This Chicago band owes more to the shifting rhythms, undulating crunchy guitars and sung/shouted vocals of emo than to influences of hardcore punk. Formed in 1997, Alkaline Trio features ex-members of Midwestern bands Jerkwater, 88 Fingers Louie and Slapstick. Their formative years were fueled by booze and heartache, resulting in the bleary hangover lyrics of "Crawl." Those emotionally careening motifs persisted, fueling newer singles like "Mercy Me," an anthemic hum-along packed wi...  [+]