Post-hardcore is a music genre that evolved from
hardcore punkHardcore punk, often just called hardcore, is a subgenre of punk rock that originated primarily in North America in the late 1970s. The new sound was generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock...
, itself an offshoot of the broader
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
movement. Like
post-punkPost-punk is a popular musical movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups who emerged from the hardcore punk scene, or took inspiration from hardcore, while concerning themselves with a wider palette of expression, closer to
experimental rockExperimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, and/or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
.
The genre took shape in the mid- to late-1980s with releases from the Midwestern United States. These included bands on
SST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, and bands from
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
such as Fugazi (see the era's releases on
Dischord RecordsDischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
, for example), as well as slightly different sounding groups such as
Big BlackBig Black was an American noise punk band founded in Evanston, Illinois, United States, that was active between 1982 and 1987. They were headed by singer, lyricist, guitarist, and co-songwriter Steve Albini....
and
JawboxJawbox was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C.. Its members were J. Robbins , Bill Barbot , Kim Coletta , Adam Wade & Zach Barocas .-History:...
that stuck closer to the
noise rockNoise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.- Visual and...
roots of post-hardcore.
Post-hardcore is typically characterized by its precise rhythms and loud guitar-based instrumentation accompanied by a combination of clean vocals and screams. Allmusic states, "These newer bands, termed post-hardcore, often found complex and dynamic ways of blowing off steam that generally went outside the strict hardcore realm of 'loud fast rules'. Additionally, many of these bands' vocalists were just as likely to deliver their lyrics with a whispered croon as they were a maniacal yelp." The genre has developed a balance of
dissonanceDissonance has several meanings, all related to conflict or incongruity:*Consonance and dissonance in music are properties of an interval or chord*Cognitive dissonance is a state of mental conflict....
and
melodyA melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, in part channeling the loud and fast hardcore ethos into more measured, subtle forms of tension and release. Jeff Terich of Treblezine states, "[I]nstead of sticking to [hardcore's] rigid constraints, these artists expanded beyond power chords and gang vocals, incorporating more creative outlets for punk rock energy."
1980s
Post-hardcore is an offspring coming from
hardcore punkHardcore punk, often just called hardcore, is a subgenre of punk rock that originated primarily in North America in the late 1970s. The new sound was generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock...
, which had typically featured very fast tempos, loud volume and heavy bass levels.
By the mid-1980s, groups classified as hardcore, or with strong roots in the genre, began to experiment with the basic template. The initial outcropping of these groups typically recorded for
SST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
(the
MinutemenThe Minutemen was an American punk rock band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Comprising guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, the Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's unexpected death in December 1985...
,
Hüsker DüHüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart. Hüsker Dü never achieved mainstream success, but attained an influence far larger than their modest sales...
, the
Meat PuppetsThe Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Paradise Valley, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, Dinosaur Jr., and
GoneGone is a three-piece punk-based instrumental rock band, formed by Greg Ginn in late 1985. Originally, Gone was a side project to his main group, Black Flag.-Biography:...
), and emerged from the increasingly experimental tendencies of
Black FlagBlack Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes...
and
Greg GinnGregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
's evolving musical tastes. Many of these groups also took inspiration from the '80s
noise rockNoise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.- Visual and...
scene pioneered by
Sonic YouthSonic Youth is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Mark Ibold and Steve Shelley ....
.
Steve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American audio engineer, singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, avid snorkeler and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
's group
Big BlackBig Black was an American noise punk band founded in Evanston, Illinois, United States, that was active between 1982 and 1987. They were headed by singer, lyricist, guitarist, and co-songwriter Steve Albini....
, and subsequent projects
RapemanRapeman was an American noise rock group founded in 1987 and disbanded in 1989. It consisted of Steve Albini on guitar and vocals, David Wm. Sims on bass, and Rey Washam on drums.In an interview, Albini reported that 'Rapeman' is .....
and
ShellacShellac is an American noise rock group composed of Steve Albini , Bob Weston and Todd Trainer...
are also associated with post-hardcore. Critic Steven Blush described Big Black as "an angst-ridden response to the rigid English
post-punkPost-punk is a popular musical movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
of
Gang of FourGang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
".
