Defended by purists, maligned by elitists and misunderstood by many others, metalcore remains one of heavy music's most hotly debated subgenres, almost three decades after it first reared its head. The merging of scything, metallic riffs with brutal hardcore breakdowns seemed like a match made in heaven as it began to infiltrate the 90s punk scene. Then, as the New Millennium dawned, metalcore seemed to split in two, heading down two clear but entirely separate paths: one taking on a more streamlined and polished template as the masses began to take note, the other stretching the formula into ever more complex and aggressive realms.
In 2023, metalcore is arguably bigger than ever, its 21st century graduates headlining arenas and festivals around the world, and its 90s OGs being recognised for the true innovators they were. With all that in mind, here are the five metalcore albums that you should wrap your ears around if you're looking to better understand the journey this particular style of music has undertaken.
