Nihilistic Creation: From Ramones to the Early American Hardcore Punk in an Age of Diminishing Expectations

Abstract

This article explores hardcore punk as a form of nihilistic creation—an approach that goes far beyond its usual characterisation as simply a faster, harder form of punk rock. From an existential perspective, the hardcore punk movement embodies the nihilism of its time, notably in the temporal structure of the songs, thereby forging a singular aesthetic. While the radical simplification introduced by the Ramones paved the way, it was through bands such as Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Bad Brains and D.R.I. that the phenomenon took a more definite shape, using condensed temporality, rhythmic breaks and lack of progression, while maintaining a basic pop-song structure—thus simultaneously calling into question the very idea of innovation. This nihilism gave rise to an aesthetic of urgency, in which temporality became a vehicle for protest. This article therefore proposes a re-reading of nihilism as a paradoxical form of creation, redefining the link between music and meaning.