Taken from the Idles thread I thought it a good idea to start a new one for 90s hardcore. There was a discussion starting about whether it was boring! Then there was a request for bands and then…here we are.
This post will probably prove it is boring to talk about it! I’ve been adding to this while working/homeschooling/childcaring so it’s a bit all over the place and missing bands sorry. Hopefully it works as a starter though.
But yeah, lets talk about 90s hardcore and punk. AS you can see from my list I’m not one for strict rules when it comes to genres so apologies if that’s upsetting for anyone.
Have been thinking about this on and off (probably far too much) and it does just depend on what we mean by hardcore. In a way I guess you’re right, as its hard to think of many classic straight up hardcore records from the 90s, although I’m sure someone will correct me! The thing which does however make hardcore in the 90s interesting to discuss is how it became more varied and interesting. You’ve mentioned power violence and screamo for instance which are two really interesting offshoots which have spawned so much. Then there’s the more emo side of things, skate punk, metalcore etc, as well as the straight edge stuff. You’ll probably know most if not all the bands here as many verge away from hardcore in the strictest definition (and probably some up for debate full stop) but still, it’s a starter.
Unbroken
Metallic hardcore for sure but these deserve a shout for one of the best hardcore records of the decade in Life. Love. Regret. Straightedge, good riffs, good breakdowns, passionate vocals – ticks boxes
Struggle were also from san diego so may as well mention these here. Justin Pearson was in them and they’re angry political hardcore. Killer 7 inch
Then there’s the proto screamo stuff like Heroin out of San Diego – this is probably my favourite record of theirs.
And all the early ‘sassy’ stuff, and the beginning of all the spockcore like Antoich Arrow
Burn give you a more straight up sound and just sneak in with their 7 inch in 1990 J. Brilliant record.
Los Crudos, latino hardcore from Chicago. Absolutely incredible band and one of my favourites of the period. All sung in Spanish except this one. Incendiary. The split with spitboy is essential, but the discog release is almost everything I think.
(they get 2 songs as they are so good)
If you dig that then Limp Wrist are worth a look, the singers queercore band who followed.
Then there’s His Hero Is Gone, who probably fall in the crust camp but should be brought up in 90s hardcore discussions. Furious band who are still being ripped off. Great lyrics around social issues and whatnot!
At the noisier end there are stuff like Spazz, Despise You, DropdeadMITB etc. Power violence and grind/noise is such an important part of 90s hardcore veering off piste. Not going into them too much here but a couple of great records for those not familiar…
Then there’s integrity who also helped set the blueprint really for the more metallic stuff. This Lp is a classic
There’s your heavyweights in the later half of the decade who most with a passing interest will have heard of, particularly…
Botch
Coalesce
Converge (of course!)
(one of my favourite songs ever ^)
Honeywell were more in the swing kids camp. pretty abrasive screamo-esqe.
Being from the UK can’t not mention Vorhees who were superb. This was a good split
Can’t not mention Bane also. They do what they do (straight up hardcore!), but they do it great (I really like the first few 7s)
I’ve run out of steam but was gonna mention some stuff like Ensign, Death by Stereo, Snapcase, Shelter, Quicksand, One Eyed God Prophecy, Ink & Dagger, Ringworm……
What do bands do you like! what branches do you like and which can’t you stand? Was hardcore dead by the 90’s!? did metal ruin it?
