METALCORE THEN VS. NOW - Riffs From The 2000s vs. Today (2021) Riff Battle

Here it is - the THEN VS. NOW to end all THEN VS. NOWs! The 2000s were marked by melodic riffing, drop C, open chug breakdowns, and did I mention drop C? Modern trends emphasize intricate rhythms and LOW tunings. Here are some of the most iconic riffs from the 2000s stacked up against the new guard's best and brightest. Have the riffs in metalcore gotten better or worse? You be the judge!
Mixed by Richard Perdomo
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#Metalcore #Guitar #Riffs

[@ThomasHogue]

Did I miss some? Give me your ideas for round 2!

[@teenagerattack1]

Can i request a day to remember

[@Titonator1991]

Old i killed the prom queen and Caliban 👌🏻

[@cardinalcopia2762]

Old: A day to remember, bmth, Stick to your guns, Hatebreed New: Beartooth, I Prevail, Bad Omens, In hearts wake

[@KhaosKontroller]

Old: August Burns Red, Shadows Fall, Phinehas, Unearth, Breakdown of Sanity New: While She Sleeps, Crystal Lake, Silent Planet, Memphis May Fire, Another Now

[@carlosalfonsotorresbastida4633]

Motionlesss in white, Please!!

[@fpsLyle]

new age metalcore sounds "heavier" and more rhythmically complex, but there's something extra flashy about the older melodic style and it's SO much fun to play. I see a lot of these comparison videos (drop C vs B/A for example) and I still think the old school Drop C style is the way to go for mastering technique and flexing on people who don't play or listen to much guitar lol, you can play some pretty simple riffs and blow peoples mind.

[@iqmalhakimi3266]

true. It's not easy to differentiate the note in Drop F, Drop Double C, etc for average listener even if it's super great riff sometimes.

[@daidiary4748]

Play This War is Ours by ETF

[@ThomasHogue]

You’re giving away the secrets 😉

[@willygonzales1034]

The moment you listen to Monument's riffs is the moment you realize the badass riffs you played back in your teen days weren't hard at all.

[@fpsLyle]

@@ThomasHogue I feel honored that you think I'm good / knowledgeable enough to have secrets to give :P

[@bran8961]

Killswitch Engage's My Curse was ahead of its time, one of the most sophisticated riffs ever.

[@ajfite1277]

Marianas trench from ABR would like a word if that’s the case

[@gilbert4394]

@@ajfite1277 I’m a huge ABR fan, but, in my mind there’s no way jb wasn’t inspired by my curse when writing Mariana’s trench lol

[@bigpenisparker9930]

It’s the most perfect metalcore song ever it has the quiet parts it has the screams it has the heavy parts it has the light parts and it all just flows perfectly together we’ll never forget the masterpiece that is my curse

[@GuiltyNoticer]

Six is much better

[@OCEANO6400]

@@gilbert4394 perhaps inspired but yeah KSE did it first 👍

[@CiviTac]

2000s metalcore is peak. Some of the greatest riffs ever came out of that decade

[@MatinJohann]

True it ended at 2012 sad things

[@youjohn__]

Sry but I can't relate lol

[@CiviTac]

@III nah, 2000s metalcore is far less random than metal that came afterward in the 2010. It was known for harder riffing and more “hooky” type writing which it’s criticized for

[@CiviTac]

@III ok dude. I don’t really care if you like it or not lol

[@CiviTac]

@III my point is that music is very subjective. To cut it down with blanketed statements doesn’t necessarily merit a debate. That’s why I said I don’t care if you like it or not. I was not intending to insult you. I’m not offended if you don’t like it, I’m just saying you’re welcome to dislike it all you want lol

[@AuraPotato]

I remember driving with the windows down obnoxiously blasting As I Lay Dying in my 1998 Cavalier 😂 Nothing will ever replace 2000's metalcore ❤️

[@elmi_core9156]

Dude hold my hand For The Fallen Dreams/As blood Runs Black misery signals milked controller/Changes

[@joelengland8429]

Seriously I had a 98 cavalier, it was purple. Loved that car loved the 2000s metal

[@theRevVA32]

For me it was a 94 Honda Accord with 2 10" subs, a lot of A7X, Atreyu, BFMV, As I lay dying, Killswitch. Knew every song on the "Then" and not 1 of the "Now" lol. Im 31yrs old and thinkin i should check out more new metal before i become antiquated.

[@thebhawks39]

Fuck yeah

[@michaelkirkland8649]

1988 Mercury Cougar for me.

[@KhaosKontroller]

Then: melodeath inspired Now: djent inspired And they're both great. 2000s metalcore was my childhood and I still jam that stuff, though newer stuff is definitely more up my alley these days with djent being my favourite genre and all. Wouldn't have Monuments and Spiritbox in this though.

