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

Protomartyr : ' Formal Growth In The Desert"

Protomartyr are 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 in 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 "For Tomorrow". The vocals are punchier here. The bass is surprisingly mixed further back than normal. This might tone down the expectations in regards to what they are normally doing sonically. Is there more common ground with bands like Idles? Yes. Is this intentional ? I do not know. 

Things move in a darker direction for "Elimination Dances". The mood is very pleasing to my ears,  You can hear the growth in how they express themselves, and a great deal of credit goes toward the vocals. Seeing how they are from Detroit and not the grime ridden streets of London, I begin to suspect my previous theory about things beginning to sound more like the Idles brand of punk when we get to "Fun in Hi Skool".  Things take a different turn into another shade of  weird with "Lets  Tip the Creator" which also has some of the best lyrics so far . "Graft vs Host' finds them moving back toward the more Nick Cave sound, but amid some moodier more angular accompaniment. "3800 Tigers' does not feel as coherent. But it is not the only song that finds the odd mood of the band wandering around in confusion. When the lyrics ask 'Can you hate yourself and still deserve love" I feel it speaks to the creative choices of some songs. 

"Fulfillment Center' drones on the same theme , but it works for what it is. "We Know the Rats" is a longer song, but does not feel like it is as complete of a finished concept as the previous song which is shorter. The repetition of the vocal refrains works well though. Similar could be said of the sonically different yet, awkward arrangement to "the Author". Where the vocals are sometimes the strength of the song here they struggle a bit.  "Rain Garden" finds things getting a little darker to close the album out. There is a stormy tension the song that works well.  At almost five minutes there is plenty of time for them to jam around on it, and make things more of a journey. This sound might also have the album's best guitar tone.  I will give this album a 9, it's a solid addition to their legacy despite the lean towards other sounds.  

Gothtober - the Top 10 Post Punk Albums of 2020

 

It's that time of year again .  It might seem earlier to start this in November , but record labels have pretty much sent me most of what this year has to offer already , by the time I am done sorting  through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I will use  them, to compile the top 10 albums of the year. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year.  As far as 2020 goes for post- punk there are only two new bands on this years list .  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. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However  I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No,  I do not care what you think about it.   I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list  and  have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 post-punk  albums of 2020  

10- Protomartyr- "Ultimate Success Today" 

This more streamlined approach is a continuation of the thri more current sound, while it might lack the edge of their earlier work, it does show they have more than enough song writing chops . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/protomartyr-ultimate-success-today.html

9- Deep Tissue - "Patience or Fear" 

Most of the time when I look for 'post- punk" bands I want something that is more goth than punk. I do like actual post -punk that is tense sprawling and sonic , but as with most music I want it to be dark. Here is a band that strikes the dark chords for me. They do have punk drive to them as well.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/gothtober-deep-tissue-patience-or-fear.html

8- Fotocrime - "South of Heaven"

 A solid release as Ryan from Coliseum continues down the dark road he began with this project. He is joined by the drummer from Metz . There is more of a dancey groove that makes this feel more like Love & Rockets than Joy Division. There is less of the punk like tension that colors most of the more modern takes on this genre. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/fotocrime-south-of-heaven.html

  7-Death Bells - "New Signs of Life" 

 This band a great song writers with focused and intentional sound they still care about the songs. Not as stark and monotone as Ian Curtis. The grim narrative of their singer doesn't add as much melody as the other instruments. Thise album sounds great and serves as a triumph on their end.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/death-bells-new-signs-of-life.html

-

6-Wailin Storms - "Rattle" 

 These guys have evolved their sound into something darker and more sonically intense. Their best work to date. If you like your post punk with more of a drunken ramble to it then this album is for you.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/wailin-storms-rattle.html

5- Uniform - "Shame" 

 There is no shame in the risks they took with this album as they paid off. They ventured from their noisy brand of post punk, that was heavier on the punk to begin with and gave a pinch of industrial, it was the twist they needed as this album is much more inspired than anything else I have heard from them. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/uniform-shame.html

4-Team Picture - 'The Menace of Mechanical Music"

