Archers is a Madison, Wisconsin-based post-hardcore outfit formed in 2015 by guitarist Ben Koehler and vocalist Nathanael Pulley. They occupy a specific niche in the 'modern metalcore' landscape, characterized by high production values and a seamless blend of heavy instrumentation with pop-centric vocal delivery.
Their career trajectory was significantly boosted by their viral 2015 cover of The Weeknd's 'The Hills,' which established their signature approach: recontextualizing melodic R&B structures within a heavy rock framework. Over the following decade, they evolved from regional performers to national contenders, touring with genre staples like I Prevail and Palisades. Their sound identity is defined by 'clean-heavy' dynamics, utilizing digital-forward production that avoids the lo-fi grit of traditional hardcore in favor of a commercial, anthemic sheen. Critical consensus points to them as leaders in the 'soft boy' metalcore movement, where vulnerability and melodicism are as central to the identity as the breakdowns. They represent the shift in the 2020s toward genre-fluid heavy music that appeals to Gen Z's diverse listening habits.
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); defiant, vulnerable, intense (moods)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, compressed_loud, layered_dense (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal (subgenres); studio_polished, layered_dense, digital_clarity (production style)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal, cathartic, screaming (subgenre)
Shares post-hardcore, alternative metal, cathartic, vulnerable (subgenre)
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →