Best Records of 2020

This list came about much later than i had originally intended due to a combination of being embroiled in drawing illustrations as well as the year seemingly drawing to close before I even had a chance to take a breath. I don't need to say much about 2020 that hasn't already been said by multiple people before me. If you were there, you knew how excruciating it was for a number of reasons, but surprisingly even though live music as an entity ceased to be, there were a good amount of records released this year. Below are some of the releases that left the biggest impression on me.

Best Albums of 2020

Chronophage - Th' Pig Kiss'd LP
Cleta Patra Records

Texas (U.S.A)

Chronophage have made a number of releases over the years but it wasn't until Th' Pig Kiss'd that everything connected for me and I really fell for their sound. The production on this release has been stepped up a notch, instruments are much clearer in the mix, and this whole record is a much better representation of their output. Musically they are drawing from lots of experimental post-punk sounds such as Swell Maps, Minutemen and The Fall. Vocalist Sarah Beames reminds me a lot of Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, in the way she executes a number of hushed vocals with an almost poetic delivery, the comparisons don't end there either because a number of their tracks have similar experimental structure. Included here is the video for their track 'Any Junkyard Dreams' which is quite possibly one of the most memorably creative videos you'll see for a while; it's also my favourite track on this release.

 

Boris - No LP
Bloodsucker Records
Japan (Tokyo) 

‘No’ is another genre hopping release from Tokyo's Boris which this time finds them building on ground covered in their 2006 release Vein (Hardcore) version. Opener 'Genesis' chugs along in familiar and pounding trademark sludge metal style, think (Dot (.) Floor, Melvins) but quickly deviates into something more akin to fellow countrymen Gauze and the Fukouka distortion worship of GAI but most notably comparisons can be made to Gudon (in fact they cover 'Fundamental Error' on this record) it's a really cathartic and guttural album, literally and musically, but that's not to say there aren't moments of ambience to be found on this release. If you want a more contemporary reference comparisons can be made to Demolition from Nagoya, especially with their mix of metal, hardcore & wild Rock 'n' Roll seen throughout, however Boris are far more unpredictable. Typically these influences have been filtered through some exhilarating musicianship that will keep you guessing the destination of each track until the end of the record. I feel this is a really stand out release in the bands long and fascinating discography

 

Farmaco - Hasta Que Valga La Pena Vivir LP
Discos Enfermos
Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Farmaco from Argentina play panicky brooding hardcore firmly planted in the 1980's which has been filtered through a number interesting guitar leads found on this four track 7" EP. The vocals are spat out at a fast pace, perfectly encapsulating this level of intensity. The first track Todo Muere, drew me in straight away and I was 'sold' from then on. It's a rollercoaster ride of the best sort. If you haven't had the chance to listen yet, think Barcelona and Nekra and you are in the right ball park for the type of hardcore they are playing.

Life - Ossification of Coral LP
Desolate Records/Acclaim Collective/Not Enough Records/Distro Rakkos
Japan (Tokyo)

Ossification of Coral is what I believe to be Life's third proper full length album and much like that well worn expression 'if it aint broken, don't fix it' they haven't reinvented the wheel with this release, however they have created another new album in similarly punishing raw musical territory to their previous efforts. If you like that amplified two pronged attack of distorted guitar and drums, then this is the record for you. I particularly like the guitar leads on this release. Think Framtid, Kriegshög, Crude SS and all the other usual suspects if you want an idea of what they do sonically.

The Guays - あきらめることをあきらめたんだ LP
Kilikilivilla Records
Japan (Tokyo)

 'I gave up giving up’ greets the listener with upbeat lively pop punk that would sit perfectly on Snuffy Smile records. I'm reminded of early Pear of The West records Lovemen and The Apers and maybe even a dash of early The Clash. The Guays do a good job of capturing summer musically and at 10 tracks they have really created a tight concise record. Positive energy abounds on this release with dual male/female vocal melodies strewn across the album, which clocks in at just over 30 minutes. A very solid effort. I hope they tour the UK in the near future, i'm sure they are a lot of fun live as well.

Gag - Still Laughing LP
Iron Lung Records
Washington (U.S.A)

Gag are back again after a slew of releases with their second 'proper' full length. As always this band have managed to remain somewhat mysterious despite being so prolific, but they have lost none of their intensity during that time. This album is a full to the brim of choppy, sometimes plodding nasty sounding unrelenting hardcore complete with echo, reverberation & grunts. It's completely primitive and pulls you in. My favourite track is the manic sounding Taki Boombah. However I must admit I slightly prefer the cut of this track originally heard on Americas Hardcore Volume 4. This is a particulalry solid slab of wax.

Heavy Discipline - Heavy Discipline LP
Painkiller Records
Pennsylvania (U.S.A)

Heavy Discipline are FU's worship of the very best kind, with particular influence taken from their first two records. This Pennsylvanian band have a large amount of intensity and energy that leaps from your stereo as each pummelled riff will have you pogoing on the dance floor (or your room floor?) This album breezes past in an instant and there is hardly a chance to take it all in which in my opinion is exactly the way the best kind of hardcore records should be...

