The great hardcore/punk countdown
 

I've been wanting to do a countdown of the top hardcore/punk bands for some time so I thought what better place than music banter. (i was on here a years ago under a lost alias so I know the rules)

Why this thankless genre, other than growing up on the stuff, most hardcore bands never see the light of day, they work their guts outs to make the music they love and never see the payoff, and I don't think a decent list on the internet has been made yet.

My musical taste in music is flawed so I hope this becomes an interactive post where things eventually get revamped according to requests or suggestions. It's a personal list, so many bands are left off because I don't like them, or I simply forgot them, so please add away.

This thread is wide sweeping for the hardcore veins of punk so it includes punk rock. the gazillion genres with the word core attached to it (post hardcore, metalcore ect) crust, crossover thrash ,d beat, oi! and on and on ect.

The only genre I have left out is screamo because I haven't been able to get into it, and I therefore don't feel qualified to make suggestions.
So starting at 140....

140. Anal ****
Genre (Grindcore), Massuchesettes USA. 90's/00's and

Pulverizing Lethal Force (Grindcore), Texas, USA, modern

Phobia (Grindcore/crust) California, USA, modern

Anal ****:

During the 1990’a political correctness was all the rage. You literally couldn’t speak your mind without having to worry about being pegged as a bigot of some sort or another . Thus it should be noted that no other band captured the spirit of political correctness quite like Anal ****. With songs like “I went back in time and voted for Hitler” “Beating up ******s that sell fake crack,” and “You were too ugly to rape, so I beat the **** out of you” Anal **** truly exemplified the progressive values of tolerance and diversity that can make our world a better place.

(ahem... I think I should stress that I'm a liberal before people get the wrong idea)

In all seriousness though, let us remember that punk rock was not just a middle finger to the right of the political spectrum but to the left as well, and there is something sinisterly evil about PC and its totalitarian nature. I therefore applaud AC’s poke in the eye to all those who want to control what we think and speak, no matter how offensive it may be.

I went back in time and voted for hitler



The word homophobic is gay




I thought it would be easier just to go in and amend things instead of starting a whole new list, so two additions here. Texas has always been a hotbed for grindcore & P.L.F. is great for those who are into straight up traditional grindcore in the vein of Napalm Death. I've also had a soft spot for Phobia so I've added them as well.

PLF- Pulverizing Lethal Force



Phobia- Loud, Proud... and punk as ****!

:yikes:

Yeah, I don't think much of Anal **** but I get your point about political correctness and giving a good ol :finger: to the left.

Look forward to the rest your posts.

As long as Infest's Slave is in the top 10 I will be happy!

Well Jackhammer I'm afraid your going to have to state insert Infest Slave here when I get to the top 10.

Not a huge fan of the powerviolence/thrashcore style, which is why I hope this post becomes interactive, with people adding bands and requesting them to be moved up or down the ladder. I don't want my countdown to be absolute, cheers.

139. Blood Brothers Genre (Post hardcore/screamo/emo), Washington State USA, 90’s/00’s and

North Side Kings Genre (Metallic Hardcore/anti-screamo) pennsylvania USA, 00's

Blood Brothers

I know I said no screamo, but I thought it would be interesting to include a band that was one of the pioneers of the genre, to get a glimpse of how interesting the genre may have become if corporate rock hadn’t gotten a hold of it. Femininity and aggression go good together, and the Blood Brothers exemplified this in their music, unfortunately I think they were just a straw short of brilliance to become a great band.

So not exactly as heavy and bleak sounding as screamo bands like Orchid or Cowboys became folk heroes, as this borders more on indie rock, but still a far cry from crap like Hawthorne Heights.

love rhymes with hideous car wrecks



North Side Kings

Well now that I am here revamping things, I mind as well make it official that I can't get into screamo, and by screamo I mean not just the corporate stuff, but all the good underground stuff as well. I sampled every bit of screamo I could get my hands on and natta, zilch, nothing, so hence I give you the anti screamo.

