A fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk? Using breakdowns which are conducive to moshing? These are the terms wikipedia uses for Metalcore, as I was not quite sure what it was. The breakdowns part also sounds like some of the things Djent attempts to do, and something many thrash metal bands did. Anthrax for example, in the album Among the Living even had "Mosh Part" clearly labeled in the lyrics of the songs on the inside sleeves.

This continues my series on the evolution and genealogy of Heavy Metal. I began this series with this original post which has all of the previous posts listed at the very bottom. Since it is relevant to this Metalcore sub-genre, I have also previously covered Hardcore, I have also covered Doom Metal which focuses on the low powerful music that it sounds like may also be influential on this, and of course Thrash Metal as well.

This series was inspired by the Metal Evolution documentary series by Sam Dunn and Banger Films. In those documentary episodes Sam displays a Metal Evolution chart. He covers some of the bands listed, and many of the branches are never explored. I suspect had it had more seasons this may not be the case. This inspired me to begin writing this series exploring all of these bands, and sub-genres, while also adding my own notes and branches.

Let Us Begin

This is a sub-genre that the name is unfamiliar to me though I have and still listen to quite a number of the bands that are in the chart for this on the Metal Evolution chart. I am admitting to you here and now that as a sub-genre I personally do not know a lot about this, as what seems to describe it also could fit on other sub-genres. If you have been following the series the fact that there is a lot of overlap is not unusual. I am going to therefore respect the scholarly research of Sam Dunn and his categorization of these bands and I will do this article on it. I am also going to add a few bands from the Wikipedia page that are categorized as this. It should be noted that this is also sometimes called Metallic Hardcore.

I do see one common factor with a lot of the earlier bands in this sub-genre. They are bands that were not really identifying with metal in their early days and they eventually seemed to "crossover" after Thrash Metal hit the scene.

I also note that a ton of these bands are from New York state in the United States. It is by no means all of them, but the percentage is pretty high and when I notice such a cluster I do believe for historical purposes it is worth pointing out. This was primarily United States based, but that has changed within the last decade or so some. Unless otherwise indicated all acts in this post are from the United States. I will be sure to indicate the nationality of the few exceptions.

Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (aka D.R.I.)

Band First Released: 1983
I remember hearing quite a bit of DRI from friends who were into Hardcore Punk before they did their crossover. After the Thrash Metal scene took the world by storm there were Hardcore Punk bands that began to crossover. The speed and intensity of Thrash was the same as that of Hardcore, but it was often a bit more brutal. This likely appealed to many hardcore bands. D.R.I. is the earliest band in this post, but I do not think they were necessarily the first to crossover. They were one of the early bands to do so. I vaguely remember others potentially doing this before them. One band that did not make this cut is Agnostic Front and I do seem to recall them crossing over before DRI did. Another thing this style of music was great for was moshing, so if they were into that with Hardcore, this could accentuate those powerful tribal (aka breakdown) moments where it almost is impossible not to move and get the urge to mosh.
Abduction - Thrash Zone -

Beneath The Wheel - I remember when this song came out

Acid Rain

Suicidal Tendencies

Band First Released: 1983
I had a friend who was way into Suicidal Tendencies when their earlier albums came out. I was not really into them at all as they were kind of tame. They would become later on one of my favorite crossover bands. I love a ton of their older music and some of their side jaunts such as Infectious Grooves. I have been known to mimic and make fun of the vocalist Mike Muir... "blah blah blah blah.... yeah... blah blah blah.... yeah... blah blah blah... introduce song". I have seen them live and he would spend 1 to 2 minutes(perhaps even longer) just rambling between songs. It was kind of funny. I didn't dislike it, I just found it something amusing to act out myself.
Institutionalized - from before their crossover - this was the popular song/video from their earliest stuff... I actually like it now, but I remember not being a fan of it when it came out. :) By the way his rambling at the beginning of the video is the stuff I like to make fun of.

You Can't Bring Me Down - This is from Lights... Camera... Revolution... which is a brilliant album.

Trip at the Brain

Corrosion of Conformity

Band First Released: 1984
I first heard of Corrosion of Conformity due to Kirk Hammett of Metallica frequently wearing one of their shirts in the early days. I didn't hear them as a band until much later though when they released an album long after that.
Clean My Wounds - This is the song from the album that I first actually listened to them on. This song and a few others would often end up on roadtrip mixes of mine.

