How's 2023 been for you, so far? Good? Average? Pretty rough? Don't worry – the kind folks at SPB have got you. We've crunched the numbers, broken down the boundaries, and—more importantly—listened to all of the music released in 2023 thus far. Alright, most of the music. Armed with this knowledge, we've whittled down the list of new albums into a compendium of the best music released this year so far. Each of our staffers has written a quick summary of each album, so don't delay – check out the records you should've already heard this year, so you can confidently sing their praises by the time the end of the year rolls around. Thank us later!
Aaron's Top 5 of 2023 So Far
1
Squid - O Monolith
Warp Records
Squid's Bright Green Field was the surprise of 2021. A great record that left me aching for more. O Monolith arrived and it was like throwing me into a dream that occasionally morphs into a nightmare. It's moments of serenity that get interrupted by bursts of chaos and somehow it all works together.
2
Boygenius - The record
Interscope
Picking up right where they left off, Boygenius have graced us with a full record. It's Indie-Rock bliss that is clearly too big to be Indie. The trio took the formula from their EP and turned it up to 11. Each member has brought their A-game which will lead to arguments over who has the best songs, despite each bringing something different to the table. Dacus is a magician with harmony, Baker adds more of the Rock edge, while Bridgers is elevating the poppier aspects of the record. Together they're a powerhouse.
3
Fucked Up - One Day
Merge Records
After 5 years, Fucked Up finally released a new full-length album... and it only took them one day to write. "One day" with an asterisk. Their new album, One Day (are you tired of reading "one day" yet?) was essentially written in the span of 24 hours when guitarist, Mike Hallechuk, took it upon himself to go into the studio. What came out is the most streamlined Fucked Up record in years while still being varied. From a track that sounds Pop-Punk with a Fucked Up edge to a track that sounds like Husker Du. Sometimes a time restraint can bring out the best in people.
4
Screaming Females - Desire Pathway
Don Giovanni Records
Screaming Females are the best rock band going right now and Marissa Paternoster is one of the best living rock guitarists. It's a crime they're not bigger. Desire Pathway leans a little more into heavy rock than it does punk and is a bit more consistent than some of their previous albums. Just over 30 minutes of Screaming Females kicking your ass with tracks like "Brass Bell" while still being accessible with songs like "Mourning Dove." Long live Screaming Females
5
The Damned - Darkadelic
Ear Music
Don't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, an album. The Damned are still out there writing catchy Punk Rock tunes, and as you can guess, with a bit of Psychedelia. You kind of know what to expect with The Damned by this point, but it doesn't make Darkadelic any less enjoyable. It's simply just a really fun album. They even gave the fans something I assume some have been clamoring for -- A Damned song intended to be played at funerals.
- Aaron H
Cheryl's Top 5 of 2023 So Far
1
Austere - Corrosion of Hearts
Austere are revered in the black metal underground; with an emotional take on the genre and a long hiatus, the Australian duo came back with a bang this year. New music and live shows hopefully means it's for a while. In any case, Corrosion of Hearts might have come fourteen years after their last full-length with Austere keeping the dark atmopshere and progressing their sound in a way that feels like it was no time at all.
- Cheryl
2
Norway has been at the forefront of the black metal scene for longer than most black metal fans have been alive, and Dødheimsgard have been a presence for almost thirty years themselves. Reinvention is a touchstone of the Dødheimsgard sound and Black Medium Current is a stunning showcase of just how magically bonkers the band are.
- Cheryl
3
Sky Void of Stars is the sound of a band at their pinnacle with vocals possessing a range that cuts to the core with even the slightest inflection and guitars that soar with melanchioly in all the right places. Sweden's Katatonia are rightfully thought of as masters of their chosen genre and the kind of doom they create is weighted with the kind of emotion that is known to all humanity.
- Cheryl
4
Lamp Of Murmuur burst onto the scene only a few short years ago and yet the project has fast become one of the most talked about names within black metal. Touring Europe, playing festivals and having vinyl sell out in the blink of an eye does give the impression that there is a lot of hype around the band and it is not at all unjustified. Live the Lamp Of Murmuur experience is frenetic and on record the band are just as passionate. Saturnian Bloodstorm signals a change in style and it is magnificent.
5
VNV Nation - Electric Sun
If you are looking for euphoria, you can do worse that seeking out VNV Nation and their futurepop beats. The electronic project has been on the scene for well over thirty years and still shows no signs of slowing down with huge tours and a regular album cycle. Electric Sun is a fantastic collection of songs that pulse with slick energy from the opening moments to the closing quietude. Close your eyes and dance.
