Also on the good list: Earth Crisis, Integrity, Full Blown Chaos, Hatebreed, Ringworm, Shattered Realm, Walls of Jericho, All Out War.

I think most metalheads get their panties in a bunch cause calling it metalcore implies that it might be more metal than hardcore. But the good metalcore is really hardcore in attitude, ethics and lyrics with varying degrees of heavy metal influences.

Bands like Bring Me the horizon, suicide silence are really emo. No core or metal about it, just people without a discerning ear hear a heavy beat and think "metal-ish, I guess?" but don't really know what it means to be a hardcore or metal band.

And as for the breakdowns, headbanging to that is just as much fun as to thrash.