 These Brtis have excelled at not only capturing the sounds , but cared enough to turn them into songs while they were at it. Moody in the right ways with enough tension to remain compelling.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/team-picture-menace-of-mechanical-music.html

 

3-the Damned - "the Rockfield Files"

 Yes they have kept up with the times and are not just living off nostalgia. They are great musicians and solid song writers even if it leaves me wondering who passed Captain Sensible the bong. The songs did grow on me and it's a fun easy listen even if it's not exactly as dark as I want it to be

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/gothtober-damned-rockfield-files.html

" 

2-We Choose Forever - "True Love" 

 The genre is rooted in an era so recreating that time period seems to be one focal point, they dial this in without being to tied with the conventions that come with it. There are the drab baritone vocals , but here is where they are not satisfied with remaining complacent .We need as much dark music as we can get this year making this album a must.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/we-chose-forever-true-love.html

1-Rope Sect - "The Great Flood" 

I often say in reviews, I will give this whatever score and see how it sits with me. This album went from a 9.5 to 10. They exceded expectations. A bands I have enjoyed to one of the best bands this year. This is one of the rare perfect albums that blends an almost metal aggression with melancholy darkness. There is not enough words to ecxpress how much this album rules. No one came close in this race at all.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/rope-sect-great-flood.html

Protomartyr ;" Ultimate Success Today"

This band from Detroit who is no stranger to this blog has established themselves as more than just another post punk revivalist band. I can respect them steering away from the Ian Curtis vocal tone for the more Nick Cave like sound. The second song has more of a throbbing groove that takes you further into than the opening song that just hung on the tension without a great deal of pay off. The vocals take on more of a croon as the song progresses. By the time I am midway into  "I am You Now"  it has made  think what it might sound like if Iggy Pop covered "Paranoid".  They back off on "the Aphorist" which steers them more in a Elvis Costello direction. I think the fact they are focused on songs more than sounds here is a postive sign. This is also why they have set themselves apart from the post punk revival bands.

"June 21" continues to step further from post punk. With female vocals joining them and a more quirky take that has more in common with Television. There is a more explosive almost punk energy to "Michigan Hammers".  It is a pretty straight forward rock song that does not do as much for me as the bass driven weirdness that goes down on "Tranquillizer". Here the guitars stir up a burly mass of sound that has more in common with noise rock, in other words it would not have sounded out of place on Amp Rep in the 90s. The sax is a nice texture that while it is reoccuring over the course of the album, sets the best contrast here.

"Modern Business Hymns" benefits from the drumming propelling while the rest of the band saunters into indie rock similar to the Strokes. It is a well written song despite this sonic similarity .Iat descends into more of a drunken romp like Iceage used to kick up. "Bridge and Crown" works off a stacatto riff and languid croon. Not the album's best song , but it is still pretty decent. There is a more relaxed strum to "Worm In Heaven". The album's best vocal performance has a slight Neil Diamond feel to it. I will round this album down to an 8.5. Are they contining to perfect what they do ? Yes in a more streamlined sense. It is not as dark as some of their earlier work, which might be why this doesn't always connect as strongly with me. I think in the streamlining process it took off some of the edge. However if you prefer the band's more recent work then this will work for you.

Protomartyr : "The Agent Intellect"

On first listen it seems like its business as usual for Detroit's Protomartyr as not much has changed since last year's " Under Color of Official Right". Joe Casey's voice is more about attitude of his narration  than melody as he doesn't sing the first actual note until the chorus of "Cowards Starve". There is a more up beat CBGB styled punk to the frantic jerk of " I Forgive You". Some synths are real low in the mix and the guitar tone continues to lean toward the shadows in the more melodic moments. It meets that place in the early 70s where rock n roll and punk rock were more closely connected. "Boyce or Boice" finds the guitar holding down the static line somewhere between tension and a drone. Casey's voice wanders around in a disoriented manner over the upbeat drums. He chant "Let them into our home". The songs b-section hits a smooth reflective mood.

