How Hardcore Music Broke Into the Mainstream

For decades, hardcore music thrived in the shadows—an unyielding, underground movement of blistering guitars, guttural screams, and chaotic mosh pits. But now, in an era where genres blur and countercultures collide with the mainstream, hardcore has found itself in an unexpected spotlight.

Hardcore’s Shockwave on Late-Night TV

In November, Kentucky-based band Knocked Loose took the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, bringing a level of intensity rarely seen on mainstream television. As frontman Bryan Garris unleashed a deafening pig squeal and guest vocalist Poppy prowled across the stage like a gothic apparition, the performance felt more suited to a punk festival than a late-night talk show. The band’s black-clad presence, pulverizing metalcore, and the sight of a mosh pit surging in the audience reportedly left some viewers’ children in tears. For old-school hardcore purists, the question loomed: Was this newfound visibility a victory—or the beginning of the end for a fiercely independent scene?

From the Underground to Grammy Recognition

Hardcore, birthed in the late 1970s with bands like Black Flag, was built as a rejection of the mainstream music industry. “Hardcore was never part of the music business,” says Steve Blush, author of American Hardcore. “It was completely underground. There were no industry constructs. It’s the most true music ever.”

Despite this historical resistance, the genre has seen a radical shift in recent years. The most striking example is Turnstile, whose 2021 album Glow On shattered genre expectations by fusing hardcore with rock, R&B, and psychedelia. The album’s infectious energy connected with fans on a deep emotional level, eventually earning Turnstile Grammy nominations—an almost unthinkable feat for a hardcore band.

The trend continues with Knocked Loose’s 2025 Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance. They’re not alone—bands like Code Orange have received nods in 2018 and 2021, while Turnstile found themselves nominated in both rock and metal categories in 2022. Even brands outside the music world have taken notice: Scowl performed at Taco Bell’s unofficial Women’s World Cup halftime show in 2023, while Post Malone was caught on camera jamming to Militarie Gun’s hit Do It Faster backstage.

Why the Sudden Hardcore Boom?

Many artists credit the rise in hardcore’s popularity to a cultural shift brought on by the pandemic. Graham Sayle of the British band High Vis believes lockdown left people craving visceral, real-world experiences: “After lockdown, people were hungry for collective experiences. Hardcore shows are the most exciting, unifying sort of moments. It’s a kind of freedom—especially with stage diving.”

Another key factor is the internet’s role in dismantling genre barriers. Scowl’s Kat Moss points out that digital culture has made DIY music scenes more accessible than ever. “The landscape has changed through the internet. There’s so much more access to seeing DIY culture and shows,” she says.

A Genre Redefined

One of the most fascinating aspects of hardcore’s evolution is how fluid genre distinctions have become. Where older generations of fans fiercely protected hardcore’s rigid sound and ethos, today’s artists are more willing to experiment. Turnstile’s drummer Daniel Fang embraces this shift: “For a lot of us, ‘genre’ feels like an antiquated term and perspective.”

Even artists outside hardcore are being welcomed into the fold. Poppy, who guested on Knocked Loose’s Suffocate, refuses to be confined to one label. “Heavy music is more of a flavor that I use in what I do, but it’s not my project’s entire identity.” Similarly, Oklahoma sludge-metal band Chat Pile—while not strictly hardcore—have been embraced by the scene. “The world of hardcore seems to be bringing in a lot of people from a lot of different areas and backgrounds,” says bassist Stin.

The Debate Over Gatekeeping

While many fans celebrate hardcore’s expanding reach, there are still those who see the genre’s mainstream acceptance as a dilution of its raw, rebellious spirit. Jem Siow of Australian hardcore band Speed acknowledges the presence of gatekeepers—longtime fans who believe you need to “earn your stripes” to truly be part of the scene. But for bands like Scowl, this attitude feels outdated. “I think the gatekeeping conversations are silly,” Moss says. “While I understand it and agree in a lot of ways—protecting something that’s really special to us all—it’s like, who are we protecting it from?”

The Future of Hardcore in 2025 and Beyond

So, where does hardcore go from here? Steve Blush hopes the genre stays true to its revolutionary roots. “I would like to see hardcore succeed as being the crucible for revolution that it talks about.”

For the artists, however, the future lies in the live experience. Poppy believes that the raw energy of hardcore shows is what keeps fans coming back. “I think hardcore and the shows are a place to put your pain and your anger and your frustration. That’s what people are seeing online in short-form videos,” she says. “But they need to get offline and go to a show. You have to be there for the experience.”

With hardcore breaking new ground while retaining its core identity, one thing is clear: The movement that once thrived in the underground is now setting the stage for something bigger than ever before.