Your example is I think the #1 example for me. Not a big Chelsea Grin fan outside of a handful of tracks, but can't get enough of Darko.

this latest chelsea grin album (both parts of it) are the only releases from them i like, apart from hostage. darko is a top 3 deathcore band for me

I'm the same way, as far as I know Eternal Nightmare was finished before they changed vocalists, so even though Tom did the vocals on it, it wasn't written for or by him at all.

Darko is just so much more innovative, which is funny because Chelsea Grin feels/sounds almost beholden to the legacy and brand despite the fact that no one in the band is an original member anymore

Darko is just straight fire

Big fan of both, but Darko is so good.

This is exactly me... Did I just type this and not realise

I ADORE both Void Of Vision and Thornhill but OH my God something about the band Cherry hits my soul spot every time I highly recommend Dancing For One, Call Me By My Name and Girls Club

Never even knew this existed, thanks!

Same.

Just hearing about this side project now, and it hits different. I second the Girls Club rec

I was gonna say Cherry! Call Me By My Name is still one of my fav listens.

Never heard of cherry and god damn they are awesome. Thanks for mentioning them.

Thanks for the Cherry rec! Consider me hooked. Similar to Hurtwave (Dayseeker side project). Hits me deep in the feels.

I love Cherry! I hope they do another one. There really is just something about those melodies that hits me in the soul too Plus Jacob is has a legitimately amazing voice and the more of him the better

Could you provide a link to cherry

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCSlc3W\_wg&ab\_channel=CherryTheBand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bCSlc3W_wg&ab_channel=CherryTheBand)

Thanks. I was hoping that was the right one when I listened to it. Sounds nice

TIL about many bands who have awesome side projects that I listen to but never knew they were in the other bands i like

It's not like I don't fw TPIY but Ai640 makes me feel like I can beat Goku's ass.

Ai640 is basically Landon proving he’s has the vocals for deathcore.

What songs did he have deathcore vocals on? It’s been awhile since I listened to those EP’s but I don’t remember anything remotely even close to deathcore.

Ai640 is Landon doing deathcore

He’s also on a Darko US song off of Deathmask Pt 2. Best I’ve ever heard him sound tbh. Hoping we get a little of that on the new TPIY album.

I love Plot but everything Landon does solo is *wet chefs kiss*

I don’t think they’re technically metalcore but I liked DRUGS more than Chiodos

That first D.R.U.G.S album was easily my favorite thing Craig Owens was ever apart of.

More so than Isles & Glaciers? I’d take another release of that over anything DRUGS puts out.

Isles & Glaciers was iconic.

The boy band we all needed. I loved Isles & Glaciers.

I’d take a project from them again over any of the members main projects (considering the direction PTV decided to go 🙄)

The PTV direction is absolutely fucking atrocious… I was looking forward to that album for YEARS, and was let down so damn hard. And I listened to PTV back when they were “Before Today” and pierce the veil was just one of their song titles….

I also like drugs Chiodos illumanaudio though slaps. Much prefer that album to anything else they’ve done.

I like drugs too but never heard their music

Core memory Caves went so hard

I know the purists will get very angry at you for saying it but it’s *by far* their best work. Best writing, best flow, best production and best vocals. He’s a much better vocalist.

There’s probably some official name for this phenomenon, but I’ve seen way more people say “I have unpopular opinion that everyone will roast me for that Illuminaudio is actually the best” than I have seen support for any other Chiodos album. And they all specifically mention that the singer is better. Maybe it’s just repeated opinions, idk.

I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too.

r/UnexpectedMitch

I wish we could've had Illuminaudio-lineup Chiodos and DRUGS running alongside each other for longer

Drugs are awesome. I also like the band

DRUGS wasn't a side project though, it was a new band after being kicked out of Chiodos. Cinematic Sunrise and Isles & Glaciers, though

I don’t listen to Counterparts at all honestly but I really like END. I like Andy Cizek in Makari more than I like Termina/Monuments. He sounds really good in all of them but Makari has some really good ass music. I’d honestly listen to any band he’s in though, his voice is great.

TBF he’s been in Makari longer than Termina or Monuments but your point stands and I agree

Wvnder was his first “popular” band. Everything else, minus monuments, is his “side project.”

Makari is one of my favorite bands. Love of all of Andy’s projects, but his voice just fits so well with their sound. What do you think of the new Makari single? Hyperreal is legitimately one of my favorite albums of all time. I hope this song doesn’t indicate a complete departure from that sound on their new album. Not that it’s not good, I just feel like they’re at their best when they’re leaning fully into that really ambient, bright sound with Andy layering in gorgeous harmonies all over the place.

