Even Emo Kids Are Rowing in the Pit Now

First they took our devil horn hand gestures and we laughed because who gives a shit? Then they sold our band t-shirts to each other at insane prices and once again, we laughed because that’s dumb as shit. But now? Now they may have gone too far, because one of the more ridiculous trends in metal culture has found its way onto an emo cruise.

Last week, fans of bands like Yellowcard, Senses Fail, and Armor for Sleep were sailing the Caribbean on the Norwegian Pearl for the Emo’s Not Dead 2024 cruise. Normally, that sort of thing wouldn’t make it to MetalSucks since I assume it’s less about badass tunes and more about remembering high school and sitting with one’s feelings. Then Backroom Studios‘ Evan Kelly shared the video below of attendees rowing during a concert and well… here we are.

The rowing apparently took place last Wednesday as August Burns Red was playing on the ship’s pool deck. They were playing through their album Constellations and were in the middle of the song “Meridian” when what looks like a couple dozen people decided to start rowing for some reason. They even had Charlotte Sands guitarist Dillon Jordan (the dude in the “EMO” shirt) participating down in front.

For those that don’t know, or for the normies that find this post, rowing in the pit sometimes happens at metal shows. And while it’s begun to find its way at various shows over the years, it’s really the calling card of viking metal band Amon Amarth.

Now, I’m not going to say what you’re about to see is cool, per se. I mean, we’re talking about a pit activity that keeps people from moshing so you can pretend you’re rowing a boat. Yet comparing the average Amon Amarth crowd rowing on the floor to the nostalgia-tripping emo fans doing it in the video below just seems like we should be a little put off about this.

It’s kinda like how you can make fun of a family member but the moment someone else does it you feel like throwing hands. I mean, what’s next? Crowdkillers at an Adele show? Windmill headbanging during a Billy Joel concert? A Wall of Death during a Taylor Swift arena gig?! Nothing’s sacred, I tells ya!