Fan poll: 5 best post-hardcore vocalists of all time
Head to the AP Shop to grab limited-edition vinyl variants of Silverstein’s Discovering the Waterfront, Dead Reflection, This is How the Wind Shifts, and Misery Made Me, as well as Chiodos’ All’s Well That Ends Well.
Post-hardcore is a broad bag. Emerging in the ’80s and taking off in the early 2000s, there’s a wellspring of bands who don the label. From elders like Rites of Spring, who funneled the aggression of hardcore into introspective songs, to bigger names like Thrice, who used their mainstream popularity to keep evolving, the genre is rife with all kinds of different styles and tastes. In more recent years, post-hardcore has even mutated into more unpredictable shapes, with acts like Code Orange, Ithaca, and Static Dress venturing into bolder terrain while maintaining the ethos of the bands who paved the way.
Read more: Hail the Sun pick their favorite 2000s post-hardcore songs
We asked our readers who the best post-hardcore vocalists are of all time, and many were nominated. From Daryl Palumbo to Shane Told, find the top fan picks ranked below.
5. Geoff Rickly
Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly is a distinct lyricist with an even more unique voice. From their early days as up-and-comers to their rise as genre veterans, the band have racked up a slew of classics from their many albums. “Understanding In a Car Crash” and “For The Workforce, Drowning” stick out in an abyss of early 2000s post-hardcore songs, and by the time the next decade loomed, they had already released five albums filled with certified ragers. Though it’s been 12 years since their last studio record, Thursday have been actively playing shows, like when they ran through War All the Time in full for a Riot Fest after-show earlier this year.
4. Daryl Palumbo
Glassjaw’s second album, 2002’s Worship And Tribute, cemented the band as post-hardcore legends. Their sheer fluidity, which features vocalist Daryl Palumbo screaming his lungs out and then shifting into a sweet croon within the same song, set a standard and needs to be seen to be believed. Naturally, the post-hardcore giants went on to inspire countless acts, including Every Time I Die, Touché Amoré, and Koyo. They will even celebrate 30 years together with select shows later this year.
3. Craig Owens
Craig Owens seems to thrive in chaos, as he’s featured in different supergroups (D.R.U.G.S., Isles & Glaciers, Cinematic Sunrise) and pursued his own solo music after Chiodos — a post-hardcore outfit that were beloved by many — ended after 15 years. No matter the project, though, his voice remains inimitable and something to aspire to, going hand in hand with his ability to command a crowd. Whether he’s turning chaotic Chiodos songs into elegant ballads or remixing a 100 gecs cut, Owens is a massive talent in the post-hardcore world.
2. Shane Told
Shane Told is the assertive and emotive frontman behind Canadian post-hardcore giants Silverstein (or maybe you know him from his first band Jerk Circus if you’re an early fan). From playing Green Day’s “When I Come Around” at his first show to touring the globe with Silverstein, Told has remained an unstoppable force within the post-hardcore realm. His screams are rife with feeling, whether he’s ripping into an explosive chorus (“Smile In Your Sleep”) or relying on more melody (“Discovering The Waterfront”). Really, you can’t go wrong digging into the entirety of the latter, as the album possesses some of his best vocal runs.
1. Anthony Green
It’s no surprise that Anthony Green is the top pick. From his multiple bands — Saosin, Circa Survive, the Sound of Animals Fighting, and his more recent venture in the supergroup L.S. Dunes — to his vulnerable lyricism about addiction and relapse, Green is a genre giant who’s put out a number of commanding and gut-wrenching vocal performances over the years. It’s hard to narrow it down to a favorite, but “The Difference Between Medicine And Poison Is In The Dose” always seems to resonate as one of his finest moments, no matter where you joined in during his lengthy and impressive career.
