D//E selects its Albums of the Year for the tenth time, as the site approaches what seems like a milestone birthday. A mix of promising newcomers, constant favorites and veteran acts which have excelled themselves this year, create a list that appears more fluctuating than ever.
Preferences tend to shift often, echoing the ever-changing nature of existence itself.
These are D//E's Albums of the Year 2023.
30. Bush Tetras - They Live In My Head
Renowned figures of the No Wave scene, Bush Tetras, have made a pretty strong comeback with their latest album,
They Live In My Head, marking their first release in over a decade. The album discharges a good amount of confidence and expertise in the current post punk world, offering a visceral experience which serves as a heartfelt tribute to their late drummer. The discernible gloomy qualities in the music pay homage to Dee Pop, making it a poignant and fitting homage, still, at the same time, the album extends the band's significant influence to a fresh audience and a younger generation, and it's doing all of that with remarkable energy. Bush Tetras, an unconventional band with a wealth of expression, maintains a robust and resonant presence in the realm of underground post punk and beyond.
29. More Ephemerol - Apotheosis Pageant
Los Angeles-based synthpop duo, More Ephemerol, introduced a new dimension to their music with
Apotheosis Pageant, their spirited, latest full length. While embracing a more industrial and dance-oriented approach, the band remains true to their core strengths. The album showcases a vibrant synthpop sound which is both alternative and creatively unconventional, yet in some fashion, manages to evoke a sense of familiarity.
28. Temple of Angels - Endless Pursuit
Endless Pursuit, the debut album from the Austin-based band, Temple of Angels, vividly showcases the colorfulness and vibrancy of their songwriting. It is a great dreampop record which evokes the ethereal tones of Cocteau Twins, consummately blended with a more approachable style reminiscent of nineties alternative rock.
27. The World At A Glance - The Longest Shadow Can Only Recede
Concluding a series of concept albums,
The Longest Shadow Can Only Recede emerges as a clear highlight in the evolution of the post hardcore group, The World At A Glance. Beyond the eloquent album titles and the overall profound lyricism which is evident in the band's art, the essence of their music resonates deeply. The album is beautiful, and an unmistakable achievement, characterized by intense emotional depth and vigor, encapsulating the band's visionary, experimental approach.
26. FEARING - Destroyer
Destroyer, the second album from post punk band FEARING, marks a notable return to the band's earlier incorporation of darkwave influences. With compositions which exude a compelling and brooding atmosphere, FEARING's latest showcases the band's organic adaptation to a fully dark world, and how comfortable they sound with their updated formation as a trio.
25. Ringfinger - In a Black Frame
Ringfinger unveiled their highly awaited first album,
In A Black Frame, presenting a rather gripping and atmospheric darkwave style infused with intense, brooding energy. The band remains true to their unique dark direction which set them apart in their previous individual releases, with their debut full length showcasing a complete embodiment of goth-inspired sound and aesthetics.
24. Denuit - Ritual
French darkwave duo, Denuit, infuse their own unique style with the descriptor 'night-wave,' citing inspiration from cyberpunk visuals and the somber poetry of Edgar Allan Poe. Over the past couple of years, the duo has exhibited remarkable productivity, consistently releasing successive albums. Their most recent full length,
Ritual, defines the band's gloomy and mysterious aesthetics, resonating with a blend of vitality and atmospheric charm.
23. Rid of Me - Access to The Lonely
Access To The Lonely marks the second album from Rid of Me, the very consistent Philadelphia-based noise rockers. The album was crafted and refined amidst the challenging times of 2021 and 2022. In its entirety, it is a potent record which highlights the significant growth of the group, presenting a solid fusion of punk and noise rock, delineating the band's remarkable energy and command.
22. SOFT VEIN - Pressed In Glass
SOFT VEIN, the individual project of musician Justin Chamberlain based in California, emerged with a remarkable fusion of industrial, darkwave, and electronic components. Releasing one compelling single after another, SOFT VEIN showcased the diverse facets of their dark musical palette, spanning from gritty and experimental compositions to infectious earworms. The subsequent full length,
Pressed In Glass, served as a detailed exhibition of an overarchingly dark artistic vision.
