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Last Active 12-09-19 5:48 am Joined 08-27-09
Review Comments 26,875
| Inveigh's Top 10 Metalcore
Metalcore is a somewhat guilty pleasure of mine; although, it didn't use to be guilty. Generic bands and albums by formerly good bands have caused fans of this once unique genre to seek refuge by claiming that all "2nd wave" metalcore bands are the ones that suck (i.e. not Converge, Botch, Poison the Well, etc) and that's too bad, because there have been quite a few good metalcore albums to be released by "2nd wave" bands. Regardless, I still think it's a sweet sub-genre and these are my top 10 albums (note that I'm only including one album per band, lest this list be filled with Poison the Well, Dillinger and Unearth). | 1 | | Poison the Well You Come Before You
My favorite album by (maybe) my favorite band. Everything about this disc is awe-inspiring; from the unique take on breakdowns, the melodic passages and even the entire aggressive feel of the more punk-inspired moments, this one is a classic even outside of the metalcore realm. | 2 | | Killswitch Engage Alive Or Just Breathing
This was the second metalcore album I ever really got into (after The Opposite of December by PtW) and I still love it even now. Some of the best straight-up songwriting you'll here in metal. Classics like Self Revolution, My Last Serenade, Life to Lifeless and Vide Infra just never get old. | 3 | | Unearth III: In The Eyes of Fire
Along with an album farther down the list, I think this might be the best representation of "pure" modern metalcore. Crazy, Iron Maiden-inspired guitar riffs with brootal breakdowns and slight hints of melody (even if there's no actual "clean" singing on the album) give this disc the ability to kick your adrenaline to overdrive. | 4 | | The Dillinger Escape Plan Miss Machine
Ah, jazzcore. At least that's the only way I knew how to describe this the first time I heard it. This one was a grower for me (probably a 3.5 when I first got it, more like a 4.5 now) but Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants was instantly memorable. | 5 | | Every Time I Die Hot Damn!
Keith Buckley writes some of the best lyrics ever, the this album is undeniably fun. A great record to play when you're drunk OR sober, the replay value on this one's high as well. | 6 | | Botch We Are The Romans
A prerequisite for any metalcore list, this one could be considered the album that started it all. It's crushingly intense, yet strangely beautiful at the same time... | 7 | | August Burns Red Messengers
BREAKDOWNS!!! This album has a shitload of them, but it's ok because ABR knows how to do a breakdown like no one else. The ending of Back Burner alone makes me want to destroy everything within a 20 foot vicinity of myself. | 8 | | Misery Signals Of Malice and the Magnum Heart
Another early gem of modern metalcore, this disc just slightly outshines Controller in my opinion. The emotion on this disc really shines through the metallic crunch of the music. | 9 | | Converge You Fail Me
Sometimes I prefer Jane Doe, sometimes this one. It's a mood thing really. They're actually both still growing on me, but I like the diversity of material on this one at the moment. Jane Doe is probably the better cohesive statement as an album though. | 10 | | All That Remains The Fall of Ideals
This is the album I referred to above as the best example of "pure" modern metalcore along with Unearth's 3rd disc. It's almost TOO perfect, if you know what I mean. The vocals are top-notch regardless of whether he's screaming, growling, yelling or singing and the guitars never miss a note (even though some of the riffs/solos are ridiculously technical). A great slab of metal, the only downside being the fact that it's polished to a sheen. | |
Inveigh
10.27.09 | Note: for the purpose of this list, I didn't consider bands like Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, God Forbid or any of the deathcore bands. That would have just been too much.
Also, the list is not in order. | SlightlyEpic
10.27.09 | 1 and 8 would definitely be on my metalcore list. Not too sure about the rest. | Groink
10.27.09 | Everything on here is good. Nice list. | shortone323
10.27.09 | Good list. Like 3 and 6 especially. I think Horizons is better than Killing With a Smile, but I haven't listened to that one too much. Everything else on here is stuff that is probably good but I haven't checked out.
Also, people on the site hate on every metalcore band that's not one of few listed in the summary, which is a shame.
| ScorpionStan
10.27.09 | great list man, a ton of killer albums here. two questions: 1 -- shouldn't Constellations be there instead of Messengers? and 2 -- What do you think of Underoath's last two albums? cuz i think at least one of them is better than a couple of the discs here. | Inveigh
10.27.09 | ScorpionStan: it was a tough choice between Constellations and Messengers, but I decided to go with Messengers because I thought it was more "metalcore" than Constellations (even though I think the new one is a better album). I just thought Messengers was more deserving to be on a metalcore list because of it's "core-iness" and the fact that when it came out it had some of the heaviest breakdowns known to man.
On the subject of Underoath, I honestly haven't listened to them that much since The Changing of Times. I had that record when I was about 16 and liked it, but didn't think it was deserving to be on the list. I'll have to check their newer stuff out, because I'm seeing them in December with ABR and Emery. | Blindsided
10.27.09 | Nice list bro.
Listening to 1 right now actually.
Rather have Constellations though.
List is solid all around though. | kfilly20
10.27.09 | love 1 through 5, not a huge fan of 6 -10 good list | Deviant.
10.27.09 | List made me happy
And you're right, Messengers is more "core" than constellations | Inveigh
10.27.09 | yea, Constellations is the better CD to me, but the breakdowns on Messengers convinced me to put it on the list. The riffs on Constellations are just killer though. And the chorus in White Washed gets my head bangin'. DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD! | Deviant.
