100 Best Metalcore Bands
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Metalcore is not just a passing phase, see which bands are the very best and will stand the test of time.
In recent years, metalcore has evolved into a distinct global entity. This heavy metal subgenre has played a pivotal role in blending crust punk and grindcore with more traditional metal sounds.
Although metalcore purists are critical of new bands mixing genres to reach a wider audience, there is no denying that the genre's evolution has translated into widespread success.
The list below showcases an epic number of metalcore bands. If you are a fan of this extreme form of music, you'll definitely have a lot to say. Feel free to share your views and opinions in the comments section.
Top 10 Best Metalcore Bands
- As I Lay Dying
- Killswitch Engage
- Parkway Drive
- Bring Me the Horizon
- Trivium
- August Burns Red
- Bullet for My Valentine
- All That Remains
- Underoath
- Asking Alexandria
What Is Metalcore?
Metalcore, also referred to as metallic hardcore, is a heavy metal subgenre that incorporates diverse elements of hardcore punk and extreme metal. This genre is noteworthy for its use of intense breakdowns (which are slow and conducive for moshing). The instrumentation often features distorted guitar riffs, double bass drumming, stinging lead guitar solos, and the occasional use of blast beats. Vocal techniques used in this form of music range from death growls to clean falsettos. In fact, the vocals might be the most diverse element of the genre.
#11—20
11. The Devil Wears Prada
12. Architects
13. The Dillinger Escape Plan
14. A Day to Remember
15. Lamb of God
16. Avenged Sevenfold
17. Hatebreed
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18. Converge
19. Atreyu
20. Erra
How Did Metalcore Emerge?
While the metalcore scene came into prominence in the ‘90s, the roots of this genre emerged in the ‘80s, when bands started experimenting with a fusion of hardcore and heavy metal. The genre took shape in the ‘90s, reaching global audiences. While the majority of metalcore bands in this decade were influenced by the hardcore scene, later bands were more heavily influenced by melodic death metal.
While metalcore had an underground cult following in the ‘90s, bands associated with the genre achieved a considerable amount of mainstream success in the 2000s. Several independent metal labels started signing recording contracts with metalcore bands in the mid-2000s. Suddenly, metalcore emerged as one of the most popular heavy metal subgenres in the decade.
#21—40
21. Norma Jean
22. In Flames
23. Silent Planet
24. Every Time I Die
25. Born of Osiris
26. The Ghost Inside
27. Unearth
28. Within the Ruins
29. Fit For A King
30. Emmure
31. Texas in July
32. Knocked Loose
33. Shadows Fall
34. Earth Crisis
35. We Came as Romans
36. Between the Buried and Me
37. Of Mice & Men
38. Volumes
39. Northlane
40. Bleeding Through
Mainstream Success of Metalcore: 2000s and 2010s
In the ‘90s, the early metalcore scene emerged from hardcore punk. Although a large number of bands associated with the genre did not find mainstream success in the decade, they did garner a cult following in the underground movement. It was only after the year 2000 that many metalcore bands gained prominence. The melodic metalcore movement that came to life in the early 2000s became hugely popular with heavy metal fans. A number of metalcore acts released albums that were critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
The mainstream success of this genre continued post 2010. In fact, this form of music has changed drastically, raising the bar for heavy metal music by structuring songs in odd-time signatures with syncopated synthesizers. Certain bands have had tremendous chart success with this method of songwriting. Throughout the 2010s, the diverse soundscape presented in metalcore appealed to a wide variety of audiences.
#41—60
41. Motionless in White
42. Code Orange
43. Memphis May Fire
44. Bury Your Dead
45. Zao
46. The Acacia Strain
47. Poison the Well
48. Beartooth
49. Dayseeker
50. Coalesce
51. The Human Abstract
52. Rorschach
53. After the Burial
54. Blessthefall
55. Integrity
56. Chimaira
57. Overcast
58. Bury Tomorrow
59. Heaven Shall Burn
60. The Amity Affliction
Characteristics of Metalcore
Metalcore is known for its signature breakdowns that eschew a verse-chorus format. Many bands use breakdowns while performing live to get crowds charged up to start moshing (also known as slam dancing). A number of bands use drop tunings to play heavy guitar riffs, which are further emphasized by percussive pedal tones. Although Drop D and A tunings are commonly used by bands, certain bands use lower tunings on seven and eight string guitars. Although a variety of drumming techniques are used in this genre, the double bass technique forms the crux of the overall sound. Blast beats are sometimes used to create a dramatic shift in tempos. Vocalists use varied screaming techniques in this form of music. Many of the later metalcore bands started to incorporate clean singing in their verses and choruses.
