JESUS PIECE... SO UNKNOWN IS OUR OUT OF RAGE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

What a brilliant year for music- 2023 has come up with some amazing albums and we wanted to share with you our favorites.  

As it is approaching the end of the year, it is time to do what everyone else does and write a list to be perused, and judged, by everyone else who does exactly the same thing. These albums have been nominated by you, and then editorially ranked with lengthy discussions, numerous voting rounds and luckily no arguments (…yet)

Here are the actual top 20 albums of 2023. Our list is obviously the best one because we wrote it.

20. Burner - It All Returns To Nothing

One of the finest heavy debuts in a long while, London’s Burner have not pulled a single punch. ‘It All Returns To Nothing’ is a stellar piece of work, mixing death metal with hardcore and little bits of metalcore to create one singular chaotic, angular, aggressive vision that is at violent, impactful, and thoroughly enjoyable. [JL]

19. Killing Me Softly - Autumn Lost in Silence

The latest addition to our list comes from heavy hitting newcomers Killing Me Softly.

Released at the start of December this debut was sure to throw all album of the year lists off

course. There will be a lasting impression from this album as it demonstrates the

musicianship of those who created it and is a monument to the craft of hardcore music.

Melodic components serve to stir up the aggression that comes naturally with their style of

music. This should be on the radar of deathcore fans as much as their targeted hardcore

community. It is a bold and thrilling album that features moments of enchanting despair

interspersed with cathartic screaming. Definitely a band to keep your eye on. [DU]

18. As Everything Unfolds - Ultraviolet

As Everything Unfolds ‘Ultraviolet’ is an album brimming with grinding riffs and pulverizing vocals that still somehow finds space for uplifting, celestial choruses. The South Buckinghamshire band have given the world even more reasons to believe the hype surrounding them, not that any more were needed. They’ve grabbed the attention of the scene and showed everyone that female-fronted metal is the future, and that the future is now. [AL]

17. Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loveliest Time

Carly Rae Jepsen has done it again, blowing everyone else out the water. ‘The Loveliest Time’ is intrinsically linked to her previous LP ‘The Loneliest Time’ and serves as something of a B-sides album. Don’t let the term B-sides fool you though, because this album is incredible as a stand-alone release. Carly’s B-sides are more comprehensive than the majority of pop artists at their best - she is a pop goddess, and has yet again proved why she has earned that title. [AL]

16. VEXED - Negative Energy

When VEXED released ‘Negative Energy’, it exploded out with the power to cause serious collateral damage to anyone within earshot. After the release of their debut ‘Culling Culture’ in 2021, they took that hate to the next level with thick intricate riffs and chunky demonic screams. This album has the most brutally honest lyrics of the year, putting a knife to nepotism, mental health and trauma in the most cathartic way possible. [AB]

15. ten56. - Downer

The success of ten56.’s debut ‘Downer’ comes down largely to how they dominated the live music scene this year. One of the most addictive and exciting bands touring at the moment, they are guaranteed to get one of the biggest and most inviting pits of any festival weekend. Their sound is deep and dangerous, their vocals incredible, and they are absolutely one to watch. [AB]

14. Dying Wish - Symptoms Of Survival

Coming late in the year, at the beginning of November, Dying Wish had a lot of brilliant releases to compete with in order to squeeze into any end of year lists. Lucky for them that they managed to provide us with a half an hour offering of hardcore that is awash with pain and suffering, and yet also full to the brim with the stubbornness to survive, and the strength to carry on. ‘Symptoms Of Survival’ is full of exactly that, and if Dying Wish keep writing like this they will do far more than just survive. [JL]

13. Code Orange - The Above

Code Orange are in need of no introduction, however for a band who seem to always be lumped into one category they have a very consistent pattern of sonic evolution. Their latest LP does exactly this, as it takes a hard left turn away from the maximalist production and electro drenched hardcore soundscapes of 2020’s stunning Underneath to become a more subtle, back to basics album. That said, this is an unbelievable release with massive change throughout, allowing the entire band to flex their creative muscles in all manner of new and interesting ways. ‘The Above’ is yet another brilliant example of why Code Orange are a cut above. [JL]

12. Pupil Slicer - Blossom

Extreme metal bands and nerdiness have long gone hand in hand, but rarely in such an artistically powerful statement. ‘Blossom’ was written with Final Fantasy XIV at the heart of it, and amongst the most obvious examples of this is the song entitled ‘The Song at Creation’s End’ - directly referencing Hydaelyn’s words during her trial. Musically, the album jumps from abrasive grindcore to ethereal dream pop and hits almost everything in between the two at some point, with the band doing justice to every single genre they have used. Pupil Slicer’s ‘Blossom’ is without doubt an extreme metal masterclass. [JL]

11. JPEGMafia, Danny Brown - Scaring The Hoes

‘Scaring The Hoes’ presents the most dangerous and the most off-the-wall collaboration from JPEGMafia and Danny Brown. This album is unpredictable - sonically, it provides a minefield of wicked sampled sounds, a collage of everything the GTA6 soundtrack needs to be. This album provides an insight into the twisted and cultural genius of the future of rap. [AB]

