A modern form of music, influenced, but wholly separate from Heavy Metal that incorporates rap, funk, simplified song structures, and subject matter geared towards the teens and youth of America. Topics often include alienation, parental abuse, and "the pain inside." Watch for simple rhyme patterns and a general lack of innovation. The oversaturation of the market with mallcore in analogous to the takeover of glam rock in the late 80s and early 90s as record companies scrambled to make a quick profit. The roots of mallcore go back to Anthrax's "I'm the Man" as well as Faith No More's "Epic." These visible hits which fused metal and rap inadvertently caused a tidal wave. Bands such as Korn and such spinoffs soon began to take over the market with detuned and substandard products. As the style of music overtook a naive fanbase, many bands, formerly true to heavy metal, began to lean towards mallcore tendencies. These bands, such as Metallica, In Flames, and others made their sound more accessible by simplifying their work and adding aspects of electronica, whispered vocals, simple chugging riffs, and taking focus off of lead guitars. This style of music as of late has been decreasing in popularity, as record companies have opted to move on to other styles of music. Most likely the style will experience a revival in the next decade as bands realize they have no money, having spent it in their prime. Revival tours and reunions will be common, and the pain of the past will be experienced once again.

derisive term for MTV-created bands who claim to be metal but actually are not. usually consists of downturned guitars, poorly played drums and bass, and teen angst lyrics screamed or rapped over this wall of noise.

95% of the consumers who decorate themselves with Hot Topic brand Pre-packaged punk and related materials. Known for not bathing and dressing for excessively low temperatures at all times of the year. Favored fashion includes anything related to "The Nightmare Before Christmas", the bands "HIM, Slipknot, Insane Clown Posse, and Mushroomhead". Also, pants that were manufactured for a much larger individual, and fitted with metal restraints such as chains or straps. Apparently the message is individuality and non-conformity, though to be mallcore you must conform to nonconformity and be an individual like all the other mallcore "individuals". Sweatshirts and beanies appear to be mandatory, as well as random use of safety pins. Mallcore is not to be confused with actual goth, because goth folks appear to have jobs, and pay more money for higher end pre-packaged fasion. Apparently there is a distinction. Most mallcore kids end up mall janitors, those people that wear signs for costume shops next to the freeway, or if they follow thier dreams, one day manage a hot topic.

A derogatory synonym for nu-metal, created as a reaction to the misuse of the word "metal" in that genre name.

A form of "music", related to alternative rock and nu-metal. It is characterized by simple structures, ugly musicians, silly lyrics and little drum kits. It has nothing to do with true heavy metal (ie. Iron Maiden, Dio, Black Sabbath...)

Mainstream rock music that is corporately controlled, and usually a cynical attempt to cash in on hit mainstream trends. The word comes from the music being played in terrible mall stores like Hot Topic. Peoples' main problem with mallcore is stupid tweens and teenagers acting like it's the hardest, most badass rock in the universe and the record labels promoting it as such. Usually, it refers to the genres of nu-metal, metalcore and post-grunge. While good bands do exist in these genres, mallcore refers, frequently, to the most grating, stereotypical and shitty examples.

Kids who wear "Goth" clothing and hang out in malls a lot, usually near a DDR machine.

Kids that hang out at the mall and suck each other off while listening to slipknot and think they are tough as nails.

If you cant name a local band from your hometown chances are you are not hardcore... You are mallcore.

Mallcore bands: killswitch engage, shadows fall, all that remains, horse the band, deicide, bleeding through... And so on.

Disclaimer: just because your band is in hot topic doesn't make you mallcore. But if the average person that likes your band is under 15 and has parachute pants eye makeup and dyed hair you are now popular enough to be considered a mallcore band. This does not make your band bad but it only drives away real music fans and older crowds from buying your cds and going to your shows.

A derogatory term used by elitist asswipes to describe a style of music derived from or inspired by nu-metal, as well as other popular genres such as hip-hop.

Often, the protagonists of the term "mallcore" are fans of old-school and/or underground metal and are unable to appreciate the fact that for the younger generation, guitar solos are cliche and hackneyed. They also lack the vision to understand that complexity in music can be achieved by more than just playing the fastest and the most notes possible on any given instrument, i.e. guitar, drums... Complexity can also be found in song structure, though it is not necessary to the effectiveness of a basically good song. In fact, simplicity can be as much, if not more of a factor in effecting high quality in music as a blazing fast solo, a fact that underground metal elitists fervently deny. (see above)

"Mallcore" is also used as an adjective to describe the people who listen to "mallcore" music. These people are often younger, much the chagrin of their older counterparts (metal elitists).

There is some debate as to whether "mallcore" music is hated more for it's substance or for the fans of the genre. Some believe that they have an equal share in the blame, as often old-school metal elitists base their identity in their fanaticism of old-school and underground metal, therefore when their music and collective sense of style are shunned by the younger generation they feel insecurity about their "coolness" and the "coolness" of their music. It is a strange but probably typical duality that most elitists ignore the fact that they ridicule "mallcore kids" (a common term of derision) for finding identity in their own "mallcore" music.