Metalcore has some diversity from just plain metal, and just plain core…eh hem, I mean hardcore. The roots of this genre start from the mid 70s with bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, travel through the 80s with The Misfits and Slayer, hop over a few more tweaks in the genre with Converge, Earth Crisis, and Life in Your Way, and is still in progress with bands in the 2000s. (Whatever you choose to refer to this decade as… )

Characteristics of Metalcore

So if metalcore has been refined since the mid 70s, what defines it? For anyone that's been thinking of making a band, getting to understand the genre better, or just needs something to classify that weirdo band your brother is making you listen to, here's a few characteristics:

1. Guitarists mix palm muted runs with straight strummed chords at high speeds.

A common trait of metal is standard, unaltered, picked riffs that move in very rigid patterns. These don't have surprises and sometimes can be monotonous. Hardcore uses riffs that are open and resonant, still with high tempos. For metalcore, musicians tend to work on a combination of both. They create patterns of runs and breakdowns intertwining the melodic, fast, and rigid.

2. Vocalists are "jacks of all trades".

If you've noticed in most metalcore bands, it doesn't cut it anymore to be able to JUST sing or to JUST scream. Metalcore bands want BOTH. A good metalcore vocalist should have the ability to take those screams high-pitched to feedback the mics, take the screams low to rumble the floor boards, and sing to swoon the ladies ;] OF COURSE, the trademark of where metalcore appears to be going is the evolution of the yell/scream. Being able to put some major rasp on those vocals can really heat up a chorus.

3. Drummers can double kick and pop the rock.

Metal and hardcore drummers share at least one characteristic and that is having the ability to play fast, so obviously the same can be said for metalcore. Double kick pedals have become the standard amongst the heavier alternative genres for the amazing patterns and rhythms composed at crazy speeds. However, let's not forget this is a hybrid genre that involves powerful melodies so traits of a pop punk/pop rock drummer are NOT all that uncommon.

As you can tell metalcore isn't really treading any new ground in the music world. It's merely expanding on what has already been. It might not be very long before other hybrid genres are created such as folkrap, gospelska, and countronica. (country/electronic… can't wait for that one) Until then, here are a few characteristics that can help you determine if what you're listening to is metalcore or close.

Original Post: GoArticles