Prepare to embark on an epic journey through the captivating world of metalcore with Matahari’s curated playlist, featuring a selection of the genre’s finest.
Welcome to Matahari’s metalcore playlist, a meticulously curated collection of tracks that showcase the best of the genre. With a focus on emotionally charged lyrics, mesmerizing melodies, and bone-crushing breakdowns, this playlist is a celebration of metalcore in all its glory.
Featuring tracks from bands like Time, The Valuator, Monuments, Periphery, ERRA, Bleed From Within, Northlane, Polaris, Thornhill, Olly Steele, and Sleep Token, this playlist promises to captivate and enthrall both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
From intricate grooves and polyrhythms to powerful clean vocals and thundering rhythms, each track is carefully selected to highlight the diverse elements that make metalcore such a compelling genre.
Matahari‘s passion for heavy and in-your-face music shines through in the playlist, with each band and track chosen for their exceptional songwriting, technical prowess, and unique soundscapes.
Whether you’re headbanging to crushing breakdowns, getting lost in mesmerizing melodies, or connecting with emotionally charged lyrics, this playlist is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the raw power and beauty of metalcore.
So crank up the volume, brace yourself for the onslaught, and let Matahari‘s curated playlist take you on an epic journey through the marvels of metalcore.
Alan
Black Water – Time, The Valuator
I chose this because of the heavy hitting and very melodically and harmonically pleasing choruses within the song. I also really like how the band blends each section of their songs, as it sounds harmonically pleasing, like the songs are so well thought out sonically that each section feels right with the chords they use.
Cardinal Red (ft. Mick Gordon) – Monuments
I chose this because of the intricate grooves and polyrhythms they use to piece the song together, and the production value that they have in the song, with all the elements complimenting each other. The dynamic nature of the song with the super heavy parts and the softer parts blends together so well. But overall, the epic nature and the intricate nature of the guitars are the reason why I chose this song.
It’s Only Smiles – Periphery
This song is my all time favourite. I have a deep emotional connection with this song, due to the meaning of the lyrics. The reflection to mental health and struggle, and the attitude where everything is a struggle, but we got to keep going. As well as the meaning of face value, where no matter the struggle, we just smile on through it to seem like we’re okay and cover up what we’re going through so everyone around us isn’t affected. Musically, just the dynamic nature of each section and the build-up to the climax makes the meaning behind the lyrics pop out even more. The parts also juxtapose each other with the softer, “happier/calming” sections to the heavy and brutal parts, both musically and lyrically.
Alpha Seed – ERRA
This is also one of my all-time favourite songs. I chose this song because of the heavy and in-your-face nature of the song. It was also chosen because of the moving nature of the guitars and the synergy of the sections, building up to the epic nature of the choruses. I also like the juxtaposition of the low growls with the high pitch clean vocals. The album that this song is in also heavily inspired the way I write the choruses and some sections of our songs. It also helped me through some heavy times in my life.
Alex
Levitate – Bleed For Within
It’s hard to fault Bleed For Within for anything they put out. A fantastic song with powerful lyrics and matching instrumentals; a real triumphant-feeling tune with a cherry-on-top breakdown.
Signal – Silent Planet
One of the heavier songs on their catalogue for sure. Absolutely love this tune for its rhythms and colossal riffs; Alex REALLY brings the smack on the kit with this one. Garrett’s vocals are always great and his poetic lyricism is always interesting to look at. I’m excited for this seemingly heavier chapter of the band to come!
Elysium – Invent Animate
One of my favourites this year, the Aussie boys really brought out such a heavy but emotional song. Absolutely love the chorus, hits you hard as hell. Big fan of that time shift in the breakdown!
Comatose – Hollow Front
I love the pure energy this track conveys, and Devin’s no-holds-barred approach to the drums on this track. I love how in your face and bouncy the riffs are, and the subsequent chorus movement. One of my favourite metalcore tracks of 2022.
Connor
Rot – Northlane
This song was my introduction to Northlane, and metalcore as a whole, a friend showed it to me and later that week I bought the album on CD. Northlane is such an inspirational band to me and this song especially holds a special place. The CD still lives in my car and I put it on regularly.
