[Western music] What is post-hardcore? — Summary of representative bands

PorcelainThursday

Thursday – Porcelain

Although this article doesn’t cover the so-called “screamo” bands from the 2000s onward, Thursday—who can be seen as forerunners of that movement—are an important band within the trajectory of post-hardcore, so I’m including them here as a representative of early-2000s screamo.

Formed in New Jersey in 1997, Thursday predate bands like The Used and Finch among the early screamo acts, and considering that their seminal debut album “Waiting” was released in 1999, it’s no exaggeration to say they bridged the gap between the underground post-hardcore of the ’90s and the commercially successful screamo scene of the 2000s and beyond.

The record that truly put their name on the map is their masterpiece of a second album “Full Collapse,” released on the venerable Epitaph Records.

But if you listen to “Waiting,” which came out on Eyeball Records—the same label that would later launch My Chemical Romance—you can hear how new possibilities were germinating beneath the surface of a late-’90s American rock scene dominated by nu metal.

The sound production and musicianship bear the rough edges of an indie release, yet the contrast between frontman Geoff Rickly’s introspective lyrics, his fragile singing, and his screams is quintessential early screamo.

And, as evidenced by the track “Ian Curtis,” their influences from UK rock such as new wave are also noteworthy.

Thursday’s sound world—where delicate emotion swirls, distinct from the loud, metallic strain of screamo—stands as one of the remarkable possibilities that post-hardcore brought into being.

Rather Be DeadRefused

REFUSED – Rather Be Dead (Official Video)

Refused are a legendary Swedish new school hardcore to post-hardcore band that the country proudly boasts to the world.

Centered around charismatic frontman Dennis Lyxzén—also active in multiple bands such as The (International) Noise Conspiracy—Refused formed in 1991 and released three albums before disbanding in 1998.

In the 2010s they made an unexpected reunion, miraculously toured Japan, and released two new studio albums.

In their earliest days, they delivered a raw sound under the influence of hardcore punk.

But with their second album, 1996’s Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, metallic guitars entered the mix and Dennis’s vocals shifted toward more intense shouts, resulting in a highly acclaimed masterpiece of so-called new school hardcore.

Their crowning achievement—culminating years of musical experimentation with each release—was their third album, 1998’s The Shape of Punk to Come.

Boldly incorporating elements of industrial, electronica, post-rock, and jazz, their imaginative brand of hardcore is truly “post-hardcore,” and its freaky, boundary-breaking musicality reached a dimension entirely different from run-of-the-mill post-hardcore, shocking music fans and musicians worldwide.

Dennis is also a leftist thinker, and the band tackles themes such as sharp critiques of power and capitalism; extensive knowledge underpinning intelligent references to novels and films further distinguishes their unique musical identity.

Their post-reunion releases are excellent as well—essential listening alongside their classic work.

FazerQuicksand

Quicksand – Fazer

Quicksand, the legendary post-hardcore band set to return to Japan for shows in November 2022.

Formed in 1990 around Walter Schreifels—renowned as the guitarist of Gorilla Biscuits, one of the most iconic bands from the late-1980s New York hardcore scene—the band released two albums in the 1990s, then unexpectedly reunited in 2012, followed five years later by a comeback third album, and in 2021 released their fourth, Distant Populations.

One interesting point in their discography is that, while their debut EP came out on the storied hardcore label Revelation Records, they had already made their major-label debut with their first full-length, Slip, in 1993.

You could take that as evidence of the high expectations surrounding them, but unfortunately they did not achieve commercial success.

Even so, many later bands cite the influence of their post-hardcore sound, and Quicksand’s status as an important band in the history of post-hardcore remains unchanged.

Their musical style, while showing the influence of bands like Fugazi and Jawbox, is distinguished by metallic, hard-edged guitar riffs woven throughout.

The overall feel is close to what bands like Helmet were doing in the so-called alternative metal sphere, and the distinctive, solid groove that springs from that sensibility is uniquely theirs.

It’s also worth noting that in their early days they covered The Smiths’ classic How Soon Is Now?, hinting at an admiration for UK rock that comes through in their sound.

Celebrated SummerHüsker Dü

Celebrated Summer

When you think of punk, you might picture a skinny look with flashy hairstyles, and many people probably see hardcore punk as tough and intimidating.

