 | | |
 | | New York City's Unsane assisted in pioneering a more aggressive, less studied version of noise rock, one that blended the scum/art industrial sturm und drang of Foetus, the Swans, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Sonic Youth with the decidedly more straightforward hardcore idiom favored by acts like Sick of It All. |
 | | Guitarist Barre Gambling and drummer Jesse Haff formed Daylight Dies in Raleigh, North Carolina as early as 1996, but their first demo was only recorded three years later with the help of session musicians. |
 | | Though Sweden's Burst originally formed as early as 1993 and released a few underground releases in the next few years (1996's Shadowcaster EP, 1998's Two Faced LP), it wasn't until 1999 that vocalist Linus Jägerskog, guitarists Jonas Rydberg and Robert Reinholdz, bassist Jesper Liveröd (ex-Nasum), and drummer Patrik Hultin perfected the explorative, metallic musical direction they were to become known for. |
 | | Candiria's uniquely sprawling urban fusion sound combined elements of grindcore, funk, hip-hop, and jazz. |
 | | Boston-based death metal/grindcore outfit the Red Chord combine a crushing rhythmic assault and guitar patterns that bite like a circular saw with the menacing but intelligent lyrics and furious vocals of frontman Guy Kozowyk. |
 | | Although rooted heavy metal and the punk/hardcore aesthetic, Isis' music relies just as heavily on ambience, atmosphere, and tone as it does complexity and aggression. |
 | | If Black Sabbath was reborn as an industrial rock band, they'd probably sound an awful lot like Godflesh. |
 | | Earth's drone-heavy experimentation is largely the result of its one lasting member, guitarist Dylan Carlson. |
 | | The secretive instrumental art metal outfit Pelican was formed in Chicago by guitarists Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Lebec, as well as bassist Larry Herweg and his sibling drummer, Bryan. |
 | | Often referred to as the "heaviest band in the universe," England's Electric Wizard have consistently redefined the preconceived thresholds of a detuned guitar chord with their peerless doom metal achievements -- this despite an often interpersonally troubled, if musically triumphant, career. |
 | | Down is an all-star heavy metal side project whose original lineup consisted of members from Pantera (singer Phil Anselmo), Corrosion of Conformity (guitarist Pepper Keenan), and Crowbar (guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Todd Strange, and drummer Jimmy Bower). |
 | | Fear Factory were one of the first bands to fuse the loud, crushing intensity of death metal with the cold harshness of industrial electronics and samples, producing a more varied sonic palette with which to express their bleak, pessimistic view of modern, technology-driven society. |
 | | Enigmatic noise rock trio Steel Pole Bath Tub crafted a grungy, droning, offbeat sound from a palette of fuzzed-out bass riffs, blasts of guitar feedback, and tape loops, plus a raft of alternately kitschy and disturbing dialogue samples from vintage TV shows and movies. |
 | | The town of Orleans, France, is an unlikely find for New York-style hardcore or aggressive punk, but Burning Heads somehow emerged from this area upon their 1998 formation. |
 | | When Shutdown made their debut in 1994, Mark Scondotto (vocals), Steve DellaCroce (guitar), Dion DeNardo (bass), and Jimmy McCormack (drums) weren't even old enough to drive, let alone be taken seriously. |
 | | Toronto hardcore band Grade comprised singer Kyle Bishop, guitarists Greg Taylor and Shawn Magill, bassist Matt Jones and Chris Danner. |
 | | This Connecticut, USA-based metalcore band is notable for featuring two members of Killswitch Engage. |
 | | Long Island, NY-based progressive hardcore band Glassjaw was formed by singer Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck in 1994, longtime friends who began collaborating as teens. |
 | | |
 | | |
 | | Hailing from tiny Tehachapi, CA, the Warriors cite bands like Inside Out, Refused, and Sick of It All as primary inspiration for their post-hardcore sound, which verges on metal. |
 | | Formed in 2001, Bleeding Kansas hails from Burbank, CA, and comprises vocalist Ben March, guitarist David Watrous, bassist Jeremiah Bignell, and drummer Daniel Pouliot. |
 | | The influential Swedish hardcore band Refused was formed in 1991 by vocalist Dennis Lyxzén, guitarists Jon Brännström and Kristofer Steen, bassist Magnus Höggren, and drummer David Sandström. |
 | | Originally starting out as a five-piece act that incorporated metal and punk, Haste had that knack for sticking out a little in their hometown of Birmingham, AL. |
 | | New York metal unit Stigmata was formed in 1989 by singer Bob Riley, guitarist Mike Maney, and bassist Dan Walsh, all of whom previously teamed in the short-lived Cranial Abuse. |
 | | |
 | | One of several '90s bands to meld streetwise alternative metal with the fury of classic hardcore punk, Breakdown was formed in New York City and led by vocalist Jeff Perlin and guitarist Mike Dijan. |
 | | |
 | | Serving as lead singer for the classic New York hardcore outfit the Cro-Mags and roadie for the legendary Bad Brains, Both Worlds vocalist John Joseph has quite an impressive resumé to his credit. |
 | | |
 | | A determinedly crunchy metal band with influences ranging from Slayer to Nirvana, the Sleepfarmers have spent two years on the Minnesota rock circuit, generating cassette releases that mix live and studio cuts. |
 | | |
 | | The German hardcore sextet Waterdown has consisted of members Christian Kruse, (bass), Holger Behrens (guitar), Jörg Schwoeppe (drums), Claus Wilgenbusch (guitar), Ingo Rieser (vocals), and Marcel Bischoff (vocals). |
 | | Chicago metalcore outfit Dead to Fall initially came together in 1999, undergoing various lineup changes throughout its existence. |
 | | Emerging in 2000, the heavy-hitting sounds of Montreal's A Perfect Murder stem from a combination of classic heavy metal, thrash, and early hardcore punk influences blended into a brutal mixture of Hatebreed-like breakdowns, harsh vocals, dense rhythms, and searing guitar leads and solos. |
 | | |
 | | Delivering crushing metalcore that still offers a positive lyrical message despite the sledgehammer impact of the music, This Moment hail from Ventura, CA, where the band was formed in 2001 by guitarist Matt Lafferty not long after he graduated from high school. |
 | | Having originally gotten together for the intention of just looking for something to do in their suburb outside of Philledipha, the five members of Turmoil had no idea how serious this band would eventually become. |
 | | Path of Resistance were billed by the Chicago-based Victory Records label as the "Wu-Tang Clan of hardcore," a bit of a misnomer based more on the fact that the group included so many members in its lineup than on any kind of hip-hop element present in its sound. |
 | | |
 | | The Boston-based Diecast formed in 1997 and quickly gained a local following among hardcore and metal fans in the area with their blend of melody and heavy rock. |
 | | |
 | | Boston-punkers Right Brigade, featuring former members of Fastbreak and Follow Through, come behind the hardcore rampage similar to the likes of SSD and Negative FX. |
 | | Presenting raging tunes of a brutal blended sound featuring reckless metal marks and punk rock-inspired strains, Evergreen Terrace delivers their own particular melodic vision of the hardcore style. |
 | | |
 | | Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, death metal heroes Dark Day Dawning have performed in the area since 2001. |
 | | |
 | | Metalcore outfit Scars of Tomorrow emerged from California's Orange County in October of 2000 with their own West Coast take on East Coast hardcore, often showcasing a melodic sense among otherwise blistering music. |
 | | Starting out as the hardcore band Pright in December 1997, Belgium's Death Before Disco saw various lineup and stylistic changes since switching to its current name in 2000. |