Naked RaygunNaked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
also made use of "oblique lyrics and stark post-punk melodies".
Later releases on
Dischord RecordsDischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
also extended the post-hardcore style, most famously in the work of Fugazi, but also including bands such as
EmbraceEmbrace was a short-lived post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C., which lasted from the summer of 1985 to the spring of 1986 and was one of the first bands to be dubbed in the press as emotional hardcore, though the members had rejected the term since its creation...
,
Rites of SpringRites of Spring was an American post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. in the mid-1980s, known for their energetic live performances. A part of the D.C. hardcore punk scene, Rites of Spring increased the frenetic violence and visceral passion of hardcore while simultaneously experimenting with...
,
Nation of UlyssesThe Nation of Ulysses was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. The band formed in Spring 1988 with four members and was known as simply "Ulysses." The original group consisted of Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner on guitar, Steve Gamboa on bass guitar, and James Canty on drums...
,
JawboxJawbox was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C.. Its members were J. Robbins , Bill Barbot , Kim Coletta , Adam Wade & Zach Barocas .-History:...
,
Shudder to ThinkShudder to Think is an American indie rock group. Formed in 1986, they released three albums on the Washington, D.C.-based label Dischord Records and have been called a punk band, although they drew upon a wide range of stylistic influences, including pop....
, and
LungfishLungfish is a post-hardcore band formed in 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland. All of their music has been released by the Washington, D.C. punk label Dischord except for their first LP, Necklace of Heads which was released by Simple Machines .Their line-up as of 2005 consists of Daniel Higgs , Asa...
.
DischordDischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
groups also experimented with influences from
soul musicSoul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
,
dubDub is an instrumental subgenre of reggae music, that involves revisions of existing songs. The dub sound consists predominantly of instrumental remixes of existing recordings and is achieved by significantly manipulating and reshaping the recordings, usually by removing the vocals from an existing...
,
post-punkPost-punk is a popular musical movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
,
funkFunk is an American music genre that originated in the late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, soul jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
,
jazzJazz is a musical art form which originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions....
, and
dance-punkThe term Dance-punk is used to describe a punk and electronic dance music style of music pioneered in the late 1990s - early 2000s and associated with indie dance music....
.
Math rockMath rock is a rhythmically complex, guitar-based style of experimental rock music that emerged in the late 1980s. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures , angular melodies, and dissonant chords.Math rock shares its place of origin in the late 80s underground music scene of...
and to some degree riot grrl were offshoots of this movement.
1990s
A third iteration of post-hardcore took place with the work of musicians who had first come to prominence in the
youth crewYouth crew is a music subgenre of hardcore punk that was pioneered by Youth of Today in the early to mid-1980s, and thrived in the New York hardcore scene of 1988. Youth crew is distinguished from other hardcore and punk scenes by its optimistic, fraternal and more moralistic outlook...
scene, most famously Fugazi,
UnsaneUnsane is a New York City rock music trio, formed in 1988.They are generally classified as noise rock, but their music also touches on elements of hardcore punk and metal...
,
QuicksandQuicksand were a post-hardcore band from New York City and, retrospectively, one of the most influential rock acts of that era. They were led by former Gorilla Biscuits guitarist and songwriter Walter Schreifels, and the creative blueprint that Quicksand provided can still be heard in current hard...
,
HelmetHelmet is an American alternative metal/post-hardcore band from New York formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist/guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
but also
GlassjawGlassjaw is a four-piece post-hardcore band from Long Island, New York. The band is fronted by vocalist Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, and have undergone numerous line-up changes since their inception...
, and
On the Might of PrincesOn The Might Of Princes is an American band which was active during the late 1990s and early 2000s.- History :On The Might Of Princes began on Long Island in 1998, creating their own dynamic sound, fusing melody and technicality, intertwined with dramatic guitar progressions, fast leads and a tight...
. Groups such as
Drive Like JehuDrive Like Jehu was an American post-punk/post-hardcore band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1990 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 1995...
,
UnwoundUnwound was an American rock band based in Tumwater/Olympia, Washington. Formed in 1991, the band consisted of Justin Trosper , Vern Rumsey , and Brandt Sandeno , all of whom had previously been in a band called Giant Henry. Brandt Sandeno quit Unwound in 1992 and was replaced by Sara Lund...