The darker , colder post-punk sounds comes in on "Pontiac 87". Casey's voice takes on more of a croon. They find the right balance between abrasion on melody here. The dynamics are there and its clear to me that this is what I want more of from this band. They pick up the tempo, but stay on the darker side of what they do on "Uncle Mother's". The guitar shifts into more of surf rock tone here. The guitars go into a dizzying and  angular bridge, before dropping out. The guitar gets more  aggressive, but in more of a Sonic Youth fashion. At times things slow down as if they are nodding out under the  "Dope Cloud" waking up and picking up the pace. The dope cloud is descending all over this town according to Casey.

Some weird atmosphere and faint samples open "the Hermit" before the bang back with a more punk like energy. Casey announces he doesn't think so because they lie, they lie , they lie. The drums become more frantic under the gloomy atmosphere of "Clandestine Time" as Casey croons a little more than simply providing a narrative. The guitar tone gets a little more  Cure like here. "Why Does it Shake " in someways doesn't feel as focused more like Nick Cave jamming with Joy Division. Though they eventually rock at with more distortion than Joy Division normally would."Ellen" is simple but effective showing that melody and mood always win out at the end of the day. The guitar tone is somewhat Sonic Youth like on this one. The build up on this one is very subtle.

The album closes with "the Feast of Stephen" which finds the guitars carrying more of a jangle. The vocals are more of a mumble over what becomes more of a drone, until the bass line becomes more prominent. This reminds my of 90s indie rock like Sebadoh. The change is very marginal on this one , it might be a few degrees more introspective than the last album, but if you like this band every thing that works for them is still intact, I'll give it a 9.


11

Revenge of the Weekly Shuffle

This used to be a popular little thing around here I did once a week, then went in and out of the habit so rather than making promises and saying it's back for good, I'm doing it this week. The drill is I press shuffle on the ole iPod and review  the first ten songs that pop up.

"Christ Denied" by Deicide...I was on the fence with post-Once Upon the Christ Deicide, but they do seem to have their moments. It's well played, and the interplay between the bass and drums has always carried a more Motorhead like steamroller effect than that of other death metal bands and is one of the elements that has to be in place to really capture their sound. Some of the more slickly produced albums mixed this out. This song has it so it works for .

"Big Sky" by Kate Bush...Hounds of Love might be one of her most popular albums and for good reason it does have a big Peter Gabriel feel to it. This song is almost too happy, but the album is on here, some times I am in more of a mood to this song than others, right now I am impartial to it.

"Cantara" by Dead Can Dance...Sure this is great for what it is, t cool for rituals and ambiance, but they have other songs that are more like songs than this one. Not Lisa's best song but even then she pulls off more than most female singers aside from Kate Bush can do. Live she had one of the most powerful voices I have ever heard.

"Stairs-Uncertain Journey" by Christian Death...One of the great Rozz Williams moments, has every element that makes them great. Lyrically one of their strongest songs, I use to chant to myself in high school... "Satan be, satan be, satan be". What a hook.

"Wall of Death"by Prodigy... Here is one I haven't gotten around to reviewing. I have not given this album much time and it's the first time hearing this song. The synths are very thick and Nine Inch Nails like. They do have a fair amount of reptition in what they do. This song is like industrial cotton candy.

"Amnesia" by Swans... This one has a similar exotic feel as the Christian Death song. It is hard pressed to say that any off of "To Be Kind" or any of their current post-hippie fest live material holds up to this kind of song writing. There that had to be said.

"Black Oceans" by Crowhurst... Recently reviewed so you know most of my thoughts on this one. Not something I am hitting repeat on incessantly , but I am glad when it does pop up. The darkness drips of the angular slither of this one.

"Five Years" by David Bowie... Ziggy Stardust is a perfect album so there are no songs on it that can be argued against. "I never thought I'd meet so many people" is my favorite line for some way, perhaps it's how he backs off of it.

"Quiero, Quieras" by Forget Cassettes...This goes back to a time when indie rock actually rocked. Why can't there be more of this? This chick has more balls than a dozen of todays indie rock bands. Having the drummer from And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Our Dead doesn't hurt.

"Pagans" by Protomartyr ...I was supposed to go see these guys last night , but the though of havin to sit through the opening bands and leave the house was too much. But this is a great record.