Hardcore punk is the backbone of countless bands and genres. Its influence runs deep, not just in sound, but in energy, ethos, and attitude. From Nirvana to the Beastie Boys, hardcore’s aggressive, fast, and raw style continues to evolve through emo, metalcore, and even modern rap.
Today I’m going over five albums you should listen to if you want to immerse yourself in classic, early ’80s-style hardcore punk.
The essential album for hardcore in general is Black Flag’s Damaged.
Damaged is one of—if not the—most influential hardcore albums of all time. Not only did it inspire early bands of the classic ’80s hardcore sound, but also laid the groundwork for the current hardcore/beatdown scene you see today. Although this album isn’t one of my personal favorites, there are some groovy basslines, cutthroat vocals from Henry Rollins, and charismatic songs. If you like a more sluggish or dirtier style punk album, give this album a try.
Standout songs: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Gimme Gimme Gimme, and Thirsty and Miserable
The second album is more punk rock and horror-oriented: The Misfits’ Static Age.
Static Age was released in 1996 as an archival record from the classic Misfits era. It’s the best horror punk album of all time and has enough easily digestible songs for someone who’s interested in getting into this genre. The song structures were revolutionary for their time, even though they’re simple, and the vocals are dramatic and theatrical but also carry an aggressive and heavy weight. The riffs are catchy, the drums are fast, and the energy is unmatched compared to any other punk band. Out of all the albums on this list, this is one you can play in the car or in more casual settings.
Standout songs: Some Kind of Hate, Hybrid Moments, Teenagers from Mars, Hollywood Babylon, Bullet
For the third album, which was my favorite growing up: The Descendents’ Milo Goes to College.
This album pioneered skate punk and laid the groundwork for bands like The Offspring, NOFX, and even pop punk bands like Blink-182. Milo’s whiny vocals were genre-breaking at the time, and the riffs—whether it’s the bass or guitar—are severely underrated. The songs are catchy and add a fun bit of melody, while also being angsty and raw. The album is versatile encompassing stupid songs like I Wanna Be a Bear, but also manages to squeeze in tear-jerking tracks like Jean Is Dead and Hope. All around, it’s a very versatile pop punk album, and although some of the lyrics have aged poorly, it’s a product of its time and, without a doubt, the most influential pop punk album. If you like ’90s skate punk or even early 2000s pop punk bands like Fall Out Boy, give this album a shot.
Standout songs: Myage, Suburban Home, Hope, Bikeage, Jean Is Dead
Ahhh, Minor Threat.
Minor Threat, led by Ian MacKaye, was the band that breathed life into the hardcore D.C. scene, pioneered Discord Records, created an entire subculture known as straight edge, and revitalized hardcore punk in general. The genre was stagnating until their self-titled EPs were released. Minor Threat had the unique ability to pour out unfiltered rage into their music while keeping the formula simple and fast. I think this is one of my favorite hardcore punk albums, and it defines the genre and this time period adequately. The first LP is only 20 minutes, so definitely give this one a chance.
Standout songs: Filler, Seeing Red, Straight Edge, Minor Threat, Out of Step
Now, I had a hard time picking between these two, so I’m gonna talk about both of them: Bad Brains and Dead Kennedys.
These are the two best hardcore punk albums in terms of composition and quality. Both of these albums have thoughtful, philosophical, and political messaging that gave the genre its fire and iconic image. They encompass the true ethos of punk by exploring the political system of America, injustice, inequity—and doing so in satirical and humorous ways. I think both of these albums are on the same level. If you’re going to listen to one or the other, I’d say Bad Brains is more visceral and fast, while Dead Kennedys is more grounded and danceable.
My standout songs for Banned in D.C. are: Sailing On, Attitude, The Regulator, Banned in D.C., Pay to Cum
For Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables: Let’s Lynch the Landlord, California Über Alles, Holiday in Cambodia, Kill the Poor, Drug Me
That’s gonna wrap up today’s video. Let me know in the comments what your favorite hardcore punk albums are—and what got you into hardcore.