Top 10 Hardcore Punk Bands

samuelMCL7

The Top Ten

1 Black Flag Black Flag Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. Initially called Panic, the band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter, and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band. They are widely considered to be one of ...read more.

MY WAR!

Black flag are considered the staple hardcore band and for good reason. Their D.I.Y ethics inspired a generation. Their back catalog is the most interesting and varied of all the hardcore bands and their impact on punk and music in general can be still heard to this day. Artistically they were very integral and deep. Honestly calling black flag a hardcore band is undermining them.

Most bands on this list aren't hardcore. Papa Roach aren't even a punk band.

Black flag were pioneers of Hardcore - ryanrimmel

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2 Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American hardcore punk band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band was one of the first American hardcore bands to make a significant impact in the United Kingdom.

One of the most influential punk bands ever combining sounds from a variety of genres. Political satire included and controversy surrounding made them one of the most punk bands around. They should definitely be top 5

They should definitely be top 5 - shawndeny

Obvious top 1. Their "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" (1980) shaped the hardcore punk and it's still the best hardcore punk album ever created.

What the hell? These guys should totally be #1... Or at least top 5

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3 Misfits Misfits Misfits are an American Horror Punk band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery.

My favorite band of all time.

Okay I think I can come to the consensus that whoever makes these lists has no idea what punk rock and hardcore punk are. papa roach above black flag? Are you joking?

One of my all time favourite bands

Best band of all time

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4 Minor Threat Minor Threat Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C. by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson.

Amazing band

64? These guys should be in the top 5.

I love the Sex Pistols to bits, but they're about as hardcore as my left testicle. Play it faster!

What? 23? Um just no...

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5 Sex Pistols Sex Pistols The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although they initially lasted just two and a half years and produced only four singles and one studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, they are considered one of the most influential acts in the history ...read more.

They aren't hardcore punk (but they are good).

Not hardcore punk! - Oliwally

The people who vote on this website and some of the thickest people on the internet!

Bodies begat hardcore.

6 Circle Jerks

I love Keith's work in black flag, but in circle jerks his vocals really are incredible.

Better live band than on Lp, 85' with Chuck Biscuits are at their best.

7 Bad Brains Bad Brains Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to this term to describe their music.

The greatest hardcore band ever-hands down! One of the founding fathers of this style, there wide sphere of influence affects many bands. They're 1986 album I against I arguably invented post-hardcore as well. Equally adept at rock, reggae, funk and whatever else they feel like playing. Shameful they're not higher on this list.

The greatest band ever. Nobody can touch their early stuff for ferocity and intensity.

The best punk band of all time I can't believe there at 11 who votes and puts them at 11 have you ever listen to their music come on give me a break the greatest punk band all times love dead kennedys circle jerks black flag but number 11 get real people to vote or listen to more than one song

What why is bad brains is all the way down here? They ARE hardcore punk. Not the only ones but if we're talking hardcore they need to be at least before the sex pistols I mean come on sex pistols? Who are these people? Bunch of posers really.

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8 NOFX NOFX NOFX are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after.

This is a pop band like blink 182, the entire list is a mess - musicfanguy

Dudes, NOFX has been my life for awhile. They inspire me and they introduced me to the punk music.

9 The Germs

RIP Darby and Lorna

Germs deserve to be in the top 5!

Only one album to go off of. But it's a true punk classic.. Darby crash is/ was punk. - larslarsinson

10 Descendents Descendents The Descendents are a punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson.

Guess this band is debatable for the list.

Pop Punk. Not hard core

Fat EP (1981) and Milo Goes to College (1982)... isn't that enough?

The Contenders

11 Agnostic Front Agnostic Front Agnostic Front is an American hardcore punk band, pioneer of the crossover thrash genre, formed in 1980. The band began playing hardcore punk similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic ...read more.
12 Bad Religion Bad Religion Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band makes extensive use of soaring three-part vocal harmonies, guitar solos and lyrics that often contain religious and political commentary.

