US Hardcore
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US Hardcore is the fast, blunt American acceleration of punk: short songs, clipped riffs, screamed or barked vocals, breakneck drums and lyrics about boredom, police, alienation, politics and scene life. Its production is usually dry and direct, making the music feel like a flyer, basement show or 7-inch single more than a studio statement. The sound varies by city, but the core is speed plus DIY urgency.
History
Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Boston, New York, San Francisco and the Midwest all developed distinct hardcore scenes in the early 1980s. Black Flag and SST built the touring model; Dischord documented D.C.; Dead Kennedys connected hardcore to satire and politics; Bad Brains brought impossible speed and reggae-informed musicianship; Minor Threat made straight edge central; Circle Jerks and Adolescents defined Southern California brevity. US hardcore's infrastructure became the underground operating system for punk, indie and alternative rock.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- American Hardcore book and documentary
- Dischord Records catalog
- SST Records histories
- AllMusic US hardcore biographies