New Era Hardcore/Punk

Hardcore and punk have always been a vehicle for DIY self-expression, often fueled by social and political issues. With a shorter-faster-louder ethos that has spanned decades, hardcore got its start in the late 1970s in American cities such as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York. Uncompromising pioneers including Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains and Agnostic Front created a movement that is still vibrant nearly a half-century later.

As the first wave of hardcore lit the fuse, scenes in San Francisco and Boston produced legendary outfits like SS Decontrol, Gang Green and Dead Kennedys. Out of NYC, the Beastie Boys emerged in their earliest incarnation as a hardcore/punk quartet, and Cro-Mags’ 1986 record ‘The Age of Quarrel’ was instantly heralded as a hardcore staple. Meanwhile, Warzone and Murphy’s Law loomed large as the Youth Crew movement came into focus. As part of this movement, bands including Youth of Today, Judge and Gorilla Biscuits, as well as their respective fans and wider community, centered their messaging on themes like positivity, compassion, animal rights and clean living.

Across the continent, in California, Descendents were injecting Beach Boys-inspired pop into their aggressive punk sound. Bad Religion channeled the anxieties of sprawling suburban LA life into thought-provoking lyrics and aggressive, hook-laden songs. In the nation’s capital, Minor Threat’s fierce-yet-concise output had global impact, with members spawning new projects, including Dag Nasty Embrace and the mighty Fugazi, which helped shape the emerging “alternative” sound as the 80’s gave way to the ‘90s.

By the 1990s, hardcore would evolve into a blend of post-hardcore, emocore and metalcore, with bands spanning the likes of NYC’s Quicksand, Chicago’s Shellac, Kentucky’s Slint, Seattle’s BOTCH, Kansas City’s The Get Up Kids and New Jersey’s Lifetime, to name a few. By the late ‘90s, the sound started growing heavier and slower, with bands such as Earth Crisis, Snapcase and Terror blending metal and hardcore. And over the past decade, innovators like Turnstile, Show Me the Body, DRAIN, Knocked Loose, Gouge Away and Soul Glo injected new energy, paving the way for yet another new crop of artists.

This latest era has been buoyed by acts spanning the globe, like London’s The Chisel, who fuse a classic Oi!-era punk sound with melodic hardcore elements. Fronted by Kat Moss, the Santa Cruz quintet Scowl has been on a tear with their sweet and sour blend. Reaching back to the thrash era, Baltimore’s End It has become a staple of the scene, marked by tempo changes and riff-laden breakdowns. 

In 2025, we see the return of cult Liverpool band Loathe, with fans eagerly awaiting their third album. We’re hearing a markedly tougher sound on breakthrough bands like Combust and Contention, whose latest albums — ‘Belly Of The Beast’ and ‘Artillery From Heaven’ respectively — showcase a fresh take on old school metalcore. There are killer new collaborations, too: from Kentucky newcomers XweaponX with straightedge pioneers Earth Crisis, to metallic beatdown kings Splitknuckle with thrash crew Pest Control.

Here’s your invitation to get in the pit with this collection of tracks, featuring bands that are shaping the movement’s newest era.

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LISTEN TO THE NEW ERA HARDCORE/PUNK PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW

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TURNSTILE, “I CARE”

Four years after their massive breakthrough album ‘GLOW ON,’ Baltimore hardcore band TURNSTILE return with 2025’s ‘NEVER ENOUGH.’

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Scowl, “Cellophane”

Santa Cruz’s Scowl expanded their sound into alt rock and grunge on their 2025 album, ‘Are We All Angels.’

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Contention, “Inflict My Will” feat. Inclination

Playing straight edge metallic hardcore, Florida band Contention released their critically acclaimed 2024 album on DAZE.

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XweaponX, “B.N.E.” feat. Earth Crisis

Rising band XweaponX, featuring Knocked Loose’s Bryan Garris, collaborated with straight edge icons Earth Crisis on this track from the former’s 2025 EP.

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Combust, “Everyone’s Enemy”

Bringing a fresh perspective to classic NYC hardcore, Combust released their second album, ‘Belly Of The Beast,’ in 2025.

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Loathe, “Gifted Every Strength”

A cult band loved by brothers-in-sound Deftones, Loathe are back in 2025 with this latest single, taken from their forthcoming third album.

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OVERSIZE, “Are You With Me?”

With their hardcore take on shoegaze, UK band OVERSIZE are quickly gaining fans; this track is from their 2025 debut album, ‘Vital Signs.’

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End It, “Pale Horse”

They feel like veterans, but End It is due to release their debut album, ‘Wrong Side of Heaven,’ in August 2025 on Flatspot Records.

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Splitknuckle, “We Share Blood (Not Love)” feat. Pest Control

Blending metalcore with ‘90s beatdowns, Splitknuckle are a UK band to watch. On this track, they collaborate with new thrashers Pest Control.

