The Top 10 Goth / Post Punk Albums of 2023 so far

The great Tik Tok goth craze of 2022 is a distant memory to the lemming minded masses and it is  just another depressing day for actual goths to celebrate darkness. Since goth is about music with a side order of fashion, it's time to look at the mid year report card for goth, post-punk and industrial music this year.  I have already received  promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my in-box, so they are really going to need to bring it in order to compete with the top five albums on this list. Given my tastes things lean in the more death rock direction. I like my goth to be aggressive, to the point even one metal band made the list. Though most sub-genre's are represented here, though not much of interest in terms of dark wave as really impressed me this year. There is very few projects here that rely too much on electronics as I am a firm believer in actual instruments making music.  I have included links to full review if you want to check these out and with all that said here are the top 10 goth/ post-punk albums of 2023 so far. 

10-STAHV- "simple mercies' 

Maybe there is a DJ out in Seattle who is not afraid of music with instruments. They are likely bumping this album at their goth night while , those of us on the east coast might just have to endure the same old Front 242 songs. It pays homage to the sound of an era while not being chained to it. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/stahv-simple-mercies.html

  9--Miranda and the Beat-"s/t'

If Amy Winehouse was making  brooding post-punk that still favored her 50's inspired doo-wop the results would not be unlike what happens on this album. It offers a great deal of sounds and moods while sticking to the boozy back alleys invoked here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/miranda-and-beat-st.html

 

8-Godflesh- "Purge" 

This time around the iconic duo embraces their 90s past, to create throbbing grooves that bring a mass hypnosis as the soundtrack to the current state of pre apocalypse. I mean the world could not have ended with out another album from these guys. The first trumpet from the four horse men, Swams, Killing Joke and the Cure will be the final blasts of the bleakness to come. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/godflesh-purge.html

 

7-Bosco Sacro-"Gem"

This quartet out of Italy plays a very dark and atmospheric kind of music that is hard to pin down.The singer uses her voice like an instrument, which I am a fan of rather than verse / chorus pop structure to songs. Artists like Dead Can Dance and Kate Bush , are a fair  measure of what is going on here, which is a compliment in and of itself. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/bosco-sacro-gem.html

 

6-Orphans of Dusk - "Spleen" 

This album is not  the most original thing , but I like where they go with and the toys they are choosing to play with are some of my favorite toys in the toy box. If you are a fan of gothy doom do yourself a favor and check this out. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/orphans-of-dusk-spleen.html

   

 

5- Ville Valo- "Neon Noir" 

It depends on how attached your are to this sounding like H.I.M , as to how you are going to respond to the sounds gathered here. This feels in many ways like a logical place for him to pick up after where he left his former project .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/01/ville-valo-neon-noir.html

 

4-Naut-"Hunt" 

Most post-punk revival bands do not have this kind of power in their attack. It is not mistake these guys got signed to Season of Mist in many ways this is defined by the sum of it's parts and the influences that make those up but this album is also a great deal of fun.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/naut-hunt.html

  3-Night Goat-"Totem"  

 This band from Portland, is kicking up an interesting blend of sonic abrasion that is equal parts grunge and death rock on their second album. Imagine L7 jamming with 45 Grave and you are pretty close to what is happening  here. It ends up beings heavier than expected. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/02/night-goat-totem.html

2-Grave Pleasures-"Plagueboys"

My favorite Finnish post- punk revivalists are back. There is a more melodic quality in place on these new songs, that takes some of the more metallic edges off. On songs like "Heart Like a Slaughterhouse" they have taken their tried and true sound, echoing all the way back to when they were Beastmilk and polished it into something even catchier. The pleading baritone warble of his croon, even stronger due to the songs being written with vocals at the centerpiece.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/grave-pleasures-plagueboys.html

1-Temple of Angels -"Endless Pursuit" 

I knew they were worthy to carry that torch of dream pop on the first song of their debut album. Fans of moody dream pop with a guitar fueled backbone  that jangles into your bones, will  perhaps be as wow'ed as I am by this album. Sadly it does not come out until July 14th , I promise this is an album to look forward to. For them to beat out Grave Pleasures for the top spot says a great deal.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/temple-of-angels-endless-pursuit.html