Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!
What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs.
10
MILITARIE GUN
Life Under the Gun
June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista
Highlights
Very High
Will Logic
Never Fucked Up Once
Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years.
SQUID
O Monolith
June 9, 2023 • Warp
Highlights
Swing (In a Dream)
Devil's Den
Undergrowth
Coming up as part of the new wave of British indie rock alongside the likes of creative-minded monsters Black Country, New Road and black midi, Squid's debut more than held its own, signaling an equal willingness to experiment and push the music forward. On
O Monolith, the progression is less melancholy than BCNR and far less feral than black midi, instead choosing to explore dynamics and songcraft; so as to say, the focus is less on seeing how far they can push but rather how expansive they can get while staying true to their songs.
8
SLEEP TOKEN
Take Me Back to Eden
May 19, 2023 • Spinefarm
Highlights
The Summoning
Granite
Ascensionism
One of the year's most divisive releases (as is typically the case when a supposed "metal" band strays too far outside of their predetermined box), Take Me Back to Eden arrived in the wake of a whirlwind of attention thanks to genre-hopping lead single The Summoning (and viral reactions to its R&B switch-up at the five minute mark). In the four months between the single drop and the album release, Sleep Token seemed to amass a substantial and devoted cult following, which has carried over through packed live shows and continued interest. Of course, the backlash soon followed by gatekeepers and cynics, but the hard truth is that heavy music needs Sleep Token because they're leading the charge in dragging the genre forward. If you need tangible proof of this consider Metallica, widely regarded as one of the very biggest and best metal bands on the planet, releasing their first record in seven years this year and barely registering a blip of interest outside of their aging, already established fan base. If metal is to survive, we need more Sleep Tokens and less crabby old white guys who don't like change.
*I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I'm well aware some really good records were released by "classic" metal bands this year; I see you, Cryptopsy and Cannibal Corpse, for two. The point isn't to tell the old guard to get out of the way, rather to maybe be a little more accepting of what's coming in.
7
CITIZEN
Calling the Dogs
October 6, 2023 • Run for Cover
Highlights
Can't Take it Slow
If You're Lonely
Takes One to Know One
Among the somewhat recent (read: the last decade or so) crop of emo-influenced indie punk, perhaps no band is more deserving of wider success than Citizen. Whereas cotemporaries lean into the anguish of aging and the horrors of everyday life, Citizen decided at some point to filter their outlook through hook-laden power pop. As a lifelong sucker for that kind of stuff, I can't deny a little personal bias here. Still, if you can listen to a top-to-bottom endorphin rush like this and not feel something, maybe the problem isn't me.
6
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
June 16, 2023 • KGLW
Highlights
Motor Spirit
Converge
Dragon
The only thing more fun than typing out that comically long album title is listening to KGLW (a band who, at this point, you either get it or you don't) go back to full metal mode on album #24. This record flows into its follow-up, the synth-boogie trip The Silver Cord, and that album may have cracked the top 25 given a few more listens, but there's simply no ignoring the prog/metal behemoth that is PetroDragonic Apocalypse, which sees the ever-evolving band of creatives temporarily entering their Tool phase. Heavy, intricate and exhilarating, this record is just another glowing example of a band that has a seemingly endless supply of quality music in their coffers.
5
PARAMORE
This is Why
February 10, 2023 • Atlantic
Highlights
This is Why
The News
You First
Back when they were in the business of misery, a young upstart Paramore sounded to me like the kind of band that would never create anything I'd enjoy to the level of including it on my year end list, let alone the top five; and yet, here we are. Pivoting into a more organic, indie-leaning sound, Paramore's sixth album takes Hayley Williams' natural tendency for pop hooks and applies influence from the likes of Bloc Party, Radiohead and (to my ears, at least) At the Drive-In, resulting in a legitimately thrilling and consistently satisfying rock album from what many would have considered cogs in the pop machine before This is Why put all preconceptions on blast. I know, because I'm one of them.
4
WEDNESDAY
Rat Saw God
April 7, 2023 • Dead Oceans
Highlights
Bull Believer
Chosen to Deserve
Quarry
Occupying a seldom traveled area somewhere around the intersection of southern rock and grunge, Wednesday's sixth album finds them hitting upon a formula that bursts from the speakers and tugs at the heartstrings in equal measure. Throw in a little punk ethos, some shoegaze, a pinch of noise rock and a dash of country, and Rat Saw God is the kind of near-transcendent record that improbably sounds familiar and groundbreaking at the same time.
3
MODEL/ACTRIZ
Dogsbody
February 24, 2023 • True Panther
Highlights
Donkey Show
Crossing Guard
Amaranth
Classifying the debut album by Model/Actriz is a fool's errand. Is it noise rock? Industrial? Queer punk? Hardcore? Post-punk? The correct answer, if one exists, is all of the above and so much more. Cole Haden's pained and anxious vocals and lyrics punctuate every song and turn otherwise impressive enough sonic experiments into mission statements. A thrilling, confrontational, unique, unapologetic and completely engaging album in every sense, Dogsbody sounds like many different artists but none more so than themselves.
2
JEFF ROSENSTOCK
HELLMODE
August 31, 2023 • Polyvinyl
Highlights
LIKED U BETTER
DOUBT
HEALMODE
Since debuting in 2015, Jeff Rosenstock's albums have gotten more and more chaotic; HELLMODE feels like a proper culmination of what came before, and a reflection of the times, with Rosenstock ruminating on crises both personal and global, utilizing whatever sonic background is needed to support the vibe, whether it's fiery noise punk, sugary power pop or emotionally charged acoustics (sometimes all of this and more). The end result is a record that doesn't hammer you over the head with intensity or stay wallowed in the shadows, rather giving listeners the full experience over its 41 minutes of catchy hooks, crackling melodies and poignant lyrics.
1
GEESE
3D Country
June 23, 2023 • Partisan
Highlights
2122
Cowboy Nudes
Undoer
From its opening declaration ("God of the sun, I'm taking you down on the inside") to the boozy closing beat of
St. Elmo, the sophomore album by New York post-punkers Geese grabs hold and refuses to let go. Gleefully dipping their proverbial paintbrush into any and all colours that fit the feeling (often within the same song, as illustrated perfectly on opener
2122),
3D Country is an album that simply cannot be judged by a mere skim through. The wild mood swings, the lyrics, the tension, the grooves, all of it potentially a little bewildering for first time listeners, but repeat visits only sweeten the rewards. Whether they're riding an easy classic vibe (before deconstructing) as they do on
Cowboy Nudes, getting their vintage funk on for
I See Myself, channeling their inner Bad Seeds and/or Radiohead on
Undoer, or pulling their sound into any and all manner of direction, there's a swagger to
3D Country that's more fitting of a much more experienced band. Which tells me that, much like the winged bastards they've named themselves after, there's still much more damage Geese can do.
There you have it, my favourite records of 2023. Agree? Disagree? Let me know why I'm an asshat for sleeping on (insert your choice here), try to convince me that the new Avenged Sevenfold record isn't the worst record that came out this year (you guys, I know it's a low bar but sheesh), or just do what everybody else does and say nothing. As long as you found a song/record/artist that helped you get through another dumpster fire of a year, that's what's most important.
See you next year.
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