Five easy masterpieces: an introductory guide to hardcore
When punk rock first started to take off, in the underground scenes of New York and London, it was a simplistic backdrop. Built upon a manifesto of politically charged anger and simple song structures, punk soon realised a need to diversify, splitting off into various subgenres and incorporating disparate influences. Of those subgenres, none quite encapsulate the raw power of punk quite like hardcore.
Hardcore punk is almost like a concentrated version of punk, stripped back to its bare bones. Faster, harder and more aggressive than anything that had come before, hardcore pushed punk to the extreme. Characterised by buzzsaw guitars, confrontational lyrics and intense performances fuelled by sweat and adrenaline, hardcore is as vast and varied as punk music itself. Over the years, countless groups have reinvented the hardcore genre, with the music remaining as relevant today as it ever has been.
Originating in the US and finding its home in the ex-hippie paradise of San Francisco, as well as the seedy underbelly of Washington D.C., hardcore became the sound of America’s disenfranchised youth during the 1980s. As the oppressive premiership of Ronald Reagan raged on, the nation’s youth found an increasing need for rebellion – a way of espousing their disgust with the state of the country. Hardcore was both a rebellion against the complacency of chart music, with soft rock and disco dominating the airwaves, as well as a rejection of the institutions of the USA.
Punk groups like Black Flag and Dead Kennedys paved the way for the hardcore scene, adopting a harsher sound than their contemporaries. These groups also placed heavy importance on live shows and performances, which later became an integral part of the hardcore scene. In fact, influential groups like Reagan Youth would operate almost entirely as a live band, releasing very little studio material during their careers.
For all its reputation and influence, hardcore can often seem reasonably inaccessible for those trying to expand their musical taste. The harsh, abrasive sounds of the genre can prove too much for some listeners, while others are turned off by its apparent lack of diversity. When looking at the biggest groups of the genre, it is easy to see why hardcore has a reputation for being dominated by white men. However, if you dig a little deeper than the likes of Circle Jerks, there is a diverse and vibrant scene waiting to be explored.
The early days of the genre went on to influence a range of groups, incorporating the hardcore spirit into their own unique sounds. Like any genre worth your time, hardcore constantly evolves and adopts new angles to keep itself fresh. Granted, many groups are still operating under the guise of it being 1981, but there are just as many bands dragging hardcore into the 21st century.
So, with all that in mind, let us delve into the abrasive world of hardcore. These five introductory albums are by no means extensive, and the debate over the greatest hardcore album continues to rage on. However, our picks should act as a good jumping-off point for the exploration of the genre.
Five introductory albums to hardcore:
Bad Brains – Bad Brains
You never get far in discussing hardcore without coming across Bad Brains. The Washington D.C. group were pioneers within the scene and remain perhaps the greatest band to ever come from the sticky floors of D.C.’s hardcore scene. Fronted by the punk rock madman that is H.R., the group is responsible for an infectiously aggressive sound played at top speed.
Bad Brains were a unique group and one of the first all-Black punk outfits to gain prominence. Their adoption of dub reggae influences set Bad Brains apart from the rest of the movement. Evident throughout their self-titled debut, these reggae stylings give the band an interesting edge, as well as allowing the audience to briefly catch their breath.
Germs – GI
There is no better place to start than the sole release by the LA punks Germs. Considered by many to be the first hardcore punk album of all time, GI was first released in 1979, changing the landscape of punk rock indefinitely. Evoking the later sounds of Circle Jerks and Minor Threat, GI sets out the manifesto for hardcore pretty perfectly.
Few tracks on the album eclipse the two-minute mark, encapsulating the ‘live fast, die young’ attitude that would go on to define the hardcore scene. This record is not pretty. It is not polished. You couldn’t stick it on at a dinner party. It is fast, raw and powerful – everything that a great punk record should be.
Melt-Banana – Scratch or Stitch
Melt-Banana are perhaps the most contentious artist on this list. Are they hardcore? Well, yes, and also no. The Japanese group are famously hard to pin down, operating with an infallibly unique sound. Usually categorised as a noise rock outfit, the band has always featured heavy influences of hardcore punk, particularly in their early days.
Scratch or Stitch, for instance, is a wonderfully experimental offering, blending hardcore and noise rock seamlessly. The album speaks to the diverse nature of hardcore and how those characteristic sounds can be blended with a variety of other influences and genres. Anybody still claiming that Melt-Banana isn’t hardcore should listen to the bassline for ‘Sick Zip Everywhere’ and promptly reconsider their position.
Minor Threat – First Two Seven Inches
Rivalling the legendary status of Bad Brains are the ian MacKaye-fronted group Minor Threat, kings of the D.C. scene. Although the band were only together for a short time, their influence was massive. Helping to establish the hardcore sound, as well as the legendary independent label Dischord, which championed countless prominent punk groups over the years.
This is technically a compilation, collating the first two EPs released by the group. However, it has since become such an iconic release that it simply demanded a place on this list. Although Out of Step is perhaps their greatest album release, the spirit of the hardcore movement is perfectly encapsulated on First Two Seven Inches.
Show Me The Body – Dog Whistle
Although many of the greatest hardcore releases are from decades ago, there is no shortage of great hardcore bands still operating today. Among them, Show Me the Body are perhaps the greatest. Formed in 2009, the New York group draw heavily upon influences of post-hardcore, sludge metal, and noise, but they always retained that signature hardcore sound.
Their sophomore effort, Dog Whistle, is arguably their defining release, collecting some of the greatest hardcore tracks of the past 20 years. Arising from the unlikely inspiration of a group visit to a former concentration camp, the album is a brilliant advert for the continued relevance and popularity of the hardcore genre.
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