[@darrenhill3514]

You put it perfectly. I like djent but I want my metalcore more like riffs As I Lay Dying or August Burns Red comes up with rather than constant precision 0's lol

[@MrDjentlegiant]

I never understood the difference between melo death and metalcore, sounds so similar to me. Differences seem arbitrary

[@hectorvegasduque2234]

With all due respect how can someone's favorite genre be djent, it's basicly the same meshuggah copy cat band with different names ( of course there are exceptions, but the genre as a whole couldn't be more boring )

[@TheJordan75]

@@MrDjentlegiant the difference is mostly on the vocals an the fact that melodeath lacks breakdowns and other hardcore/metalcore elements, like gang shouts, but in terms of guitar riffs they used to be very similar

[@iqmalhakimi3266]

Earlier Spiritbox has great riffage, but yeah Holy Roller isn't the song to put in this

[@karamelizesogan]

I looked for that guy but he wasn't here so I decided to become him. Here goes: 0:10 -- Avenged Sevenfold - Waking the Fallen (2003) "UNHOLY CONFESSIONS" 0:30 -- ERRA - ERRA (2021) "GUNGRAVE" 0:45 -- As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us (2007) "NOTHING LEFT" 1:06 -- Architects - Holy Hell (2018) "HEREAFTER" 1:22 -- Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire (2008) "SCREAM AIM FIRE" 1:46 -- The Amity Affliction - Everyone Loves You... (2020) "BORN TO LOSE" 2:05 -- Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (2006) "MY CURSE" 2:21 -- Polaris - The Death of Me (2020) "PRAY FOR RAIN" 2:46 -- Atreyu - The Curse (2004) "BLEEDING MASCARA" 3:07 -- Monuments - Deadnest (2021) "DEADNEST" 3:23 -- All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals (2006) "SIX" 3:52 -- Spiritbox - Holy Roller (2020) "HOLY ROLLER" 4:17 -- Parkway Drive - Killing With A Smile (2006) "ROMANCE IS DEAD" 4:43 -- Wage War - Deadweight (2017) "STITCH"

[@markeugene1293]

Bless

[@LITRLG0D]

Way to step up my guy.

[@mellurry]

Спасибо!

[@carboncringe9558]

But it says it on the screen.

[@Murf_Workshop]

The hero we needed, but not the one we deserved.

[@leannek8391]

And My Curse still stands out to me to this day as one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard 🥰

[@norbertplaysguitar7244]

Had an instant smile!

[@jose5793]

Big facts

[@lewish3654]

Rose of Sharyn is still my favorite KSE song.

[@joeschultz2926]

Truth!

[@UnitBeerMonsta]

Was awesome.live !!!

[@tbow2912]

Erra’s self titled album is literally insane… such a work of art

[@RubberToess]

I feel like their self titled album lacks structure. There isn’t enough soul and strength in songs in the self titled compared to their previous work. Just lots of riffs breakdowns and shreds, not enough strong melodies that get you hooked to a song. Best songs on the album are Scorpion Hymn Eidolon and Remnant. Sol Absentia from their deluxe too. Easy to follow, heavy, soulful and beautiful. Not as technical as the rest of the album yet still delivering a both new and familiar sound.

[@RubberToess]

Many say vanish canvas is the best song on the album but I think the progression of the first part of the chorus are sung in such an unattractive way. So much so that it ruins the song imo. I don’t hate it but because of that reason I lump it in the songs other than the “best songs off the album”. Vanish canvas in my eyes could’ve been one the best on the album if that vocal chorus progression made more sense to me

[@benzion7640]

Augment is my favorite album by a narrow margin, cuz honestly Erras weakest stuff still blows me away

[@prestopoo]

Love there self titled!

[@jefferyneill]

I used to work with Jesse in Birmingham Al he was always a douche because of his band.

[@VeritabIlIti]

I think an interesting compare/contrast might be showing the newer As I Lay Dying, Killswitch and Bullet riffs next to the old ones. See how each group has changed in 20 years

[@the_BattleGoose]

20 years ago... Fuck me man....

[@luigicappetta348]

That's an awesome idea.

[@Lattrodon]

As I Lay Dying has become utter fucking shit on the last album. I still listen to Frail Words Collapse all the time, that album is fucking legendary.

[@MrSuperEgg]

This, but would throw an extra few bands in too - August Burns Red, Devil Wears Prada and Architects to name a few could also be interesting comparisons

[@mrs.vasquezz]

@@MrSuperEgg hell yes

[@momentbracholcaczas3561]

What i love about this video is you actually picked REAL modern metalcore riffs to play and compare with old school

[@Stubz1989]

I cant help but to smile everytime the classic Metalcore riffs hit becasue they symbolize something we all grew up with to reach where we are today in regards to the genre.

[@nishanth6403]

They are legendary

[@heisenbeimer0478]

Bruh I just started listening to metal back in late 2022 and to me it's as clear as day the older stuff are much better

[@Stubz1989]

@@heisenbeimer0478right?! It was so good

[@joanroman1522]

Complexity doesn' mean better. It is about making great and memorable melodic melodies.

