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

Gothtober- the Damned : "the Rockfield Files"

 

Much like Killing Joke these guys have kept up with the times. Perhaps not not as sharply as Killing Joke. The first track is much more rock n roll. They fake you out making you think it is going to be more goth than it is, then go into something that sounds more like the Beatles. I can deal with Beatles influence even Type o Negative has it. This is a little happier than I want from them. Some of the keyboards soun like if an old hippy garage band got back together to recapture the magic. It is three of the orginal members with a new keyboardist. Pinch is on drums and this is his last recording with the band. . The keyboards are too high the mix is the main problem. 

Lyrically the first song is about the perspective of a bee going about his business. It sounds like these golden girls have taken to smoking a ton of  weed. David's voice sounds great. 'the Spider the Fly" he sounds a little like Tom Jones. He might be 63, putting at two years younger than Danzig. His voice sounds ten years younger where Danzig sounds every bit of 65. "Manipulator" falls closer to their more classic sound. It's more rock n roll than what I would call punk. There is more drive on "Spider the Fy" the 60s Las Vegas sound is forgivable as it's just a really well written song despite the Tom Jones tendencies. There is even a riff on here that reminds me of Steppenwolf.

This is one of the forefathers of goth releasing an album in October. Why did they not put out something that leaned into the them more. Are they thinking these hippy anthems. The lyrics to the last song 'Black is the Night" lines up more with what you except from them but this could be a Monkees reunion album. That might be more goth since most of the Monkees are dead. 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 so I'll give it a 9.

3.7