
Hardcore punk is a stone euphony subgenre that traces its origins to California, United States. The euphony is characterised by a louder, rougher, faster, and much aggravated sound. Over the years, galore Hardcore bands have travel up and revolutionised the genre. These groups includes Black Flag, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, and Minor Threat.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Hardcore euphony started successful the late 1970s and early 1980s, mostly successful the United States.
- Hardcore euphony was a culture.
- Hardcore is much than large music—it voices younker struggles, tackling injustice, identity, and feeling lost.
- The hardcore bands that person defined punk euphony and civilization include Black Flag, Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Agnostic Front.
15 must-know hardcore bands
The criteria for compiling this database of must-know hardcore bands see popularity, instrumentality base, and interaction connected the genre. Note that the statement of bands connected the database is unordered and whitethorn beryllium subjective. Their popularity whitethorn alteration based connected antithetic factors, and it includes existent and past bands.
Name | Year of formation |
Black Flag | 1976 |
Minor Threat | 1980 |
Madball | 1988 |
Bad Brains | 1976 |
Dead Kennedys | 1978 |
Disembodied | 1995 |
Cosmic Joke | 2021 |
Agnostic Front | 1980 |
Destiny Bond | 2021 |
Bad Religion | 1979 |
Misfits | 1977 |
Hüsker Dü | 1979 |
Discharge | 1977 |
Sick of It All | 1986 |
Youth of Today | 1985 |
1. Black Flag

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- Year of formation: 1976
- Place of origin: Hermosa Beach, California, United States
- Members: Greg Ginn, Max Zanelly, David Rodriguez, Bryce Weston
- Notable works: Nervous Breakdown, Damaged, My War
Black Flag is an American punk stone set formed successful 1976 successful Hermosa Beach, California, USA. Initially called Panic, the set was established by singers and songwriters Greg Ginn and Keith Morris.
Although galore singers joined and near the band, Greg was a changeless member. Other set members of the set see Henry Rollins, Mike Vallely, Tyler Smith, Isaias Gil, and Brandon Pertzborn. Black Flag music kept connected changing and immoderate of their notable hits see Damaged, Rise Above and Nervous Breakdown.
2. Minor Threat

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- Year of formation: 1980
- Place of origin: Washington, D.C, United States
- Members: Ian MacKaye, Jeff Nelson, Brian Baker, Lyle Preslar, Steve Hansgen
- Notable works: Straight Edge, Minor Threat, Salad Day
Minor Threat was 1 of the astir iconic hardcore bands successful America. They started successful Washington, D.C. successful 1980 with vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson arsenic the main members.
Minor Threat's euphony was accelerated and powerful. Their lyrics often talked astir things similar cause usage successful society. Minor Threat broke up successful 1983, but they inactive had a large power connected punk euphony and culture.
3. Madball
- Year of formation: 1988
- Place of origin: New York, New York, United States
- Members: Freddy Cricien, Mike Justian, Mike Gurnari, Brendan Porray
- Notable works: Set It Off, Demonstrating My Style, Hold It Down
Madball came from different New York hardcore set called Agnostic Front. The set is known for playing nonstop and modern hardcore music.
The set released euphony done large labels specified arsenic Good Fight, Ferret, Wreck-Age, and Roadrunner. They released 9 workplace albums and 4 EPs. Some of their deed songs see Set It Off, Look My Way, Hold It Down, Legacy, and Empire.
4. Bad Brains

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- Year of formation: 1976
- Place of origin: Washington, D.C., United States
- Members: Dr. Know, Darryl Jenifer, H.R., Earl Hudson
- Notable works: I Against I, Sacred Love, Quickness
Bad Brains is simply a hardcore punk set known for mixing punk with reggae. Many see them among the pioneers of the hardcore punk genre. The band's concerts were accelerated and energetic.
Bad Brains has released 9 workplace albums, respective EPs and unrecorded amusement recordings. Some of their notable songs see Attitude, I Luv I Jah, Don't Need It, and Banned successful D.C.
5. Dead Kennedys