The bad guy



Glenn Danzig knockout punch

138 Ringworm Genre (Metallic Hardcore), Ohio USA, 90’s to present and

Earth Crisis Genre (Metallic Hardcore), New York, USA, 90's/00's

In the 1990’s hardcore underwent a transformation towards a heavier metal sound. To sum things up, bands like Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys didn’t sound all that hard anymore, and so a sort of crisis in hardcore occurred. Hence we got what they now label Metallic hardcore, or as I like to call it "proto metalcore." I suppose this transformation was necessary to contribute to the modern hardcore sound that we have today, but the genre itself was too simplistic and redundant sounding. In short, there is a reason why bands like the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag & the Misfits hold legendary status, while Earth Crisis, Ringworm & Integrity are mere footnotes in musical history.

The Promise




Justice replaced by revenge




Earth Crisis - To Ashes

137. Despised Icon Genre (Deathcore), Quebec Canada, era: modern and

Obey the Brave Genre (Metalcore), Quebec Canada era: Modern

Arise & Ruin Genre (Metalcore), Ontario Canada, era: Modern

I am a fan of American death metal, so I believe that if you're going to borrow heavily from another musical genre (ie R&B artists sampling 80's tunes) than you should do it better or not at all!!! I understand that deathcore is a hybrid genre, but I have yet to hear anything from bands like Whitechapel, Red Chord, or Job for a Cowboy, that sounds as near as good as Deicide or Cannibal Corpse. The number of deathcore bands on this list are therefore few and far between, here is one of them.

It should be noted that Despised Icon are no more, but their spirit lives on in metalcore act Obey the Brave, and while I am here, I mind as well add another Canadian metalcore act that is poser free.





Obey the Brave - Live and Learn



Arise & Ruin - Forever Damned

136. His Hero is Gone Genre (Crust Punk), Tennessee USA, era: 90’s and

Wormrot Genre (Grindcore) Singapore, era modern

His Hero is Gone

Hmmm I'm noticing that the first 10 includes some genres I'm not big on, and although I very much like crust punk, I can't get into it when its mixed with an almost gloomy doom metal sound, and therefore I can't understand why this band has gained such legendary status in the hardcore world. Still I respect what they did, so I put them on the list, if you like their sound check out the band Tragedy.

Professional Mind****ers



Headless / Heartless



Wormrot

Anyone who knows anything about metal, knows that South East Asia has become the knew Scandanavia for death metal, however like its counterpart, the region also has a huge punk scene in the backdrop, and this includes one of the best grind bands out there at the moment with Wormrot.

Freedom to act

Yeah, the Blood Brothers are post-hardcore, not screamo.

Yes, well I never claimed to be a genre expert, I think they're a bit of both, but I'll change it for you nonetheless.

135. Doom Genre (Crust Punk), Birmingham, England era 80's/90's and

BBQ Chickens Genre (Thrashcore), Japan, era, oo's

Doom. One of the pioneers of crust punk back in the late 80's. I always thought they were a bit sub par, but I just got a speeding ticket, so....

Police Bastard



Nazi Die




BBQ Chickens

A pretty cool thrashcore band from Japan.

Raised Up In Hell



Sick Guy & Stupid Magazines

would have thought someone attempting a list of 140 'great hardcore and punk' bands would have known the difference. obviously not.

Hmmm, well for the sake of civility I'll ignore you rudeness, and simply state that I worked in the music industry for years, set up equipment for notable punk bands, and that people who worry too much about musical genres are usually spending too much time in their parents basement, cheers.

134. Haemorrhage Genre (Goregrind), Spain, era: 90’s to modern. &

Impetigo Genre (Goregrind), Illinois USA, era: 80's/90’s. & adding

Carcass Genre (Melodic Death Metal/Goregrind), Liverpool UK, era 80, 90's.


Spot 134 is shared by two bands as a result of forgetting about an important band down the list, but it works because they're both from the same genre, one I'm not so hot on, so I can wrap it up here.

There comes a point when the boundaries between punk & metal become really blurred and Goregrind is one of those genres. A subgenre of grindcore, goregrind was largely started by musicians who came out of the hardcore punk scene, but switched over to metal. The most notable of these bands of course was Carcass, who I have opted not to put on this list, as they are a metal band through and through. (for the better may I add) Thus I've chosen two bands where you can hear the hardcore sound in their music.

The first, a popular goregrind band from Spain, (Haemorrhage) and the second, goregrind pioneers from the US (Impetigo)

Haemorrhage - Furtive Dissection



Impetigo-Boneyard



Carcass

Thought I'de throw them into the mix, afterall they are the most notable band to grace the stage of this genre.

