Balance and Composure formed in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 2007 and became a cornerstone of the early-2010s emo and indie rock revival. The Things We Think We're Missing (2013) is the one to start with — moody, heavy, and melodic all at once — and the 2024 reunion brought them back to stages. Shop Balance and Composure vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Balance and Composure formed in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 2007. The band became part of the emo and indie rock revival of the early 2010s, signing with No Sleep Records for their debut album Separation (2011) and later Vagrant Records and Big Scary Monsters. They announced an indefinite hiatus in 2019 before reuniting in 2024 for tours and continued activity.
Balance and Composure's sound combines emo, indie rock, post-hardcore, and grunge influences, with dynamic shifts between melodic passages and heavier instrumental textures. Their later albums incorporated more atmospheric and shoegaze-influenced production while retaining the band's central songwriting approach.
No Sleep and Vagrant pressings of Balance and Composure's catalog have been issued in multiple color variants. Separation and The Things We Think We're Missing have appeared in anniversary editions.
Listeners new to Balance and Composure typically start with The Things We Think We're Missing (2013) or Separation (2011).