[@youjohn__]

Then why listen to metal at all??? If melody is all you are after why not just listen to every day popular music with super catchy melodies and hooks. Music is not all about melody, in my opinion.

[@ChopiStunner]

@@youjohn__ Even death metal bands have their own melodies.. Dont miss understand the context.. New metalcore is great, but is just too much technical is like inhuman. Back in the old era I use to hear the albums over and over. Right now is like.. oh amanzing stuff, but not the motivation to hear it again. Despite their some bands out there that have an exception.

[@nishanth6403]

@@youjohn__ Except the "everyday popular music" is not in any way catchy or memorable lmao, maybe Shape of you or some rare pop songs are memorable but thats only a few out of 10000s . Oh and good music has a lot to do with melody just as much it has to do with rhythm and imo not a single modern metalcore song can match songs from Horizons (parkway drive) or The fall of Ideals (ATR) , As Daylight dies (KSE) etc in these regard. I don't blame the bands though, it is natural that as time progresses, the space for creative experimentation dwindles and guitarists are forced to expand to complex riffs that stop sounding like music at a point. For reference recent Polyphia songs are straight up elevator music.

[@sw3421]

@@youjohn__2000s metal was just 1000% more original imo.

[@nachoo223]

I feel like older metalcore was a group of teens with great ideas and rhithm in them. Now, those teens have become older and everything is trending towards more "technical" music with more time signature changes. I love the melodical feel of the 2000's and also the more methodical and almost violent impact of the newer trends. As everything, i'm just looking at the trends cause there's variety if you look for it. There were great and fun songs back then and now as well. Loved the video btw, amazing quality as usual!

[@johnathanwilson1363]

there were no time signature changes in this

[@craignp007]

Leaning towards more technical now? idk, mathcore and genres like that were alot bigger back then and had tons of time signatures within one song The human abstract, Dillinger escape plan, between the buried and me, Protest the hero and many more. There are some great riffs/songs today but i feel alot of the newer stuff loses something in the overproduction trying to create big epic sounds that just end up muddying up alot of todays metal.

[@georgeantonioandrei8570]

Yeah, newer stuff couldn't be possible without oldschool stuff.

[@lazarushatchette3978]

Ehhhh, there was plenty of music in the 2000s that had some crazy time signature changes as a metalcore band. Ex: Misery Signals

[@theflipper404]

@@lazarushatchette3978 There were so many mathcore and math rock bands that were famous in the 2000's that are considered legendary now. The Dillenger Escape Plan, Protest The Hero, Toe, The Fall of Troy, The Tony Danza Tap-dance Extravaganza, Norma Jean, Architects, Iwrestledabearonce, Between the Buried and Me just to name a few, i could keep going lol. Even bigger bands like Dance Gavin Dance had quite a bit of math rock/math core elements lol. Hell even Chon's first EP came out in 2008. You can tell cause Chon is a product of that time. All those 2000's math-rock and math-core bands had just absolutely insane, melodic, chaotic, over the top riffs/solos and pulled off crazy time signatures in their music. Now a days "technical" music is just djent chugging except for say cats like Periphery and Polyphia and of course Chon, who even some of those guys fell victim to that Djent style. I'd define the 2000's era of technical music as Fall of Troy worship. I'd define 2010's technical music as Meshuggah worship lol. The real sweet spot to me was like 2008-2013. When bands like Born of Osiris, Periphery, Veil of Maya, After the Burial, Structures, Northlane, Haunted Shores, Chon, Volumes and Aninamls as Leaders were all thriving or barely getting popular. They had a good mix between the old riffage shredding style of 2000's techinical music, but with that added groove/edge of the later djent messugah inspired stuff. After that, say 2015-present, bands just really started to focus on the djent groove aspects, rather then riffage, and it just got boring to me.

[@mikemattingly5825]

I feel like older stuff has more character and soul overall, and newer stuff is much more technical and pushing the boundaries of what metalcore can do.

[@djandrewification]

@@sarcasm4371 talm bout those creamy solos/leads with that heavy fast aggressive riffing. They do it right

[@StreetForged]

@@sarcasm4371 Erra kind of sunk me into this genre because Impulse was such a masterpiece. First band I ever got merch from. Was sad when they softened their sound after garrison left but they still managed to keep a great sound. Very cool watching them grow from those early Andromeda/impulse days

[@StreetForged]

@@sarcasm4371 I just listened to Alan's band with the Garrison feature and it is wild how many of the dynamics are there from early Erra. You can really see how much influence Alan had on the guitar with that spacey soundscape that tied everything together for them in the early albums

[@florisbackx1744]

Not to mention, just the simple fact that the older riffs actually have melodic content. 90% of the modern riffs lean on open low string so much. Once in a while it has it's charms but man, it just all sounds like 'buuuuurrrrr' squeeky notes "buuurrrr" if you catch my drift : )

[@killthekaiju9219]

More technical? Nah.. too much open-hammer-on stuff. Too simple. The technicality is what I miss about older metalcore. Back then it was about pushing the limits on a musicians instrumental ability. Now it’s more “make it sound REAL LOW with cool cool zippy sounds in between.