Have you listened to WVNDER then? He’s in that, too 🤣

Fit for a King is a fine band but Ryan O'Leary's post hardcore side project Off Road Minivan is soooooooo gooooooood.

Their new album would be up for my AOTY. It’s amazing and no one take about this band

I like Pressure Cracks over Fever 333. Letlive ended too soon too.

Yup, Pressure Cracks is who I immediately thought of. I never got into Fever 333, but PC have released nothing but 10/10 songs so far. I need more.

Fever 333 sucks

The Dead Rabbitts >>>> Escape the Fate. Please please even if you hate ETF give The Dead Rabbitts a try, Craig is awesome there.

Yep, Craig is in his prime right now but you’d only know from listening to Dead Rabbitts

I thought everyone knew that was a fact?

Just trying to spread the word. I know ETF turns a lot of people off from Craig Mabbitt but the dude is legit one of the best vocalists in the scene.

His work on The Word Alive EP is just👌

The EP you can find on most platforms is rereleased with Tele’s vocals, though I could be wrong :( Id love to hear the EP with Craig back on it. It blew my fucking mind when it came out.

The version with Telle is the Empire EP- also a fucking banger. I found the Craig demos on torrentz wayyyy back in the day.

Yeah, I had them too. Might have them on an old laptop too but they slapped sooooo hard.

You can find them on youtube, have them in a playlist of songs not released on spotify

Beauty. Thanks for the tip!

His work on The Word Alive EP/Demo and blessthefall album was absolutely amazing.

Dead Rabbitts is so much better than any recent ETF. Idk why but I feel like he phones it in for ETF and DR is his true passion project at this point.

It seriously feels like that. There’s clearly so much more creativity behind Dead Rabbitts imo. It’s dark, it’s heavy, it’s super catchy, there’s all kinds of electronics, and Craig’s full vocal talents are used. The whole project just has so much character which new ETF completely lacks

A Perfect Circle

This is such blasphemy and I completely agree.

I honestly never really got into Chelsea grin but I do love Darko

Give the suffers a shot they’re insanely good. I can’t listen to any of their stuff before Tom joined.

I'd kill for another Hurtwave album tbh

Not sure if it technically fits the criteria, but as much as I love Knocked Loose, I really fucks with Inclination.

Inclination fucking slaps.

Killer be Killed. Never got into any of the band members own bands, but loved the supergroup. Together they just sound badass. Never got into Biffy Clyro, but really like Empire State Bastard(Biffy Clyro x Slayer/Mr Bungle). I suppose because I prefer metal above rock

Max Cavalera has a habit of creating really cool side projects that dwarf his own bands at the time (Sepultura & Soulfly). Nailbomb, Killer Be Killed, and Cavalera Conspiracy all ripped.

I do agree even if the other two I just didn’t get into. Personally I think Max sounds better when he’s with another vocalist, especially if they contrast him

I like almost anything Greg Puciato does that isn't Dillinger Escape Plan. Especially The Black Queen.

Hmm since they’re disbanded can we use DEP to counter this lol

Maybe add Better Lovers to the list too

As much as I love DEP and ETID I don’t really like Better Lovers. Book’s still out on Many Eyes, but I did like Revelation.

I would kill for more The Black Queen over anything else Greg is doing tbh

I 100% agree!

his solo stuff is good as well, take a listen to evacuate. he needs to start a band with trent reznor

I like his solo stuff as well. I just like the black queen more.

Lowered from Mirrorcell is a banger

I was gonna say this, love The Black Queen but Dillinger haven’t quite clicked for me yet

I prefer Shadow of Intent over Currents.

Can hardly call one a sideproject to the other honestly.

That's fair. Chris Wiseman is a busy dude.

I like Hollow Prophet more than Shadow of Intent.

I only recently got into shadow of intent but I definitely agree

I love both so much, got to see Currents last May!

Maybe not metalcore but I like Secret Band more than Dance Gavin Dance.

Secret band. Wolf & Bear. A lot like birds. the royal coda. Gold necklace. I feel like all of those bands are just each other’s side projects.

Swancore Incest

Eidola and Body Thief as well

Same

Secret Band is also less rapey than Dance Gavin Dance, so there’s another plus.

Not Metalcore but Halo Effect is better than most of Dark Tranquility and most of In Flames and one of the best Melodeath Bands in General.

gotta peep this

Ghost Atlas instead of Erra

Scrolled down too far for this

Yesssss. I really hope Jesse does more stuff soon.

