Best Releases of 2023

Best Releases of 2023

Silicone Prairie - II LP
Feel It Records

Kansas City Missouri (U.S.A.)  

Vol. II is a breezy mishmash of 60's garage, discordant melodies & layered samples of German language dialogue peppered sporadically throughout II's half an hour running time, whilst musical proceedings are predominantly calculated at manageable speeds, Silicone Prairie are not averse to the odd speedy rhythm change. It's playful and full of gusto & there's no doubt in my mind that they had a lot of fun recording this record and it's definitely apparent this is the case in the overall execution of the music. The record has somewhat of a 'vintage' sounding production that lends well to this release, with static and ambient moments throughout giving it a psychedelic quality, reminding me of hometown band Psycodaises and many of the 'egg punk' mainstays. Highly recommend listening for your winter nights as you pine for the return of the summer. As far as I'm concerned the essential track is the finale 'The Minotaur'

Kumo99 - Headplate LP

Pressure Signal Records

Los Angeles (U.S.A.)  

Headplate is the third album by Kumo99. A tour de force of frantic D&B infused rhythms with a punk edge. It's certainly apparent to me that their recent tours with a number of hardcore bands has reinvigorated their own intensity, with choppy cuts and samples laid over oscillating vocals, some hushed in tone and others cast out at breakneck speed. Particularly satisfying is the sense that no moment was wasted on this album and that we get to experience ten solid tracks of carefully crafted reverberating beats and precise musical execution starting from the drop of the first note until the last. Audio references to Japanese culture, clips sampled from objects and video games run throughout this record, many of which piqued my attention as I tried to recognise where they had been lifted/sampled from. There are many tracks with a anthemic quality to them, however a personal favourite is 'Dopamine Chaser' which contains some deliriously energetic music as one can expect from a track titled as such. 

Of final note is the great production on this album found throughout each of the ten tracks, clear and directly to the point with no filler apparent.            

色々な十字架 - 少し大きい声 CD

元気で笑顔が輝くレコード

Tokyo (Japan)  

I first heard about 色々な十字架 (Various Crosses) when they were due to support ベッド・イン (Bed In) & Deathro at a show in the Shibuya district of Tokyo earlier this year, luckily due to good timing on a recent trip to Japan, I was able to make the jump from Osaka to Tokyo in order to attend this gig. The show titled 'Bubble Beat Cross' leaves no illusion as what was to be expected, with Hi-energy bubble era music and a firm emphasis on catchy riffs and beats being the order of the evening. What left the biggest impression on me was how accurately 色々な十字架 captured the Post-Punk/Visual Kei style and sound of that time period, especially, in the structure of the music, bringing to mind the likes of early Larc En Ciel, Color & かまいたち (Kamaitachi) Of course the customary stage theatrics were also there to be seen, and the music was infectiously energetic. Having heard some singles from this release earlier this year, I knew a full length had a lot of potential. 少し大きい声 (Little Loud Voice) certainly proves this. With some sonically twinkly moments, occasional synth moments & vocals excavated from the goth movement, bizarre lyrics and many memorable tracks resulting in a solid release. Highlights for me are 蜜, 大きな大きなハンバーグ & 凍らしたヨーグルト but there are too many to choose from. A very well constructed album.

    

Stingray - Fortress Britain LP

La Vida Es Un Mus Records

London (UK)  

Returning to my end of year list once again, are London hardcore powerhouse Stingray, with the brilliantly titled 'Fortress Britain' a calculated execution of auditory demolition, which expands on their previous output with a faster and harder sound, with choppy tight drumming and burly thrashing riffs bulging at the seams as each track slams in to the next. There's also Japanese hardcore influences creeping in to many of the the tracks, especially in some of the more metallic moments, something I will happily back, hard. One thing that appeals to me personally are the particularly strained vocals that are most apparent on the track 'Blistered Skin' The vocalist had me dialled in for the entirety of the release. 

The production feels particularly strong too, with vicious guitar work found throughout and a totally uncompromising sound. I'm into it.