#61—80
61. Issues
62. Fear Before
63. Counterparts
64. Upon a Burning Body
65. Loathe
66. For Today
67. Becoming the Archtype
68. Darkest Hour
69. Abandon All Ships
70. Shai Hulud
71. While She Sleeps
72. Attila
73. The Chariot
74. Protest the Hero
75. Botch
76. Everytime I Die
77. Veil of Maya
78. Sleeping With Sirens
79. Cave In
80. After the Burial
Subgenres of Metalcore
The success of metalcore helped pave the way for a number of metal subgenres. Certain extreme metal bands combined elements of metalcore with death metal to create the deathcore sound. Another subgenre that became immensely popular with experimental musicians is mathcore, which emphasizes fluctuant rhythms and irregular time signatures, along with syncopations, polymeters, and abrupt tempo changes.
In the early 2000s, a number of bands were influenced by Swedish melodic death metal. These bands were categorized as melodic metalcore. Musicians in the 2010s began using electronic instruments to shape what became known as electronicore. Certain bands experimented with djent breakdowns and technical guitar parts. This led to the development of progressive metalcore. Post 2010, many bands started fusing metalcore with varied elements of nu metal. These bands started being identified as nu metalcore.
#81—100
81. My Ticket Home
82. Vision of Disorder
83. 7 Angels 7 Plagues
84. Woe, Is Me
85. Suicide Silence
86. A Skylit Drive
87. Rise to Remain
88. All Pigs Must Die
89. Rolo Tomassi
90. I Prevail
91. Falling in Reverse
92. Periphery
93. Throwdown
94. Light the Torch
95. Caliban
96. Iwrestledabearonce
97. Amaranthe
98. Miss May I
99. The Word Alive
100. Ice Nine Kills
Other Notable Metalcore Bands
- Glass Cloud
- Disembodied
- Eso-Charis
- The Afterimage
- I, the Breather
- Misery Signals
- Forevermore
- Benea Reach
- Winds of Plague
- Reflections
- Dead to Fall
- Cane Hill
- In Dying Arms
- Attack Attack!
- Bloodlined Calligraphy
- Mutoid Man
- The Agony Scene
- SeeYouSpaceCowboy
- Blood Has Been Shed
- Training for Utopia
- Stick to Your Guns
- Antagonist
- The Number Twelve Looks Like You
- Society’s Finest
- The End
- Aftershock
- Sworn In
- In This Moment
- War From a Harlots Mouth
- Elitist
- In Fear and Faith
- Arsonists Get All the Girls
- Will Haven
- Invent Animate
- Buried in Verona
- Wristmeetrazor
- Antagonist A.D.
- Nora
- Across Five Aprils
- Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!