Vagabond – Polaris
Polaris is one of those bands that just doesn’t seem to miss and for me they are an absolute must of Aussie metalcore to check out. I could have honestly picked any of the songs off of The Death Of Me, the album that this is off. I went for Vagabond because I think it really shows everything that’s great about the band. Punchy riffs, a soaring chorus, a creative but still heavy breakdown, a sick solo, and all brought together with Jamie’s amazing screams.
Views From The Sun – Thornhill
I think Thornhill has been chosen by more than one of us for this playlist and deservedly so. Not many bands can be consistently as awesome as they have been. The entire Dark Pool album is basically flawless and the opening tune Views From The Sun is such a perfect way to introduce the style of the album. Also if you want something a little different absolutely check out their latest album Heroine, it’s gorgeous in a completely different way to The Dark Pool.
The Offering – Sleep Token
Maybe not quite metalcore but I couldn’t not put Sleep Token in. This band is right now probably in the top 3 of my favourite bands of all time. They have had an impact on me that I honestly struggle to put into words. Vessel’s vocals are hauntingly beautiful, emotional, and ethereal at the same time, and the instrumentation, especially the drums are just near perfect. The Offering is one of Sleep Token’s heavier songs, and even still in the verses piano and soulful vocals lead the way. The song builds into a final soaring bridge before descending into almost two minutes of a brutal repeated breakdown, that is almost hypnotic in nature. It’s amazing, and Sleep Token are a must listen for any metal fan. I highly recommend their debut album Sundowning.
Jonas
Balance by Olly Steele
Have listened to this song about a million times and have practised playing along to it about twice as much. Olly is a big inspiration for me in terms of playing ability and writing. Absolute S tier track.
Lost Cause by Novelists
Came out just as Melbourne went into a lockdown and had it on repeat for weeks, hence why this is a special song for me. Love the electronic and synth elements and beautiful guitar solo by Novelists’ Flo. Perfect track in my opinion.
Carbonized by Northlane
Was instantly hooked with the dark and grainy synth intro which teases the main rhythm. This band’s work never fails to produce consistent bangers and this is by far my favourite from them.
Where we go when we die by Thornhill
This band is goated and this track is insane. Instant classic 10/10 S tier slapper in my humble opinion.
Tom
The Old Haunt – The Dear Hunter
This band is one of my biggest inspira+ons when it comes to wri+ng music overall even though its not heavy or metal. The fun and catchy vocals, interes+ng melodic & rhythmic instrumenta+on, dense layering of various instruments and big emo+onal beats keep this band refreshing for me regardless of how many +mes I’ve heard their discography. I find it hard to choose a single song to highlight but this track in par+cular has a bit of everything this band offers.
Story 2 – CLPPNG
CLPPNG’s David Diggs is one of my favourite lyricists due to the stories and topics he explores and how incredibly detailed he is with his words. A couple of tracks on the Matahari EP were about fic+onal stories that I thought were interes+ng to serve as a basis for lyrical content and songs like “Story 2” are a great inspira+on when it comes to telling a narra+ve within a single song. The vocals and instrumenta+on on this track both evolve together as the story unfolds which helps convey the intended emo+ons even if the listener is not focussed on the words themselves. This is a concept I try to keep in mind when wri+ng. Plus the constantly changing +me signature is just TOO cool.
Stranger Things – Periphery
As much as I like metal bands with all singing and all screaming, the ones that really engage me are the ones that regularly shib between them. Spencer Sotelo’s performance of his material and how he flows between vocal styles is especially inspiring as a vocalist. Stranger Things is everything I love about this band. The huge choruses, heavy riffs, soaring vocals and shibing dynamics in this song make it a nicely condensed Periphery package.
Of Mind – Exile – TesseracT:
Tesseract’s album Altered State was a pivotal moment for my musical journey. I had never thought metal music to be ‘beau+ful’ un+l hearing this album for the first +me. It also taught me how powerful vocal layering and harmonising could be. The way the vocals float on top of aggressive palm muted chugging and complex rhythmic pa”erns really cap+vates me and is hard to find elsewhere at this level of quality. Of Mind – Exile is my favourite track from the album due to all I’ve previously said as well as some big choruses, a very emo+onal & dreamy middle sec+on and a cheeky instrumental jam at the end.
Catch Matahari at their upcoming show at The Workers Club with Furious George, Dweller, and Pendle Hill, which promises to be a night of genre-defying heavy music that will leave fans breathless. Get ready for an epic night of moshing and mayhem, and make sure to grab your tickets for this must-see show!