,
Les Savy FavLes Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington.-Biography:...
,
RefusedRefused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. The band released five EPs and three albums before breaking up in 1998...
,
Hot Water MusicHot Water Music is a punk rock band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo. HWM first formed in 1993. In 1996, after releasing two EPs and a full-length album, the band briefly disbanded, but soon reformed, announcing their...
,
Cap'n JazzCap'n Jazz was a short-lived emo band. The group was formed in Chicago in 1989 by brothers Tim and Mike Kinsella, who were joined by Sam Zurick and Victor Villareal...
and
At the Drive-InAt the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s post-hardcore scene...
, associated with
art punkArt punk or Avant punk refers to punk rock of an experimental bent, or with connections to art school, the art world, or the avant garde....
, were also significant to the scene.
2000s
In the late 1990s, new bands formed who popularized the style. These include
ThursdayThursday is a post-hardcore band from New Brunswick, New Jersey that has released five full-length albums. The band's most recent album, Common Existence, was released in February 2009 on Epitaph Records, and the band recently headlined the Taste of Chaos Tour....
,
ThriceThrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
,
FinchFinch is an American rock band from Temecula, California. After declaring a hiatus in 2006, they reformed in 2007, playing a reunion show on November 23 at the Glasshouse in Pomona, California...
, and the more metallic Poison the Well.
Daryl PalumboDaryl Palumbo is an American musician, , grew up in Bellmore, New York. He is the frontman of the bands Glassjaw and Head Automatica. As a youth he was a member of the Long Island straight edge band XbustedX, however he has since rejected that philosophy...
of
GlassjawGlassjaw is a four-piece post-hardcore band from Long Island, New York. The band is fronted by vocalist Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, and have undergone numerous line-up changes since their inception...
is a friend of Thursday front-man
Geoff RicklyGeoffrey William Rickly Geoffrey William Rickly (pronounced Jeffrey) Geoffrey William Rickly (pronounced Jeffrey) (born March 8, 1979 is the lead singer and songwriter of Thursday, an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. They have released five studio albums...
, and also provided backing vocals on Finch's debut album
What It Is to BurnWhat It Is to Burn is the debut album by U.S. band Finch. It was produced by Mark Trombino who has produced albums for Jimmy Eat World amongst others. Daryl Palumbo from New York band Glassjaw makes a guest appearance on two songs, "Grey Matter" and "Project Mayhem"...
. By 2003, post-hardcore had caught the attention of major labels including
Island RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in England for many years, but is now owned by Universal Music Group and is operated in the United States through The Island Def Jam Music Group and in the UK through Island Records Group...
, who signed Thrice and Thursday,
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, who signed Poison the Well, and
Geffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
, who had absorbed Finch from their former label
Drive-Thru RecordsDrive-Thru Records, established in 1996, is owned by siblings Richard Reines and Stefanie Reines. The label started in the dining room of their townhouse, and eventually moved to the garage with no heat or air conditioning. Fenix Tx were the first band to get airplay for the label, and when they...
. Post-hardcore also began to do well in sales with Thrice's
The Artist in the AmbulanceThe Artist In The Ambulance is Thrice's third album, but their first on a major label. The album peaked at #16 on The Billboard 200 charts. As with The Illusion of Safety, a portion of the sales of this CD were donated to a charitable cause. In this case, it was the Syrentha J. Savio Endowment...
and Thursday's
War All the Time which charted #16 and #7, respectively, on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in 2003.
Around this time, a new wave of post-hardcore bands began to emerge onto the scene that incorporated more
pop punkPop punk is a fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. It is typically referred to as a strand of alternative rock that combines power-pop melodies and chord changes with speedy punk tempos and loud guitars...
and
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s...
styles into their music. These bands include
The UsedThe Used is an American alternative rock band from Orem, Utah. Their sound has been classified under many sub-genres of rock. They signed with Reprise Records in late 2001 and rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their debut self-titled album, The Used...
,
Hawthorne HeightsHawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of vocalist and guitarist JT Woodruff, lead guitarist Micah Carli, bassist and vocalist Matt Ridenour and drummer Eron Bucciarelli. In late 2007, guitarist and vocalist Casey Calvert died...