- Betraying the Martyrs
- Like Moths to Flames
- Versus Me
- Narrows
- Pathways
- Wolves at the Gate
- In Hearts Wake
- Feed Her to the Sharks
- Obey the Brave
- Yashin
- As Blood Runs Black
- The Crimson Armada
- Scarlet
- Axewound
- Interrogate
- Walls of Jericho
- Oh, Sleeper
- Napoleon
- American Me
- xDeathstarx
- The Agonist
- Bleed From Within
- Psyopus
- A Tragedy in Progress
- The Concubine
- Jamie’s Elsewhere
- It Dies Today
- Nine Shrines
- The Showdown
- Carajo
- Broken Teeth
- Mutiny Within
- Some Girls
- Years Since the Storm
- The Browning
- Odd Project
- Vassline
- The White Noise
- Bad Omens
- Asunto
- Stigmata
- Eternal Lord
- Chasing the Rise
- Oceans Ate Alaska
- Straight Line Stitch
- Annisokay
- God Forbid
- A Bullet for a Pretty Boy
- To Speak of Wolves
- Racetraitor
- 50 Lions
- Arma Angelus
- Carpathian
- Wovenwar
- Innocent Victim
- Stray From the Path
- Alpha Wolf
- Maroon
- Creation is Crucifixion
- Sonic Syndicate
- The Bled
- Burgerkill
- Elysia
- Your Demise
- Alesana
- Last Chance to Reason
- Burnt By the Sun
- On Broken Wings
- The Autumn Offering
- Sleeping by the Riverside
- Knut
- Threat Signal
- Sylar
- Bleed the Sky
- Times of Grace
- Make Them Suffer
- Coldrain
- Affiance
- I Killed the Prom Queen
- Twelve Tribes
- Scars of Tomorrow
- Rafflesia
- Breather Resist
- Kublai Khan
- Soulless
- Once Nothing
- Still Remains
- Varials
- Escape the Day
- Cult Leader
- ANeurisma
- Silent Civilian
- Catherine
- Senses Fail
- Amatory
- Burden of a Day
- This or the Apocalypse
- Mortal Treason
- Palisades
- Sympathy for Nothing
- Beloved
- 100 Demons
- Haste the Day
- Lye By Mistake
- Sleeping Giant
- Called to Arms
- AWS
- Burst
- Eskimo Callboy
- The Sorrow
- House vs. Hurricane
- Candiria
- One Morning Left
- Blind Myself
- Lay It on the Line
- Those Who Fear
- City of the Afflicted
- Adept
- Trenches
- Cataract
- Wage War
- Blessed By a Broken Heart
- Life in Your Way
- 36 Crazyfists
- Ravenface
- Greeley Estates
- The Hope Conspiracy
- Leaders
- Century
- Your Memorial
- Crown the Empire
- Madball
- Corpus Christi
- His Statue Falls
- The Ongoing Concept
- Vanna
- A Breach of Silence
- Conquer Divide
- Sky Eats Airplane
- Phinehas
- We Butter the Bread with Butter
- Horse the Band
- Sea of Treachery
- Make Me Famous
- This Day Forward
- Frontside
- Cancer Bats
- Hundredth
- A Life Once Lost
- Sirens and Sailors
- Butcher Babies
- War of Ages
- The Plot in You
- Crystal Lake
- Our Last Night
- All Out War
- Spitfire
- Letlive
- Raunchy
- Mendeed
- From Autumn to Ashes
- A Plea for Purging
- Changer
- Pinehas
- Morning Again
- Skycamefalling
- Ligeia
- Hopes Die Last
- Textures
- Betzefer
- Shaped By Fate
- Hoods
- Overcome
- Keelhaul
- Confide
- The Red Chord
- Callejon
- Polaris
- Upon this Drawing
- Merauder
- Rise and Fall
- American Standards
- Johnny Truant
- Streetweather
- The Handshake Murders
- Kingdom of Sorrow
- Crossfaith
- Liferuiner
- Shattered Sun
- I Set My Friends On Fire
- Blind Witness
- Most Precious Blood
- Unashamed
- It Prevails
- Heavy Heavy Low Low
- The Color Morale
- American Sin
- Point of No Return
- Glass Casket
- Confession
- The Overseer
- Black Veil Brides
- The Killing Tree
- Gwen Stacy
- Ringworm
- The Divided
- Heart in Hand
- Jinjer
- Inhale Exhale
- Cable
- Prayer for Cleansing
- Secrets
- Demise of Eros
- I See Stars
- More Than a Thousand
- We are Defiance
- Silent Screams
- Himsa
- Advent
- Tear Out the Heart
- Capture
- MyChildren MyBride
- Righteous Vendetta
- Cover Your Tracks
- The Ascendicate
- Snowbread
- Myka Relocate
- Born from Pain
© 2020 Ansel Pereira
Comments
cass on June 14, 2020:
avenged sevenfold is not metalcore