Hüsker Dü were the legendary band that appeared on the hardcore punk scene in a plain, everyday style that didn’t fit either image—almost drab, you could say.

While they did enjoy a passionate following during their active years, they’re the kind of band that was truly recognized after breaking up, as waves of later alternative rock bands publicly cited them as an influence.

Standing out from the start in the hardcore scene, they formed in 1979 in Minnesota, USA, and their distinctive name comes from a 1970s board game.

Their 1983 debut album, Everything Falls Apart, is a raw hardcore punk record, but even then it’s notable for weaving in melancholic melodies and phrases.

Evolving their sound with each release, their second album, Zen Arcade, is an ambitious double LP concept album running over 70 minutes, where they quickly asserted a unique artistic identity.

Their third album in 1985, New Day Rising, placed greater emphasis on melody and presented a broader musical palette, forging a sound that was practically a prototype for post-hardcore.

They later signed to a major label but failed to achieve commercial success and ultimately disbanded.

Even so, by crafting a sound that went beyond hardcore and punk—and standing as originators for post-hardcore and emo-core—their work is, as noted above, something that anyone who loves ’90s and later alternative rock should absolutely check out.

This Ain’t No PicnicMinutemen

Minutemen – This Ain’t No Picnic

Hailing from California in the United States, Minutemen were a band that, despite a brief run of about five years after forming in 1980, influenced later post-hardcore and alternative rock, effectively presenting the next phase of punk and hardcore ahead of the curve.

As evidenced by the release of their 2005 documentary film We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen, the impact they had on the scene was enormous.

In 1981, they released their debut album The Punch Line on SST Records, the label run by Greg Ginn of Black Flag, the charismatic figure of the ’80s hardcore scene.

Those who picked up the record expecting “hardcore” might be startled from the very first track by the band’s unique songs—built from a trio’s spacious interplay of funky guitar cutting, a sinuous bassline, and supple drums.

Armed with a singular sensibility and high-level musicianship, the album that stands as their crowning achievement is undoubtedly the sprawling, four-sided Double Nickels on the Dime, released in 1984.

Its songs, which incorporate elements that step far outside hardcore—jazz, funk, and spoken word—and lyrics that tackle wide-ranging themes from social issues to linguistics, make up a sound world that is distinctly Minutemen’s.

It was a remarkable feat within the American indie scene of the 1980s.

Sadly, in 1985 frontman D.

Boon passed away in an accident, and the band was forced to disband.

For Want OfRites of Spring

For Want Of

Active from the early to mid-1980s during the dawn of post-hardcore, releasing just one album and one EP before disbanding, Rites of Spring are nevertheless respected as pioneering figures for subsequent emo and post-hardcore bands.

They were also indispensable to the Washington, D.

C.

hardcore punk scene, with members Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty later known for their work in Fugazi.

In a scene still dominated by raw, hard-driving hardcore punk, their songs burst with emotion, featured delicate guitar work that set them apart from simple power chords, and employed urgent rhythms—truly remarkable for the time.

They are undeniably a prototype for the emo-core and post-hardcore that flourished from the 1990s onward, a band you should definitely know if you’re tracing the genre’s history.

The discography compilation End on End is available from Dischord Records, so if you’re not particular about owning the original releases and just want to give them a listen, this is the one to pick up!

Side Car FreddieHoover

Hoover – Side Car Freddie

Hoover is a band that etched its name into DC hardcore despite having only about two years of real activity between 1992 and 1994, becoming legendary through a handful of 7-inch singles—including splits—and their sole album, The Lurid Traversal of Route 7.

Hailing from Washington, they released their album on Dischord Records, led by Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye.

Their uniquely original hardcore sound naturally shows Fugazi’s influence, but it also connects with bands that helped shape what came to be called post-rock, like Slint from the same era.

Within their mostly mid-tempo songs, they conjure a soundscape where impulsive emotion intertwines with a foreboding, dark atmosphere that is distinctly their own.

The slithering basslines and busy, detail-rich drumming create a singular groove; the guitars spew dissonance, and though the result is chaotic, the ensemble’s masterful use of dynamics and the contrast between quiet and loud gives it an alternative rock sensibility.

There are instrumental tracks and moments that show a jazz-like approach, and newcomers to their world will likely be struck by the depth of their musicality.

Also note that some members later went on to play in important American indie bands such as June of 44.