 

象の背- Millennium New Love/Flying Sun 7"

Self released

Kyoto (Japan)  

象の背 (Zonose) play interesting indie with a slight post punk edge, that projects a joyous summer time feeling but has a dash of underlying sugary sounding melancholy, reminding me musically of bands like Hazy Sour Cherry, Homie Homicide & Strip Joint with chintzy guitar playing framing the soft vocals, I even think the cow bell that features on these tracks works well (not something which can always be pulled off effectively...) This is the perfect soundtrack for those choosing to reflect on life in their down time and those who can appreciate catchy ear worms that won't leave your mind in an instant. The whole single is a breezy fun adventure from start to finish with lots of interesting arrangements and plenty of personality.  

 

Peach - Summer Promo Mixtape (Digital)

Self Released

Medan (Indonesia)  

Indonesia's consistently outstanding punk & hardcore scene has spawned Peach, who are one of the latest in a long line of superb bands from the region. 'Summer Promo Mixtape, is one of two releases by the band released this year including the tight 5 track EP 'Nisha' released in January. On their latest release they kick into action with some stand out bass playing & reverberating guitar bouncing throughout the structure of each track, giving some major drive to proceedings. For some bizarre reason the lead singer reminds me of Cal from Discharge during their 'The More I See' Cal era!, maybe it's the high pitch of the vocalist with a falsetto vocal style that leads me to think this? fortunately it works well here. If I had to pinpoint their sound for someone who hasn't listened to them yet, it's within the realms of the youth crew/straight edge sound, most likely to appeal to fans of Stand & Fight, Initiate, Tomar Control and so on.  

Pest Control - Don't Test The Pest LP

Quality Control Records

Leeds (UK)  

The first full length release by Leeds based Pest Control released on London's Quality Control Records is a solid outing of Crossover thrash with a good helping of maniacal hardcore that builds on their previous releases in intensity and speed. Completely raging vocals and great visual imagery straight out of the late 80's. On viewing the brilliantly lurid B movie album cover, I was reminded of British pranksters Metal Duck! although musical queues are erring more on the hardcore side of crossover, particularly NYC's Leeway and Iron Age both coming to my mind and while there's been a number of great bands doing the thrash revival thing in recent years Pest Control, don't feel like a parody or homage, it's pure fire and rage with lyrics spat out at speed. Even in their slower moments, such as 'The Great Deceiver' sound like anything of that ilk on the aforementioned Iron Age's 'Constant Struggle'. 

Don't Test The Pest is rife with duelling metal guitar riffs and great lyrics. Bonus points for the excellent reverberation on lead singer Leah's vocals. 

Footage of Deathro @ Koiwa Bushbash 

                                                                                                               Footage of Deathro @ O-nest 

Deathro- ときめき/NO HYPER 7"

Royal Shadow

Tokyo (Japan)   

                  

Deathro has a long background in Tokyo hardcore bands including Angel O.D. & Cosmic Neurose, but in the intervening years has since branched out using his namesake to craft a new band that recalls groups like Boøwy, Shazna, Malice Mizer and contemporaries such as 色々な十字架 with a power pop/J-rock edge to his sound. I was lucky enough to catch Deathro twice in Tokyo this year. The first performance was an impromptu karaoke (!) version of his band at a show he wasn't even due to play at in the live house Koiwa Bushbash (Footage of which I captured above) the other was with his full band at the O-nest in Shibuya (which also features above) Deathro was an absolute ball of energy on stage both times and his support group (of which I believe contains members of Daiei Spray) are completely accomplished musicians in every aspect, whose enthusiastic energy really emanates from the stage, I had fun and I could certainly tell the band were. Deathro is truly a stage personalty and every one of his records tries to capture the energy of his music, the latest release is another fun slice of J-rock with some of his trademark poppy hooks that make his music such an enjoyable listen. 

Brorlab - Working Out In Heaven LP

La Vida Es Un Mus Records

Antwerp (Belgium)  

High Energy and utterly demanding of the listeners attention. 'Working Out in Heaven' is a blistering audio attack on your eardrums but never once forgetting to inject excitement & fun into their chaotic outbursts, cranking up the energy from one brilliantly ludicrously titled track to the next, with unusual samples and synth battering the listener in increased frequency as the tracks move forward. Certainly I'm reminded of the sounds cut by the likes of BB Eye, Atom & His Package, Yumi Yumi & maybe a little of Big Black's sonic intensity. Listening to this record casts me back to the early 90's, when I was frequently found playing video games on my Mega Drive & PC, albeit that memory might be accurate had someone decided to manically riff over the top of it...That's the kind of aesthetic and nostalgic feeling this album conjures up. Lumpy Records and 'Egg Punk' fans take note, this will no doubt be your cup of tea.

