metalcores

Metalcores is a term used to describe metalcore, a fusion genre that blends extreme metal with hardcore punk influences. It emerged in the late 1990s and gained prominence in the 2000s. Metalcore combines aggressive guitar riffs, downtuned tunings, and intense percussion with vocal styles that range from screaming and growling to occasional clean singing. Song structures often feature brutal breakdowns and dynamic tempo shifts.

Origins and development: Metalcore grew from American hardcore scenes and European metal traditions. Early influential acts include Converge, Poison the Well, and Unearth, who fused hardcore energy with metal guitar technique. The genre attained broader exposure through bands such as Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying, and later spread across Europe and Australia with Parkway Drive and Architects. By the mid-2000s, metalcore had diversified into regional scenes and various subgenres, bringing it to festival stages and mainstream metal discourse.

Subgenres and variants: melodic metalcore emphasizes clean melodies and harmonized guitar lines; deathcore blends death metal riffing and extreme vocals with metalcore pacing; electronicore incorporates electronic music elements; mathcore introduces complex rhythms and irregular time signatures; progressive metalcore extends song lengths and technical arrangements.

Reception and impact: Metalcores has had a lasting influence on metal and hardcore communities, spawning numerous bands and subcultures. It has also faced criticism for repetitive tropes in some periods and for crossing over into mainstream territories. The genre remains active with ongoing releases and tours worldwide.

Notable bands include Killswitch Engage, Unearth, As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, Parkway Drive, Architects, Bring Me the Horizon, and While She Sleeps.