Aliencore
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A sci-fi-themed wing of technical deathcore built around extraterrestrial/space concepts: alien-invasion, cosmic-horror and interstellar lyrics matched to an otherworldly sound. Music leans on warbling whammy-pedal pinch harmonics, pitch-shifted 'space' leads, sweep arpeggios and synth/orchestral pads that evoke the void, layered over downtuned 7/8-string breakdowns, gravity blasts and crushing slams. Tempos veer from blistering tremolo runs to subsonic, atmosphere-heavy half-time sections. Vocals run the deathcore gamut — bowel-deep gutturals, shrieks and pig-squeals — while the overall production is glossy, cinematic and dripping with reverb to sell the alien atmosphere.
History
Aliencore grew out of technical deathcore in the early-to-mid 2010s, defined by Australia's Aversions Crown, whose entire catalog — 'Servitude' (2011), 'Tyrant' (2014), 'Xenocide' (2017) and 'Hell Will Come for Us All' (2020) — narrates alien invasion and human extinction, earning the 'alien deathcore' tag. California's Rings of Saturn popularized the warbling whammy-pedal 'space shred' that became the style's sonic signature, while Brand of Sacrifice's symphonic, whammy-drenched leads spread it further. The scene coalesced as a fan-driven micro-genre (its own Last.fm tag and social pages championing alien-themed deathcore), drawing in atmosphere-minded acts and sci-fi concept records rather than forming around a single city or label. It remains a thematic and sonic offshoot rather than a mass movement, kept alive by Aversions Crown's continued activity and a steady trickle of space-concept releases.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Hollow Planet(2014) — Aversions CrownSpotifyYouTube
- Earth Steriliser(2014) — Aversions CrownSpotifyYouTube
- The Soulless Acolyte(2017) — Aversions CrownSpotifyYouTube
- Erebus(2017) — Aversions CrownSpotifyYouTube
- Lalassu Xul(2014) — Rings of SaturnSpotifyYouTube
- Senseless Massacre(2014) — Rings of SaturnSpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Last.fm — 'aliencore' tag and Aversions Crown 'alien deathcore' descriptor
- Wikipedia — Aversions Crown
- Rings of Saturn
- Brand of Sacrifice
- Rate Your Music / Album of the Year — Aversions Crown discography (album years)
- Theprp.com — Brand of Sacrifice 'Demon King' / 'Lifeblood' coverage