21. Maggot Heart - Hunger
Linnéa Olsson, known for her involvement in great bands like Beastmilk, Grave Pleasures, and The Oath, maintains a distinctive style in her own project, Maggot Heart, offering a generous dose of dark rock, hard rock, and proto-punk rawness in their latest album.
Hunger combines heaviness with a punk attitude, consistently mingled with occult rock elements to create a sound which is both edgy and engaging.
20. Fotocrime - Accelerated
Fotocrime delivered a robust fourth album, marking a confident departure from their established dark post-punk sound and embracing a bold new direction. The record showcases a varied array of styles, incorporating elements from electronic-infused rock, dreampop, indie pop, minimalist synth punk, Italo disco, and art rock. Finely weaving all these components together, Fotocrime manages to create a cohesive sound, providing a strong progression from their earlier albums.
19. ISUA - Abandon
ISUA are an immensely heavy Australian band whose sound goes deep into the realms of sludge, doom, and post metal. Their latest album,
Abandon, is proof of the band's unwavering commitment and passion for cultivating dark and weighty art. ISUA captures the essence of post metal's prime, imprinting it with their distinctive artistic touch, and the result is a notably authentic expression. ISUA's music not only packs a forceful punch but also elicits a profound sense of sentimentality.
18. Harm's Way - Common Suffering
Common Suffering, the latest release from hardcore greats, Harm's Way, delves into existential themes, featuring immersive atmospheres and profound lyrics. After a five year absence, the band came up with a pretty powerful work, an album which is relentlessly caustic, delivering an unyielding and severe sound.
Common Suffering emanates a rather unstoppable and intense energy, and finds Harm's Way at their finest.
17. Vince Clarke - Songs of Silence
Throughout his extensive career, Vince Clarke has been linked with some exceptional, historic acts, but had never released an album under his own flag. The co-founder of Erasure and Depeche Mode revealed his first ever solo album,
Songs of Silence, which is hands down the most different work of his successful path so far. A more introspective side of Clarke is completely exposed, and
Songs of Silence shows the markings of a timeless record.
16. Constant Smiles - Kenneth Anger
The third installment in Constant Smiles' 'Divine Cycle' trilogy, their album,
Kenneth Anger, marks the band's shift from indie folk to a blend of synth-based pop and post punk. Exploring themes such as creativity, societal dynamics, ceremonial rituals, and their role in the recovery process, the album also stands out for its sharp, impressive and delightful sound. In a curious twist of timing, the album saw its release a mere two months before legend, Kenneth Anger, departed from the mortal realm.
15. M(h)aol - Attachment Styles
Emerging as a formidable presence in current post punk, M(h)aol left a lasting mark with their first album,
Attachment Styles. The band showcased their clever lyricism, delving into significant themes such as gender fluidity, the ability to heal, and social connection. The album, distinguished by its dynamic sound and the band's distinctive performances, rightly gained recognition as one of the most resolute and acute post punk releases of the year.
14. A Very Special Episode - Freak Me Out
The sophomore album,
Freak Me Out, from A Very Special Episode presents a very interesting concept delving into cults, the yearning for belonging, and the darker side of this notion. The band maintains consistency by preserving the characteristic grit which defines their sound, while also wholeheartedly embracing the shoegaze element, indicating a proclivity for musical expansion.
Freak Me Out also encapsulates A Very Special Episode's explosive musicianship and visual storytelling, displaying their creativity not only in the music but also in the accompanying videos and visuals.
13. MØAA - Jaywalker
MØAA has stood out with a sound characterized by lively, synthesizer-driven beats, dreamlike vocals, and a nocturnal type of ambiance. These are the elements which form the core of the project's engaging style, and are fully exemplified in their latest album,
Jaywalker. Despite the album showcasing a slightly cleaner sound, it retains the pulsating essence which defines MØAA's work. Simultaneously, the enigmatic and shadowy atmosphere reminiscent of their earlier work persists, and is clearly notable.
