Risecore[1] is a subgenre of metalcore[2][3] and post-hardcore popular from late 2000s to mid 2010s. The style is often associated with the Warped Tour scene and was popularized largely by bands on Rise Records,though it includes acts from various labels.[4]
It originated from pop-screamo and metalcore bands such as The Devil Wears Prada,Underoath,and From Autumn to Ashes,who played a post-hardcore-influenced style of metalcore rather than the melodic metalcore common in that era. The genre gained prominence through its association with Rise Records and the Warped Tour,appealing to younger audiences drawn to its fusion of heaviness and commercial sensibility.
By around 2015,Risecore had declined in popularity. Many of its prominent bands either broke up or changed musical direction in favor of newer trends such as progressive metalcore and nu metalcore or toward more accessible hard rock or alternative metal influenced style,often referred to as octanecore,after the SiriusXM station Octane that favored this sound.
Characteristics
The genre blends heavy screamed vocals and breakdowns with melodic,often featuring high-pitched clean-sung choruses[6] drawing from pop music and post-hardcore. Risecore balances aggression with melody and commercial appeal,often incorporating pop elements into clean vocals. While screaming is a common trait,some bands such as Hands Like Houses[7] and Alive Like Me omit harsh vocals entirely,yet retain the genre's characteristic structures,instrumentation,and breakdown use.
Criticism
Risecore has been the subject of criticism for its incorporation of pop-oriented vocal melodies and polished production. Detractors often label the genre "popcore",arguing it diverges from the raw aggression of 1990s metalcore and the complexity of earlier post-hardcore. Critics also note that some fans of traditional metalcore and post-hardcore reject the validity of Risecore as part of those lineages.[8][9]
↑ "Album Review: Phinehas – Till the End". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2025. A ferocious mix of melodic metalcore and spiritual themes, *Till the End* cements Phinehas as one of the genre's most heartfelt and technically skilled acts.
↑ Figge, Trevor (September 24, 2013). "A Skylit Drive – Rise". Highlight Magazine. Retrieved June 18, 2025. A Skylit Drive is yet another Metalcore/Post‑Hardcore band with a falsetto singer… Rise defines A Skylit Drive as not just another band in the scene with technical guitar and drum parts that complement one another.
↑ Morton, Luke (June 7, 2018). "The 10 Best Post-Hardcore Bands, as Chosen by Mosaic". Louder. Retrieved June 17, 2025. "We're not trying to be the next big thing, we're trying to be the next big thing for us." – Daniel Winter-Bates
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