- Cheryl
Christopher D's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
1
A beautifully orchestrated derecho gently massaging pinnacles of mountaintops and settling and existing in gentle falling raindrops.
Gira has created another magnum opus.
Highly addictive like sickly sweet granulated sugar spun candy floss
A top contender for album of the year.
Stay tuned for an interview wth M.Gira focused on The Beggar.
- Christopher D
2
Swing Your Lanterns is another achievement in the large output of Ivan Julian.
Tales of yarn spun by a well-seasoned storyteller navigating the ocean of existence, guiding us through the waves, and breaking with the wake. Wallow and explore in the surf, fighting to survive in more turbulent waters.
Stay tuned for the interview with Ivan Julian and get your tickets for the upcoming show in Toronto in September
3
Tintinnabulation resounds through the astral planes pulsating waves of pleasure that wash over the mind's crevices.
Lawrie the high lord of shoe pondering kinship amongst psychedelic warlords has reinvented and suspired sweet breath into telescopic proportions.
Highly recommended
4
Another reason I tell everyone I go to The Church. The bells are ringing and the strong wafting smoke of incense wallows through the air penetrating psychedelic dreamscapes. The Church has me on the kneeling bench with rosary in hand begging for forgiveness as this lamb had lost its way along the tangled forest past. I have been saved.
The Church has always reinvented while staying true to its vision. The Hypnogogue is another jewel in the fabled goblet. Drink and be merry. Rejoice in this achievement.
5
Happy Wife, Happy Life.
Drink from the chalice of Social Lubrication. Suckle on the dark crimson life source as it dribbles out of the open wound and is fed upon by ever-swelling leeches filling until they burst.
Dream Wife will be the band to watch for as they develop further.
- Christopher D
Delaney's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
Midyear is upon us and 2023 has been a particularly good year for new music -- if you're me. I've been able to plug into releases from my favourite bands (sorry for the 'u'- I'm Canadian) and rediscover some old ones along the way. It's been a fruitful year for post-punk with releases from Opus Kink and Squid. While the UK is thriving, the US isn't far behind, boasting a double album from grunge darlings Skating Polly and the perfect pop-punk EP from Meet Me @ The Altar. Despite the overwhelming amount of choice, I still have my favourites -- let's get started.
1
Chaos County Line, a double album, is Skating Polly’s first release in five years and is well worth the prolonged anticipation. While Chaos County Line certainly has tracks that aren’t as good as others, nothing here is cuttable. Crunch, a wall of gritty guitar noise and exaggerated vocals greet you on "Sing Along" and "Rabbit Food." "Send A Priest" is a particularly unhinged track; the guitars will leave you wide-eyed and the vocals, which sound as though they were recorded from inside a rock tumbler, will leave you breathless. The album swings wildly from the creepy lullaby quality of "Booster Seat" to the R&B feel of "Someone Like A Friend" to the shrieking guitars of "Send A Priest." It may feel like whiplash but it’s all in the name- chaos. Every track builds up the candy-sweet, fuzz-pedal-distorted world Skating Polly reign over.
2
Despite the general overcrowding of the UK post-punk scene, Opus Kink cut their own silhouette with My Eyes, Brother!. Opus Kink are a UK based sextet, who released their debut EP, ‘Til The Stream Runs Dry, in June 2022 to critical acclaim. Four singles from their second EP have already been released, leaving us to wonder: is there anything good left? Short answer: yes. Long answer: check out our review here.
Opus Kink wear their inspirations on their sleeve the way an atom bomb makes peace. That is, to say, a little bit violently. They take the dark swagger of Joy Division and drag it through the dirt, rough it up a bit, before layering it onto a track. The sneering vocals are there too, of course; the reach of The Sex Pistols being unavoidable in a UK punk band. Opus Kink aren’t reinventing themselves here; nor is there a particular need to. The band is talented and stand apart from their peers in new and unique ways. If you like one of their songs, you’ll love this entire EP; if you haven’t been their biggest fan and were hoping for a change of pace, look elsewhere.
3
Yves Tumor - Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Words)
Experimental, ethereal and (at times) downright erotic; the fifth studio album from Yves Tumor, Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Words), was released March 17, 2023 on Warp. While soundscape isn’t a term I typically reach for there isn’t much of a choice in this case; Praise a Lord is indeed a lush soundscape born of ambition, talent and a cataclysmic wave of reverb. ‘Meteora Blues’ and ‘God Is a Circle’ are a masterclass in confessional yet poetic lyrics. ‘Parody’ is studded with falsetto and growling guitar. ‘In Spite of War’ is a frantic dancefloor scramble punctuated with Yves Tumor’s usual snappy lyrics. Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Words) is a moody, holy mix that will make you get on your knees and pray to the nearest turntable.
