Innovative in the field of pop-punk, Alkaline Trio were formed in 1997, gaining success very quickly for their tight, melodic songs which covered subjects now comfortably housed in the emo tag (heartbreak being the most prominent).
Although their recent moves toward even more overtly radio-friendly tunes has seen them turning up their guitar amps and tightening their pop formula, clever wordplay and fearless dabbling in murkier subjects such as morality have safeguarded their appeal against the notoriously fickle surge in chart-hitting emo bands.