Keep on Rotting In The Free World

Am I the only one confused why a thread about hardcore has deathcore (especially when the author doesn't even like deathcore) and grindcore? :confused:

it's clear the author does not know what he's talking about, but it's cool coz he was a roadie for his boyfriends sum 41 cover band.

That's harsh :laughing:

I think he's just going for bands related to hardcore in one way or another, and since death and grindcore are related, he's writing a little bit about bands in those genres as well.

I'm all for sarcastic trolling and all, but that was a bit over the line.

Personally, William, I think your thread is just fine, and I'm enjoying reading the little bit you have about each band. Carry on, sir.

He even said it would be a lot of "-core" bands.

What's wrong with that.

Thanks Blarobbarg, the above doesn't really bother me, I was on hear a couple of years back and could dish it out as good as I could take it, but I find exchanging insults in cyberspace pointless, and who knows..maby I was a roadie for my boyfriends, lol, there is nothing wrong with being gay in my books, I hope he feels the same.


You are right about my list being bands related to hardcore in one way or another. The lines between punk & metal have become more blurred than they were say back in the early 80's. Grindcore came out of the British punk scene, (Napalm Death/Extreme Noise Terror) and Crossover Thrash the American punk scene (D.R.I. /Suicidal Tendencies) as well as mathcore & metalcore with bands like Converge & Parkway Drive. One could even argue that bands like Black Flag & Discharge were influenced by as much as Black Sabbath or Motorhead than they were Iggy & the Sex Pistols. I don't mind retro hardcore bands like the Casualties, but the show must go on, things must progress. The list is as light as the Ramones and as heavy as ENT & beyond.

Overall I don't really care what people think of my list. All I care about is that somebody out there who has never been exposed to much hardcore, may type in a band and come across this webpage called music banter, go what's this, and get a whole lot of good related music.

133. Dr Know Genre (Hardcore/Crossover Thrash) California USA, era; 80's &

The Accused Genre (Crossover Thrash) Washington State USA, era 80's


Dr Know

So I was going to choose a 90's post hardcore band like Helmet or Quicksand to try to be inclusive of all the genres, but personally I can't stand that stuff, so I decided to go with Dr Know instead.

Fist ****



Slice of Life



Mr. Freeze



The Accused

Allright, now that I am revamping things, I thought I would add a few more classic crossover thrash bands. Hmmmm, looking down at Jackhammer's list there are few UK bands that I've never heard of, Cerebral Fix & Bendiction, so in the meantime here is an American classic.

slow death



Fast Zombies Rule

You obviously know a thing or two about music and you have posted a couple of bands that I haven't heard before but even if you are not a fan of Power Violence bands to not include Infest in a list of of 100 + bands is kinda odd to me especially as they were a massive influence on Napalm Death and to say that you don't like Post Hardcore is rather strange too as there have been some awesome bands from that sub genre such as nomeansno, Jesus Lizard etc

Here's hoping there is some Amebix, Broken Bones, Cerebral Fix, Benediction, Crucifix, Poison Idea, Crumbsuckers, Ludichrist and Autopsy in there.

Yeah, I'm pretty shocking at making distinct genre observations and they're discussions I tend to stay out of, mainly because they're not that interesting to me. But yeah, enjoying the list.

Hey Jackhammer I hope my comment on Infest Slave didn't come off as disrespectful that was not my intent. To be honest, I didn't include Infest Slave because I've never given them a good spin. All I can say is that back in my skateboarding days, before the internet came along, you either got a band through your friends or co-op radio, or you didn't. So I am guilty as charged.

I've only ever heard Infest Slave in passing, and they sounded like what has now been labeled as power violence. I've thrown the genre labels up to give people an idea of the style, but I'm not big into putting bands into categories, so I imagine I am bound to get a few wrong.



I agree, both the Jesus Lizard & No means No are on the list, but I did say my musical taste is flawed, so when it comes to hard music I'm not really into the abstract. Throughout the 90's there were a million post hardcore bands that sounded like Helmet in North America, you couldn't get away from it.



I just want to stress that I was hoping this would become an interactive thread because this is a personal list based on my own musical taste.

I'll cover some of your bands first, and then list some bands that I flat out don't like so people can just jump in and stick them in if they like, or tell me where they want them, and if you want to use your mod powers to hijack my thread, kick my name off, and rearrange everything to your liking, your more than welcome to do so. I just hope you don't close the thread...because its fun.