[@brandontadday6288]

The melodic metalcore of the 2000s just has riffs and melodies that are a billion times more memorable and timeless than the vast majority of modern metalcore riffs.

[@fast_mattw8059]

Bingo

[@GustavoHernandez-mg4om]

yessss

[@mupicap7927]

yeahh.

[@SwornSon]

Memorable is the word

[@football42241]

Yup. Modern stuff may be more technical or interesting, but the old stuff actually sounds better.

[@robbell3217]

The modern stuff is really cool, but I'll always have a special place in my heart for At The Gates-core. Some of my favourite stuff to play, and I really love the up-tempo feel of it.

[@ThomasHogue]

Same, I'm a sucker for a good harmonized riff even if it's not the most original thing ha

[@Mavvyd96]

God, I just love old school core. That shit was arguably the best era of metal music for me. 2000s metalcore and just the whole New Wave of American Heavy Metal timeline was insane.

[@Danielfucks69]

Even the screamo/post hardcore shit was better then

[@CiviTac]

2000s might be the greatest metal decade ever. So much good shit across all genres

[@XabiBello]

Funny: I was in my 20's in the 2000's, and people said exacly what you are saying now. That golden years were the 80's, and current bands suck. The morale is to enjoy past and present. There are great bands now that will be revered in 20 years. Found them!

[@CiviTac]

@@XabiBello I loved the 80s and 90s stuff in the 2000s as well. Played in a band back then and we loved both contemporary and old music. Hell, the concept of a band is just about dead now. At first I thought I was just a victim of nostalgia but I think this might be different

[@justinharshbarger4761]

I still prefer the old punchy melody over the modern let's see just how heavy and dissonant I can make this riff but both are awesome on their own

[@MrDragonkarp]

Once you go past drop C the riffs lose that punch in the face metal needs I feel.

[@Sicktoid]

Cool video and great playing. The problem with modern metalcore for me is that the bands seem to be so damn afraid of sounding "simplistic" that the riffs have become very non-melodic as a side effect. It feels like a riff falling into a regular minor scale has become the gravest of sins for these artists and they are trying to avoid it at all costs. I think the riffs you picked showcase this shift in mentality pretty well.

[@JamesPhillipsOfficial]

I personally LOVE old-metalcore, it's just way more iconic

[@Eufrat93]

Come on bro nostalgia will kill you, today metal core is more brutal and heavier without emo influence and broken hearth boys

[@Zafire94]

@@Eufrat93 playing heavy for just the sake of being doesn't make it good bro, melody in music is what gives it character and personality. New bands drop the tuning so much that you can't tell or really hear anything in it anymore apart from droning groany noises. No disrespect to modern metal bands, it's just what it sounds like to me

[@ivanmerkushev704]

@@Eufrat93 2000's metalcore is more pure and iconic, all bands mentioned there are legends, I don't think much people will remember Monuments/Erra.

[@Eufrat93]

@@ivanmerkushev704 where are u from buddy??

[@nishanth6403]

@@Eufrat93 Its not nostalgia, I got into metalcore via newer (but softer) core bands but now I cannot listen to anything but 2000s metalcore. Stuff like Horizons and The fall of Ideals are just irreplaceable masterpieces.

[@letossia9156]

You have just remember why I live for Metalcore songs. This is divine I should check on Polaris right now

[@ThomasHogue]

Great to hear! Yes Polaris is one of my favorite newer bands

[@oluenjuoja2281]

Polaris riffs are huuuge! My favourites are The Descent, Lucid, Creatures of Habits, Landmine and Consume check em out

[@daidiary4748]

@@oluenjuoja2281 So true, their riffs are freaking sick and awesome, not just a bunch of 0s

[@oluenjuoja2281]

@@daidiary4748 Yes, this!

[@Therealbackslabbath]

As much as I love modern bands like Architects and Spiritbox there’s just something about those early to mid 2000s “Atthegates” core riffs that I keep coming back to.

[@ttsfa1]

Architects was around then too man, they've been around since 2004.

[@Mariajosea27]

Same, architects are old but even though there are new banda doing great stuff I will always come back to this, no matter what

[@anthonymonterosso7472]

Architects have made their impact in metalcore, and you can tell by how many bands try to basically imitate their sound like vocal and guitar riff style. For example: Wage War - Low opening riff sounds very similar to Architects - A Match Made in Heaven

[@rickyjohnson6747]

@@anthonymonterosso7472 architects have cool breakdowns that’s about it

[@grunklestan7864]

Please make more. Every single 2000’s song touched me something special with nostalgia. Love this. 💗 💕 ❤️

[@leighbird8220]

This is such a great video. Very late 90’s to mid / late 2000’s was my era so nothing will ever compare to that for me, so many memories of growing up around that scene, some of the best times of my life that I doubt I’ll ever experience again. But from late 2000’s I did drift away from it and it’s only the last 12 - 18 months I’ve really got back into it and I have to say that what the newer bands offer is absolutely incredible and I feel like a teenager discovering it all again. Both deservedly have their place but old school is untouchable.

