[Western Music] Both Speed and Bittersweetness! Recommended Melodic Hardcore (Melodic Punk) Bands [2025]

The SurfaceInitiate

INITIATE “The Surface” Official Music Video

Initiate is a five-piece from California that skillfully weaves hardcore aggression with elements of metalcore and post-hardcore.

Since forming in 2016, they’ve been stirring up the scene with energetic live performances.

Their 2018 debut, Before Long, and this year’s album, Cerebral Circus—produced by Zach Tuch—showcase the band’s signature melodic drive and the searing vocals of singer Crystal Pak at their best.

A must-listen for fans of lyrically intense, hard-hitting new-school hardcore like early Shai Hulud, Touché Amoré, and Movements, they’re one of the most exciting acts you won’t want to take your eyes off right now!

The Greatest RewardIt Prevails

The Greatest Reward

A hit track from It Prevails, the lyrically driven band from Oregon whose acclaimed debut album is still fresh in our memories.

It was initially released digitally only, but due to its huge popularity, it received a limited CD pressing! At the same time, a Japanese edition was also released on CD! The emotionally charged, beautifully melodic lines—so moving they’re almost over-the-top—have been powered up even further.

Highly recommended for fans of melodic/lyrical hardcore.

Gorilla BiscuitsGorilla Biscuits

Gorilla Biscuits (bonus track)

Gorilla Biscuits played a crucial role in the late-1980s hardcore movement.

Despite the genre’s hallmark intensity and fast tempos, the band stood out with songs that featured plenty of accessible, melodic guitar riffs.

You can sense their raw yet catchy appeal in the title track from their 1988 LP, Gorilla Biscuits.

OverthinkingBetween You & Me

Between You & Me – Overthinking (Official Music Video)

Signed to the long-standing label Hopeless Records, which boasts nearly 30 years of history, Melbourne, Australia’s Between You & Me are one of the most promising frontrunners of the next generation of pop punk.

Their energetic, pop-punk-packed 2018 debut, Everything Is Temporary, was released in Japan to high praise, leading to a successful Japan tour.

In 2021, they dropped their second album, Armageddon, and some listeners might have been surprised by the pre-release single Supervillain.

With its mid-tempo, more power-pop-leaning sound than straight pop punk, it struck me as the moment their pop sensibilities truly exploded.

The album Armageddon is likewise loaded with a diverse array of top-tier pop songs.

While it may feel a bit underwhelming to those expecting pop punk or melodic hardcore, I highly recommend it as a standout record that every lover of great melodies should hear!

Can’t Kick Up The RootsNeck Deep

Neck Deep – Can’t Kick Up The Roots (Official Music Video)

Among pop-punk bands that debuted in the 2010s, Neck Deep stands out as a popular group from Wales, UK, that also found success in the United States.

Formed in 2012, they were quickly recognized for their talent and signed to the esteemed American indie label Hopeless Records.

With each release, their sales grew, and their third album, The Peace and the Panic, released in 2018, achieved the remarkable feat of reaching No.

4 on both the UK and US charts.

True to their influences—blink-182 and early Fall Out Boy—their appeal lies in bright, melodic pop punk.

As their career has progressed, they’ve broadened their musical range, amassing a wealth of standout tracks, including mid-tempo, bittersweet songs—another key strength.

If you’re looking for fast, high-energy numbers, check out their 2014 debut album Wishful Thinking and their 2015 second album Life’s Not Out to Get You!

Married To The NoiseStick To Your Guns

Stick To Your Guns “Married To The Noise” (Official Music Video)

Stick To Your Guns, a leading force in the hardcore punk scene, is an American band formed in 2003.

Their blend of melodic vocals with hardcore sound could well be described as true melodic hardcore.

Their 2017 album “True View” retains both their aggression and melody, and among its tracks, “Married To The Noise” is a must-listen.

To The WorldStrike Anywhere

To The World

The second release following their smash-hit debut album! They had planned to come to Japan just before the release, but ended up canceling on the very day the tour was set to start.

While rooted in hardcore, they’ve established their originality by adding melodic elements, and that vibe remains strong on this record as well.

That said, the previous album’s impact was so big that it posed some challenges.

Even so, this track is one of the catchiest and most popular songs on the album.