[Western Music] Both Speed and Bittersweetness! Recommended Melodic Hardcore (Melodic Punk) Bands [2025]
In the 2020s, what kind of image comes to mind when you hear the music genre “melocore”? Chances are, the bands and sounds you think of vary depending on your generation.
The heyday of melocore in the ’90s, the early 2000s boom of pop punk and youth punk, the mid-2010s onward pop-punk revival—each band has had its own sound.
In this piece, we focus on melocore—short for melodic hardcore—which has become established in Japan as the abbreviation for melodic hardcore, just as the name suggests.
We’ll also look at related styles like pop punk, selecting both veteran acts and rising younger bands drawing attention in the 2020s.
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[Western Music] Full of drive and bittersweet vibes! Recommended Melodic Hardcore/Punk Bands [2025] (101–110)
BleedingIgnite
Ignite is an American melodic hardcore band formed in 1993 in Orange County, California.
Armed with an aggressive yet melodic rock sound, they have consistently delivered strong social and political messages.
From their 1995 debut album Call On My Brothers to 2006’s Our Darkest Days, they have released numerous acclaimed records marked by triumphant hooks and powerful vocals.
Their emotionally resonant songwriting—heard on albums like A War Against You, which weaves in contemporary issues such as environmental and immigration concerns—is a must-hear.
With over 25 years of touring around the world, they’ve earned a dedicated global following as a formidable, seasoned band.
D.R.E.A.M.Landscapes
A five-piece band from the UK with twin guitars that ceased activity in 2018.
They released only two albums during their career—both on the excellent American punk label Pure Noise Records—but each is well worth a listen.
What stands out about them is how they blend a contemporary post-hardcore feel and an old-school hardcore spirit while weaving in post-rock-style arrangements throughout.
Rather than simply piling on dense walls of sound, they make the most of having two guitarists, crafting a spatially aware guitar sound that gives the band a distinctive delicacy.
SapphireMel T. Eyes
This band with a somewhat charming name is a five-piece from the German city of Heilbronn.
True to their self-described “melodic hardcore” label, their sound brims with old-school hardcore vibes while deftly weaving in hefty, metallic riffs—a sensibility very much in line with bands from the 2010s onward.
The vocals are searingly passionate, as if the singer’s throat might tear at any moment; the relentless sense of speed feels like they’re sprinting without looking back; and the occasional quiet passages that appear out of nowhere add a great atmosphere.
They may be an underground act, but the production quality is undeniably solid!
Night Shift at the Potato FactoryModern Life Is War
Modern Life Is War is a hardcore band formed in the U.
S.
state of Iowa.
Combining aggressive, scream-heavy vocals with lyrical compositions, they forged a unique style that lays emotions bare.
Although they disbanded after releasing the 2007 album “Midnight in America,” which includes this track, they reunited in 2013.
On The EdgeMy Hard Lesson
A band with the unusual background of hailing from Tábor in the Czech Republic.
They’re still relatively minor, but their melodic hardcore sound with progressive elements—sung in English—boasts a quality that rivals American bands.
In 2018, they released their debut, “Thorny Path.” They’re a promising young act to watch in the future.
[Western Music] Fast-Paced Yet Bittersweet! Recommended Melodic Hardcore Bands [2025] (111–120)
SurroundedOf Virtue
We are Of Virtue, a five-piece metalcore band formed in Michigan.
Since signing with SharpTone Records in 2019, we’ve even performed in Japan and have been steadily growing our fanbase there.
This track is called “Surrounded,” released before we joined SharpTone Records.
The groovy guitar riff with a solid sense of the downbeat is seriously addictive.
From the aggressive shouted verses to the melodic chorus—every part stands out a cut above other bands.
The tight performance by the instrumental section in the breakdown is quintessential metalcore and is definitely the highlight of the song.
Failed ImagineerPropagandhi
Propagandhi, from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, is a punk rock band formed in 1986.
Their music is filled with political messages, and through their albums they address a wide range of social issues, including animal rights and capitalism.
They released their debut album, How to Clean Everything, in 1993, and have put out a total of seven albums up to their latest work in 2017, Victory Lap.
Often categorized as punk and anarcho-punk, their sound is characterized by energetic performances and sharp social critique.
Advocating veganism and taking a critical stance on various issues such as human rights abuses and sexism, their approach is sure to resonate with everyone who loves punk.