[@zannyreflections9651]

I love both 2000’s : * Has more thrash/melodeath type influence to some of the riffs * More emo lol * 6 string guitars * Usually in drop C or somewhere around that * Usually a rawer sound/studio mix * bands like to joke around like adding sound bites from movies, goofy song titles, and sometimes techno or dubstep added in ( Attack Attack, Asking Alexandria, The Devil Wears Prada) 2021 : * A lot of metalcore bands have moved towards the very clean studio mixing style that a lot of djent bands ( and other modern metal bands) like Periphery are known for * more djent and nu metal influences * 7 and even 8 string guitars * super brutal low tunings * usually very serious no time for jokes ( The Devil Wears Prada now lol)

[@Ryan-vs1yj]

If you’ve ever heard Eskimo Callboy, they are all about joking around lmao

[@zannyreflections9651]

@@Ryan-vs1yj oh yeah, muffin purper gurk or however it’s spelt 😂

[@cheesecakefriend28]

Or We butter the bread with butter.

[@zannyreflections9651]

@@cheesecakefriend28 them too, iwrestledabearonce, Dr. Acula, i set my friends on fire, attila 😂

[@theflipper404]

@@zannyreflections9651 Those bands you listed though are from the 2000's era though ! When scene stuff was still popular lol.

[@Just-Michael]

I find the metalcore from the late 2000s or early 2010s to be most enjoyable for me. Maybe it's because that's when I came into it, but compared to modern metalcore, it's much more satisfying to listen to. Better chord choice/ progressions, more interesting song structures, more passion, I suppose. Like The New Reign by Born Of Osiris is still incredible to this day, as is the older work of Veil of Maya, August Burns Red, Within The Ruins, etc. I wasn't really into the stuff that was shown in this video, but that late 2000s boom was great.

[@grizzlymanverneteil4443]

Everyone always skips the early 90's metalcore :(

[@Just-Michael]

@@grizzlymanverneteil4443 well, suggest a couple bands and I'll take a listen.

[@jessejameszao1]

I feel you I love metalcore from the late 90s very early 20s.. probably the newest band I like alot is Norma Jean or the devil wears Prada.

[@grizzlymanverneteil4443]

@@Just-Michael integrity, earth crisis, ealy vision of disorder. Hatebreed is from around that era. Merauder and Zao is probably my favorites from then.

[@Just-Michael]

@@grizzlymanverneteil4443 Well from what I'm hearing, it's not very interesting. I started playing in bands in early 2008 when I was 14, so the stuff that was around at that time was really fun and exciting. A lot of it didn't hold up and I've stopped listening to a lot of those bands, but the ones I mentioned above, I still really like. I like blast beats and breakdowns and cool riffs and stuff. The 90s stuff isn't quite there. Not a whole lot going on.

[@ForrestBillman]

the way you do these is incredible

[@bradpaakkonen9205]

I’m a 2000’s metalcore guy through and through. So I do have some bias, however I think the biggest difference from then to now is that metalcore now is a little bit more bouncy and the 2000’s was more based around the riff itself. That being said, some of the new metalcore thats coming out is giving me a lot of hope that these bands will continue to fly the banner high

[@bigblueblueshirts685]

I love what got me into metal music (early 2000’s) but new metal is just so much more groovy and heavy and that’s just what I love

[@BelowAverageBeing]

Same, I started out with the lighter stuff, now I mostly listen to heavier stuff now

[@loganrodgers6223]

Killed me that you didn't finish the Romance is Dead breakdown 🤣😂

[@sherman614]

Early to mid 2000s metal core definitely has a distinct sound to it, and I love that sound. It's one that brings back a LOT of memories for me, because I started getting into heavy music in my early teen years, around 2006. So bands that sound like Killswitch engage, Atreyu, All that remains, etc. They are so nostalgic to me. I can remember having these songs play on my Myspace playlist while talking to some friends on Yahoo IM. I can remember first learning to play guitar and trying to learn A7X and PWD songs. I'm 30 now and still love these older metal core songs, but, I also love lower metal core and newer heavy music as a whole like Knocked loose, Alpha wolf, Northlane, Spiritbox, etc. I'm making new memories listening go these bangers.

[@versacehippy131]

Man so many great songs you straight up brought me back to my middle school and early high school days with the nostalgia . Good stuff !!

