grindcore

Grindcore is an extreme music genre that emerged in the late 1980s from a fusion of hardcore punk and extreme metal. It is defined by extreme tempo, aggressive riffing, blast beats, and vocals delivered in a shriek or growl. Songs are typically very short, often under one or two minutes, and the music frequently features abrupt tempo shifts and dense, chaotic textures.

Originating in the United Kingdom and the United States, early influential releases include Napalm Death's Scum (1987) and other proto-grindcore bands during the late 1980s. The scene drew on crust punk, death metal, and noise, producing a sound characterized by minimal song structures and maximal intensity.

Musically, grindcore blends extremely fast drumming with severely down-tuned guitars and dissonant riffs. Vocals range from screeches to guttural growls. Lyrical themes vary: political and social critique, animal rights, war, and sometimes horror imagery; many bands emphasize the extreme, confrontational nature of the music rather than conventional melody or storytelling.

Since the 1990s, grindcore has diversified into regional scenes and subgenres, with notable bands including Nasum (Sweden), Agathocles (Belgium), Pig Destroyer (USA), Brutal Truth (USA), Rotten Sound (Finland), and others. It has influenced death metal, crust punk, and noise rock, and has maintained a DIY ethos within underground scenes.

The genre is largely underground and remains defined as much by its community and DIY distribution as by its sound, with festivals, labels, and zines supporting ongoing grindcore activity.