Stenchcore

ByDIY ConspiracyOnJun 27, 2023

Stenchcore refers to the distinctive, metallic style of crust punk that emerged in the 1980s. It was pioneered by influential bands such as Amebix, Antisect, Hellbastard, Deviated Instinct, and Concrete Sox. These bands combined the radical political and aesthetic elements of British anarcho-punk with the evolving sounds of extreme metal at the time. The term “stenchcore” itself comes from Deviated Instinct’s demo tapeTerminal Filth Stenchcore.

What is Stenchcore?

Stenchcore is a fusion of anarcho-punk ideologies, extreme metal sound, and a raw, underground ethos. It represents theoriginal first wave of crust punk that embraced stronger connections to metal influences. In contrast to conventional punk, stenchcore emerged as a heavy, dirty, and apocalyptic subgenre while remaining rooted in its core political values and protest attitude.

While following in the lyrical tradition of bands such as Crass, Conflict, Icons of Filth, and Anti-System, the development of stenchcore also found inspiration in bands such as Celtic Frost, Slayer, Hellhammer, Venom, Bathory, and Motörhead. These metal groups laid the groundwork for stenchcore artists to incorporate intense, palm-muted riffing techniques, death metal drumming styles, aggressive vocals, and raw, unpolished production.

The artwork associated with stenchcore typically showcases a combination of Celtic knots and symbols, accompanied by black and white depictions of crows, axes, swords, skulls, skeletons, and decay. This visual representation plays a significant role in defining the distinct aesthetic of the genre, effectively complementing its harsh and visceral musical elements.

Stenchcore Origins & Developments

deviated-instinct-stenchcore-godfathers

In a 2007interview with Deviated Instinct guitarist and vocalist Rob “Mid” Middleton, he explains the origin of the term as follows:

“[W]e came up with the ‘stenchcore’ tag on our demo as kind of a joke as there were so many ridiculous ‘cores’ going about at the time and people used to comment on our general dishevelment. We never imagined it would be taken so seriously and become some sort of sub genre of it’s own.”

misery-extinction-of-mankind-poster

Stenchcore began as a mid-tempo metallic crust exemplified by bands like Amebix and Axegrinder. However, the late ’80s and early ’90s saw the crust genre diversify:

Crustcore: A faster style blending in grindcore, influenced by Extreme Noise Terror, Doom, Sore Throat and Electro Hippies.
D-beat/Discore/Räpunk style: Influenced by Discharge and Anti-Cimex, with bands like Wolfpack (Wolfbrigade), Krigshot, Totalitär, Svart Parad, No Security, Meanwhile leading the way.
Anarcho-punk approach: Bands like Nausea, Aus-Rotten, Final Warning, Distraught, Resist, Armistice, A//Solution, Resist & Exist, Battle of Disarm, Homomilitia, Antischism leaned towards this style.

In the UK, bands like Extinction of Mankind, Police Bastard, Excrement of War, Prophecy of Doom, and Hellkrusher upheld the traditional stenchcore style. Meanwhile, Scottish bands such as Disaffect, Sedition, Debris, and Scatha, while not strictly following the classic stenchcore sound, maintained the genre’s signature Celtic-inspired artwork.

The stenchcore genre experienced a revival as bands from various parts of the world embraced its sound. In the United States, this revival was led by bands such as Stormcrow, Sanctum, and Hellshock. Canadian bands, including After The Bombs, Global Holocaust, and Contagium, contributed to this resurgence. Europe also witnessed a revival with bands like Cancer Spreading from Italy, Hiatus from Belgium, Warcollapse from Sweden, Filth of Mankind from Poland, Guided Cradle from the Czech Republic, Instinct of Survival from Germany, and Greek bands such as Χαοτικό Τέλος (Xaotiko Telos), Ξεχασμένη Προφητεία (Forgotten Prophecy), Πανικός (Panikos), and Hellstorm. Russia saw contributions from Fatum, while in Japan, bands like S.D.S., Acrostix, Effigy, and Zoe championed the stenchcore sound, among many others worldwide.

instinct-of-survival-teppei-miki — Instinct of Survival in 2018, 📸 Teppei Miki

Stenchcore Bands

Proto & First Wave Stenchcore: Amebix, Axegrinder, Antisect, Hellbastard, Deviated Instinct, Concrete Sox, Sacrilege, Legion of Parasites.
Second Wave Stenchcore & Traditional Crust: Hellkrusher, Prophecy of Doom, Saw Throat, Muckspreader, Excrement of War, Police Bastard, Substandard, Coitus, Hiatus, Brainstorm, Instinct of Survival, Extinction of Mankind, Filth of Mankind, After The Bombs, Sanctum, Stormcrow, Hellshock, S.D.S., Asbestos, Acrostix, Effigy, Zoe, Absurd Attitude, Revölt, Χαοτικό Τέλος (Chaotic End), Ξεχασμένη Προφητεία (Forgotten Prophecy), Πανικός (Panikos), Χειμερία Νάρκη (Hibernation), Rigorous Institution, Guided Cradle, Cancer Spreading, Alehammer, Skaven, Stagnation, Hellstorm, Winds of Genocide, Misantropic, Femacoffin, Death Evocation, Mortal War, Contagium, Nihildum, Axeweild.
Modern Stenchcore Revival: Lifeless Dark, Fatum, Asocial Terror Fabrication, Last Legion Alive, War//Plague, Cimiterium, Katorga, Alement, Aftermath, Sorrow, Tormentum, Metachrist, Extinctexist, Bordger, Collapsed, Barren Soil, Coelacanth, Downwinder, Mace Head, Slavery, Corrupted Human Behaviour, Swordwielder, Moribund Scum, Realm of Chaos, Nocturnal Scum, AHNA, Mordloch, Warkrusher, Vörrukt, Terminal Filth, Hades, and many others.