Riki - Riki LP
Dais Records

California (U.S.A)

Riki reminds of what would happen if the Cocteau Twins were raised solely on synth rather than crafting the ethereal sounds they are mostly known for. I also hear some Japanese style City Pop influences in the vein of Tomoko Aran or Tamao Koike seeping in on a number of tracks. Fans of Boy Harsher will also find something to love here. I mentioned something similar when Powerplant got into my top records list last year but this once again feels like the type of soundtrack you can imagine being played in a bar located in the Blade Runner universe or any number of 1980's films with a vision of the future. 

Pressure Pact - Scared Off The Streets LP
Wolves of Hades
Tilburg (Netherlands)

Do you enjoy The Boston Strangler, Out Cold, Dead Stop, Violent Reaction, Negative Approach and bands of that ilk? Then Pressure Pact from the Netherlands will satiate that desire for tough sounding speedy hardcore. Expect 12 tracks of anxious interesting and unruly hardcore, if you have no time (or patience) then spend it wisely with this 21 minute album.

The Completers - End b/w Parallel Lines 7"
Yeah You! 
Porto Algere (Brazil)

The Completers from Porto Alegre remind me of what would happen if Morrisey sang for Joy Division and added some shoegaze elements to their sound in the vein of Ride. The riffs have a very dreamy quality to them, with only the vocals permeating through the waves of sound. Considering it's only two tracks it left a very big impression on me. 

Rated X - United Front LP
Painkiller Records
Leeds (UK)

Violent Reaction put out some great records and were a total behemoth live, so it was a shame to see the band come to a close in 2017 in a couple of sweaty and entirely memorable live shows in north and south London. Fast forward to 2019 and Tom Pimlott is back with another great unapologetically straight edge hardcore band called Rated X. Their latest release titled United Front is a 12 track album, played at hyper speed, almost edging into Terrorain territory (but not quite) picking up nicely where Violent Reaction left off. Fans of Pressure Pact will also no doubt enjoy this release. It's fast and intense, I look forward to hearing more. 

Nürnberg - Paharda LP
Sierpien Records
Minsk (Belarus)

Paharda is a haunting Belarusian Post-Punk record that will appeal to listeners of Ploho, Siekiera & Second Still with driving melodies and layered baselines that build many different changes in mood. The music here sounds very introspective and demands the listener’s attention. This record has a nice choppiness throughout it and doesn't waste any time with an abundace of overly drawn out songs. I like that each track feels as if it is ready let you experience a number of different soundscapes.

Satélite -Otra era LP
Flexidiscos
Madrid (Spain)

Spain increasingly seems to be the epicentre of post-punk right now & Otra era by Satélite serves to solidify my opinion. I'd be careless not to make comparisons to fellow countrymen like Belgrado or Paralisis Permanente but this band carve their own spin on the dark post punk sounds that were originally spearheaded here in the UK and later perfected in places like France and Spain. I really like the sound production of the bass and drums on this release, the tone resonates throughout the record. This record stuck with me, way beyond initial listens.  

Straw Man Army - Age of Exile LP
D4MT Labs INC Neurosonic Research 
New York (U.S.A)

Interesting punk with a jazzy edge, more in the vein of The Universal Congress Of than Naked City with maybe dashes of The Ex thrown in for good measure. I am also hearing the Red Dons in many of the tracks deliveries especially in the guitar structure. Age of Exile has a nice drive to each of its tracks, with layered building of many sonic elements, which culminates into impressive bombastic crescendos. 

Honey - Romero 7"
Cool Death Records 
Melbourne (Australia)

Great two track 7" from Australia’s 'Honey' At times I’m reminded vocally of Amyl and the Sniffers (maybe it's the accent?) however musically I almost instantly think of The Exploding Hearts & The Undertones with maybe a dash of Neighbourhood Brats, it's an uplifting record that makes me think of summertime. If you are a fan of Power pop or drawn to a catchy earworm or two, then you absolutely need to check out this record. I look forward to hearing what they do next.

Portray Heads - Portray Heads LP
Bitter Lake Reccordings
Matsuyama City (Japan)

Collected here for the first time is some incredibly rare minimal wave from Matsuyama City in Japan. Portray Heads are another example of the countries highly diverse musical output during the 1980's. There's a real precise almost industrial feeling to their music with the synth feeling quite hypnotic and evoking the countries economic ambitions at the turn of the century with music that won’t stand still with a feeling that everybody listening to this record is being propelled into the future right before our eyes. Futuristic is probably the best way to describe their music. It's a shame the band were swallowed into the mists of time, with only record collectors aware of their presence. I hope this collection reignites a lot of interest in the band. The closest comparisons to their sound that i can think of are Panasist & Interior who both dabble in similar musical territory. Great art on this release too!