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- Year of formation: 1978
- Place of origin: San Francisco, California, United States
- Members: East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, Ron Greer, Steve Wilson
- Notable works: In God We Trust Inc., Plastic Surgery Disasters, Bedtime for Democracy
The Dead Kennedys were a punk stone set formed successful San Francisco, California, successful 1978. They rapidly became 1 of the champion hardcore punk bands of that time. Fans identified with their politically charged songs that often satirised the American government.
The Dead Kennedys released songs similar Holiday successful Cambodia, California Uber Alles, Viva Las Vegas, and Chemical Warfare. The set leader, Jello Biafra, has a unsocial dependable and is absorbing to ticker connected stage.
6. Disembodied
- Year of formation: 1995
- Place of origin: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Members: Aaron Weseman, Tara Johnson, Joel Andrew Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Mike Paradise
- Notable works: The Confession, If God Only Knew the Rest Were Dead, Transfiguration
If you are a instrumentality of modern hardcore bands similar Code Orange oregon Knocked Loose, you volition apt bask Disembodied. The set importantly influenced the heavy, clashing elements communal successful modern hardcore.
Disembodied was formed successful 1995 successful Minneapolis, Minnesota. The archetypal members were Aaron Weseman, Tara Johnson, Justin James Kane, Joel Andrew Johnson, and Mario Diaz. The set divided successful 1999 and reunited successful 2008. They broke up again and reunited successful 2018.
7. Cosmic Joke

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- Year of formation: 2021
- Place of origin: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Members: Mac Miller, Morgan Miller, Niki Vahle, Vincent Amador
- Notable works: The Cosmic Joke, Cosmic Joke, Welcome to L.A.
Cosmic Joke is 1 of the modern hardcore bands from Los Angeles, California. Their euphony evokes the dependable of older punk stone from the 1980s. The set has released songs featuring catchy, tuneful elements blended with hardcore's accelerated energy. Cosmic Joke members see Mac Miller, Morgan Miller, Niki Vahle, and Vincent Amador.
8. Agnostic Front

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- Year of formation: 1980
- Place of origin: New York, New York, United States
- Members: Vinnie Stigma, Roger Miret, Mike Gallo, Craig Silverman, Danny Lamagna
- Notable works: Victim successful Pain, Cause for Alarm, One Voice
Agnostic Front is 1 of the champion hardcore punk bands from New York. Formed successful 1980, it importantly impacted the city's hardcore euphony scene. They released 19 albums, including hits similar Growing Concern, Gotta Go, So Pure to Me, and All Is Not Forgotten.
Agnostic Front members see vocalist Roger Miret and guitar player Vinnie Stigma. Their euphony has fast, dense guitar parts, and the lyrics often speech astir societal and governmental issues. Although the set broke up successful the 1990s, they reunited and maintained their hardcore punk energy.
9. Destiny Bond
- Year of formation: 2021
- Place of origin: Denver, Colorado, United States
- Members: Adam Croft, Amos Helvey, Cloe Madonna, Emily Armitage, Rio Juniper Wolf
- Notable works: Chew, Worlds Unseen, Mosaic
Destiny Bond is 1 of the modern hardcore bands. It was formed successful 2021 successful Denver, Colorado. Members of the radical see vocalist Emily Armitage, guitarist Amos Helvey, bassist Rio Wolf, and American drummer Adam Croft.
Although Destiny Bond is simply a caller hardcore band, they person won galore awards for their aggravated and chaotic music. helium band's 2023 debut medium was titled Be My Vengeance. It has songs similar Blood Chokes, Headspin, Harmony, Chew, and The Glow. Despite Destiny Bond's large and assertive sound, their songs research themes of symptom and introspection.
10. Bad Religion

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- Year of formation: 1979
- Place of origin: San Fernando Valley, California, United States
- Members: Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley, Brian Baker, Mike Dimkich, Jamie Miller
- Notable works: New Maps of Hell, What Are We Standing For, Lose Your Head
Bad Religion, formed successful 1980 successful the San Fernando Valley, California, was influential successful shaping hardcore punk stone successful California. The band's euphony blends punk's accelerated vigor with catchy melodies and thoughtful lyrics. Their lyrics code themes of society, politics, and religion.
Albums similar Suffer and No Control helped Bad Religion revive hardcore punk successful the precocious 1980s. The set is led by the vocalist Greg Graffin and American songwriter Brett Gurewitz. They person importantly influenced galore punk bands and cultivated a ample instrumentality basal implicit 4 decades.
11. Misfits

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- Year of formation: 1977
- Place of origin: Lodi, New Jersey, United States
- Members: Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, Dave Lombardo, Acey Slade
- Notable works: American Psycho, Famous Monsters, Walk Among Us
Formed successful New Jersey successful 1977, The Misfits were pioneers of fearfulness punk. They play a large blend of punk rock, dense metal, and 1950s stone and roll. Their songs often gully inspiration from fearfulness and classical science fabrication films. Their celebrated skull logo is simply a defining diagnostic of The Misfits.
The Misfits person importantly influenced some punk and metallic music. They person had antithetic members, with the American singer Glenn Danzig being the astir popular. Some of the band's albums, see Walk Among Us and Earth A.D., are considered punk classics.
12. Husker Dü

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- Year of formation: 1979
- Place of origin: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Members: Grant Hart, Bob Mould, Greg Norton
- Notable works: Pink Turns to Blue, Girl Who Lives connected Heaven Hill, Never Talking to You Again
Husker Dü was formed successful 1979 successful Saint Paul, Minnesota. The members were Bob Mould, Grant Hart, and Greg Norton.
Husker Dü's archetypal euphony was characterised by a accelerated and large hardcore sound. The set released songs similar Statues and Real World. Husker Dü aboriginal transitioned into a stone set which was fashionable successful the 1980s and aboriginal 1990s.
13. Discharge
- Year of formation: 1977
- Place of origin: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
- Members: Terence Roberts, Royston Wainwright, Anthony Roberts, David Caution, Jeff Janiak
- Notable works: Massacre Divine, Shootin' Up the World, Discharge
The English set formed successful Staffordshire successful 1977. They pioneered a hardcore subgenre called D-beat, characterised by a heavy, noisy guitar sound. Discharge has inspired galore bands, and their lyrics often transportation an anti-war message.
Despite galore lineup changes, Discharge's unsocial dependable has remained consistent. Their debut album, Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, released successful 1982, is seen arsenic an important punk record. It paved the mode for different kinds of euphony similar thrash metallic and crust punk.
14. Sick of It All

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- Year of formation: 1986
- Place of origin: Queens, New York, United States
- Members: Lou Koller, Pete Koller, Armand Majidi, Craig Setari
- Notable works: Blood, Sweat and No Tears, Scratch the Surface, Built to Last
Formed successful Queens, New York City, successful 1986, this set importantly impacted the section hardcore scene. The set consists of 2 brothers, Lou and Pete Koller, connected vocals and guitar. Joining them are Armand Majidi connected drums and Craig Setari connected bass.
Sick of It All became a cardinal fig successful the New York hardcore country done their energetic dependable and extended touring. The set addressed themes of unity and resilience successful their songs. Their album Blood, Sweat and No Tears gained planetary designation and a planetary instrumentality base. Sick of It All are seen arsenic legends successful punk and rock songs who person influenced galore newer hardcore bands.
15. Youth of Today
- Year of formation: 1985
- Place of origin: Danbury, Connecticut, United States
- Members: Ray Cappo, John Porcelly, Walter Schreifels, Sammy Siegler
- Notable works: Pass the Dutchie, Youth of Today, Never Gonna Give You Up, Heartbreaker
Youth of Today is simply a hardcore punk set that was formed successful 1985 successful Danbury, Connecticut. It was formed by Ray Cappo and John Porcelly aft they ended their aged band, Violent Children. The duo wanted to present caller vigor to the hardcore movement, which was fading astatine the time.
The set rapidly became a immense portion of the “Youth Crew” scene, which was promoting cleanable surviving and vegetarianism. It released an EP titled Can't Close My Eyes and an medium titled Break Down the Walls, some of which were fashionable successful the hardcore community. Although they disbanded successful 1990, their bequest continued, and they person reunited respective times since then.
What bands did Bad Brains influence?
Bad Brains mixed hardcore punk with reggae and aboriginal funk and metal, which made them a precise influential set for galore kinds of music. Some bands and musicians they influenced see Minor Threat, Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, and Sick of It All.
Hardcore bands person importantly elevated not conscionable punk but besides alternate stone and metallic sounds. From pioneering bands to modern groups, hardcore bands person consistently pushed boundaries, leaving a bequest of aggravated vigor and unfiltered expression.
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Contemporary state bands proceed to revolutionise state euphony with genre influencing generations. Their euphony is heartfelt and is keen connected telling stories. Find retired much astir the oldest state euphony bands.
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