The hooks are there, the music just overwhelms it much of the time - not denying the hooks weren't bigger with Paramore, FOB, blink, Green Day, etc., but those bands weren't pulling as much from 90s emo and hardcore and that makes up for the hooks a bit imo, as well as the lyrics hitting harder for me (with bands like TWY, The Swellers, Polar Bear Club, Fireworks, etc.). I don't really consider Neck Deep, Real Friends, etc. part of this same movement. Just my take!
I'd also add that State Champs started with fantastic hooks and has tried to focus on that to very diminishing results. Knuckle Puck is another band I sort of like that has very hookless music. The funny thing is all these band are clearly trying to write hooks but missing the mark.
I have no idea what State Champs have done lately, but those first two albums had bangers. The other two bands have always sucked? Kind of weird to compare the best and most popular pop punk bands of all time with no names that weren't anywhere close to the peak of their own era.
Anyway, TSSF, Wonder Years, Fireworks, Transit, Four Year Strong, and Set Your Goals all had plenty of "hooks" but were also going for totally different things than the poppiest side of the genre.
I like them! But I wouldn't claim their music is nearly as "hook-focused" as, say, Jimmy Eat World or something. But that's cause they're more about riffs and moshing and yelling along than a tune that gets stuck in your head, relatively speaking (obviously they have a bit of both).
KP may have not lapped the big guns of that era (TSSF, Neck Deep, TWY, State Champs) in terms of popularity & ticket sales, but their EPs and full lengths can go head to head with any of them, in my opinion
I'd consider KP and TSSF part of the old guard now arms length, HM and anxious are the three I'm expecting to break out on their next album cycles
Not sure if One Step Closer fit in here, but I feel like they're about to blow up with their full length.
Koyo and one step closer hedge closer to the hardcore scene although one step closer’s new singles are all much more melodic. Regardless both those bands are incredible too.
I do agree but there’s some seriously infectious hooks with Koyo’s record. You’re on The List? What’s Left To Say? Postcards?? CRUSHED?! Yeah, that’s the good stuff :)
ND are/were bigger than all of these bands except TSSF. They are absolutely the peak of their little era
Meet me @ the Altar deserve some recognition. I also didn't hate the Games We Play album from this year. Magnolia Park haven't 100% hit for me but I think they deserve success.
They’re solid for sure but Anxious’ songwriting is much more varied and interesting to me: as a drummer their drummer is also a fuckin whiz kid to me, I know they’re all very early 20s and his grooves and fills are so tasteful and impressive for that age so that moves the needle a lot more for me than other people lol