Bethari’s Promo 2017: Raw, Unfiltered, and Straight-Up Emo Fire
Let’s cut the crap. Bethari’s Promo 2017 isn’t your polished, overproduced rock album—it’s a punch-in-the-gut dose of emo grit straight outta Singapore. Self-released under their own label (because who needs gatekeepers anyway?), this record feels like it was ripped straight from the soul of someone who’s lived every lyric. And yeah, there are only two tracks here—“Song 1” and “Song 2”—but holy hell, do they pack a wallop.
First up, “Song 1.” It hits you like a sucker punch to the chest. The guitars scream with distortion, but not in that try-hard way—you can tell these dudes aren’t faking it. They’re pissed off, heartbroken, or maybe just plain lost, and they don’t give a damn if you get it or not. What sticks? The chorus. Damn, it’s sticky as hell. You’ll be humming it for days even though you won’t admit it to anyone. It’s raw, kinda messy, but that’s what makes it real. Like, yeah, life’s messy too, so why should music pretend otherwise?
Then there’s “Song 2,” which flips the script hard. If “Song 1” is all rage and chaos, this one sneaks up on you with quieter, almost haunting vibes. But don’t let the softer start fool ya—it builds into this emotional tsunami that slaps you right in the feels. There’s this one riff about halfway through that sounds like a guitar crying its eyes out. I dunno how else to describe it. Feels like hearing someone break down in front of you, no filter, no apologies. Brutal stuff.
Look, I ain’t saying Promo 2017 is perfect. Hell no. It’s rough around the edges, and some folks might call it amateurish. But screw ‘em. That’s what makes it work. This ain’t music made by committee; it’s music made because it had to come out. It’s got guts, passion, and zero fucks given—and honestly? We need more of that.
Here’s the kicker: after blasting this album three times in a row, I realized something weird. These songs feel unfinished—but not in a bad way. More like...they leave space for you. Like they’re inviting you to fill in the blanks with your own baggage, your own mess. Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to them. Or maybe I’m just overthinking it. Either way, props to Bethari for dropping something this real in 2017. Now go listen to it before I change my mind about sharing the secret.