[@GhostCodeRG]

I like both but the early 2000s hit different, the riffs are so in your face and the melodic nature, not to mention its waaaay easier to hear them, modern metalcore is a bit drowned out to me but its still awesome

[@VUJXNU]

Awesome pairing of Parkway Drive and Wage War, both are so good!

[@dylanbrown4039]

Love the song selections!

[@mattreynierberger7529]

Awesome video ! The old metlacore songs bring back so much memory and have such a distinct flavour to me. I can see me playing cod with friends on an old CRT screen listening to those songs haha. Great playing, edit and funny faces as always, thank you !

[@gafuraskarov2814]

Man, that’s such a well made video. The chosen riff aren’t the easiest ones, and you managed to make instrumentals for all of them. Great effort and work, very enjoyable to watch that. The low end is quite blobby, but that’s just a mild thing. That ESP is beautiful tho

[@jejehorizon2594]

Spiritbox Riffs are Insane!!!

[@giantcerealbowl2120]

Love them both. 2000s metalcore will always have a special place, iconic riffs and bands that stand the test of time. But the new stuff coming out now it so technical and heavy it cant be ignored. Great video, gained a new subscriber

[@drakenstar8178]

Great vid! I get in the mood for both at different times.

[@guysmith5948]

Absolutely amazing as always brother! While I love all waves of metalcore from begining to end, in my heart of hearts I gotta give it up to the early 2000's as the best period of metalcore!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks! Yeah it's hard to beat the classics

[@Johnkiernanmusic]

Loved this. Love both modern and traditional metalcore. Great job, dude!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks!

[@Jay_Da_Goat366]

Yo I subscribed for 2 reasons, your character reactions and the fact your music is a mix of underground and new stuff

[@flieingtbird]

This compilation makes me very very happy

[@akmetalhead95]

I love both! Some of the Metalcore bands of the early 2000's really helped open up an entire new world of music up to me (and inspired me to play guitar and sing) - so they hold a special place in my heart. I also love how the newer stuff is sometimes more technical and pulls from a wide array of influences. It's all great to me. 🤘

[@georgeantonioandrei8570]

Hey, can you please recommend some great early 200's metalcore bands with that thrashy riffage? Thanks bro!

[@felipeozalmeida]

@@georgeantonioandrei8570 I think As I Lay Dying's An Ocean Between Us and Parkway Drive's Horizons is a good start. I like thrash-inspired metalcore stuff too.

[@georgeantonioandrei8570]

@@felipeozalmeida Thanks! I'm already into metalcore, so I definitely know AILD and Parkway Drive, I was asking about more underground bands in that oldschool style.

[@felipeozalmeida]

@@georgeantonioandrei8570 oh sure, I mean, I think the most underground metalcore-ish band I know is Disarmonia Mundi. Some of their stuff gets repetitive a bit, but it’s good stuff. I particularly love their guitar tones in B Standard I think. And they even have/had 3 vocalists in a lot of songs which is interesting. See if it’s your cup of tea.

[@crowsxxxcrows]

@@georgeantonioandrei8570 Renounced, Wristmeetrazor, Boundaries (CT), Dying Wish. All modern bands with huge early 00' vibes. Give them a try and tell me what do you think man 😉.

[@takoshihitsamaru4675]

Nice. I think both are still great, but you can tell that Progressive styles and Djent had a massive boom after the 2000s. The most obvious thing is that guitarists are now more interested in techy, non-linear riffs, whereas back then they would play something really cool, but would keep it pretty capped in most cases.

[@ShreddyMacFunTits]

Well done sir. That is so much effort... You are loved and appreciated

[@ethanclark4297]

transitions are well done !

[@corbindallas18]

My favorite one yet! Nice!! I don't even care if your other mustached self was making fun of those. Was still jamming out to those old ones like they came out yesterday!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks! Yeah that definitely took a bit of method acting haha

[@transcendkira]

I've always felt that early metalcore was largely influenced by more melodic genres like Thrash, Groove, and Melo-death but as the genre evolved alongside the rest of the scene, influence instead came from more progressive and technical style sources, Djent, Maths Rock, and Tech Death for example. This video is a pretty good demonstration of that.

[@raymondsnow7745]

Metal core...according to the bands from Massachusetts was a bunch of hardcore punks that liked to play metal... Hence metalcore...

[@LILJROD90]

I fucking love that you started with one of the greatest metalcore riffs I’ve ever heard. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽💲💲💲💲

[@KodyMurray]

I love the song selections!

[@DC13c16]

I love metalcore in general but I got bored of the older style it’s mostly triplets. Polaris these days are my jam melodic combined with technical skill is the happy middle ground mixing in different genres for a unique sound is ultimately what makes a band stand out to me.

