Calling all Crabcore fans, 2016 may finally be the year the genre rises back to the top of list for metalcore listeners. Here are some bands defending the revival:
5) Just a few days ago, Abandon All Ships!, one of the leaders in the original Crabcore movement, came soaring out of their disbandment with a new song entitled "Loafting", meaning "the wasting of time when important stuff has to get done" according to Urban Dictionary. Martin Broda, the band's bassist, tweeted "#defendcrabcore", leading up to the song's release.
4) Swedish metalcorers, Adept, dropped a new single, "Carry the Weight", from their forthcoming album, Sleepless, due later this year through Napalm Records. Although always on the more underground side of the radar, Adept has been packing a hard punch for over ten years now, and that punch keeps getting stronger and crabbier with each new song.
3) It's always great to see fresh faces emerging from the woodwork, and the local scene has proven to be useful under the moniker that every band was in fact once a local band, but every once in a while comes bands that stands out, for example, the new Crabcore princes The Days Ahead, hailing from West Springfield, Massachusetts. They will releasing their debut EP mid-February featuring many more heavy songs such as "Lifeless", which can be streamed below.
2) After the dissolution of most Crabcore around 2011 and 2012, some bands went their separate ways or changed genre (I'm looking at you Of Mice & Men) to test out different styles, but not genre heroes I See Stars. Even though they are now down two original members, they are still pumping along, yet being mysterious about their endeavors, being they are about to tour (with Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, Get Scared, and label mates Palaye Royale) and have not released a single without their screamer, Zach Johnson. The band still seems to be focused and inspired though, being as they are still active on social media and have not changed genre, as heard on a teaser they released on their Facebook account. This will surely be an interesting year from one of the more innovative crab bands. Check out one of their classics below.
1) Leading the Crabcore movement right now is Asking Alexandria, one of the bands who helped lift it off the ground back in 2009 alongside Crabkings Attack Attack! and aforementioned bands I See Stars and Abandon All Ships. There were obviously many others there including defunct bands Casino Madrid, House Vs. Hurricane, This Romantic Tragedy, etc., but they sadly disbanded and did not make it as far as Asking Alexandria. Now fronted by ex-Make Me Famous and Down & Dirty vocalist Denis Shaforostov (or Denis Stoff, which he now goes by), the band has completed a Warped Tour run last year and is at the brink of releasing a new album that Crabcore fans of all ages have been waiting for for years. Jam through their new single "The Black" and feel the 000 flow through you.
Let's not forget other bands who are doing the genre justice such as Secrets, Issues, and NJ Crabcorers Palisades, who all are giving it their best. There is a lot going for this revival right now, and even if these are just attempts at bringing it back, 2016 is bringing it on full force with the nostalgia and pure 2008 goodness