TOP 5 THURSDAY #2: What’s Your Favorite Metalcore Record?

 

Written by Ryan Germ and Scott Danshaw
This week for Top 5 Thursday we’re answering the age old question of what our favorite metalcore records are. That’s all I have for a witty opening this week so let’s jump into our lists.

Scotty D’s Top 5 metalcore records 

1. Everytime I Die - Gutter Phenomenon: This record is front to back some of the most killer riffs in all of hardcore. Before Every Time I Die hit my radar I never thought hardcore could incorporate southern rock riffs and lyrics so “sleaze rock” it makes you wanna party on the sunset strip all night long, after hearing this record that’s all I wanted in hardcore. 
2. Atreyu -  Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses: Before you criticize hear me out; this band brought metalcore to the mainstream with this album and their follow up, The Curse. Between the breakdowns, metal guitar riffs, thundering double bass, with both harsh and clean melodic vocals they changed metalcore & pioneered “screamo” for the early 00’s in a way that is unmatched.
3. Eighteen Visions - Vanity: Two words. fashion core. This record was such an intro to metalcore for me. I’ll never forget it the pink album cover is what drew me in was different looked almost like something a synth pop band would have put out but sounded like something I never imagined. It was heavy as fuck like most hardcore bands I heard up until this point but had this sleazy rock vibe to it that other hardcore records didn’t have.
4. Snapcase - Progression Through Unlearning: I found Snapcase when I went through my major dive into 90s hardcore bands as a teenager in like 2007/2008. All I’m gonna say is the riffs on this record paired with the high pitched snare tone made me wanna fuckin’ move! A total “mosh warrior” record and I fucking love it.
5. The Warriors - War is Hell: “Set the stage the ambush begins…” Words that start off the song I first heard from this band and then downloaded this album pretty much right after and they’ve been a mainstay for me ever since. It’s hardcore, it’s punk, it’s metal. Hands down (yet oddly) one of the first bands I immediately think of when I think of metalcore. Gotta give love to a Eulogy records compilation for showing me this one.

Ryan Germ’s Top 5 Metalcore/Metallic Hardcore Records (note: I tried to differentiate this from my Top 5 HC records)

1. Eighteen Visions - Vanity: From the first snare hit I was all in, this is the ultimate breakup metalcore record in my opinion. From the great cleans in the title track, to the groove of Fashion Show, to the sleaze punk esque riffs of I Don’t Mind, I’m in love with this record. What a record. 
2. Poison The Well - Opposite Of December: From the ultimate breakup metalcore record to the ultimate romantic metalcore record. 12/23/93 is such a good opener, the Slice Paper Wrists breakdown always goes hard, then you have THE hardest love song ever in Nerdy in the middle. I may be biased in calling this the ultimate romantic metalcore record, because the first date I had with an ex of mine was for this records 25th anniversary. But the lyrics to Nerdy speaks for itself.
3. Hatebreed - Satisfaction: I wouldn’t be who I am today without hearing Conceived Through An Act Of Violence. But the mosh parts on this record are still so great even after 28 years that I can confidently put this on here without citing my own personal expirence. You could make the argument that this record alongside Perseverance changed HC to what we know it as today.
4. Botch - We Are The Romans: I intentionally tried to not include records I chose last week but this is my favorite record, what more is there to say? Listening to To Our Friends In The Great White North for the first time changed my taste in music. There was a span of time where I would only listen to this album. Transitions and C. Thomas Howell are probably the 2 I keep coming back to the most. The riffs in this album probably blow my mind the most but the production for the more grandiose and big parts are a very close second. As a drummer I can also say the drumming is also extremely tight. I still don’t think I’ve seen a better show than their final east coast show besides maybe Haywire at Bonks. This album has changed my life for the better.
5. Zao - Where Blood Amd Fire…: I was thinking about putting “Petitioning…” or “Jane Doe” by Converge on here, or “Calculating Infinity” by Dillinger on here. But while relistening to some records I didn’t put on here for my 5 spot I relistened to this. I forget how much I love Zao until I turn on Lies Of Serpents or To Think Of You. I’m not even a Christian but such good music can transcend religion, such is the case with their contemporaries like Norma Jean. The sludge elements of this record in songs like March also create a very heavy and unique style, I’m jealous of all who’ve seen them after this record dropped.