Anyone who is into hardcore simply for “the music” is into it, as I see it, for the wrong reasons. If you don’t have any sort of social conscience or beliefs systems that you can relate to in the music, and if there aren’t topics that you feel like you can go to a show and talk to people about (other than “the mosh” or how hard a band is), you should just find a new hobby.
With the influx of religious argument amongst the people I know, I’d like to take this time to address this quote. If you take a look, you’ll see that there’s more to hardcore than just going to shows and listening to music. Underneath the loud music is a message. If you’re not questioning the establishment, questioning religious right, or actively questioning the world at large, then you’re missing the point.
All of us are impressionable, whether we like it or not. If started early, then you can easily be brain washed into believing anything. People should be taught to question, taught to think on their own. If all you are doing is regurgitating what you’ve been told all of your life, then what good does it do? If you can’t formulate your own opinion, your own ideas, and perhaps explore something different for once, then nothing good will ever come out of it. You may put out a happy demeanor when among a crowd, but deep inside you’re hurting because there’s a doubt that you have to set aside and deny.
I first got into hardcore when I was 13 and I haven’t looked back since. It’s taught me how to question religion, question authority. It taught me how to be okay with running against the grain, taught me the beauty of living a sober life. If you’re simply into hardcore for ‘the music,’ the ‘sick pit moves,’ or how ‘heavy’ a band is, then you won’t be around very long. If it doesn’t spark any sort of anger, aggression, rational thought, or critical thinking, then find something else.
Gabe XXX
<3