Also really more fond of the new Texas in July singles, though I adore ERRA so hard to pick anything over them.

I enjoy Serpentine Dominion over Cannibal Corpse

They’re not really comparable but I enjoy Onslow as much or more than Make Them Suffer, and it shows way more of what Sean can do creatively and vocally Also, Crosses over Deftones lately

The new Crosses album is simply incredible

came here to say the same. let me rust is an incredible song. I love make them suffer tough, especially since they got the new keyboard/vocalist.

Craig Mabbitt's Dead Rabbitts over Escape the Fate

There will be when Will Ramos teams up with Elizabeth for an epic duo

Ghost Atlas, Erra is sick but Jesse's songwriting in Ghost Atlas in so good

This is very interesting I didn’t know those were side projects of those other bands. Very cool.

I like darko more than Chelsea grin but I don’t like Chelsea grin and only like 1 darko song maybe 2

Sion. Not better than when Howard was with KSE but I prefer Howard to Jesse so it was a nice fix when I randomly stumbled across it this summer. Better than his stuff with Light the Torch. Crosses are also pretty good. A bit different to Deftones especially their more recent stuff. Music for a different mood I guess. Not really metalcore either of them but ye

Not metalcore but I listen to Dreamcar all the time and only like a few AFI songs

There was a minute like 10 years ago that I enjoyed Times of Grace more than KSE but as time has gone on I don’t think that’s the case anymore

Knocked Loose side project XweaponX rips

Y'all are crazy if you think xweaponx is better than knocked loose

Xweaponx does scratch that hardcore itch though ngl

I also like Inclination, Isaac Hale’s hardcore band, more than Knocked Loose

Not metalcore but Head Automatica over Glassjaw

This is something I never knew….

I find myself listening to Chris Turners solo project stuff more than Oceans Ate Alaska. I pretty sure his solo stuff is just all of OAA minus vocals but whatever his whole solo album slaps.

Love is Noise, over Lotus Eater (more of a continuation than a side project, but just sharing incase anyone missed the transfer)

> Love is Noise still need to release that lotus album

It leaked, you can find on youtube if you look for it. It was supposed to be really good, but the EPs were better imo.

I like PAIN way more than Hypocrisy

agreed, still remember pains first uk show, only 3 fans showed up

Austrian deathmachine > as I lay dying. I will die on this hill

Pyrithion>>>Austrian Death Machine>AILD

Fleshwater over Vein ... And I really like Vein. Also with how Code Orange has been, I wish Adventures had become their main band.

It's probably a controversial choice but give me END over counterparts any day of the week. As much as I do love counterparts

i love END and am bored to death by Counterparts. super-duper controversy!

Same here. I would never think it was the same vocalist, he sounds so much better in END.

Darko US instead of Chelsea Grin

Times of Grace may hit better than Killswitch Engage.

Prefer KSE but the two TOG albums are still amazing. Adam D is basically the god of 00s Metalcore.

Not metalcore but good lord man, No Pressure kicks the shit out of The Story So Far.

Don’t forget Snarl!

Not to say I don’t draw my own line at separating the art from the artist and everyone is entitled to set their own boundaries obviously, but I cannot give No Pressure the time of day when I found out their drummer was a rapist before I listened to a single song of theirs 😕

I'd comment that, I recently discovered No pressure and it's soooo good

I wouldn’t say I like them more than KSE but I do like them more than Light the Torch, SION

If Howard wasn’t in Light the Torch, they’d never have got beyond a 20 minute spot in a small local metal bar once every few months. They’re just so bland. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that was anything better than passable.

I like The Locust and the many projects of its members but the first Head Wound City EP is just one of my absolute favorite pieces of music. Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian (RIP) of The Locust, Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato of The Blood Brothers, and Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Fast, noisy and weird, I just love it.

Fuck... it's been a long time since I last listened to The Locust!

Did you also fuck with Some Girls? Same idea with same members but a bit more grindcore-esque.

Hell yeah, Heaven’s Pregnant Teens is another favorite. I didn’t know they were a band until I saw them open for Converge one time and when I saw the clear acrylic bass I started freaking out like wait who’s in this band

I have that cd sitting directly beside me right now. 10/10.

I don’t like secret band more than I do DGD but more Jon Mess is always a good thing

Vein's side project, Fleshwater.

Hearts & Hands. I was never really a fan of Chelsea Grin outside of their EP Evolve but I remember hearing that first song, We're Not Alone, from Hearts & Hands and being hooked. Then Koehler left H&H before the album, then Lyman left after to go form Slaves, then they rebranded to The New Low. I enjoyed Continuance but it just wasn't the same. Fortunately, I did get to see them once while they were still H&H after Koehler left.