,
Senses FailSenses Fail is an American rock band from Ridgewood, New Jersey, formed in 2002.- Formation and From the Depths of Dreams EP :...
,
From First to LastFrom First to Last is an American post-hardcore band from Valdosta, Georgia. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in 2006, both with vocalist Sonny Moore...
,
EmeryEmery is a five-piece rock band from Rock Hill, South Carolina currently signed to Tooth & Nail Records and based in Seattle, Washington. Emery was founded in Rock Hill, South Carolina with the original lineup consisting of Toby Morrell, Devin Shelton, Matt Carter, Josh Head, Joel Green and Seth...
in addition to Canadian post-hardcore bands
SilversteinSilverstein is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 2000. The band name originates in reference to the famous children's author Shel Silverstein.-Early years :...
and
AlexisonfireAlexisonfire is a five-piece post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consists of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls in...
. This group of post-hardcore bands gained mainstream recognition with the help of
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
and
Warped TourThe Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. The Used released some minor radio hits and later received gold certifications for their first two studio albums
The UsedThe Used is the self-titled debut album by The Used. It was released on June 25, 2002 and has since been certified gold.-Track listing:Hidden tracks...
and
In Love and DeathIn Love and Death is the second studio album by The Used. It was released on September 28, 2004 and has since been certified gold. It is their most well-received and successful album to date. This was the first album for which Alex Pardee did the artwork, and he has done all artwork for The Used...
from the RIAA. Hawthorne Heights' debut album
The Silence in Black and WhiteThe Silence in Black and White is the debut album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released in 2004 through Victory Records. On Monday, June 27, 2005 the 2 disc special edition CD/DVD was released. The CD contains demos and acoustic versions of most of the songs, a DVD containing live...
was also certified gold.
United Kingdom
Post-hardcore has never been as popular in United Kingdom as it has been in the United States or Canada. However, a more pop-oriented, less experimental form of the genre's popularity increased in the early 21st Century, with more British bands and albums breaking into the Official UK Album Charts.
Hundred ReasonsHundred Reasons are a British rock band from Surrey, composed of Colin Doran , Larry Hibbitt , Andy Gilmour , Andy Bews and Ben Doyle . Originally, the band was signed to Columbia Records in mid April 2001, after fourteen months of near-constant touring...
' debut album,
Ideas Above Our StationIdeas Above Our Station is the critically-acclaimed debut studio album by British based rock band, Hundred Reasons, released on May 20, 2002 on Columbia Records...
, reached #6 in the UK chart following its release in 2002. The following year saw
Hell is for HeroesHell Is for Heroes may refer to:*Hell Is for Heroes , a UK band** Hell Is for Heroes , a 2007 album released by the band of the same name*Hell Is for Heroes , a 1962 film starring Steve McQueen and Bobby Darin...
reach #16 with their own debut,
The Neon HandshakeThe Neon Handshake is the debut album by London band Hell is For Heroes. The CD was released in February 2003 on Chrysalis RecordsRock Sound Magazine awarded it as "Album of the Year"....
and
Funeral for a FriendFuneral for a Friend are a Welsh rock band, from Bridgend, Wales, UK, formed in 2001. They have released four studio albums, five EPs, fifteen singles, one DVD, and one 'best of' compilation.-Formation and EPs :...
's debut album Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation reached #12.
FightstarFightstar is a four-piece alternative rock band formed during 2003 in London. The original and current line up consists of Charlie Simpson , Alex Westaway , Dan Haigh and Omar Abidi...
's first album,
Grand Unification, reached #28 in the UK in 2006. Their
second albumOne Day Son, This Will All Be Yours is the second full length studio album by English alternative rock band Fightstar, released September 24, 2007 on Gut Records....
reached #27 in 2007, and their
third albumBe Human is the third studio album by English alternative rock band Fightstar, released on 19 April 2009 through Search and Destroy Records....
reached #20 in 2009.
Enter ShikariEnter Shikari are an English post-hardcore band, formed in 2003 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after the boat of one of the band member's relatives, and a character in a play Rou wrote before forming the band, both of which are named Shikari...
's blend of post-hardcore and hardcore dance has been successful, with their first album
Take To The Skies reaching #4 and their second
Common Dreads reached #16.