Metalcore

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article or section has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
Metalcore
Stylistic origins
Cultural origins
late 1980s North America
Typical instruments
Mainstream popularity Late 1990s and 2000s
Subgenres
Mathcore - Nintendocore
Fusion genres
Deathcore
Other topics
Breakdown

Metalcore is a fusion genre that incorporates elements of the hardcore punk and heavy metal genres. The term is a portmanteau of heavy metal and hardcore punk. Metalcore emphasizes breakdowns, and sometimes discards the conceptual trappings of both its parent genres.

Through the 1990s, metalcore was mostly an underground phenomenon, but from 2004 to the present, many bands have appeared on the Billboard album charts.

Many metalcore bands influenced the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Contents

[edit] Origin and development

The fusion of heavy metal and punk rock existed since the earliest days of hardcore. American crossover thrash, a thrash metal and hardcore punk fusion genre, pioneered by Dirty Rotten Imbeciles and Suicidal Tendencies[10], had an influence on many bands in the New York hardcore scene, and would help shape the metalcore genre in its early years. However, early metalcore bands, unlike those of the crossover thrash genre, were often less metallic, with a sound rooted in hardcore punk, not thrash metal. First wave metalcore bands included New York's Madball (which was formed by members of Agnostic Front), Judge, and Biohazard.[11]

Between 1989 and 1992, a new wave of metalcore bands emerged[12]. These included Integrity, Earth Crisis, Converge, and Bloodlet[13]. Integrity drew influence primarily from the youth crew hardcore of the Cro-Mags and the thrash metal of Slayer, with more subtle elements of Septic Death, Samhain, Motörhead, and Joy Division[14]. Earth Crisis and Converge also borrowed from death metal and grindcore [15].
Zao, Coalesce, Shai Hulud, and Hatebreed were also important early metalcore groups.

In Scandinavia, parallel to the development of early 1990s metalcore, melodic death metal appeared. This classic metal-influenced death metal subgenre incorporated melodic guitar hooks, polyphonic melodies, and high-pitched, guttural vocals. At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, and Carcass are considered influential melodic death metal bands. Melodic death metal would be influential to the sound of later metalcore.

In the mid-2000s, metalcore emerged as a commercial force, with several independent metal labels, including Century Media and Metal Blade, signing metalcore bands. By 2004, metalcore had become popular enough that Killswitch Engage's The End of Heartache[16] and Shadows Fall's The War Within[17] debuted at numbers 21 and 20, respectively, on the Billboard album chart. Welsh metalcore band Bullet for My Valentine's second album, Scream Aim Fire, went straight to 4 on the Billboard 200.[18] The American band Underoath had their album Define the Great Line, released in 2006, peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 charts.[19] Hatebreed, God Forbid, Lamb of God, and As I Lay Dying have also charted.[20][21][22] Metalcore bands have also received prominent slots at Ozzfest, Download Festival, and Warped Tour.

[edit] Conceptual and ideological elements

Metalcore initially emerged from the milieu surrounding youth crew hardcore, with many of the groups adhering to straight edge beliefs (that is to say, abstention from drugs and alcohol)-- though Integrity was a notable exception[23]. Earth Crisis proselytized for vegetarianism and animal rights, which had an enduring effect on numerous bands, including Converge[24]. One Life Crew was controversial for their right-wing, anti-immigration beliefs[25]. Dwid Hellion, frontman of Integrity, advocated the "Holy Terror Church of Final Judgment", an outlook related to Satanism[26]. Several members of contemporary metalcore groups are practicing Christians: Zao[27], As I Lay Dying[28] and Underoath[29] are the most famous examples.

