Dwid says I coined the term “metalcore.”
I say his band, Integrity, invented the genre.
I’m not talking about metallic hardcore bands, punky metal acts, or the distinct “crossover” sub-genre. Metalcore began with a very specific style of guitars, breakdowns, vocals, and subject matter.
And it evolves.
Nearly every artist on earth is uncomfortable with genre tags or the other artists they are often associated with, and certainly, metalcore is crowded and ever more loosely defined. But it’s all undeniably connected.
Think about the last time you recommended a movie, TV series, or book to someone. Undoubtedly, you made some comparisons, you mentioned a genre or two, and it didn’t mean you were limiting the artistic expression.
It wasn’t easy to narrow it down to a single metalcore record for each year since the genre began in earnest, but I got it done. 😎
These are the most influential metalcore records by year.
Integrity Those Who Fear Tomorrow
(Overkill Records) 1991
Always Is Always Forever DVD.
Starkweather Crossbearer
(Harvest Records) 1992
CBGB’s, New York, NY, 1992.
Earth Crisis Firestorm EP
(Victory Records) 1993
Lost Horizon, Syracuse, NY, 1993.
Unbroken Life. Love. Regret.
(New Age Records) 1994
World Beat Center, San Diego, CA, 1994.
Damnation A.D. No More Dreams of Happy Endings
(Jade Tree Records) 1995
Washington, D.C., 1995.
108 Threefold Misery
(Lost & Found Records) 1996
The Depot, Washington, D.C., 1996.
Living Sacrifice Reborn
(Solid State Records) 1997
“Reject” music video, 1997.
Zao Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
(Solid State Records) 1998
Cornerstone Festival, Bushnell, IL, 1998.
Poison The Well The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation
(Trustkill Records) 1999
“Nerdy” official audio, 1999.
Eighteen Visions Until the Ink Runs Out
(Trustkill Records) 2000
Hellfest, Syracuse, NY, 2001.
Converge Jane Doe
(Equal Vision Records) 2001
“Concubine” music video, 2001.
Hatebreed Perseverance
(Universal Records) 2002
“I Will Be Heard” music video, 2002.
Lamb Of God As the Palaces Burn
(Prosthetic Records) 2003
“Ruin” music video, 2003.
Underoath They’re Only Chasing Safety
(Solid State Records) 2004
“Reinventing Your Exit” music video, 2004.
Avenged Sevenfold City of Evil
(Warner Records) 2005
“Bat Country” music video, 2005.
Killswitch Engage As Daylight Dies
(Roadrunner Records) 2006
“My Curse” music video, 2006.
August Burns Red Messengers
(Solid State Records) 2007
“Composure” music video, 2007.
Escape The Fate This War Is Ours
(Epitaph Records) 2008
“This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II)” music video, 2008.
Asking Alexandria Stand Up and Scream
(Sumerian Records) 2009
“The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel)” music video, 2009.
A Day To Remember What Separates Me from You
(Victory Records) 2010
“All I Want” music video, 2010.
Suicide Silence The Black Crown
(Century Media) 2011
“You Only Live Once” music video, 2011.
Pierce The Veil Collide with the Sky
(Fearless Records) 2012
“King for a Day” ft. Kellin Quinn music video, 2012.
Black Veil Brides Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones
(Lava/Republic) 2013
“In the End” music video, 2013.
Architects All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
(Epitaph) 2014
“A Match Made in Heaven” music video, 2014.
Bring Me The Horizon That’s the Spirit
(Sony Music) 2015
“Happy Song” live at NME Awards, 2016.
Beartooth Aggressive
(Red Bull Records) 2016
“Hated” music video, 2016.
Currents The Place I Feel Safest
(SharpTone) 2017
“Apnea” music video, 2017.
Ice Nine Kills The Silver Scream
(Fearless Records) 2018
“The American Nightmare” music video, 2018.
Falling In Reverse “Popular Monster” Single
(Epitaph Records) 2019
“Popular Monster” music video, 2019.
Code Orange Underneath
(Roadrunner Records) 2020
“Swallowing the Rabbit Whole” music video, 2020.
Spiritbox Eternal Blue
(Pale Chord/Rise Records) 2021
“Holy Roller” music video, 2021.
Bad Omens The Death of Peace of Mind
(Sumerian Records) 2022
“Just Pretend” music video, 2022.
Metalcore Milestones playlist on Spotify
This post originally appeared on Medium.