Luke Nuttall (Editor / Writer)
5
UnityTX – Ferality
Not entirely a ‘surprise’, per se—UnityTX have always been good, with a lot of potential in said goodness—but Ferality really stuns in how expeditiously they’ve worked to get there. A more agile, varied take on rap-metal can do a lot, paired with skull-shattering heaviness that’s in the wheelhouse of a band for whom some real traction in the modern scene is frankly a given. There’s perhaps no band who drastically increased their stock as much as UnityTX did in 2023, and the new year could very well have them capitalising on that even further.
4
Pierce The Veil – The Jaws Of Life
The Warped Tour generation has practically bitten the dust in terms of relevance, so imagine the shock when Pierce The Veil dropped what might be the best display of their own longevity to date this year. Granted, that’s been met with a fraction of the attention their King For A Day-spawning golden age would’ve fostered, but a stripe of post-hardcore that burns more slowly, but uses that to slough off unnecessary stylism and polish, and stand as a purely great demonstration of what Pierce The Veil can do. There’s been some startling longevity for this one, on an album that’s grown in appeal as the year has progressed, and stamped itself with tangible cause to be called Pierce The Veil’s best to date.
3
blink-182 – One More Time…
Perhaps the surprise factor of One More Time… is how deftly it sidesteps the notions of hail-Mary reunion, and instead just feels like blink-182’s best album in years. It probably would’ve done well commercially regardless, in the vaunted reconvening with Tom DeLonge that’s been the pop-punk headline of the year, but between heartfelt togetherness that actually rings genuine, and a spry, youthful sensibility with similar intent behind it, all the ingredients for a flagrant nostalgia cash-in instead make a swift but satisfying meal. All of that has added up to a wave of excitement around blink-182 that’s hasn’t been this effusive in years, with the renaissance only looking to continue with likewise full force.
2
nothing,nowhere. – VOID ETERNAL
Has 2023 been the best year of nothing,nowhere.’s career? Well, it’s certainly been the one where Joe Mulherin has provided the most to care about, from a killer live show to standout guest appearances, to, most importantly, VOID ETERNAL. It’s easily his crowning achievement as an artist, with so much of that being a result of trading in emo-rap entirely for roaring, knife-edged post-hardcore and a vast swathe of guest stars that make the leap up all the more accelerant. The stroke of killer instinct comes in how full-on Mulherin’s efforts are, not just among his own catalogue but in the state of the scene, full stop. 12 months ago, the thought of a nothing,nowhere. album standing as one of the apexes of 2000s post-hardcore revivalism would’ve seemed ludicrous; now, it’s an accolade that fits like a glove.
1
Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust
This is probably the one—the surprise for anyone invested in Fall Out Boy or pop-rock in general, and who’s felt severely snubbed with their last decade’s worth of output. Truth be told, most of that work really isn’t as bad as the omnipresent discourse has made it seem, but it also can’t be denied that an album like So Much (For) Stardust snaps everything back into stark focus. Sonically, cues are taken from their 2000s era that complement their modern sensibilities. Lyrically, the streams of incomprehensible-yet-totally-undeniable overwriting is wonderfully well-realised again. And as for hooks, this is easily their most stacked offering in years, not just in the voracity of standouts dropping in quick succession, but in how clearly focused the band themselves are on it all. It’s also led to one of the most unanimously positive atmospheres around this band in some time, which says a lot considering how little restraint some would show for ripping them apart. Yes, that’s still there, but it’s an occupational hazard at this stage; the main takeaway is how thoroughly Fall Out Boy’s mojo has come flooding back.
Georgia Jackson (Deputy Editor / Writer)
5
Fireworks – Higher Lonely Power
Underrated pop-punk heroes Fireworks have tiptoed around a reunion for a few years at this point, but dropping comeback album Higher Lonely Power seconds into 2023 was a surprise no one could have anticipated. It’s a much more muscular record than we’ve had from the band in the past, one that invites you to dig in deep on multiple listens, and those multiple listens will always have that surprise drop magic surrounding it.
4
Janelle Monáe – The Age Of Pleasure
Janelle Monáe’s work has always been high-concept, fully realised narratives underpinning every song on an album. That’s why this year’s The Age Of Pleasure feels like a surprise, an understandable move but an out-of-left-field one all the same. A made-for-summer record celebrating life and love, The Age Of Pleasure delves into Afrobeats and moves away from pop-leaning tracks. A few listeners found it underwhelming, but this is a record that exudes joy and contentment in the most authentic way for Monáe.
3
You Me At Six – Truth Decay
It feels like You Me At Six lost their way a while ago. 2018’s VI boasted a handful of great pop-rock tracks but was otherwise completely forgettable, while follow-up SUCKAPUNCH’s ‘grittier’ (very loose usage of the term) approach just grated and fell towards the cringeworthy end of the spectrum. This year’s Truth Decay had the best success rate the band have had in years – even though they couldn’t escape a clanger or two (God Bless The 90s Kids, we’re looking at you), songs like Deep Cuts, After Love In The After Hours and No Future? Yeah Right hit the sweet spot between nice boy rock and edge that suits them perfectly.
2
Avenged Sevenfold – Life Is But A Dream…
Metal heroes Avenged Sevenfold have long been at the ‘big enough to do what they want’ stage, but the band taking that leap as far as they did on this year’s Life Is But A Dream… was far from expected. It’s a truly bonkers record, the band dabbling in every genre under the sun to mixed results. While there’s enough prowess on here to stop it from being one of the worst albums of the year, but how anyone thought M Shadows doing a gravelly musical theatre moment was a good idea is beyond us.
1
Kesha – Gag Order
We don’t think Kesha’s Rick Rubin-produced Gag Order was on anyone’s bingo card for 2023, or even ever when you look at the singer’s career thus far. But the record and sharp left turn in sound feels necessary in Kesha’s personal journey; this is a record steeped in self-reflection, the singer’s unpacking of her very public trauma front and centre, instead of covered in glitter and rainbows like they have been in the past. It’s a surprising yet seemingly cathartic direction for Kesha, and long may she continue on this upwards emotional and artistic trajectory.