10. Squid - O Monolith

Post punk with a jolt of OK Computer-esque sonics, ‘O Monolith’ is a delightfully emotive and connected piece of music. The LP takes in a huge array of sounds and let’s each take shape whenever feels right, ranging from grunge to Latin to conventional pop. For an eclectic, free flowing, provocative and meaningful listen, no need look any further than Squid’s most recent album. [JL]

9. Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden

From the darkness came ‘Take Me Back To Eden’, an alluring triumph from heavy music enigma Sleep Token. A eulogy to pain and pleasure, ascending the band into global stardom this year upon its release. Dominating award season this year and pushing the capabilities of both the band and the genres it is associated with, this record is a masterclass that calls out to the void, and in return the universe has screamed back. [AB]

8. Buggin’ - Concrete Cowboys

With their UK debut at Outbreak Festival this year, hardcore partycrashers Buggin’ tell you how it is straight from the pit. Fast paced, fun and looking for a fight, ‘Concrete Cowboys’ is for anyone who needs to let off some steam. A perfect album to two-step in the living room to with no judgment. [AB]

7. Drain - Living Proof

In May, Drain unleashed 25 minutes of pure rage and fun. Living Proof establishes itself as a

record that is instantly captivating with furious and complex grooves that appeals to both

hardcore fans and the wider metal community. Despite it being a textbook hardcore album

there’s an element of joy running throughout. [DU]

6. END - A Sin Of Human Frailty

Hardcore supergroup END brought out an onslaught of raw, unfiltered emotion and intensity

with The Sin of Human Frailty. There is definitely a feeling of unease and fear. With a blend

of industrial, brutal death metal, and hardcore, END has a sense of darkness that many

other artists in their genre lack. This is definitely not an album for the weak of heart. The

band delivered a sonic assault from start to finish. With unrelenting speed and aggression,

beats and crushing riffs, insanely chaotic and intricately composed guitar parts, it's a

combination of various influences from members' past works in the metal and hardcore

communities resulting in an outstanding album. [DU]

5. Graphic Nature - A Mind Waiting To Die

Nu metal is back and it’s better than ever. Combining the hooks and drop tuning of nu metal with the uncompromising attitude of hardcore, Graphic Nature’s latest is full to bursting with riffs, breakdowns, and all the heavy goodness you could want. Without overstaying its welcome, it shows the bags of potential that the band have, and also makes you want to get out the baggiest jeans possible and put on a red baseball cap. [JL]

4. Guilt Trip - Severance

Bringing Manchester’s crossover sound to vivid life on their most recent full length, Guilt Trip have expertly fused beatdown, hardcore and more into a muscular album that pulsates with fury. Every second of ‘Severance’ makes you want to let every ounce of anger out in the largest moshpit you could possibly imagine. If their recent shows with Malevolence are anything to go off, they’ll be sending people to A&E with broken noses and bleeding eardrums for many years to come. [JL]

3. Svalbard - The Weight Of The Mask

With ‘The Weight Of The Mask’, Svalbard have delivered a musical experience that will thrust you into a different astral plane. The intricate instrumentals are wrapped into an ethereal experience that alternates between angelic clean vocals and colossal screams. The album is extraordinarily heavy, not only musically but emotionally, and you can feel the pain in every second yet also the sense of hope that shines through each song. Svalbard have graced us with yet another masterpiece, that transcends our earthly realm. [AL]

2. Paramore - This Is Why

Paramore’s ‘This Is Why’ presents a dazzling new era for the Nashville pop-rock trio. The album embraces anxiety to justify a cruel world backed by an uptempo beat. It is brooding, introspective and intensely powerful, capturing color in the chaos. This is the same Paramore that set the world on fire fifteen years ago, but the final ‘Riot’ from Hayley and the gang comes at a time when the world really needs a spark to bring them out of the post-pandemic darkness. [AB]

1. Jesus Piece - …So Unknown

And finally, we’ve made it to the end of our list. Jesus Piece have created an album that brought together so many of our contributors in belief of its brilliance that it couldn’t have been any other choice. With the aggression of hardcore but the uncompromising heaviness of death metal, and a little bit of slam groove, ‘…So Unknown’ is an astounding offering from one of Britain’s best heavy bands that is a call to arms aimed at every single other even remotely hardcore oriented band, telling them to up their game. Jesus Piece are clearly at the forefront of British heavy music, and are more than deserving of the top spot on our list for this year. [JL]

Jesus Piece take on Manchester's Canvas earlier this month. Photo: Nic Howells

If you want to take a deep dive into our albums of the year, we have made a handy Spotify playlist.

Cover photo: Nic Howells

Writers: Amber Brooks, Alex Long, Jake Longhurst, Danika Ulrich

Final Order Voting Panel: Amber Brooks, Kyrill Borzenko, Kayleigh Fryer, Alex Long, Jake Longhurst, Danika Ulrich