The other day I was listening to the best podcast in the world, The Downbeat Podcast, and relistened to the episode featuring The Callous Daoboys. During the episode, Craig Reynolds, Carson Pace, and Matthew Hague were talking about weird shit in songs that an artist can include and how it is, arguably, the coolest part of the song. It is always so much fun when a song has a bit in it that leaves listeners thinking to themselves, "Hold on now. What was that right there? Let me go back and listen again." After I finished the episode, I went down a rabbit hole of trying to find bands that do just that. Enjoy the "Mathcore Noise with Music Scene Media" playlist.
The Callous Daoboys
The first band we have to talk about is the very band that inspired this playlist: The Callous Daoboys. Hailing from Atlanta and thriving off of making whatever music they want, The Daoboys have been on a steady rise, especially after 2022's Celebrity Therapist. I love everything about the band, from their stage presence to their lyrical content and their ability to just have fun with music.
Flummox
Next on the list is Flummox and my goodness, what a fucking band they are. I had the luxury of watching them open for Mac Sabbath a while back and I have been hooked ever since. Their sound belongs in a genre all of its own! Plus, their stage presence is almost as insane, if not more, than their sound. Imagine watching an opossum-priest thing deliver a baby and then tear that baby apart while throwing it into the crowd (this is not an exaggeration). They are truly worthy of the "mathcore noise" crown.
The John Candy
The John Candy is an artist I found unintentionally as they came up on my Spotify suggested one day, but I am so glad because they've been on the daily rotation ever since. When I listen to The John Candy it makes me feel like I am back in middle or high school and finding those weird mashups on Limewire, specifically that Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Disturbed, Cypress Hill, Limp Bizkit one (come on, you must know the one I am talking about). The best thing about The John Candy is that there is no one else out there doing it like them and they deserve to be in a league all of their own.
iwrestledabearonce
Here is a throwback for all you scene and metal kids out there: iwrestledabearonce. Not to date myself over here but I remember many mornings waiting for the school bus and having "Music Choice" loaded up on the TV and one magical day I came across the music video for "You Know That Aint Them Dogs' Real Voice". Talk about a wild sound and a wild music video. I've never heard a sound like this before and if you try and deny the impact this band has had on the music scene, you'd be so badly mistaken.
Arsonists Get All The Girls
Growing up as a scene and -core kid in the early 2000's and refining that taste in the 2010's, Arsonists Get All The Girls is undeniably one of the heavier "mathcore" bands on this list. That's not to deny their impact though! From outrageous song titles to electronic synth breakdowns to vocals that leave your Grandma hoping you'll go back to church, Arsonists Get All The Girls was so influential in the music scene.
Void of Vision
Here me out on this choice. I know Void of Vision is probably most related to just "metalcore" but I'd argue that their breakdowns earn them a spot in this playlist. Don't like it? Too bad. It's my playlist and I do what I want. "Blood For Blood" is a prime example of this "mathcore noise" sound as the track is full of synth and electronic sounds that make it the perfect song to feature in the new Blade movie (if it ever gets made). Fittingly it is from the album What I'll Leave Behind which is the band's final album as they are slated to disband after an Australian Tour in 2025.
SeeYouSpaceCowboy...
Does this band really need an introduction? If you're unfamiliar with the madness that is SeeYouSpaceCowboy... where have you been? The band exploded into the scene in 2016 and their blend of emo, hardcore, and mathcore is next-fucking-level. Their entire discography is near perfect from start to finish, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that their collaboration with If I Die First didn't solidify my love for the band. It is easily one of the best collabs of the 2020s and it will take a lot to change my mind on that claim.
HORSE the band
Is there any better band to refer to when talking about "mathcore noise" than HORSE the band? I mean, come on, the band has it all: synths, high energy, dirty vocals, crazy time signatures, and referring to themselves as "Nintendocore". Making waves since their inception back in '98, there is quite arguably no one else who does it better and that is a hill I will die on.