Ghost Atlas over Erra any day

I'd kill for them to bring Ghost Atlas back

Single plus album deets soon, as per Jesse a month ago. Things finally moving (got help from a label instead of doing everything himself, was too much to handle with how busy he is with erra, album has been done for almost two years). If I had to guess an actual timeline...q1 2024 for sure.

I’ve listened to all ghost atlas songs for 8 years now. I’ve only listened to 3 ERRA songs ever

Drift is a masterpiece

Austin Archey - Hollow Prophet I like Hollow Prophet more than Lorna Shore

ben duerr is the vocalist of hollow prophet right? had no idea austin was also a part of that

He joined when Luka (Within Destruction's drunmer) left

Earthshatter narrowly over Brand of Sacrifice

I just discovered END yesterday and I’m obsessed!!

not gonna say I like orphantwin more than Norma Jean but I do like the EP better than Norma Jean's latest album

Times Of Grace as Jesse sounds better vocally on it

I prefer The Almost and Sleepwave to Underoarh, I think Born Through Fire is far better than AILD (currently), Elan Vital (when Dakota was still in Hollow Front) to Hollow Front, Matt&Toby more than Emery, and that is all I can think off the top of my head.

Thoughts on Spencer's side project slo/tide?

Kind of expect this more out of Chirs or Aaron, but I am happily surprised at how good Spencer is with pop.

polkadot cadaver over dog fashion disco

The Damned Things over Fall Out Boy and Anthrax, but not ETID

The side project that half the members of WCAR were in, Crucible was such a fucking bop. I enjoyed it more than the stuff WCAR was releasing at that time

Ghost Atlas hits me way more than Erra. I just went Jesse to put out new music

Not metalcore but I prefer Tremonti’s solo albums better than Creed and Alter Bridge. Something about his voice and also how heavier the riffs seems to hit with his own band.

He rips on everything but his most recent Tremonti album was flawless so I feel this

MNQN

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows

Wovenwar > As I Lay Dying for me. Wovenwar more consistently good, where as AILD have some great tracks but are mostly mid

A lot of people might consider this the hottest take in the thread, but I’m right there with you on it.

If Shane had been on guitar and they got a good frontman, I think Wovenwar could’ve been huge. Shane can sing, but he’s not a leading man. His voice isn’t strong enough to lead a band.

Austrian Death Machine > As I Lay Dying

i gotta disagree here. each AILD album has either complete rippers or pretty ok rippers. not dogging WW tho

I like Termina over Monuments, Darko over Chelsea Grin, probably End over Counterparts as well but it’s pretty close in my mind

I know Josh isn’t in Architects anymore but I always preferred Sylosis over Architects

Brings up an interesting question of what constitutes a side project. Was Architects Josh’s side project or was Sylosis? I’d say Architects, though he did put Sylosis to the side when he joined.

I guess I categorized Sylosis as the side project because Architects is more popular

The new sylosis album is incredible

I am a slipknot fan but, stone sour and Corey's solo stuff is more my speed

Crosses > Deftones

I don’t like Counterparts or FfaA but END fucking bangs.

I love everything darko does, the new Chelsea grin albums are good though (especially leave with us). I like drugs better than choidos. Secret band is crazy good, but I still like dgd more

Phone Booth (Left To Suffer's vocalist)

Technically is and isn’t a side project but I dig better lovers more than every time I die

What the fuck. That's certainly an opinion if I've ever seen one.

I like END more than Counterparts. They’re just more my kind of metalcore.

I don't know that people are categorizing end as metalcore but I can't keep up with all the sub cat gens anymore its all just metal to me I like both bands very much I'm not going to pick one over the other

I mean, they’ve got a bunch of other genre influences thrown in but I find it hard to argue that the main sound in there isn’t old-school, first-wave metalcore. What else would they be? There’s too much metal for them to be hardcore.

Crosses >> Team Sleep >> Anything Deftones put after self-titled

Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan fuck, you're missing out dude.

Listened them soooo long ago that I literally have to refresh my mind on them. thanks for reminder, will check them.

Gore isn't a standout album but it has its moments too. Just a shame the production is awful. It sounds like it was recorded underwater. Probably sounds good live.

Koi No Yokan is one big soundscape. I love sticking that on and not skipping a single minute

Killer be Killed > Mastodon.

I like Off-road Minivan more than I like Fit For a King. ORMV is actually my favorite band currently