Best lyrics ever! Come on people intelligent songs no more to say

Great band, but they aren't hardcore punk

Doesn't get much better than suffer

I dunno if they're hardcore punk or punk rock but they are great awesome punk band

13 Husker Du Husker Du Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart.

Their late stuff was pop not hardcore

They were essentially the gateway to grunge and alt rock. Without Hüsker Dü there would be no Pixies, no Nirvana, and the landscape of rock music today would be much different.

14 Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band founded in 1980 in Venice, California by vocalist Mike Muir, who is the only remaining original member of the band. The band is often credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash".

Debut album is the best hardcore punk record ever. no question. I shot reagan.

15 The Ramones The Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first band to define the punk rock sound.

Not a hardcore punk band so it does jot belong on this list! Still a great punk band though 10/10

They should be in a higher place!

You're always in my heart. stay on the roots

16 The Crucif***s

True punk. And anyone that hasnt heard them should they were amazing! THEY SHOULD BE IN TOP 3 at least - larslarsinson

17 Discharge Discharge Discharge are a British musical group formed in 1977 by Terence "Tezz" Roberts and Royston "Rainy" Wainwright.

The foremost and hardest of them all, live and learn!

18 Fear
19 Charged GBH

Should be HIGHER!

Completely underrated band

20 Flipper Flipper Flipper is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1979, continuing in often erratic fashion until the mid-1990s, then reuniting in 2005. The band influenced a number of grunge, punk rock and noise rock bands.

Fantastic heavy band. Essential listening.

21 The Adolescents
22 Cro-Mags Cro-Mags
23 Off!

Best new/classic hardcore band around! Keith Morris still the man!

24 Samhain
25 Rancid

Best punk band of the world

26 Operation Ivy Operation Ivy Operation Ivy, sometimes called "Op Ivy," was an American Ska punk band, from Berkeley, California formed in May 1987. The band was stylistically important as one of the first bands to mix the elements of hardcore punk and ska into a new amalgam called ska punk and was critical to the emergence of Lookout ...read more.
27 The Cramps
28 Sum 41 Sum 41 Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario, Canada. Originally called Kaspir, the band was formed in 1996 and, as of 2015, consists of lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dave Baksh, co-lead guitarist/backing vocalist Tom Thacker, bassist/backing vocalist ...read more.

Ok... I love Sum 41, but hardcore punk? Not really... The closest they come is in Does This Look Infected, but that's more melodic hardcore. Chuck is alt metal, and Screaming Bloody Murder is mainstream rock. All of their other work is pop punk (Half Hour of Power, All Killer No Filler, and Underclass Hero) Like I said, I love Sum 41, but I don't think they should have a spot on this list... Even though to comment I voted for them... Whoops.

Ok... I love Sum 41 as much as the next guy, but lets be honest. Sum 41 is not hardcore punk. The closest they get is in Does This Look Infected? But that's more melodic hardcore. Chuck is alternative metal, and Screaming Bloody Murder is mainstream rock. Everything else is pop punk (Half Hour of Power, All Killer No Filler, and Underclass Hero) Like I said, I love Sum 41, but hardcore punk? No...

29 The Fartz
30 Rise Against Rise Against Rise Against is an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. They are known for popularizing punk.

While they did go a bit alt rock(kinda) between 2010-2014, their latest album, wolves, is a reminder these guys made hardcore. All there albums are bangers, black market being the weakest, there earlier stuff are hardcore and then around 2004 - 2008 becoming a lot more melodic, these guys are still a great hardcore band in my opinion. Compared to some of the punk imposers that are big right now, these guys are amazing.

I have listened to a few Hardcore Punk bands and I can definitely say Rise Against is my favourite and to the person who said they're not punk.They are Punk and They are Hardcore Punk.-DarkBoi-X

Rise Against is great band but they aren't punk at all let alone hardcore punk. They're alternative rock

Their early stuff is melodic hardcore punk. Their later stuff is punk rock in the alternative category, like offspring I guess. - Oliwally

For me they should be at least in top three.