10.27.09 | While I love YCBY i'd probably swap it for TOOD though | Inveigh
10.27.09 | TOOD is definitely more metalcore and is sentimental as the first metalcore album I ever owned, but YCBY to me is just so much more advanced. I can definitely respect TOOD going before it though. | Deviant.
10.27.09 | YCBY was probably the first album I heard by PTW, went back and
got the rest, wasn't such a fan of TFTR though.
Haha, AOJB was the first metalcore album I ever bought, got it
the day it came out | Inveigh
10.27.09 | TFTR is definitely my least favorite PTW disc, but there's still some awesome songs on it (i.e. Botchla). AOJB is maybe the best metalcore album ever.. it's at least in the conversation. I like Jesse's lyrics, delivery and melodies better than Howard personally; even if Howard is the more "talented" vocalist. | Deviant.
10.27.09 | Meh, he ain't more talented imo | Inveigh
10.27.09 | ^me either, but it seems that's the general consensus in the metal community. He does have a scream that will hold up longer over time, and he has more range on his cleans; but Jesse was just so much more enjoyable to listen to. | Deviant.
10.27.09 | Howard's okay on the new songs but on the live dvd when they do
the old songs I just cringe aye | Inveigh
10.27.09 | oh dude, absolutely. I can't stand to hear him to do any of those songs I listed above. He lets the crowd do half the work live anyways. Lame. | Deviant.
10.27.09 | "Don't die on me yet, sing the chorus for me" | BassDemon333
10.27.09 | 2, 6, 7, and 9 all own. | Inveigh
10.27.09 | no love for Unearth BassDemon? I figured they were right up your alley.. | zrosschristian
10.27.09 | #2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 for the win.
Nice list. | Lunarfall
10.27.09 | 6 really needs more love | TomServo
10.28.09 | 1-4 = pure awesomeness. | Wikid578
12.18.09 | 2,6,7,9,10 :):) | Nikkolae
12.18.09 | idk what to make out of this list if its missing Misery Signals | Inveigh
12.18.09 | someguest: I made this list a few months ago before I appreciated Botch and Converge. I still haven't had a chance to really listen to much Botch, although I just ordered We Are the Romans. I tried liking Converge when I was like 17 and it just didn't do it for me, but, here I am 7 years later and I give Axe to Fall a try and now I'm in love. If ever do another list like this, both of those bands will be represented -- most likely in place of AILD and ATR.
Nikkolae: Misery Signals are on here :-) | Deviant.
12.18.09 | Man I remember this list haha | Inveigh
12.18.09 | hah, absolutely dude, we bro-bonded. little did I know our ratings were absolutely identical | Deviant.
12.18.09 | Yeah, this was a little back in the day wasn't it? The beginning of a fruitful understanding appreciation of one other right here | Inveigh
12.18.09 | that it was my friend. i think we've gotten each other into some good new shit too man, like Ulcerate for one. Also the new Mudvayne, which, if I'm in the right mood for it is pretty damn awesome | Inveigh
01.05.10 | had to update this list to reflect my current tastes. | FadeToBlack
01.05.10 | good list, not a fan of 7 tho | sspedding
01.05.10 | I like this list alot. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 are all enjoyable albums for me. | Phrike
01.05.10 | 3 - I would go for The March, less metalcore-ish than III, I like that. Also their guitar harmonies and melodies are more awesome than ever imo
7 - would go for their latest album too. This is by no means bad, just lacking variety
10 - I feel that This Darkened Heart is quite underrated around here. I understand the praise for TFOD, but Phil's vocals are getting weaker on every album. Instrumentally speaking, songs like I Die In Degrees or Focus Shall Not Fail beat anything they've created after it. This calling is an insane song though.
Have to check out early KE, Poison The Well, Converge and Misery Signals (though MS haven't impressed me on first listen) | Bullitt
01.05.10 | I have only heard 2, not a big Metalcore fan. But I haven't really heard enough of the genre to judge heavily. | Inveigh
01.05.10 | teddypicker: The March is pretty easily my least favorite Unearth album, although you're right, it has the most insane guitars. All the songs kind of sound the same to me on it; plus, this is a metalcore list and The March is about 95% metal and 5% core. Somewhere up there in the comments I explain my choice of Messengers over Constellations. Again, Messengers is just more 'core, which is the purpose of the list. Constellations is probably the better album.
I agree, TDH is very underrated around here and it was really close between the two for me. Focus Shall Not Fail is probably my favorite ATR song... that one could really go either way.
Definitely check out early KsE and listen to that Poison the Well album along with The Tropic Rot. If you didn't like Controller (I'm assuming that's the MS album you heard) give Of Malice... a shot -- it's a different vocalist.
Bullit: give some of these a shot, ya just might like them. | Bullitt
01.05.10 | Alright, I will take a look at a couple of these. Probably number one first since you seem to enjoy it the most. | Inveigh
01.05.10 | I do enjoy it the most; but if you're normally more of a metal fan, it's probably not the first one to go for (it has a very post-hardcore feel to it for a metalcore album). I'd start with maybe 10 or 3, then go with 1 and 8. | ShadowRemains
04.09.10 | I'd agree that The March has a lot less "core", but it still has some sick breakdowns. That one in My Will Be Done gets me headbanging like crazy | puma35
09.08.10 | this list is great | BallsToTheWall
09.08.10 | couldnt get any more generic tbh. | Inveigh
09.08.10 | holy old list. needz moar Shail Hulud, Coalesce and less All That Remains, August Burns Red |
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