[@willowdoesmusic1484]

yessss polaris are the shit. i love how they have a smash everything verse followed by the most beautiful chorus you've ever heard. also i think they're song the descent is some of the best songwriting I've ever heard

[@NathanielBTM]

@@willowdoesmusic1484 polaris has pretty much been my top band since I discovered them in early 2016. used to always watch ryan's guitar videos way back and when revisiting his channel back then I saw he had a link to his new band, first thing I saw was the wherever I may walk music video. since then... their songs always hit the right spots, some I listen to a little less than others.... but there's not exactly a single song that I can say is bad... Crooked Path is probably one of my favourites, so goes for Unfamilliar...

[@xEclypse]

Man. I love Metalcore. Keep up the great work man! 🤘🏼

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks!

[@nydrewadventures1686]

Great video, I loved those OG parkway drive shows and as blood runs black, haven’t really had time to go into the newer metal. This was cool to watch

[@97McLuvin]

what a throwback to my childhood definitely subscribing :D

[@uncroppedsoop]

I'm biased ofc being fairly young, but I REALLY love how heavy and rhythmic more modern metalcore songs are. With that being said, I think the more 2000s style has its own place, imo a song that's all heavy all the way isn't as good as one that brings in melodic bits here and there but keeps the weight behind it

[@anthonywozniak7373]

the old metalcore gives me goosebumps. got me through alot in my teenage years

[@Starborn23]

This was like a DJ set of GOAT metalcore riffs holy fuck this was cool. Please do more. Subscribed

[@guyza123]

Good new introductions to riffs I've never heard before

[@BOtter-qt2vf]

Old school is so much more emotional 👍🏼 Love it

[@rivervaughanmusicstuff5771]

I enjoyed this a lot. Question is "Where is the combination of these styles?" I'd love to see 2000's and modern blended into one song.

[@patfix]

Loving the genre-discussions in the comments haha. Great job on the video man!

[@evanmcguire9043]

That was really cool. First video of yours I've seen, subscribed!!

[@stevenschultz714]

You can take me out of the 2000’s but that’s where my metalcore heart lies

[@mdishuge]

I absolutely LOVE the metalcore coming out these days. Just brutal and so syncopated. Brutal stuff. And I’m old enough to remember seeing bands like Korn live back in 1994-95.

[@M4RCi92]

Interestingly, the same syncopation kills it for me. I feel like whole songs become just a metronome training for good musicians, if that makes sense. All the instruments do the exact same thing and I don't end the song wanting to hear it once again to absorb more of it, because I already heard everything it has to offer. It's not like I'm not trying, I listen to at least like 5 new albums every week, and 1-2 of those is metalcore, but more often than not they just pass me by and I don't remember anything from them.

[@mdishuge]

@@M4RCi92 yeah I think it’s just a difference of opinion and why so many different types of music exist. For instance I never really paid attention to lyrics ever, even to this day. I play music myself and just always focused on rhythms probably why I became a drummer. I always loved rhythm guitar. I never really cared much for solos. So the stuff I was always drawn to was low end hitting syncopation. For whatever reason. And I feel like the stuff today is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. Weird to feel that at 40! Haha

[@M4RCi92]

@@mdishuge seems like djent was specifically made for you then mate, heheh. I do enjoy my fair share of heavy, syncopated stuff as well, I just need it to be a bit more creative. Ever heard of Darko US? If not, try Pretenders or Insects by them, I'm 100% sure you'll love it. The album was one of my favorites in 2021. Dynamic, massive-sounding, brutal, pissed off as fuck.

[@Dovakhin94]

Omg, All that remains Six was my entry into the metal world. So cool you picked that one. So much memories of good times back then.

[@chasestarnes1]

I loved all of it. Metal is amazing, it brings people together and turns random strangers into instant friends. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen someone wearing a Killswitch tee or even a Periphery tee and I have struck up convos with them and geeked out over certain songs together or found out we were bumping into each other at some random mosh we were both at years earlier.

[@giorgossynetos9723]

You should definitely consider having a patreon page with tabs and stems of your videos. Truly awesome!

[@ThomasHogue]

Some day I think!

[@keirosen]

I love the fills and syncopation with the newer metalcore tracks, but the riffs and atmosphere of the older metalcore tracks takes the cake for me. I miss when metalcore was theatrical rather than technical for sure.

[@ThomasHogue]

I feel that. I think Bleeding Mascara vs Deadnest is the perfect theatrical vs technical comparison lol

[@shanemackay493]

@@ThomasHogue I had forgotten about Bleeding Mascara until I saw this today. Definitely gonna be breaking out Drop C when I get home...

[@HardReset_YT]

I haven't heard Six since I was playing Guitar Hero in my friend's basement many moons ago. Cool vid my dude

[@christianmetal5150]

This is so sick! Grew up with the 2000’s metalcore but can get down with some of the newer stuff! Sure the newer stuff is more technical and rhythm-based but there is just something out the older riffs that are infectious and get stuck in your head!

[@loganrodgers6223]

Old school is way more enjoyable to listen to. It has more depth and feel. Just my opinion.