31 D.R.I. D.R.I. D.R.I. is an American crossover thrash band that formed in Houston, Texas in 1982. As of 2015, the band comprises two of its founding members, vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy, as well as drummer Walter "Monsta" Ryan and bassist Harald Oimoen.

D.R.I. is amazing thrash-punk. There's nothing else to describe it as. - ThatoneMetalhead

Has no one ever heard the Dirty Rotten LP?

Dealing With It,enough said!

32 Agent Orange Agent Orange Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Placentia, California in 1979. The band was one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music.

Again another debatable one.

33 The Offspring The Offspring The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, bassist Greg K., lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman and drummer Pete Parada.

Technically, their first album was a horrorcore album, which is literally just hardcore punk with horror themes. For example, there's the song beheaded. Also, Session from their second album Ignition (among others from that album) is debatable as hardcore punk. However, their stuff now is a lot "poppier", and it should not be considered hardcore punk. - ThatoneMetalhead

One of the best bands in the world, but I don't view their music as hardcore punk.

34 System Of A Down System Of A Down System of a Down formed in 1994 as an Armenian-American Nu Metal group from Glendale, California . The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. ...read more.
35 Gorilla Biscuits Gorilla Biscuits Gorilla Biscuits is a New York-based hardcore punk band originally formed in 1987. The band currently consists of Anthony Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios, Alex Brown and Luke Abbey, and is signed to Revelation Records.

My favorite hardcore band. Hands down!

36 Hatebreed Hatebreed Hatebreed is an American metalcore band from Connecticut, formed in 1994. They have released 7 studio albums to date, most recently The Concrete Confessional on May 13, 2016. Their musical style blends influences from hardcore punk and heavy metal; a prominent band within the hardcore scene, they have ...read more.

One of the Greatest Hardcore bands ever, Six Pistols are Punk Rock not Hardcore, I love Sex Pistols but they are not harcore

37 The Exploited

Should be higher! Punk's not dead and Troops of Tomorrow are nothing but classic.

How the hell Papa Roach made this list before The Exploited is beyond me. This also goes for Minor Threat, D.R. I, The Casualties, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Ramones, or even Pennywise for that matter. Why these bands did not find place on this list I will never understand. The only thing I can think of is a person who knew absolutely nothing about punk what-so-ever posted their sudden thoughts on what their idea of punk was. Whoever you are, you have a whole lot more evaluating to do.

18? Are you kidding me?

38 Billy Talent Billy Talent Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Benjamin Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk.

Because they aren't hardcore punk

How are they not number 1

39 Anti Flag

Surprised to see them at 34 considering that their sound is the definition of Hardcore Punk.I prefer Dead Kennedys and Rise Against but Anti Flag need to be in the top tens.-DarkBoi-X

Surprised to see them at 34 considering that their sound is the definition of Hardcore Punk.I prefer Dead Kennedys a d Rise Against but Anti Flag need to be in the top tens.-DarkBoi-X

Their early work could be considered hardcore.

40 From First To Last
41 Project X
42 Screeching Weasel
43 Overpain
44 Papa Roach Papa Roach Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Formed in 1993, their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest.

Not quite sure how one would confuse nu-metal (without punk influences...) for hardcore punk. With some of Slipknot's early stuff like Eeyore, that's kind of punky, but I can't say the same for Papa Roach. - ThatoneMetalhead

45 The Casualties
46 Stick to Your Guns

Simply the most inspirational modern HC-band. The "Diamond" record is a milestone in hardcore history.

Hardcore at its finest. They capture inspiration with insane breakdowns, and force the listener to break stuff nearby.

47 Blood for Blood

Wasted youth crew!

KILLERS

48 7 Seconds

Godfathers

We Are The Crew!

49 The Minutemen
50 FLAG
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List Stats

800 votes
185 listings
7 years, 364 days old

Top Remixes (10)

1. Sex Pistols
2. Husker Du
3. Circle Jerks
samuelMCL7
1. Descendents
2. Dead Kennedys
3. Flipper
JCHOW
1. Dead Kennedys
2. The Adolescents
3. Descendents
RighteousMalevolent

WRemix
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