Metalcore

By the mid-1980s, a new sub-genre emerged within punk. D.R.I.'s blistering self-titled LP shook the foundation of Hardcore by introducing thrash metal to the scene. The sound of hardcore moved from fast and thin to a huge crunching guitar attack. Meanwhile, Misfits fans followed Glen Danzig to Samhain, who helped cross-pollenate thrash metal with bits of punk. Crossover hardcore, as it came to be known, grew with the rise of bands such as Suicidal Tendencies and Nuclear Assault; many bands went on to become entrenched more in the metal scene than in punk.

As the `80s rolled into the `90s, metalcore, a new breed of metal-tinged hardcore, crawled out of suburban garages and urban bedrooms, nursed by the straight edge and emo scenes. Cleveland, Ohio's Integrity pounded a thick metal stake into the heart of the straight edge punk scene. More recently, Earth Crisis has inspired a new legion of young wanna-be guitar heroes who borrow from the groundbreaking work of Slayer and Metallica. More than just the sound, these bands also brought the politics of the scenes from which they were born. The straight edge bands have become more sharply political and radical, while other bands use inner angst as their rebellious message.