[@tomcallmusic4295]

I’d say it’s more melodically driven for sure.

[@MrGiuliom]

Tight and catchy AF

[@leo_metal7751]

Because Old school was based more on the Gotheborg Melodic Death.

[@tabormarshall7682]

Sounds more clean and steady pace while newer metal riffs seems like they just wanna be fast and more complex. Clean I mean as in you can hear the melody under the chugs

[@ElectroGypsy89]

This is really a comment you can post to any musical comparison and it would still be valid

[@nikolakrastev8880]

I love melodeath so the 2000s wins for sure.

[@korn12737]

This was so good; I didn't want it to end.

[@JonYadonJr]

BADASS video dude!!! That was so much fun to watch & listen to!

[@ThomasHogue]

Thanks man! That's what I like to hear

[@noises7029]

For me, the THEN was more dynamic and had more presence; obviously, partially based on it's tunings but I like the fretboard movement that's fluid vs jumping from a deep sound to a shrill one.

[@felipeozalmeida]

Some of the few Djenty bands I listen today are Caliban and Jinjer. I always loved Caliban's early metalcore stuff, but Gravity shocked me with the modern, downtuned single string riffs. I hated it at first but five years later, after Zeitgeister being released, I started to appreciate that style. Jinjer came after that for me and now it’s on repeat here. I guess some things take time to grow on you.

[@GillesAndrea]

good prod, very nice playing cheers

[@guybutts3]

Cool, now I must listen to all these 2000’s albums now, thanks

[@xS0Fresh2Death]

2000s style wins by a mile

[@guy-antoineblais2620]

Yep

[@harveytrevino2257]

Because of the "ambient" nature everyone has adopted over the years, it's added so much depth to modern metal in general/djeneral. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[@Griuofficial]

Hey! Great video, thanks!

[@fredfuchs3651]

And still both of them make my ears happy. Great list 👍

[@JapanKilledChineseBabies]

The old school riffs are simply just so much cooler.

[@antonioposton3684]

The early 2000s is an era that's unmatched

[@benjamin.kelley]

lol the "oh fast drums" motion got me. Also, you look like you could be the stand-in front man for Phinehas!

[@jrock5150]

You guys are awesome 👌

[@hxcjohnny4405]

Ill always favor 00's metalcore. As i lay dying will forever be the kings of metalcore. The while early set here is my daily playlist 🤣🤣🤣

[@turkinator1014]

Instant like for an Erra song being showcased first. Incredible band that has taken melody and overall writing to new heights! 🤘

[@unearth1yone]

Meh lol

[@unearth1yone]

@@sarcasm4371 I mean erra is ok but theyre definitely not at the top of metalcore . Unearth, Black Dahlia Murder, (old) all that remains, bleeding through etc. Is the height of metalcore. Erra was an aftethought that came through and wrote some decent stuff but again I'd def not say they are the Pinnacle

[@eyeHATEuall85]

...I jam nearly every song you played on a daily soooo. Cheers to you for doing a helluva job?!! 🤘

[@izzyalistair]

Dude, I've never heard of Monuments, but they sound awesome!

[@marcusenocsson4198]

I prefer the 2000s, it's more melodic but the rythm from modern metalcore is dope

[@vinnregi4882]

Old metalcore is more melodic and "emotional" in its riffs. New metalcore is more technical and hard hitting. It's like one was created to tell you a story, the other to make you think "uuu, that's nasty!" I personally prefer the first type of songwriting, but to each their own...

[@brucewatson4994]

I have most of these in my playlist already…definitely a couple more I have to add now

[@ganzvind1468]

Dude, I love your vids. And this one is no exception, you cheer up and charge me! Old reefs are so nostalgic, oh my. I would say "THIS IS THE BASE" I could not resist and finally subscribed to you. Keep up the good work

[@ThomasHogue]

Thank you so much! That’s awesome to hear

[@bitchsama8181]

The old metalcore was unique and filled with emotion. Every band had their own sound and tone you coukd recognize with banger riffs. Today, it all sounds the same. They follow a very rigid pattern of monotonous rhythmically complex riffs but none of it cater to any emotion. It's as if they compete into who sounds the most difficult. I prefer the early 2000's metalcore.

[@TeamBlack00]

I’m with you. It seems super homogeneous now. Very predictable. I’m glad some of those early-2000s bands are still making music.

[@mxrush76]

Maybe is the lack of melody in the modern metalcore, old metalcore used to have a lot of melodic solos that for me make it so nice to hear it.

[@joshua8747]

Nailed it!

[@omegazx7236]

Eh, Architects definitely cater lots of emotion

[@noway7528]

This just showed up in my recommendations, I had to make a new email so I’m getting new suggestions, I love it, this came right after Lorna shore. New sub because I listen to both old and new and I’m loving this.

[@ThomasHogue]

That's what I like to hear! Thanks for the sub 🙂

[@popularAPunk19]

Really cool guitar playing