Melodic hardcore

Melodic hardcore (also known as melocore) is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. It is defined by the fast drum patterns with chiming melodic riffs. Many of the pioneering melodic hardcore bands, such as Bad Religion, Descendents, and Lifetime, have proved influential to bands across the spectrum of punk, and rock music more generally.

History

The earliest melodic hardcore emerged from the Californian hardcore scene, with bands such as the Descendents, who were formed in 1978. Their earliest work was simple, poppy punk; later they'd mix this more melodic approach with hardcore, inspiring both melodic hardcore and pop-punk groups.Bad Religion, who formed in the San Fernando Valley in 1979, played in a somewhat similar vein, but were more angry and political than the Descendents. They recorded their debut album, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, in 1981.

The Faith 1983 EP Subject to Change is thought of as one of the first melodic hardcore records, as significant as the music of Bad Religion or the Descendents. On the release, the band added another guitarist (Eddie Janney, later of Rites of Spring) and moved away from the more straightforward hardcore punk of their earlier work towards a more complex, textured, and, of course, melodic sound, accompanied by introspective lyrics. The release is also notable for its influence on post-hardcore.