End of a Year 2023: Albums and EPs Pt. 1
MILE END COURTESY OF SCUM COLLECTIVE
2023 was a great year for hardcore. The genre hasn’t been this vibrant, eclectic or in-vogue since I started going to shows in 2010. The quality of music matches that energy. I basically listened to hardcore and nothing else for large chunks of the year. I did find some real gems when I branched out, but for the most part, I was content to revel in a modern renaissance of my favourite music.
Below is part one of my top 25 records and EPs from 2023.
25: Enervate - All Said and Done (Restricted Airspace)
Milwaukee’s hardest colour outside the lines, setting themselves apart in a metallic hardcore landscape dominated by Trapped Under Ice clones with beatdown tendencies. Energy and charisma make the songs work.
Listen to “All Said and Done”.
24: Blackbraid - II (Self Released)
This glossy black metal album is a lot to digest in one sitting, but moments of utter majesty provide breathtaking highs. Native American folk music is deftly woven into the chaos, breathing new life into a battle-tested formula.
Listen to “Twilight Hymn of Ancient Blood”.
23: Dungeon Keeper - Fortress of Evil (Kellerassel)
On the other end of the spectrum, this German band’s sadomasochistic screams sound straight out of a 90’s Norwegian basement. This is as stompy, catchy and fun as black metal ever gets — unserious in the best way possible.
Listen to “Abominator”.
22: Mile End - Promo 2023 (New Morality Zine)
Flower City’s finest inject their modern metallic mosh with a crate-digging sensibility that makes old heads blush. These kids approach their band with refined calculation, but aren’t afraid to let loose on a track like “FCHC”. The end product is arguably the most exciting thing happening in Southern Ontario currently.
Listen to “Avarice”.
21: Colossal Man - Demo 2023 (Blind Rage)
Something about this Indiana band’s NYHC inspired demo feels less ephemeral than the mountain of similar releases from 2023. It could be the demented personality wafting off the misanthropic lyrics. It could be how these dudes ripped directly from Breakdown and Outburst, skipping the Lockin’ Out revivalism and going right to the source. It could be that I’m a Grey Gordon nut-hugger who listens to him talk about this band every week on his podcast. Whatever the case, this came out in January and I still feel strongly about it.
Listen to “American Made”.
HOTLINE TNT COURTESY OF DISCOGS
20: Magnitude - Of Days Renewed (Triple B)
Magnitude’s devotion to the specific brand of 90’s metalcore they play is mind-numbing. These guys are absolute students of the game, and it comes across in how refined their sound is. They’ve distilled the best elements of everything they love, giving them new life by cutting out all the bullshit and wrapping it in the type of sonic presentation that appeals across decades and regions. After this record, I’ll gladly take Magnitude over anything they pull from.
Listen to “Rectify”.
19: Zulu- A New Tomorrow (Flatspot)
Last year I said I needed more of a sample size to get behind Zulu. They delivered on this record, fleshing out their ideas into a full sonic statement. The non-traditional elements on display — like samples and spoken word pieces — bring the message to life. The music itself proves the band has enough substance to execute their lofty ambitions. Zulu, it seems, set out to make not just a great hardcore record, but a great record period. I’m interested to see how this is remembered in five to ten years. It has potential to leave a real legacy.
Listen to “Fakin’ the Funk (You Get Did)”.
18: Reality Denied - Comes With a Price (Self Released)
RD are the definition of a “band’s band”. Their lack of recognition from the broader hardcore scene is not commensurate with the level of talent and dedication displayed on this release. Real ones know that. CWAP is very clearly a labour of love, put together by talented people with deep knowledge and ability in their chosen medium. RD paint primarily in breakdowns, crafting technically complex yet crushingly heavy works of spin kick-worthy art.
Listen to “Nothing But Hate”.
17: Hotline TNT - Cartwheel (Third Man)
Shoegaze has never really been my thing, but a good song is a good song, and a good record is worth hearing. The saccharine melodies on Cartwheel betray its wrenchingly heartbroken lyrics. This is a fun listen until you clue into what the guy is saying, then it becomes an anxiety inducing swirl of big feelings. I dunno man, I’m going through some shit right now. Let me come back to these songs in a few months and truly appreciate the bittersweet magic on display.
