the term metalcore has changed a lot its meaning during the years. in the mid 90s and early oos the label metalcore is used to describe the sound of bands like hatebreed or converge: a mix of hardcore punk kinda vocal style, lyrics and attitude with death metal inspired guitar riffing and drum beats. almost no melody in the guitar and vocal lines. from the early oo's bands like killswitch engage contributed to change the metalcore spectrum. these bands, often labeled as melodic metalcore bands, incorporate the same death metal elements of their predecessors with catchy / easy listening melodic choruses almost always singed with clean vocals. the lyrics are often emotional and introspective and influenced by screamo and emo music.

• seminal metalcore bands:

hatebreed (early metalcore), converge (early metalcore), avenged sevenfold (melodic metalcore), killswitch engage (melodic metalcore), black veil drives (melodic metalcore), as i lie dying (melodic metalcore), bring me the horizon (metalcore), suicide silence (deathcore), whitechapel (deathcore), pierce the veil (metalcore).

• important metalcore album: converge - jane doe (2001)