Amebix, on the list, Broken Bones absolute legends, defiantly on the list. Poison Idea, I forgot about them, but if you want them on the list please stick them somewhere or let me know the spot.

I didn't want this to become an 80's or 90's thone so there are a lot of bands that I like that I left off for the sake of adding newer bands. Ludichrist and the Crumbsuckers are two of those bands, other bands I left out included the Accussed, Septic Death, MDC, TSOL, oh this is probably pissing you off lol, Cryptic Slaughter, The Electo Hippies, Pussie Galore, Operation Ivy, Hellbastard, the Blitz, The Business, and I thought Nuclear Assault leaned to close to metal so I pulled them. For the sake of abreivating the post, I won't list the 90's or 00's. Note I like the all the above.

Bands I flat out don't like that are well known. Husker Du, Crass, The Minute Men, Fugazi, , Helmet, Hatebreed, Botch, Nausea, Face to Face, Dropdead, Nasum, Spazz, Earth Crisis, Alexisonfire, Skitsystem, and not to big on the Adolescents, that's all I can think of right now. So if anyone out there likes these bands stick them in!

132. 25 Ta Life Genre (NY Hardcore), New York, USA, era: 90's/00's and

The Crumbsuckers Genre (Crossover Thrash/NYHC) New York, USA, era, 80's

The first but defiantly not the last of a band from a genre that was single handedly killed by one man, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, RIP NYHC.

A.C.A.B.



Fight Dirty



Stay Up




The Crumbsuckers:

Adding another old school crossover thrash band, from New York

Trapped

131. The Bronx Genre (Punk Rock), California. USA, era: Modern, era 00's. and

Birds in Row Genre (Hardcore) Laval, France, era Modern

I'll end with a modern punk rock band out of LA that has released some decent tunes to round out the bottom ten. The next set will include a lot of current hardcore bands mostly out of Britain, but for now career duties must take precedent, so if you have any requests for the list in my abscense fire away, later.

Knifeman



They Will Kill Us Without Mercy



****ty Future



Birds in a row: Pilori

Adding French hardcore band Birds in a Row

130. Trash Talk (Thrashcore/Hardcore) California USA era: Modern &

Dropdead (Powerviolence)Rhode Island USA, era, 90's & other powerviolence pioneers

Although I'm not a huge fan of the thrashcore/powerviolence genres, California's Trash Talk has become one of the current premiere hardcore bands for a reason. They have a fast paced in your face aggressive sound, and they are very good at it!!! In case this is your thing, I'll list below the band DropDead as well, as they are sort of legends for this genre.


Explode



Walking Disease



Immaculate Infection





Dropdead & other Power Violence pioneers

I have yet to develop an appreciation for this genre, but there were some requests for the classic bands, so in addition to Dropdead, I've added some of the other pioneers to the list.

A Disease Called Man



Spazz Genre (Powerviolence) California, usa, era 90's

Let's ****ing Go!!!!



Infest Genre (Powerviolence) California, usa, era 80's/90's

Machismo



Capitalist Casualties Genre (Powerviolence) California, usa, era 80's/90's

Violence Junkie

129. Dead Swans Genre (Hardcore), Brighton U.K. era: Modern &

Shaped by Fate (Metalcore/Hardcore), Wales U.K. era: Modern

(There has been such an explosion with British/ UK hardcore bands over the last few years that I forgot one, so I've stuffed Shaped by Fate in with the Dead Swans.)

Dead Swans: I must confess that I thought there was nothing special about their Sleepwalkers release, I sort of skipped over it when it came out, writing it off as generic hardcore, but then they released a pretty killer ep this year “Anxiety and Everything Else” and now they’ve decided to disband???...so save the swans anyone?

Keep them shut




Shaped by Fate:

Shaped by Fate is a British metalcore band that has been kicking around a few years and seems to be heading towards a more straight up hardcore sound of late that I feel has some good potential. An older tune below.

They told me you were dead

Good call on Trash Talk. The Awake EP is one of the catchiest hardcore records in recent memory.

That Bronx music video for "They Will Kill Us All Without Mercy" is one of the best ever.

Thanks, TT is a good band, cheers.

Shame on you for disliking Husker Du, Minutemen, and Fugazi but they all get enough attention anyway.

I can't forgive you placing Botch on this list, though. I don't understand how this thread works so I'll just place them at number 42 for you.

