Taking root in the late ’70s, hardcore has always soundtracked the underground, taking the ethos of punk and revving up the extremity. The music became faster and tougher, and it has spun out an abundance of incredible bands over the last half a century. That’s never been more true in today’s climate, as hardcore is diversifying in both POV and sound while hanging onto the spirit of the genre. Given that there have been so many to celebrate as of late, we challenged our readers to name the best hardcore bands right now. Their answers were just as varied as you’d expect, nodding to Bay Area luminaries and Kentucky heavyweights — and beyond. These are the top picks, ranked accordingly below.
Read more: In conversation with Scowl and Frank Iero
5. GEL
There’s been a hot streak trailing GEL since their formation in the late 2010s. The New Jersey crew’s “hardcore for freaks” is equally thrilling and ferocious, best witnessed through their relentlessly heavy live shows. Whether they’re decimating Sonic drive-throughs in their home state, receiving shoutouts from Hayley Williams, or finding ways to make their sound bigger and more nuanced, like on their upcoming Persona EP, you can count on the band to continue leveling up.
4. Turnstile
It’s fair to say that Turnstile opened the gates for so many of the hardcore bands that are ripping it up today. 2021’s GLOW ON was a feat, combining go-go music, Sly Stone references, and Dev Hynes collabs, among other things, into an eclectic mix that never gets too indulgent. Even before that breakthrough moment, though, the Baltimore heroes were making noise in their local scene and creating adventurous songs that always challenge what they’ve done before — and what can be considered “hardcore.” Live, their sound swells, using their venue upgrades to bring more positive attention to hardcore and amplify their messages of connection and empowerment.
3. Drain
Along with Scowl and Sunami, Drain have been representing the Bay Area while surging in popularity in the past few years. Fronted by Sammy Ciaramitaro, who often looks more affable beach bum than hardcore vocalist, the Santa Cruz four-piece possess a buoyant but urgent style of hardcore that’s tremendously fun, motivating even the shyest of concertgoers to throw caution to the wind and join the pit. Riding on the success of their Epitaph debut, Living Proof, their recent shows have been completely packed, filled with crowd-surfers and pool noodles. This year’s stacked Good Good Tour confirmed that Drain are only getting bigger.
2. SPEED
Australian five-piece SPEED have been busy making a legacy for themselves through tough-as-hell but motivational hardcore. Their music, always brutal and lightning-fast, comes with an uplifting sense of PMA and razor-sharp vocals that contain elements of hip-hop (and occasionally flute), which makes their sound a promising pivot for the genre. Fresh off the release of their debut album, ONLY ONE MODE, which shouts out their love for the hardcore community over punishing but ultra-fun riffs, the band certainly live up to their name.
1. Knocked Loose
This year belongs to Knocked Loose. Along with naming their Poppy collab “Suffocate” as the greatest song of the year so far, our readers determined that the Kentucky quintet are also the best of modern hardcore — and it’s easy to see why. The band have increasingly elevated each of their albums, getting heavier and denser without becoming incoherent. This year’s You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To is a total standout, stuffed with merciless breakdowns and screamalongs that embody the communal catharsis that draws so many people to hardcore in the first place.
