10. Botch – We Are the Romans
We Are The Romans is straight old school metalcore. You know, before bands started singing. The formula for the chug chug wee bands was started by Botch. While We Are the Romans isn’t an extremely heavy record and the sound and guitar work has been copied and played out by so many other bands, in 2000 when the album was released, there wasn’t a whole lot out that sounded like Botch.
9. BoySetsFire – After The Eulogy
When the refrain “Where’s you’re anger? Where your f—ing rage?” hits at the end of the albums opening track, if you’re not pumped up something’s wrong with you. That anger and mosh mentality is soon wiped away as Rookie comes hits and the bands seems to lose all hardcore cred. While BoySetsFire isn’t your classic hardcore and might fall better under a post-hardcore category, the intensity and anger on After the Eulogy is all hardcore.
8. Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today
Gorilla Biscuits is one of the poster bands for Youth Crew hardcore. Start Today is a classic straight edge hardcore record.
7. Snapcase – Designs For Automation
I didn’t realize Designs For Automation was looked on as Snapcase’s worst album until a couple years ago while talking to a friend about how much I loved the record. Typecast Modulator is such a killer song. Again, not a super heavy or fast record and not even very aggressive but solid songs with killer hooks. Designs For Automation makes me want to get off my feet and dance.
6. Killswitch Engage – The End of Heartache
While Killswitch Engage is probably the reason why the current state of metalcore is so poor, it doesn’t disqualify them as a killer band. The band that gets copied has to be better then it’s imitators. The End of Heartache was Howard Jones’ Killswitch debut and really solidified the band as heavy music heavyweights. Jones is one of my favorite vocalist in hardcore. His screams and growls are top notch and his clean singing just about kills anyone else in the genre. The End of Heartache is one of those songs that is so beautiful and at the same time, just slays. While most people complain that Killswitch just releases the same album over and over, The End of Heartache is a must own.
5. Cave In – Until Your Heart Stops
Cave In isn’t known best for their hardcore debut Until Your Heart Stops. While they changed their sound and became an outstanding rock band later in their career, Until Your Heart Stops is a hardcore masterpiece and should be looked upon as one. The guitar work on Juggernaut is so beautiful. One of my favorite guitar riffs in all of music. Just an all around fantastic record.
4. Converge – Jane Doe
No band in music is angrier then Converge. While the bands first three record were all awesome, Jane Doe was turning point in the band and really set them apart. Jane Doe is just an incredible record and if you like hardcore or metal and don’t own this record…. Why not?
3. Dillinger Escape Plan – Miss Machine
I know there’s going to be an argument that the DEP record of this list should be Calculating Infinity and I understand why and I love Calculating Infinity. Great record. But Miss Machine has everything working for it. Right out of the gate, Panasonic Youth and Sunshine the Werewolf… Even the “low key” moments of the album (Phone Home, Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants, Unretrofied) are intense and full of great technical and musical precision. Miss Machine was a great next step for DEP.
2. Bad Brains – Bad Brains
First off, Bad Brains is a DC band. New York can suck it! Bad Brains is amazing. Sailin’ On kicks off the album and it has always been my favorite song by Bad Brains. What can I really say about this record? Attitude, Banned in DC, Pay to Cum, Big Takeover… An amazing record.
1. Shai Hulud – Hearts Once Nourished With Hope and Compassion
Florida hardcore in late 90’s was where it was at. Shai Hulud’s debut works on every level for me. There’s nothing stagnant or formulaic about the album. There’s verse, chorus, verse progression. There’s killer melodies, excellent drumming, and lyrically it’s one of the strongest albums ever. Matt Fox knows how to write great songs and great lyrics.
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