"In the mid-'90s, metal and punk started to grow closer than ever before, and metallic hardcore (later shortened to metalcore) was born. This wasn't the first time these worlds collided, of course, with bands like Motörhead and Misfits bridging the gap between metal and punk in decades prior. However, by the end of the century it was the first time that this fusion was widespread enough to birth an entire genre, which still reigns supreme today as heavy music's most popular form. The genre started to take shape and become more popular by the early '00s, with bands like Killswitch Engage pulling it towards metal influences, while acts like Botch and Cave In kept the hardcore punk sound closer to the heart."