BEST RELEASES IN 2023

 Like every year I want to highlight my Top 10 releases. My choices, as always, are very subjective, emotionally dictated, biassed and heavily influenced by the company of Lee Jones, his “opinions” and lots of weed and endless discussions about Japanese music. Here, in random order. Enjoy!

1. IT’S ALL GOOD

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   

It’s my absolute no 1 (randomly) that came out in 2023! Pure banger of an album, hard as fuck and so well produced. This couldn’t go wrong. The band consists of big names in Japanese hardcore, and this is their first full album since they formed in 2019. It’s been worth waiting for! As I mentioned before, this is top shelf hardcore with super dense beats and riffs for days. Proper gangsta shit!

Released on 18th March 2023 via BOWLHEAD INC.

2. FIGHT IT OUT ‘Skinhead Grind’

Smashing! On every level. I mean absolutely crushing. Not only in its heaviness but in its frantic, whiplashing pace and changeability. Flinging you from disjointed blast beats into an old school Bboy frenzy without you even questioning it. 

Released on 3rd Nov 2023 via BOWLHEAD INC.

3. KILLOUT ‘Spirit of ‘83’

KILLOUT have made such a comeback after over 10 years!

How genius this album is?! Such an old school sound and so much personality to it. The whole album is fast and they managed to keep the tempo throughout the whole album and also keep it interesting all the way, without making all the songs sound the same and getting boring, not an easy task! Fucking diamond of an album! 

Released on 29th April 2023.

4. KRUELTY ‘Untopia’

KRUELTY amazed me from the very first time I heard them, somewhere around their first release, and they keep evolving and keep their standards so high, it’s great! Great to see the band who has a capability of combining a few genres in one album so easily and effortlessly and making it sound just epic. 

I think on this particular album hc influences manifest more through brutal intensity and occasional trashy/punk tempo, especially in drumming parts, but what glues this album (and previous albums) is the trademark sludgy death metal akin to perhaps autopsy or grief. 

It's a completely balanced album on a scale of brutal hardcore and gory death metal, without sacrificing on either end. Also nice that it's mostly sung  in Japanese.

Released on 17th March 2023.

5. ‘Obscured Mortality’ 3-way split: DOOMS OF GHETTO / HORSEHEAD NEBULA / Vice City Slave

The heaviest shit out of 2023. Dark, violent, slow, ugly and epic. I’ve just described this entire album in five words. And that’s what it is. Not an ounce of bullshit. Pure violence. I just love it!

Released on 27th Sep 2023.

6. BLINDSIDE ‘Promo 2023’

Only 2 songs, but definitely worth making an effort to check out. A great addition to the already impressive back catalogue. I have a feeling that they're gonna hit us hard next year. I hope they will, such a great band!

Released on 15th July 2023.

7. VIEW FROM THE SOYUZ  ‘Immaculate’ ep

Immaculate album with almost too good of a production job that is so brilliantly good, you have to admire it. I saw them live and I just fell in love with their energy and intensity and HAD to check the album out, even though I normally listen to less “melodic” stuff. They really hit me like some of the high end and well established bands out there like Darkest Hour. A well earnt place on this list. 

Released on 10th February 2023.

8. GUIDING ‘Will / Anger’ 10” double A-side mini LP

Yes, it’s Chopstick’s own release, so obviously I’d include it here as my very personal choice. It has that old school sound, and it’s done so well. It’s actually refreshing to see that there are bands who still draw inspiration from 1988 and continue to do it a tremendous justice. ‘Burning Spirits' and ‘youth crew’ mixed together in the best way possible. 

Released on (fuck knows what to put here…pressing plant fuck up!) 10th Dec 2023

9. SETE STAR SEPT ‘The Judgement By Reaper’

This band have impressed me over and over with an anarchic jazz noise that seems totally chaotic and unruly until a melody suddenly somehow finds its way seamlessly sitting at the forefront of it all. A grind band grinding the way grind should be ground!

Released on 7th April 2023 via 4iB Records.

10. TAMAKI ‘珠鬼’ EP

TAMAKI have just dropped this sick debut ep, raw hardcore punk at its best. They are just emerging and I’m sure they will be noticed and appreciated by those who like straightforward but hard hitting, fast hardcore. Real badass as a virginity taking release, I already can’t wait for what they come up with next.

CHECK THEM OUT!

Released on 12th December 2023.