12. Chrome Waves - Earth Will Shed Its Skin
Earth Will Shed Its Skin found Chrome Waves firmly rooted in a shoegaze and post grunge framework, while the extreme metal and dark elements are also very strong components of their sound, as the group hinges on their members' previous experience in other ultra heavy bands. Chrome Waves have demonstrated their propensity to blend post metal and black metal into a distinctly contemporary fusion, merging the strengths of both genres, and their latest album in 2023 stands as a superb addition to their innovative, genre mixing path.
11. The Telescopes- Experimental Health
It's truly impressive how after numerous albums and a lengthy career, The Telescopes consistently maintain a contemporary, boundary pushing, and adventurous sound. Their fourteenth album,
Experimental Health, stands out as a testament to their bold musicianship. Stephen Lawrie independently created the album in a secluded West Yorkshire cottage, utilizing unconventional tools like broken toys and affordable synths, such as Pocket Operators and miniature synthesizers. Guitars are totally absent, with the majority of the instrumentation costing £50 or less. It is an intricate album whose grabbing sound arises from the direct approach of its unusual creative ways.
10. Godflesh - Purge
Purge, the title of the most recent album by industrial greats, GODFLESH, directly alludes to how Justin K. Broadrick, uses the project's music as a temporary relief from his diagnosed conditions of autism and PTSD. The album works as a representation of the next phase of a personal path on which Broadrick has been since he first started making music, going through feelings of isolation and estrangement, from his childhood to his adult life. The result is a record characterized by darkness, wrath, and a sense of foreboding, aligning perfectly with the renowned work of GODFLESH.
9. Bestial Mouths - R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)
After the impressive
RESURRECTEDINBLACK in 2020, Bestial Mouths continue their artistic evolution, exploring both the sounds for which they are known, and uncharted territories. In
R.O.T.T. (inmyskin), Lynette Cerezo presents deeply personal lyricism, reaching deep into themes of impassiveness and anguish, all persistent motifs in the majority her work. With each album, Bestial Mouths advances, maintaining a remarkable and organic progression.
8. Caress - Night Call
Caress, the Los Angeles-based project of Tara Jane, is now part of the Negative Gain Productions roster, presenting a rich and compelling album which feels long overdue to those who have enjoyed the artist's earlier endeavors.
Night Call blends the atmospheric vibes of eighties darkwave with the essence of synthpop, while also incorporating engagements with industrial elements. The outcome is nothing short of excellence, marking an outstanding debut for the artist.
7. Agriculture - Agriculture
The debut album from the avant-garde metal band Agriculture, self-titled and released by The Flenser, highlights the emergence of a highly promising force in contemporary black metal. An all around unconventional group, emerged challenging the traditional norms of the genre, encapsulating existential themes in their punchy music, and transforming it into a bold artistic expression and a rather groundbreaking journey.
6. Full of Hell and Nothing - When No Birds Sang
Full of Hell and Nothing, both renowned forces in the realm of underground music, have unveiled their joint album,
When No Birds Sang, which came across as a bit surprising, but worked perfectly in the end. The collaborative record presents a disquieting yet cleansing experience, harnessing the distinctive strengths of both bands. Despite the apparent contrast between the two, the collaboration between Full of Hell and Nothing not only succeeded but also demonstrated a seamless and remarkable fusion of heaviness and sentimentality.
5. Boris and Uniform - Bright New Disease
Boris and Uniform joined forces of their unique collaborative album,
Bright New Disease, through Sacred Bones. Uniform remains a formidable presence in contemporary industrial, while Boris consistently astonishes with their versatile nature, ranking among the most remarkable, daring, and enigmatic bands in history.
Bright New Disease exudes a vigorous, thrashing energy and possesses a cathartic quality in its immense heaviness, resembling the outcome of a unified creative vision rather than a contrived collaboration.