4
Godcaster - Godcaster
Art-rock meets sleaze-punk meets some other rarely heard but oft referenced genre. Godcaster’s second studio album, Godcaster, is a remarkable blaze of cacophony and melody. Released in March of this year on Ramp Local, Godcaster is a theatrical, at times overwhelming, follow up to the sextet’s debut album, Long Haired Locusts. ‘Diamond’s Shining Face’, one of the first singles to be released, is one of their heaviest tracks. Also the album opener, it features trilling guitar, tense drums and horror movie screams. ‘Pluto Shoots His Gaze Into the Sun’ brings you to calmer waters- equal parts Cocteau Twins and lullaby. ‘Gut Sink Moan’ and ‘Didactic Flashing Antidote’ are chaotic cuts that manage to feature both buried vocals and exaggerated theatrical yelps on the same track. This album sees Godcaster indulging in their ability to lean into the eclectic and the strange while dousing the whole thing in grandiose lyrics and energetic instrumentation.
5
A lo-fi punk trio out of Vancouver, Night Court released their third album, Humans!, June 9th on Snappy Little Numbers and Debt Offensive Records. While their sound may have slightly changed since their last release, their ethos has not. Night Court pride themselves on to-the-point songs; they trim the fat and leave the listener with lean, pithy tracks. From day one the group set out to only include ‘the good bits’ in their music. In our recent interview with the band, Dave-O said, “once I feel the ‘right’ combination in my skin and bones, I know we’ve found a good bit! But I think [it’s] as much about when to show restraint as it is about quality”.
Night Court is equal parts angry surf rock meets lo-fi punk meets indie darling. Humans! is enough to satiate any appetite. This long awaited follow up to the Nervous Birds duology more than exceeds expectations. It hits hard but knows when to draw back. It’s a crash course in lo-fi punk perfection that preaches without pretension and sure as hell never gets boring.
- Delaney
Dennis' Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
When compiling this list I found myself adding releases from 2022 and even one from 2021. Records I was convinced were released this year. My excuse for some of them is they were released late 2022 and I added them to my collection only this year. Some of them, there is no excuse. This is kind of strange as I consider this a strong year so far. So strong that I would not be surprised if you see my end-year list with a completely different top 5. Anyway, what made me err like this? Is it just that I am tired, is it the aftermath of dealing with corona or it it a sign I am getting old?
I need to stop rambling: here's the best records of the year so far!
1
This album was a surprise. It is a style (fast punk/hardcore with rap) I don't listen to too often. Yet it is insanely catchy and my most played record of the year for a reason. In hindsight, I might have slightly underscored this record. Basically this band caught lightning in a bottle with this release.
2
If you sometimes feel nostalgic for that time when org-core was everywhere, Harsh Realms is here for you. They sound instantly recognizable which is a real feat in punk (and an underrated one, if you ask me). This album is a bit of a grower and I appreciate it more with every spin.
3
The perfect combination of punk and pop. Mix them together, add a couple of drops of sunshine, shake carefully to blend and the end-result is this perfect soundtrack for this summer.
4
This band impressed me with their debut and do not fail me with their sophomore record. Influenced by Anchor and Refused, but with a sound of their own, this band adds swag to hardcore like no other.
5
It took me some time to appreciate this album. After the first couple of minutes I even thought about skipping this record. I am glad I didn't. The raving review by Cheryl made me give this album a fair chance. And after a while I started to hear things I did like. Upon second listen more bits started to click. Every time I listen to this album I hear something new, something else starts to make sense. This album makes me feel like an adventurer in that sense.
- Dennis
Kristen's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
1
Picture this: You’re re-discovering pop-punk again. Or at least this badass, catchy version that doesn’t care what you think of them and knows exactly who they are. You’re full of emotions, both happy and sad. And yes, these songs are extremely addicting and will get stuck in your head. Listen to this album during your summer roadtrip, when you’re having a shitty day, when you’re dancing in your room alone—through and through, you can’t go wrong here.
2
Boygenius - The Record
Interscope
Picture this: An instant mood booster, summer serotonin. A perfectly harmonized dream of a record. It’s no secret how talented Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus are, but together, their music truly radiates. Hope you brought your shades and sunscreen for this one, you’re gonna need it.