Albatross

Vote with a Bullet

Stormtroopers of Death (aka S.O.D.)

Band First Released: 1985
S.O.D. was mentioned in hushed tones and referenced in magazines. Their power (breakdowns) were the soundtrack used to back MTV's Headbanger's ball. If you need to understand this concept of a breakdown and a moshable part, these guys are the masters of putting together such pieces.
Speak English Or Die (Full Album) - 29:44

*Live at Budokan (1992) - 1:09:16

Bigger Than The Devil - I like the tongue and cheek parody of Number of the Beast on their album cover.

Cro-Mags

Band First Released: 1986
I do believe my friend that listened to a lot of Hardcore occasionally listened to these guys. I never really did, so I don't have any nifty stories to tell related to them.
We Gotta Know

The Age of Quarrel 1986 (Full Album) - 33:43

World Peace (Video 2006)

Integrity

Band First Released: 1987
I actually never heard of this band before, but they are listed by Wikipedia as one of the progenitors of Metalcore.
Micha (Those Who Fear Tomorrow) - nice rhythms... I personally am pretty into what is called breakdowns myself

Hated of the World

To Die For - Definitely a more Hardcore feel to this song...

Biohazard

Band First Released: 1988
I heard of Biohazard a few times when I was younger, and I may have been exposed to them as well, though I do not recall anything in particular about them.
Punishment (Official Video)

Sellout

Shades of Grey (Official Video)

Earth Crisis

Band First Released: 1992
I have never heard of this band prior to making this post. This is a new listening experience for me as well.
To Ashes (Official Video)

Total War (Official Video)

Firestorm

Converge

Band First Released: 1994
Converge is another progenitor of Metalcore according to Wikipedia, but considering when they first released it seems like there were others already well into the style before this band even existed.
Aimless Arrow

Precipice / All We Love We Leave Behind

Darkhorse

Hatebreed

Band First Released: 1997
I have heard the name before, or read it somewhere on the internet. I have however, never listened to any of it until today. It is funny how many of these vocalists and people are clearly inspired by the Mike Muir (or perhaps simply gang thug)look.
Destroy Everything (Official Video)

Everyone Bleeds Now

I Will Be Heard

Killswitch Engage

Band First Released: 2000
I was first turned onto Killswitch Engage by a young teenager (I had my own children by this stage) from Arizona. I would never have associated them with the concept of Metalcore, but they are a band I have listened to and enjoyed quite a bit. Wikipedia listed them as a Metalcore band. Everytime I see Killswitch I think of that Teenager Ryan who later on as an adult was killed in a car accident. This band will always make me think of him.
My Curse(Official Video)

My Last Serenade (Official Video) - I really like this song

In Due Time (Official Video) - Pretty cool song, I hadn't heard this one before.

As I Lay Dying

Band First Released: 2001
I have heard this band due to late night radio station KBPI playing them in the Denver area when I used to be driving home on the highway late at night and having 4 lane highways pretty much to myself. This was one of the bands that would get some air play then.
Parallels (Official Video)

Through Struggle

Nothing Left

All That Remains

Band First Released: 2002
This is another of those bands I heard late at night driving while I listened to the KBPI radio station in the Denver area.
What If I Was Nothing - nice song, well put together

Two Weeks

This Calling

Parkway Drive

Band First Released: 2004
Nationality: Australia
I have never heard this band until today. I will say they have the distinction of being the first band from outside of the United States in this post so far. The one that comes last is also from outside of the U.S. I imagine if I still listened to KBPI much like in the old days I might have heard more from these guys.
Dark Days

Wild Eyes

Vice Grip

Bullet For My Valentine

Band First Released: 2005
Nationality: United Kingdoms
I have heard of this band quite a few times, and heard it on KBPI. This is also a band that my children requested I get some of before.
Tears Don't Fall - Yep, I've heard this song many times.

Waking The Demon

Your Betrayal

Closing

This sub-genre is a bit ambiguous to me, and I am sure some of you that read this series may have a better grasp of it than I do. As with all of these posts, if you feel I left out an important band feel free to reply and include a video link to things you feel should be in this Metalcore post. Thank you for reading and participating in my posts.

Steem On!