch Starship Troopers and come up with something from that”, and it’s still what I tell the artists nowadays. No titles were done by the artists until Connie from SeeYouSpaceCowboy took it upon herself to name #8 and I was all about it. Since then a few artists have included the titles themselves, and if none are given I just rewatch the movie and come up with something.
Zampler #24’s art was done by Lucca Cassandra Carver of Split Silk and I asked her because we’ve been friends for years now and she is a shining beacon of hope, emotion, and strength. A stellar human and incredible artist/performer.
The comps come together to essentially feature bands who have released or who will be releasing on ZBR.
Sending asks to the bands is usually super easy in the digital age and I usually get responses within 24 hours, making it pretty seamless. Once I find out if I’m using an unreleased or previously unreleased song I go through my options and choose one, then stick all the songs in a folder and try to come up with a tracklisting. I made cdr comps for my car for nearly two decades and so I found the process quite empowering and hella fun.
As of Zampler #20 I stopped making cdrs and kept the releases digital-only, in part because of rising costs of cdrs and also because my cd burners kept giving me issues and lots of cdrs were wasted in the process.
Where you’re at now with Zegema Beach Records? How do you see the future in the coming months and years?
It’s kind of nuts to see where ZBR is at now, especially since putting on the Chicago fests and being able to see everyone together and how much love there is for the scene in general, it’s extremely humbling.
Things have always been on the up but in late 2018 with the inclusion of US Dave (from Crowning fame) things started moving super fast. I also believe we gained traction by surviving through the mid-2010s when things were pretty rough.
The idea in 2025 was initially going to be getting out of vinyl altogether, but with the label being my literal job now I decided not to go that route. We were being much more picky about releases post-ZBR Fest 2024 and released less until January 2025, and the same went for our sister label Tomb Tree.
Less releases, smaller pressings, and a few more co-releases. Zegema Beach also recently spawned Softseed Music which is gaining traction with releases from Smush, Leavs, Opheliac, Hillsboro, Social Caterpillar, and Bok Suna.
Why did each track make it onto the compilation? What have they released recently or are about to release?
I thought I’d just quickly go over the previously unreleased songs:
1. EMMA GOLDMAN – this is your brain on minimum wage
I can’t say enough amazing things about this band.
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They’ve been kicking ass in Vancouver since before I moved out west in 2018, and since their covid-lockdown member shuffle they have morphed into a totally new beast with a very different approach. The screamo world isn’t ready for this behemoth of a debut 12″LP, but here’s just a little taste to get you salivating…
2. ATHOUSANDANGELSANDSEVEN – We Suffer (the Same Fate)
This brand new band sent me their debut EP and I lost my shit.
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Absolutely devastating metal with screamo and post-hardcore elements, mixing the darkness of Malevich with the sheer ferocity of Closet Witch. I think this band is gonna blow up.
5. MAHRIA – Part 3
A decade after their breakup we finally got the okay to release their genre-defining ‘Analemma’ on 12″, I was able to convince the band to let me release the one unfinished track from that recording that didn’t get vocals recorded in time. It’s such a fucking banger too, and I remember one of the guitarists telling me back in 2015 that it was their favourite Mahria song.
6. ÅTERSTOD – and longing since
Henning from Suis La Lune started a new screamo project and holy hell is it amazing. It takes the gorgeous melodies of said former band and mixes them with the atmospheric darkness of Via Fondo. This shit is so good!
8. KERATIN – Before the Salt, Taste the Wound
This Australian band floored us with their debut 5-song EP so releasing this on 7″ was a no brainer. This closing track is arguably the best and most complete thing the band has ever done. Full release is January 3rd!!!
9. OUR FUTURE IS AN ABSOLUTE SHADOW – Lisa’s Hitz4Hits Extravaganza
I wrote this song for my partner, as we play NHL Hitz 2003 for the Gamecube (but on the Wii) literally every single day, and have done so for nearly the last 21 years. We have a million inside jokes so I just wrote a bunch of them down as lyrics and then made a lyric music video for it and gave it to her on christmas. This is a Zampler #24 exclusive song release.
11. BLUE YOUTH – Two Faces
After a lengthy hiatus CanaDave’s favourite Canadian post-hardcore/noise rock band is back with a brand new full length. Releasing spring/summer 2025, this track is the only rerecorded song from previous endeavors (a demo version popped up on their previous two-song release), and holy smokes does it take OG version to a new fucking level.
15. MEIßEL – verlies
From this German band’s upcoming split cassette release with Återstod, their three jams bring all the feels. There is an intro/instrumental track that is so good I almost put that over this fuckin’ banger! Full release is January 13th, 2025.
22. MOURN RECIF – Pyramids as a Weapon (demo)
This was the first song I wrote on electric guitar about 3 years ago. All octaves. Super short. This is a demo version from a scrapped recording session, but we just recorded 8 songs and will be releasing them all in 2025. This is a Zampler #24 exclusive song release.
More screamo?
For a lot more screamo and post hardcore, our Spotify playlist is a good pick!
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