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.
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New Jersey had many early punk bands, circa 1975 - 1979, including The Misfits. Many of these fledgeling early punk bands heard many sounds in the early 80's when hardcore punk originators like Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat toured and gained national exposure.
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 . Adrenalin OD was one of the more important early hardcore punk bands to identify primarily with New Jersey. The early hardcore scene in the state was centered around A.O.D. who became the first Jersey hardcore band to achieve international fame.
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 of Union County, as well as Bergen, Morris and Passaic counties being a prime development bed.
During the mid and 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, D.C. Still others would draw influence from the nearby New York hardcore scene, including the youth crew movement.
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 and minor amounts at Studio One, a heavy metal pop dance club. The central NJ scene centered around Asbury Park (Fast Lanes), 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.
Northern New Jersey bands
Central New Jersey bands
South New Jersey bands
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 were pushing NJHC further into the limelight through extensive touring, tape trading and their outspokenness of the NJHC scene.
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