Metal Monday: Metal Essentials – Metalcore
posted in: Features • Rock
If a person is to consider themselves a metalhead, they had best know the roots ” the basics. Be aware of all sub-genres, who dominates them and know the albums that helped shape that sub-genre. For the next few weeks, I’ll be schooling you on some essential metal albums from metal’s biggest sub-genres; making sure you know the biggest and the best in the metal world while giving you some essential albums to add to your metal collection.
This week is one of the more recent metal sub-genres to take over the metal limelight ” Metalcore.
The first essential album in the metalcore arena is by one of the oldest bands in the genre: Converge. In 2001, Converge released an album that would break all the rules and boundaries surrounding the hardcore and metal scenes with their raw, emotionally-driven aural assault called Jane Doe. Jacob Bannon wrote all of the lyrics, which all focus on the collapse of a relationship. Contrary from what you may think, the vocals do not sound whiny or desperate; the vocals are filled with rage and vitriol. With emotionally-charged lyrics paired with discordant guitars and roaring vocals, Jane Doe makes your blood boil. Predating stereotypical breakdowns in metalcore, you’re constantly on your seat’s edge and completely engrossed in the seemingly disorganized chaos.
In 2006, All Shall Perish‘s second album The Price of Existence broke the mold of what metalcore meant to the general public. Instead of only using the same four frets in every song, repeating the same overused breakdowns and featuring completely incomprehensible vocals, All Shall Perish brought fresh new breakdowns, crisp and coherent vocals and incredibly intricate and technical guitar work. The lead guitarist from this album, Chris Storey, gives the performance of a lifetime, playing the best guitar solos and riffs that the genre of metalcore had ever seen. The vocalist Hernan Hermida is no difference, writing smart, politically-charged lyrics sung with impeccable delivery. Of course, the music wouldn’t be metalcore without breakdowns. The Price of Existence deliveres and ultimately changed the slowly staled metalcore sub-genre.
Another landmark album in the world of metalcore released in 2006, one that pushed the boundaries far more than All Shall Perish, is SikTh‘s Death of a Dead Day. This album shows the otherworldly technical prowess of the members of the band and combines it with sheer songwriting genius. You won’t find the cliche “chugging” breakdown found in most metalcore of 2006. Instead SikTh uses intricate time and tempo changes to incite mosh pits. Song after song, SikTh throws something new and awesome at you, and it requires a few listens to really take it all in. With all the polyrhythms and subtle nuances, Death of a Dead Day is truly an album that never gets old” it’s 53 minutes of progressive metalcore bliss.
Though metalcore might be a genre shunned by many of the more “true” metalheads, it’s a genre with some of the best gems in all of metal. Definitely give them a chance to rock your face off!