Listen to “BMX”.
16: Young Nudy - Gumbo (RCA)
I was not at all engaged with rap in 2023, but this album snuck through the cracks. Nudy’s version of trap is more closely aligned with the old school Atlanta heavyweight delivery than the sing-song Autotune monotony I’ve become bored with over the last few years. It also seems more rooted in a gritty reality than the braggadocious pseudo-celebrity flexing you hear from bigger names with questionable street cred. Nudy spins vivid and believable tales of life as a jack boy, with a give-no-fucks attitude spilling from the speakers. His technically complex flow and ear for beats also shine on this project.
Listen to “Portabella”.
ELECTRIC CHAIR COURTESY OF DAN SAMHOLD
15: Homefront - Games of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)
This is another record with a hefty emotional weight, and while the music isn’t reinventing the wheel, it does something naturally likeable at the highest level. Home Front don’t make you uncomfortable like Joy Division might. They open the door, let you get settled, and then pour their heart out in an undeniably affecting way. The fist pumping drive and soaring hooks make this a perfect road trip record, while the lyrics to tracks like “Overtime” and “End Transmission” provide goose-bump inducing intimacy. What really sold this to me was seeing it in a live setting, as the vocalist cartwheeled across the stage, somehow hitting every note.
Listen to “Real Eyes”.
14: Inferna - Split with Intersect (Self-Released)
Hardcore was subject to infinite conversations about scalability (and sale-ability) in 2023. With that in mind, finding youngsters making DIY music for “the right reasons” warmed my heart more than usual this year. Inferna’s offering on this split gave me the spirit. This cadre of Oklahoman punk kids obviously have a pulse on what’s happening in the world of modern hardcore, but seem entirely unconcerned with anything except spreading a message and making great music. These tracks come off as effortlessly fun and ripping — refreshing at a time when most new bands seem to meticulously comb over their social media presence before even releasing music. Don’t get it twisted, though. The songs are good on their own merits.
Listen to “Poison”.
13: Kruelty - Untopia (Prpfpund Lore)
I assume Japan’s populous but insular milieu makes it a perfect vacuum for a band like Kruelty to exist. I actually don’t know that. I’m talking out my ass. I’ve never been to Japan. I do know, however, that this record exists outside the paint-by-numbers formula American death metal found itself mired in this year. There’s a lot of Scandinavian influence on here, and if you know anything about Japan’s history of extreme music, you understand the rich crossover between those two regions. This also has a gnarly doom quality which you could possibly trace to a band like Coffins. There are slam riffs, too, in case you were worried. Feel free to windmill in the death metal pit, but don’t be afraid of some dynamic variety either.
Listen to “Untopia”.
12: Electric Chair - Act of Aggression (Iron Lung)
I used to think Gel and Electric Chair shared a similar musical ambition. Listening to prior material from both bands, you could see how I arrived there. I don’t think you can make that comparison anymore. Electric Chair’s first full length is a calculated divergence into weirder territory, pushing gradually on the gas pedal and leaning into the type of skronky leads one might imagine Die Kruzen playing. Not that this record is wholly unapproachable. The hook from “Fatal Disease Pt. II” has been on a loop in my head all year, like some sort of demented circus fever dream. Acts of Aggression didn’t propel Electric Chair onto the festival circuit, but that was never their goal. This record has already carved out a worthy space in its own world.
Listen to “Certain Doom”.
11: Wreckage - Our Time (Scheme)
Here’s another group of youngsters making hardcore for hardcore’s sake. This time it comes in a melodic, youth crew-inspired package, with the express purpose of carving a unique identity. Most young bands pick a couple influences and shamelessly rip them off. Wreckage intentionally tried to make something cohesive yet impossible to pin down. That’s a delicate balancing act, but they managed to pull it off on Our Time. The result is enjoyable and interesting — as you would expect. The pedigree and proficiency of New England’s young scene is eminently exciting. Wreckage could be a band to put futures on, or this could be their defining moment. Either way, it’s worth a listen.
Listen to “Our Time”.
Part 2 coming soon.