The 5 albums I’m sharing here are just the ones I like the most, but there are way more awesome ones out there. Right now, hardcore music is super exciting, and the best way to enjoy it is by going to lots of concerts – even if you don’t know the bands or anyone in the audience. The albums I mention here are just a tiny piece of the bigger picture, but they’re really awesome too. These are my top picks. What are yours?
5. Terror – Pain Into Power (Pure Noise)
The band Terror from Los Angeles has been making music for more than 20 years. It’s surprising how strong their eighth album is. Recently, their lead singer Scott Vogel got famous online for saying that hardcore music isn’t for everyone. You can feel that attitude in this album. It’s both friendly and tough. Todd Jones, the original guitarist who left Terror to start Nails 18 years ago, is back with the band, playing and producing. The whole band sounds fiercer and more aggressive than ever. They race through 10 songs in just 18 minutes, making their intense dislike seem almost happy.
4. .Praise – All In A Dream (Revelation)
“All In A Dream” pays tribute to the DC hardcore scene of an earlier time – it’s familiar but not incredibly influential. However, in its final two tracks, the album reaches new heights. Especially in the second-to-last song, “Life Unknown,” there’s a shining moment of brilliance. It’s an uplifting anthem about longing and perseverance, viewing life’s challenges as something worth facing.
3. Mutually Assured Destruction – Ascension (Triple B)
Ace Stallings, a prominent figure in Richmond’s hardcore scene, kept mentioning “five-minute songs” when talking about his new band’s first full-length album. In most other music styles, a five-minute song wouldn’t be anything special. But in hardcore, it’s a clear change – in this case, a shift towards aggressive groove-metal, featuring a cameo from local legend Randy Blythe, the lead singer of Lamb Of God. Ascension, the album, has more in common with Pantera than Youth Of Today. It’s filled with intense melodies, powerful riffs, and even includes an acoustic ballad reminiscent of Alice In Chains. However, the members of MAD all came from a hardcore background, bringing a raw immediacy to their metal sound. This gives their hard-rocking style a sense of urgency, fury, and confidence.
2. Spiritworld-Desternworld
SpiritWorld, a band from Las Vegas, is adding to the collection of hardcore bands playing heavy metal riffs. They’re different because they embrace drama in a way that most hardcore bands don’t. When they perform live, they wear cowboy hats and bolo ties. Their music videos are like short horror movies. They even make albums about a Satanic apocalypse. Plus, they’re signed with one of the biggest metal record labels in the world.
Their album DEATHWESTERN could easily be considered one of the best metal albums of the year. It’s unique because it combines the intense sound of ’90s heavy hardcore bands like Integrity with their grand theatrical vision. This mix gives their music a powerful energy that sets them apart from other metal bands. Listening to DEATHWESTERN feels like being stuck in an underground crypt as the ceiling collapses.
1. Inclination – Unaltered Perspective (Pure Noise)
Isaac Hale from Inclination is also the guitarist and main songwriter for Knocked Loose, which makes him a key figure in today’s hardcore music scene. However, Inclination is mostly known as a platform for Hale’s friend Tyler Short, a strong and heavily tattooed advocate for straight-edge living. Inclination’s music is powerful and grand, filled with intense riffs and heavy breakdowns. Amidst this musical storm, Tyler Short passionately roars, promoting conscious living while also condemning a world that encourages vices he has rejected. Even if you don’t share Short’s beliefs or lifestyle, Inclination’s music can still stir up a sense of empowerment with its righteous anger.
Hope you loved this picks? What’s yours? Share in the comment section.
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