beatdown
what it is
Originating from the New York Hardcore scene, closely related to metalcore. Early predecessors such as Breakdown and Outburst incorporated metallic mid-tempo grooves, urban aesthetics and heavy breakdowns into hardcore, leading to bands such as 25 ta Life and Bulldoze (who also named the style) to establish beatdown as a genre by emphasizing these elements. Beatdown bands often incorporate hip hop influenced vocals that can vary from a rap-inflected delivery to full on rapping, extended spoken mosh calls, simplistic heavy chug grooves, chromatic slam riffs akin to slam death metal and an excessive amount of breakdowns.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make beatdown a playlist
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questions
What is beatdown?
Originating from the New York Hardcore scene, closely related to metalcore. Early predecessors such as Breakdown and Outburst incorporated metallic mid-tempo grooves, urban aesthetics and heavy breakdowns into hardcore, leading to bands such as 25 ta Life and Bulldoze (who also named the style) to establish beatdown as a genre by emphasizing these elements. Beatdown bands often incorporate hip hop influenced vocals that can vary from a rap-inflected delivery to full on rapping, extended spoken mosh calls, simplistic heavy chug grooves, chromatic slam riffs akin to slam death metal and an excessive amount of breakdowns.
What are good beatdown albums to start with?
Try Welcame by Rise Of The Northstar, Love by Nasty, Madre Mia Gracias Por Los Dias by Xibalba, and Contagion by Oceano.
Who are some women making beatdown?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/beatdown/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making beatdown, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20