Gothtober- The Top 10 Post-Punk Albums of 2023

 It's that time of year again. It might seem a little early to begin sorting through the year's best post-punk albums, but record labels have already sent me most of what this year has to offer. After I sort through sorting through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. Perhaps it was marginally better than the previous year, though given the current climate of the world, we are progressing on a downward spiral, making dark music more important as a soundtrack for this.   As far as 2023 goes for post-punk, a lot of great music came out forcing me to make hard choices. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 post-punk albums of 2023.

10--Protomartyr- "Formal Growth in the Desert" 

Protomartyr is expanding the definition of what post-punk can be. This time around there is more of a Western feel, that reminds me more of Nick Cave when it comes to the baritone croon of the vocals, rather than anything more based on punk. The guitars sound great. The reverb rings out into the desert night, which might explain the album title. They go from this very organic, almost rustic feel to something that owes more to the 80s on "

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/protomartyr-formal-growth-in-desert.html

 

9-Corker -"Falser Truths" 

 They are leaning toward the more punk side of the equation. Their dark experimental edge creates an unnerving feel to the tension that separates the genre from punk. The aggressive vocals, carry a tinge of death rock to the creepy underpinnings of the otherwise stiff militant jerking of the staccato riffs. This carries an abrasive punch to the angular attack. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-corker-falser-truths.html

  8-Ritual Howls - "Virtue Falters" 

What unfolds is not unexpected, though the guitars feel like they are playing a larger role in the overall sound. This creates a swagger that lends itself to the band's ever-increasing cow-punk groove. At times the songs remind you of 90s alt-rock that you might have found playing in the background of any horror movie.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-ritual-howls-virtue-falters.html

7-Darkplace-"About the End of the World"

This Swedish band sets themselves out from the pack by the glaring malice of vocals that are not sung in the typical morose baritone, but a reedy tenor, that floats up into a falsetto to accent parts of the melody. This vocal color contrasts the otherwise darker background behind it, as they wander from the typical rock formula. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-darkplace-about-end-of-world.html

6-False Fed - "Let Them Eat Fake" 

Compromised of current Discharge vocalist Jeff Janiak, Stig C. Miller of Amebix, and Ministry drummer Roy Mayorga, finds themselves set apart from the typical Joy Division worship haunting many of the bands resurrecting this sound over the past decade, allowing Janiak to indulge himself in the full roar to brings more balls to the proceedings, as the songs are driven by a stormy tension that conjures images of stark gray skies. This makes for a fitting soundtrack for the stark fall to fade into a darker winter. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/false-fed-let-them-eat-fake.html

5-Throat -" We Must Leave You" 

This Finnish band claims their 2023 album is a break-up album with the world. Based on the darker impulses they indulge in here, you can only assume this is true. What stands out about these guys is the dark and foreboding mood that hangs over their otherwise melodic musings. The deadpan baritone of the vocals retains it's brooding narrative that reminds you of the punk rock in its intentions. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/throat-we-must-leave-you.html

 4- Dreamwheel- "Redeemer" 

Driven by a post-punk tension that is counterbalanced by the delicate croon of Julia Gaeta. She carries,  some power in her pipes which keeps the songs grounded. She is joined by Skeletonwitch bassist Evan Linger, whose penchant for faster tempos with Skeletonwitch, has kept him on his feet to remind you of the punk side of the post-punk equation.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-dreamwheel-redeemer.html

 3-Healthyliving-"Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief"

Bringing together musicians from Scotland, Germany, and Spain, this trio kicks up an impressive melancholic brand of driving rock that is at times as sonically heavy as metal borders on metal. There is a great deal of explosive punk jangle. but the expressive alto of Amaya commands the album's keen sense of dynamics, which is what I listen for in music from all genres. This band takes those dynamics a step further than most into the melancholy. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/healthyliving-songs-of-abundance-psalms.html

2-Bad Pelicans-"ETERNAL LIFE NOW" 

This French band deviates from the norm in the best way possible. Their hooky songs oozes with attitude. The vocals shift from a low baritone croak to a pop-punk croon in the span of the same song. They manage to be both melodic and explosive on the same track. The hooky nature of what they do secured their spot at the top.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/07/bad-pelicans-eternal-life-now.html

1-Grave Pleasures -"Plagueboys"

This year's release by My favorite Finnish post-punk revivalists grew on me with each listen. The songwriting trades bombast for subtlety for the sake of greater melodic value.  They took their tried and true sound, echoing all the way back to their Beastmilk days, and polished it into something even catchier. The sheer replay value of this album solidifies their place at the top.   

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