42. Botch (whatevercore) Hydra Head Records, late-1990s.

That's fine there can be two 42's until I figure out how to revamp everything. When I get to that spot I will put in 42 via Engine, cheers.

I know...I get a lot of flak from people I know for not liking Husker Du, cheers.

128. Bastions Genre (Hardcore) Wales U.K. era: Modern and

Pay no Respect Genre (Metallic Hardcore/Beatdown Hardcore) Gillingham uk, era, modern


Bastions

They've only released one album so far, but it's been a promising one based on the strength of the song Augury, and they have a distinctive vocalist, so if they keep working hard at their music, they could find themselves in the top ranks.

Augury



Visitant



Pay No Respect

One of these bands that has been kickin around for a few years now that I thought I'de give a second look. Some mixture of almost black metal vocals mixed with hardcore on this track.

This World Is Ours

127. Disrespect Genre (Retro Hardcore) Profane Existence: era Modern &

Scholastic Deth Genre (fastcore), California, USA, era 00's

Disrepsect:

Spot 127 is more about a record label than a band. Since the DIY ethic started there have been underground record labels that have made this music possible. (ie alternative tentacles, Combat Records, Sub pop, Epitaph) The band Disrespect consists of members of various bands that's been on the Profane Existence label at one time or another, which has been responsible for keeping a lot of the American crust & D beat bands going. Sadly I don't know if independent record labels will be able to survive in the era of downloading music.

Disrepect - Rich Kid



Scholastic Deth


Adding some skateboarding fastcore to the list.

PMA

126. Fifteen Dead Genre (Blackened Crust) Aberdeen Scotland, era Modern and

Antimelodix Genre (Blackened Crust) Russia, era Modern
,
So I put these guys in as sort of an emergency replacement, as I originally had it slated for Frank Carter's new band Pure Love, but upon reviewing their release it is clear that Mr. Carter has decided to leave the punk rock world behind, so let's gets heavy into the underground shall we.

Blackened crust is all the rage right now, and where better to find a great melancholy band than in dreary old Scotland, Fifteen Dead is making some waves, can't go wrong with a band that samples Christopher Hitchens.

While i am revamping things here is a great blackened crust band from Russia.

Sunset



False Conviction



Antimelodix

City (Gorod)



Тёмные Дни

125. Your Demise Genre (Hardcore) , Brighton U.K. era: Modern and

Brutality Will Prevail Genre (Hardcore/Metallic Hardcore), South Wales U.K. era Modern

Your Demise

This is a band that has taken many turns since the release of their first album Ignorance Never Dies. They started out hard with a vocalist who was harsh but a bit generic sounding. Then they released a killer album with a new vocalist with “The Kids We Used To Be”. An album that I thought could propel them to the front of UK hardcore, but instead they decided to sell out with their latest release, and judging from the amount of hate their receiving on you tube and the internet forums, their fans are none too happy. (the comments are quite amusing)

For what it's worth, the video These Lights is a good pop punk song, but their singer Ed just isn't as good looking as the guy in the Goo Goo Dolls to make it big...so they may have to dump him.


Miles Away



Shine on




Burnt Tongues (old singer)



Brutality Will Prevail

Another good Brit hardcore band, currently touring with Comeback Kid, the way to go, better to pair up than go solo, unless your as big as Gallows

THe Path

124. ****ed Up Genre (Retro Hardcore/punk rock), Ontario Canada, era: Modern and

Prowler Genre (oi!/Punk Rock) Quebec Canada, era modern

****ed Up:

Not so big on retro hardcore (The Casualties,ect) as my belief is that every generation has to put their own stamp on music, but hey, ****ed up are good at what they do, though they sound like they've gotten a little arty since I was last into them, which isn't a bad thing.

Police



No Pasaran



The Other Shoe



Prowler: Drunken Skinhead

A skinhead oi! band from Quebec.

I'm loving this list so far, and blown away that I've heard of none of these bands except for His Hero is Gone. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this list, and hoping for a little appearance from Man is the Bastard or Spazz.

Thanks man, I just wanted to do a little something for the genre on the net. Unfortuantly, not to disapoint, but neither Spazz or Man is Bastard are on the list.

In a previous post I stated to Jackhammer that one of my musical failings is that I can't get into the powerviolence/thrashcore genres, but please feel to jump in and add them at anytime, cheers.