New Jersey hardcore

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New Jersey Hardcore Punk (sometimes called NJHC, NJHXC or Jerseycore) refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New Jersey and to the subculture associated with that music.

Contents

[edit] Evolution from punk rock

New Jersey had many early punk bands, circa 1977-'80, including The Misfits, Shrapnel, and The Pleasure Hounds. Many of these fledgeling early punk bands would later alter their sounds in the early 80's when hardcore punk originators like Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat toured and gained national exposure.

[edit] 1980-1985 - The first wave

New Jersey had developed several regional, overlapping hardcore punk scenes by 1981-'82. Proximity to New York City and Philadelphia has long tended to draw punk and hardcore bands away from New Jersey, with historic examples including Bergen County bands such as The Misfits defecting in one direction, and South Jersey bands such as Sadistic Exploits defecting in the other. Adrenalin OD was one of the more important early hardcore punk bands to identify primarily with New Jersey, however there were and continue to be multitudes of others, many of whom are nationally popular, and some who have gone on to international success.

It was during this period that several New Jersey-based record labels specializing in hardcore punk were formed and began releasing albums. While there were many, two of the most influential were Mutha Records from West Long Branch, Buy Our Records, in Bergen County.

[edit] 1986-1990 - The second wave

During the late 1980s, hardcore bands started to experiment with their sounds, taking their cues from other national scenes. Some would imitate the crossover thrash/skate punk of Suicidal Tendencies, while others would incorporate more melodic sounds similar to the early emo scene developing in Washington DC. Still others would draw influence from the nearby New York hardcore scene, including the youth crew movement.

[edit] 1991-1998 - The third wave

During the mid and late 1990s, regional scenes within NJ started to develop as the emphasis moved away from NYC and more towards local bands and venues. The NJHC separated into 3 distinct scenes with its own bands, ideology and sound. The Northern NJHC scene was centered and concentrated around The Pipeline in Newark, NJ and minor amounts at Studio one, a heavy metal pop dance club. The Central NJ scene centered around Asbury Park Fast Lanes, and The Brighton Bar in Long Branch and at The Stone Pony . The South Jersey scene centered around the areas of Philadelphia and frequently transgressed intrastate.

Examples of bands associated with each scene

Northern NJ Scene Bands

  • Backlash
  • Fatnuts
  • No Contest - formed 96 kerney nj
  • No Regrets - formed 97 belleville/north arlington, nj
  • NJ Bloodline - formed in 1992
  • The Human Offense
  • Future Primitive NJ - Formed late 1998 in Newark
  • one4one
  • Rest Assured? - formed in 1994 in Dumont
  • Train of Thought
  • E-Town Concrete - formed in 1995 in Elizabeth *Worldwide

Central NJ Scene Bands

  • Strength 691 - formed in 1991
  • Fury of Five
  • Curbjaw
  • Ensign
  • Floorpunch
  • Hundredfold
  • Mouthpiece
  • Bloodfeud - formed in 1996
  • Resurrection
  • For the Love of - formed in 1995

Southern NJ Scene Bands

  • Clubberlang
  • Locked up in Life
  • OS101
  • Position of Power
  • Second to None
  • Shattered Realm
  • Divide The Sky

[edit] National and international recognition

By 1994 some first and second wave worldwide bands were releasing material with American, European and Japanese labels drawing even more attention to the NJHC scene.

As these scenes started to grow and gain popularity, so did the bands that emerged from these scenes. Alternatively, some first and second generation NJHC bands signed to larger national labels and became internationally recognized. In 1995 Dog Eat Dog were voted Breakthrough Artists of the Year at the MTV Europe Music Awards. This drew international attention to the NJHC scene.

By 1996, third generation bands like 25 ta Life and Fury of Five were pushing NJHC further into the limelight through extensive touring, tape trading and their outspokenness of the NJHC scene.



[edit] See also

v • d • e
Hardcore punk
Regional Scenes
Other topics