4. Nightosphere - Katabasis
Nightosphere from Kansas City released their latest album,
Katabasis, marking a significant achievement in the world of heavy slowcore. A perfectly executed and put together creation, the record is a fantastic blend of melancholy, weightiness, and a beautiful ambiance achieved by way of emotive vocals and a stark instrumental foundation.
Katabasis is a raw and authentic album, and an exhibition of the band's noise rock and slowcore allure, characterized by both intensity and the tautness of their sound. Nightosphere's performances are incredibly direct, adding to the overall appeal of the triumph of an album that is
Katabasis.
3. Sextile - Push
Sextile is a resilient band which has faced numerous challenges but emerged triumphant, consistently approaching their art with skill and commitment. The release of
Push has been highly anticipated, and it not only lived up to expectations but also revitalized the band, finding them loaded with inspiration and energy, focusing on topics about into the human experience and life's complications in a manner which feels genuine and unforced. Despite maintaining their unmistakable punk and post punk influences in their songwriting, Sextile also fearlessly explore nearby genres, incorporating bold and refined sounds into their music.
2. Slowdive - everything is alive
Positively, Slowdive are an original, trailblazing act in the realms of shoegaze and dreampop. While standing as one of the foremost acts in the genre, they also continue to lead the way in the present day. Initially conceptualized by Neil Halstead as a 'minimal electronic record,' their new album ultimately finds Slowdive returning to their distinctive shoegaze sound characterized by rich reverb, and a beautiful melodic approach. Throughout the entire full length, the band demonstrates exceptional songwriting, presenting a sharp, lush, and refined sound which envelopes the very essence of dreampop at its pinnacle.
1. Depeche Mode - Memento Mori
It has been a very long time since Depeche Mode existed exclusively within the underground domain of alternative music. Nevertheless, originating from the underground scene, Depeche Mode crafted music with purpose and skill, propelling their artistry to extraordinary levels. Graduating from the underground scene, they transitioned to filling stadiums and achieving global dominance, ultimately achieving legendary status. Even as seasoned musicians, Depeche Mode consistently produced commendable records. Their latest album,
Memento Mori, stands out as the pinnacle of their recent discography, characterized by a notably dark and colorless approach.
Although the album's songwriting and demos predated Andy Fletcher's passing, its final shape and formed emerged after his death, lending profound significance to its title; an exploration of mortality encapsulated by the Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die.' The album seamlessly blends industrial elements with melodic alternative rock and synthpop songwriting, resulting in a delicately nuanced creation which balances coldness and passion.
Speculation arises that
Memento Mori might serve as Depeche Mode's swan song. If so, this class act is going out on an incredible high. On the other hand, if this isn't their farewell, the album undoubtedly injects excitement into the anticipation of what lies ahead for the band.
1. Depeche Mode - Memento Mori
2. Slowdive - everything is alive
3. Sextile - Push
4. Nightosphere - Katabasis
5. Boris and Uniform - Bright New Disease
6. Full of Hell and Nothing - When No Birds Sang
7. Agriculture - Agriculture
8. Caress - Night Call
9. Bestial Mouths - R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)
10. Godflesh - Purge
11. The Telescopes- Experimental Health
12. Chrome Waves - Earth Will Shed Its Skin
13. MØAA - Jaywalker
14. A Very Special Episode - Freak Me Out
15. M(h)aol - Attachment Styles
16. Constant Smiles - Kenneth Anger
17. Vince Clarke - Songs of Silence
18. Harm's Way - Common Suffering
19. ISUA - Abandon
20. Fotocrime - Accelerated
21. Maggot Heart - Hunger
22. SOFT VEIN - Pressed In Glass
23. Rid of Me - Access to the Lonely
24. Denuit - Ritual
25. Ringfinger - In a Black Frame
26. FEARING - Destroyer
27. The World At A Glance - The Longest Shadow Can Only Recede
28. Temple of Angels - Endless Pursuit
29. More Ephemerol - Apotheosis Pageant
30. Bush Tetras - They Live In My Head
ZR
