Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk, commonly known as hardcore, is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in North America in the late 1970s. In North America, hardcore punk emerged with a new sound, which was generally thicker, heavier, and faster than standard punk rock.It is sometimes characterized by short, loud, and passionate songs about serious topics such as government, capitalism, anarchism, war, and the hardcore subculture itself.

History
In North America, the music genre that became known as hardcore punk originated in different areas in late 1980 and early 1981. Some of the major areas in North America associated with the origins of hardcore punk include: California, Washington, DC, Chicago, New York City, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Boston. At the same time, a British form of hardcore punk emerged, although it would not be known as UK 82, or British hardcore, until some years later.The origin of the term hardcore punk is uncertain, however one theory is that the Vancouver-based band D.O.A. made the term official with the title of their 1981 album, Hardcore '81.However, until about 1983, the term hardcore was used fairly sparingly, and mainly as a descriptive term. (i.e., a band would be called a "hardcore band" and a concert would be a "hardcore show"). American teenagers who were fans of hardcore punk simply considered themselves fans of punk—although they were not necessarily interested in the original punk rock sound of late 1970s (e.g., Television, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Heartbreakers). In many circles, hardcore was an in-group term, meaning 'music by people like us,' and it included a wide range of sounds, from hyper-speed hardcore to sludgy dirge-rock, and often including arty experimental bands, such as The Stickmen and Flipper.

Hardcore lauded a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. In most cities the hardcore scene relied entirely on DIY recordings, zines, radio shows, and concerts, due to many bands having little to no access to any means of production. Hardcore punk fans brought a dressed-down T-shirt, jeans, and crewcut style, which contrasted with the more elaborate and provocative clothing styles of punk rockers, such as Richard Hell, Sid Vicious, and Soo Catwoman.