Since the quality of a hardcore band is judged by the effectiveness of their live show, being a hardcore frontperson requires more than just proper vocal technique. You need to have the right type of charisma and an attitude that meshes well with the band’s sound. You need to not just be energetic yourself, but be able to radiate that energy and translate it into the crowd before you.
A good hardcore frontperson sings the songs correctly and performs in a way that’s entertaining to watch – but a great hardcore frontperson knows that they’re not the reason people paid to get in the door. The kids came for an experience that takes an entire room’s worth of effort to make happen, and it’s up to the frontperson to rally the crowd, keep the pit moving, be an entertaining spectacle, and also know when to step back and hand the mic off to the people up front.
Since this is such a tough balance to strike, we decided to celebrate the frontpeople in contemporary hardcore who are nailing it. Our qualifying rules were that these vocalists had to be from an active band who's unabashedly hardcore whose debut full-length was released within the last 10 years.
From noise-punk weirdos to beatdown titans, these are the 10 best frontpeople in hardcore right now.