Hardcore is a fast and aggressive genre of music that features distorted guitars, harsh vocals, and powerful rhythms that emerged from the urban working class in the 1970s. Firmly woven into the genre and its subculture is a thematic element of justice with lyrics addressing social and political issues in a confrontational manner. Specific to this portfolio are environmental hardcore bands, whose lyrics focus on themes like industrial consequences to the planet, human toxicity, disconnects between mankind and nature, and the desperate ongoing climate crisis. While the modern use of the term hardcore now encompasses a plethora of other heavy genres, the underlying progressive foundation has not changed. The heaviness of the genre provides an effective outlet to discuss issues that are intense by nature. In the realm of environmental hardcore bands, three prominent groups are EcoStrike, Fit for an Autopsy, and Earth Crisis; all of which discuss the negative effects that humans have imposed on the Earth. These bands are also known for advocating for animal rights, straight edge lifestyle, and other political issues. Such music can invoke an emotional and passionate response in listeners, leading many to take lyrical themes to heart and advocate for the planet.

The fluidity of hardcore makes for a wide outcome of environmental themes, of which I’ve focused my project on two. The first theme is a disdain for humanity’s mass consumption. Society’s rapid industrialization throughout the last two centuries has placed a tremendous strain on the planet to absorb the toxic byproducts of an ever-increasing desire for material consumption. For example, in their song Burning, EcoStrike states “Life means more to me than convenience / And life means more to me than tradition / The slaughter and exploitation of the voiceless / To take what we don’t need.” Here the band references mass consumption of animal products, recognizing that the killings are not necessary despite it being a traditional practice. They disavow the systematic mass processing of animals, suggesting their continued exploitation provides convenience, yet convenience doesn’t mean a fulfilling life. Another prominent theme I encountered was the discussion of indigenous rights being violated by the government. In their song Black Mammoth, deathcore band Fit for an Autopsy paints the scene of the Dakota Access Pipeline which has been built through Native American reserves against the will of the people. The song and music video tell the tale of struggle; the original inhabitants of this land now unable to stand up for themselves in the face of a ruthless and oppressive government.

Environmental hardcore has arose as a sonic assault in retaliation to climate change and lack of Earth’s preservation. The artists presented in this portfolio have all came from different time periods, taking in musical and political influence from various eras. The earliest of the three is Earth Crisis, who formed in 1989 taking influence from New York hardcore bands like Agnostic Front, and Cro-Mags. Their lyricism revolved primarily around promoting a straight-edge vegan lifestyle, a sentiment likely obtained from the growing drug consumption in the 90’s hardcore scene as well as exploitation of animals by the agriculture industry. Followed by them was Fit for an Autopsy who has been releasing music since 2008. Much of their thematic content has evolved from a misanthropic standpoint entailing the mass suffering brought about by humanity’s toxic interactions with the planet. Fit for an Autopsy began in the midst of the Iraq war, which impacted their lyricism. EcoStrike is the most recent of the three artists, forming in 2017 but taking a great deal of influence from 90’s hardcore bands. Like Earth Crisis, EcoStrike advocates against exploitation of animals on the basis of their sentience and negative impact on the planet.

Music can often be used as a tool for historians to analyze the past, with songs encompassing the atmosphere of the time they were created in. There has always been a connection between music and political expression, with artists developing a soundscape that emotionally resonates with the listener. Environmental hardcore is a vital piece of music history, emphasizing that there are passionate citizens who are angry about the environmental state of the globe, and willing to fight for its revival. This style of music addresses environmental issues in a very confrontational and abrasive manner, often coinciding with the frustration and anger of listeners. Live performances are met with energetic crowd participation in the form of stage diving, slam-dancing/moshing, and crowd pile-ons. The chaos of the scene helps perpetuate the seriousness of the musical themes. As opposed to softer music like Folk or classical rock, environmental hardcore is highly emotional and built on an aggressive foundation that truly inspires listeners to practice and preach environmental advocacy.