xdetesterx - Promo 2023 (Digital)

Self Released

Lion City (Singapore)  

Promising two tracker springing from the depths of Lion city Singapore, playing total H8000 worship, think Congress, Liar, Arkangel et all. Chunky riffs, satisfying guitar crunch, precision drumming nice build ups, all the types of sounds you expect from that style. Competent musicianship and focused anger filled energy abound, throw in some of those Integrity-esque guitar leads and this gets two thumbs up from me. Presumably this promo release is setting us up for an upcoming full length or 7"? I have no doubt I'll be keeping my ears open to see what they will create next...  

 

Gimic - Defer To Hate 7"
Crew Cuts Records

Bristol (UK)  

For such a relatively new band Gimic have quite a few releases under their belt already, including various tapes and this, their latest 7" released on the Crew Cuts label out of Plymouth (U.K). 

At this point Hardcore is quite a crowded sound, so anything to change it up is always welcomed and Gimic gift us some twisty early and mid period Dischord Records-esque riffs, while some of the structures on a number of tracks make me think of that gnarly John Reis attack, it's a combination that works well across all five tracks, one of my favourites being the title track. It's also important to address Harriets superb whiskey stained vocals belted out in short sharp outbursts which certainly binds the release together cohesively. It's a satisfying record, but in tried and tested hardcore fashion, it feels like it ends almost just as quickly as it started.

P-iple - Missing Idols 7"

Call and Response Records

Tokyo (Japan) 

'Missing Idols' contains six tracks of Post-punk and noise rock on this tempestuous 7" with its most powerful moments filled with cascading energy throughout, while its slower moments feature plodding drum beats, sprightly baselines & artistic angular guitar work, audibly attacking the listeners sensory faculties. Each track creeps along at a satisfying pace while a few songs resort to a stop/start feedback dynamic. At times, interesting and layered repetition of guitar form an almost psychedelic backdrop to much of what I'm hearing on this release, while the vocals atonally rise, fall and reverberate.  

If you enjoy material by the likes of Autoclave, M.A.Z.E., Nicfit, or Sarcasm (London) then this will be right up your alley. Check out the video for the excellent 'Frankensteiner' for a good insight into what they do.

 

Texas 3000 - Tx3t (Cassette Album)
Self Released

Nakano City (Japan)  

Texas 3000 based in Nagano city, Japan sound like they are straight out of early 90's chapel hill scene. with driving guitar, peppered with overriding bass, forming the overarching sound of the tracks found on this release. It's refreshing to see this sound done well and its a real mash up of sounds that recall the shoegaze of My Bloody Valentine, and indie grit of Superchunk, Dinosaur Jr & Archers of Loaf. It's clear they are trying to approach these sounds with a renewed vigour then many of the other bands playing similar sounds at this time. The whole record has a rather dreamy quality to it, with dense drum beats and twinkly guitars vying for attention. There's also a nice 'country twang' to many of the tracks which feature here and that combination surprisingly blends well with the main body of their sound. I feel like I'm praising the production on a number of releases this year, but Tx3t is another deserving of such. Exciting and interesting. Track this one down..    

Cryuff - Lovefullstudentnerdthings (Cassette Album)
Powerpuff Records

Tokyo (Japan)  

Much like Texas 3000, Cryuff have a chapel hill esque sound with a little more Post hardcore/noise rock & mid west emo thrown in for good measure, think Quicksand/Rival Schools and a touch of Helmet's 'crunchier' moments particularly noticeable on 'Summercut'. I'm also hearing shades of Latterman, Dinosaur Jr & Texas Is The Reason thrown into the mix, while guitars are balanced in a thoughtful manner wandering between ringing dissonance and harmony, with dreamy luscious guitar work, most evident on the track that the album takes its name from, which is a standout in a heap of great cuts. 

At just shy of 10 tracks, it doesn't outstay its welcome, but if I had to be critical I would have left the track 'Theme' off as the opener. In my opinion the repeated phrases and jangly guitar drag on for a little little too long. Maybe this should have been left as the final track? small criticism aside, this is absolutely a band I will continue to keep an ear out for in the coming years.