[edit] Styles of metalcore

Although hardcore punk and thrash metal are prominent influences, metalcore bands have been known to incorporate traits of groove metal, alternative metal, death metal, grindcore and post-hardcore. Metalcore subgenres and fusion genres include:

[edit] Deathcore

Main article: Deathcore

Deathcore is an amalgamation of two musical styles: metalcore and death metal. While similar to the more abrasive death metal of recent years, deathcore's aesthetics and following are more closely related to metalcore. While remaining a subgenre of metalcore, deathcore is heavily influenced by death metal in its speed, heaviness, and approach to chromatic, heavily palm muted riffing, dissonance, and frequent key changes. Though the lyrics are not always in the death metal vein, growls, pig-like squeals, and shrieks predominate, with metalcore vocals rarely being used. Job for a Cowboy's Doom EP and Despised Icon are examples of deathcore.

[edit] Mathcore

Main article: Mathcore

Mathcore is a style of metalcore recognized for a high level of technical musicianship. The music is usually filled with discordant, technical riffing, and complex time signatures and song structures. Songs played by bands of this style tend to vary from mere seconds in length to over 15 minutes and rarely feature a conventional verse-chorus song structure. The Dillinger Escape Plan and Botch are two examples of mathcore bands.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110. 
  2. ^ "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110. 
  3. ^ Karl Buechner of Earth Crisis cites Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, and Obituary as prime influences. See Mudrian, Albert (2000). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN-10: 193259504X. p. 223.
  4. ^ Popmatters.com While Lamb of God has spearheaded the American metalcore movement (with Shadows Fall and God Forbid hot on its heels), its hybrid of muscular Pantera riffs and Megadeth-style progressive tendencies spawning dozens of imitators in a short time span, the biggest influence of the burgeoning scene (dubbed by some wise-asses "The New Wave of American Metal") has been, ironically, punk.
  5. ^ James Edward. The Ghosts of Glam Metal Past. Lamentations of the Flame Princess. Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
  6. ^ Fong, Erik. Rock of Lamb. Metroactive.com. Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
  7. ^ 'New Wave Of American Heavy Metal' Book Documents Over 600 Bands. Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
  8. ^ SHOEGAZER ROSS. LAMB OF GOD - Burn The Priest. Metal Express Radio. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  9. ^ NWOAHM - New Frontier Or Well Worn Path?. Maximum Metal. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  10. ^ Christe, Ian: Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal (2003), p. 184
  11. ^ The History of Rock Music: 1990-1999
  12. ^ "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110, 118. 
  13. ^ Mudrian, Albert (2000). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN-10: 193259504X. p. 222-223
  14. ^ "It was this simple formula that's single-handedly responsible for every band you hear combining heavy metal and hardcore today." "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110. 
  15. ^ Mudrian, Albert (2000). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN-10: 193259504X. p. 222-223
  16. ^ The End of Heartache at Billboard.com
  17. ^ [1] at Blabbermouth.net
  18. ^ Scream Aim Fire at Billboard.com
  19. ^ [2] at Billboard.com
  20. ^ Supremacy at Billboard.com
  21. ^ Perseverance at Billboard.com
  22. ^ Sacrament at Billboard.com
  23. ^ "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110, 118. 
  24. ^ Kaban, Tyson. Eat Your Veggies. Vue Weekly. Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
  25. ^ Ferris, D.X.. The Godfather of Cleveland Hardcore. Cleveland Scene. Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
  26. ^ "Blood Runs Deep: 23 Bands Who Shaped the Scene", Alternative Press, July 7, 2008, pp. 110. 
  27. ^ Cogdale, Russ. Interview. Zao's music abrasive yet spiritual. Deseret News. 2005-01-28. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
  28. ^ FAQ - As I Lay Dying
  29. ^ Chamberlain, Spencer & Gillespie, Aaron. Interview. Interview With Underoath. Europunk.net. 2006-07-17. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.

[edit] Bibliography

  • Hegarty, Paul (2007). Noise/Music: A History. Continuum International. ISBN-10: 0826417272
  • Mudrian, Albert (2000). Choosing Death: The Improbable History of Death Metal and Grindcore. Feral House. ISBN-10: 193259504X
  • Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Zonda Books. ISBN-10: 0958268401
v • d • e
Heavy metal
Regional scenes
Other topics
v • d • e
Hardcore punk
Regional Scenes
Other topics