3
Black Belt Eagle Scout - The Land, The Water, The Sky
Saddle Creek
Picture this: A hazy, slightly overcast PNW day. It’s hard for Black Belt Eagle Scout to not scream PNW to me, but given this album was recorded in a converted church in Anacortes, Washington near the Swinomish Reservation where she grew up, you can truly hear the origin roots embedded in these songs. They run wide and deep like the rivers surrounding them, full of life and ethereal transcendence that one often finds naturally in the PNW. For this one, you just need to be outside.
4
Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch
Wax Bodega
Picture this: You’re lonely with crippling self-doubt and anxiety, but you still like to have a good time—this record is for you. We all have those days where we just don’t quite feel like ourselves and the self-doubt creeps in, but at the same time we understand it’s weirdly a part of life and we don’t like to take ourselves too seriously. I mean, with song titles about a cock party and John Cena, how could we? You’ll need a kiddy pool, some snacks, and your alcoholic beverage of choice for this one.
5
Real Friends - There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late
Pure Noise Records
Picture this: A break-up, a bad day, a bummer of a summer—this record has you covered. The album title says it all, truly songs about falling out of love and becoming strangers with someone. We all have regrets, so whether you’re in the midst of a relationship ending or purely reminiscing, this record doesn’t disappoint. Would recommend staying hydrated and a full pint of ice cream for this one.
- Kristen Swanson
Loren's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
1
I saw this band years and years ago and they stayed on my radar from afar. Then, more recently, I caught them at The Fest at it opened my eyes in a new way. Maybe they grew with time; maybe I did. Anyway, this is a firm mix of DIY meets ‘70s rock. It’s dynamic and powerful, yet concise and approachable. Real music by real people.
2
The Brokedowns really haven’t changed up their sound, but each record keeps getting better and better. Harsh punk vibes, but with some rollicking r ‘n’ r and social commentary too.
3
Truth Cult
Pop Wig Records
A new find in 2023, Truth Cult hit that organ grinder of subgenres, coming out with a clearly defined sound that’s also hard to pigeonhole. Think post-hardcore meets Dischord meets melody. It’s both angry and soothing, often at the same time.
4
Rancid - Tomorrow Never Comes
Epitaph Records
Get on the nostalgia train. I may disagree with this later, as a few songs on Tomorrow Never Comes feature the same vague, lifeless tones as their other 21st century releases, but the main tone of the band’s tenth LP mostly captures the spirit of their youth in the best ways.
5
Speaking of nostalgia, here’s another band that inspired me in the past, but dropped off my radar for a while. The newest Atmosphere has some perfect production that mixes chill vibes with just enough experimentation. It’s self-aware as ever, but looks outward just as much as inward.
- Loren
Sarah Jane's Top 5 Of 2023 So Far
So, if you're prepared to overlook the storm cloud of discontent with rising energy bills and the escalating cost of living raining down on us, 2023 has been pretty chill and ,hey, its June right? Summer is here and the sun is out so it's time to switch the heating off, get the beers in, the BBQ out and to contemplate the great music that has come out so far this year. It has been particularly difficult to choose a top five this time around as there has already been an abundance of awesome music, this can only bode well for the rest of the year!
1
This debut album of symphonic power metal from another galaxy is still getting regular play from me and so far has been the best thing I have heard this year. From mighty swords, laser shooting dinosaurs and fireflies of doom. I can't get enough of the powerful guitar riffs and being able to hear Thomas Winkler again is just so awesome!!!!
2
Multi award winning masked metal act Ghost are currently selling out arenas and playing festivals across Europe right now on the Re-Impera tour, however just before this recent jaunt they released this little five track EP of covers! Phantomime contains popular tracks from the 70s, 80s and 90s by bands including The Stranglers, Iron Maiden and Genesis.
3
Horror themed rock n roll in a cartoonish Buddy Holly meets the Twlight zone style from Atlanta Georgia, brings us the grim tale of a mill worker. He met a grizzly demise back in the '70s by falling into the mills grinder and now he haunts the mill and it's products to this very day.
4
The Finish vampires released their thirteenth studio album earlier this year with Death Of Darkness. So it may be a bit of an amalgamation of their Drive EP but they still provide us with a great selection of new Gothic Rock material including a haunting track featuring guest vocals from Kat Von D.
5
Prolific horrorpunk label We Are Horror Records have released their second compilation a mere six months after Volume 1. Boasting 50 tracks of mostly brand new and exclusive tracks from todays horrorpunk scene from A Living Hell to Zombina and the Skeletones with everything in between.
- Sarah Jane