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Bayway, “It’s a Cold World”

New Jersey beatdown band Bayway continued their assault with 2024’s ‘Bayway Takes Manhattan’ EP.

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DRAIN, “Nights Like These”

Santa Cruz outfit DRAIN are breaking through in the Californian scene. This is their latest single, following 2023’s ‘LIVING PROOF.’

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Drug Church, “Mad Care”

A hardcore band with a knack for catchy melodies, Drug Church released their latest album, 2024’s ‘Prude,’ on Pure Noise Records.

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Silo Kids, “Ticks”

A newly-established four piece from Hattiesburg, Miss., Silo Kids released this on their 2025 demo.

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JIVEBOMB, “SURVIVAL AIN’T TAUGHT”

The lead single from their 2025 debut album ‘ETHEREAL,’ this track sees UK band Jivebomb on devastating form.

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Whispers, “A Choice To Survive” feat. Speed

A metallic hardcore band from Thailand, Whispers link up with Speed for this track on the former’s 2024 debut album, ‘Yom-Ma-Lok.’

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Cross Of Disbelief, “The Invitation” feat. Splitknuckle, Fatal Realm

This searingly heavy track from Cross Of Disbelief’s 2025 album ‘New York v.s. North Yorkshire’ sees them collaborate with Splitknuckle and Fatal Realm.

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Pissed Jeans, “Sixty-Two Thousand Dollars In Debt” 

After a seven-year break between albums, Pissed Jeans are back on Sub Pop Records with ‘Half Divorced.’ This track rails against crushing student debt.

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The Chisel, “What Do You Mean”

These new avatars of Oi!, the working-class subgenre of punk, recently released their second album, ‘What a Fucking Nightmare.’

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‍Touché Amoré, “Goodbye For Now” feat. Julien Baker

Ripping LA post-hardcore since 2007, this epic five-piece features the indie songwriter Julien Baker on this new track.

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Show Me The Body, “Stomach” feat. High Vis
From NYC, this post-hardcore outfit stretches boundaries with noise, sludge, even a little hip-hop.

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‍Militarie Gun, “Will Logic”

Melodic heft from the LA band’s full-length debut, 2023’s ‘Life Under the Gun.’

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Gouge Away, “Stuck in a Dream”

Named after a Pixies classic, this Florida band features the aggressive vocals of Christina Michelle.

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Soul Glo, “Coming Correct Is Cheaper”

Signed to Brett Gurewitz’s Epitaph label, this uncompromising hardcore outfit hails from Philadelphia.

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NØ MAN, “Glitter and Spit”

Title track of an album this D.C. band calls “a weapon of a record”; singer Maha Shami is the daughter of Palestinian refugees.

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Missing Link, “New York Minute”

Guttural vocals and double-time breakdowns from one of the many cathartic bands that first formed during the pandemic.

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Knocked Loose, “Suffocate” feat. Poppy

This beatdown hardcore band from Kentucky released their third album in May 2024.

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Home Invasion, “Enemy”

Straight-edge punk from this band that formed in Chicago in 2018.

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Haywire 617, “FEELING DEPRESSED?”
Classic Boston hardcore from a band fronted by scene stalwart Austin Sparkman.

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High Vis, “Guided Tour”

This London-based band formed in 2016 with veterans of various UK hardcore groups.

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Candy, “Flipping”

“Politics are essential to hardcore,” as this Virginia-based band’s guitarist once told Kerrang! magazine.

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Brain Tourniquet, “Retch”

From Washington, D.C., this power trio combines furious tempos with hard sludge breakdowns.

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SPACED, “Rat Race”

Buffalo band that pays homage to the city’s “Buffalo Style” scene of the 1990s.

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Love Letter, “Misanthropic Holiday or Vacation”

New England-based newcomers with members from Verse and Defeater.

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jupiter hearts, “Has Something Changed”

Louisville band fronted by post-hardcore veteran Rob Pennington (Endpoint, By the Grace of God).

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Wreckage, “What’s Left”

Melodic but “without anyone accusing us of writing an emo song,” as this Connecticut band’s guitarist has described their goal.

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Regional Justice Center, “SWEET FREEDOM”

Crossover thrash band named for a corrections facility in their home state, Washington. 

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Speed, “KILL CAP”

Heavy standout from the 2024 full-length debut of this Aussie gang, ‘ONLY ONE MODE.’

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Kharma, “By Any Means”

Lead single from this Chicago band’s most recent album, ‘A World of Our Own.’

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Cosmic Joke, “Empty Nesting Doll”

LA hardcore band influenced by the classics (Ramones, Bad Religion) and fronted by a singer named Mac Miller (not to be confused with the late rapper, Mac Miller).

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Life’s Question, “10 Years”

This Chicago hardcore group describe themselves as “the real deal.”

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LISTEN TO THE NEW ERA HARDCORE PUNK PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW