Our second of four articles on list week, here are our choices for EPs of the year. As we all know, EPs are kept short and sweet – so let’s get on with it.
25. Pool Kids – Pool Kids // POOL (Big Scary Monsters)
Dobbin: Upon hearing the idea of a “split with yourself” I had to hear Pool Kids // POOL. As successful as modern alt emo gazers Pool Kids are becoming, they could never silence their hardcore creativity (POOL), leading to two disparate sounds that should only work together on paper. So why not develop each idea in full, without one hampering the other, and marry them on a single release that shows your full range? It’s a powerful idea we should all relate to, as all of us juggle playlists which merge night and day. Side one will make you feel like you’re a sunbeam turning into a rainbow, containing the sublime new track “No Stranger” and ‘unplugged’ versions of previous tracks. Side two will have you hit the earth in style, showcasing Pool Kids as a fully fledged hardcore project that you would swear was their full time job for the quality at play.
24. Break Fifty – Every Scream Became a Whisper in the Dark (Independent)
Joe: The British nu-core scene had been wavering in recent years, yet on Every Scream Became a Whisper in the Dark, Break Fifty seem to determined fully reignite it. The inescapable and encompassing sound that Break Fifty shred away at, matching the rawness of emotions that the unit delve into on the EP, making for one of the most striking listens of the year.
23. Spiritbox – The Fear of Fear (Rise Records)
Max: On their rock-solid fourth EP, Canada’s finest in Spiritbox return to the fold with one of their most refined projects to date. Consisting of six tracks, with interwoven lyrical and musical themes, similar in scope and style to early-era track “The Mara Effect”, The Fear of Fear is a concise and compact demonstration of Spiritbox’s mastery of their Eternal Blue sound. Featuring some of their most outwardly melodic, but equally some of the most blisteringly heavy moments to date, The Fear of Fear is a winding six-track roller coaster that begs to be dissected and re-experienced upon repeat listens.
22. Sugar Horse – Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico (Fat Dracula Records)
Tim: After a few promising releases, Sugar Horse has dropped its tightest package yet in 2023’s EP Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico. This time around, the band weaves a cohesive set of movements through this desert hot springs town. Constructed through interplay of their typical metal sound through a progressive lens, each track segues into the next to drive forth its own internal momentum. That Sugar Horse have come up with such a great EP should come as no surprise, but this may prove to be their best effort yet.
21. Nave – Are You Home? (Blind Rage Records)
Joe: One of the highlights of 2023 has been the return of Nave, dropping superb single “Wrong End of 95” that features on sophomore EP Are You Home?. With its hook laden sound, the track yearns to be stuck on repeat and snuck into every playlist. Each element of Nave gleams, from vocalist Maddi‘s performance to the glowing riffs and pacing drum rudiments. With Are You Home?, a bright hope glistens that could become something much bigger.
20. TOKKY HORROR – KAPPACORE (Venn Records)
Joe: To not have heard of TOKKY HORROR this year you’d have to be locked up in HMPS. Playing an array of different shows and collaborating with BEX, ZAND and CLT DRP, their standout year also saw the release of record KAPPCORE. Blending influences of punk and jungle, it made for one of the most unique listens of 2023 that captured the hearts of many with its sincere joy.
19. GRAVEVIEW – RUTHLESS OBLITERATION OF SANITY (THE SWAMP SOUND)
Dobbin: RUTHLESS OBLITERATION OF SANITY is a shining example of keeping your output slow and high quality. Graveview have waited four years since their last release to drop this EP, as if the were aging the tapes in Floridan bog water. It’s all the better for it, as every moment is pristinely brutal thanks to Hunter Young’s stellar production. It’s a relentless death metal masterclass, harrowingly realized and thoroughly memorable. The title track, “WATCH YOU SLITHER” and “FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT” are all stand out heavy songs of the year. This release should be enough to send Graveview far and wide.
18. Crawling – Make Believe (Independent)
Dobbin: So many bands juxtapose calm and dreamlike elements alongside intense and kinetic performances. Crawling are a cut above the rest, simply because it all falls into place so naturally. On Make Believe, that sound they’ve had in their heads has finally been committed to tape. The production will surprise you, making this crushingly heavy band somehow cozy and homely, whilst sounding crisp and avoiding any unfortunate tropes of washed out reverb rock. The standout track is the grunge pop number “The Joy in Drowning” which demonstrates songwriting proficiency beyond their years.
17. Thus Spoke Zarathustra – Act Like You Don’t Know (Ephyra)
Joe: There is something completely feral disgusting about Act Like You Don’t Know that makes it a standout listen in 2023, channelling the bluntest instruments of the ongoing deathcore revival, it is arguably the closest true release we’ve had to what came in the early 00s. A menacing sound and a fitting production to go with it, making for an absolute nasty listen.
16. Vengeance – Vengeance (Independent)
Joe: When Vengeance dropped “Varicose” and made their awaited return, there was a glee that Australian metalcore was returning to a sound of pure violence. Up there with the most aggressive records of the year within its unrelenting and vicious sound, both “Face of Suffering” and “Enter Pain” contain a brute force that will serve those looking for music to have an absolute scrap to.
15. xNOMADx – On Skylines of Embers (Ephyra)
Joe: Initially dropping their Demo EP earlier this year, it was evident then that when vegan straight-edge band xNomadx released another fleshed out release, it was going to be incredible. Purposeful and raw vocals matched with crunching and noodling guitar riffs invoke the best of the metalcore revival we are seein,g alongside a meaningful message and ethic.
14. HEAVENSGATE – AND ALL I LOVED, I LOVED ALONE (Greyscale Records)
Matt: Australia has gained notoriety in the metalcore world for producing some of the best and most consistent bands in the scene, and one of the better groups to recently come out of this metalcore haven is HEAVENSGATE. AND All I LOVED, I LOVED ALONE is 20 minutes of feeling like your skull is getting smashed in by an army of pissed off robots in the best way possible. Sporting an industrial and nu metal-esque take on their brand of aggressive metalcore, the EP is deceptively experimental and atmospheric underneath the barrage of manic riffs, primordial vocals, and relentless drums. This is particularly apparent in tracks such as “CHEMICAL HEAVEN”, “GINSICK”, and “LOVERSDANCE”, all of which boast an uneasy and individual soundscape made up of industrialized synths and harmonic guitars to add a degree of nuance which puts the EP above many of its sonic counterparts. “GINSICK” and “LOVERSDANCE” are especially impressive, both adding clean vocals into the mix with extreme success, particularly in the case of the latter, which stands tall in its focus on clean vocals rather than harsh vocals, contributing greatly to what is overall an experimental and diverse EP.
13. Anklebiter – To Live and Withstand (Sunday Drive Records)
Joe: Anklebiter packs more energy, emotion and fury on To Live and Withstand than many bands do across an entire full-length. All this is brought to the fore with their loud hardcore sound and rageful outbursts on the likes of “Catharsis” and “Daredevil“, contrasted with pained and ruminating lyricism on “Altruist” and “Lynx“, making for a listen that drives through every emotion.
12. Balmora – With Thorns of Glass and Petals of Grief (Ephyra)
Nick: Among a myriad of nostalgia-driven bands that have gained traction in 2023, Balmora is an act that remains criminally underappreciated. Bringing to the table what can only be described as metalcore in its rawest and most unprocessed form, this Ephyra act have secured their place in the MySpace revival hall of fame with With Thorns of Glass and Petals of Grief. A five track affair chock full of melody, groove and mosh-inducing breakdowns that’s sure to make you long for the good ol’ days of metalcore, Balmora are here to remind us all that the genre’s roots remain ever unbending.
11. Karmanjakah – Ancient Skills (Independent)
Max: Teeming with beauty, serenity and groove, Sweden’s ‘happy thall’ export Karmanjakah provide a remarkable follow-up to their 2021 LP, A Book About Itself. A refined and laser-precise iteration on their already-breathtaking and wonderfully unique sound, Ancient Skills is a dreamy and utterly undeniable slice of tech metal that yearns to be heard. After a barn-burner appearance at this year’s Tech-Fest, too, marking their first ever show in the UK, 2023 has proven to be a huge year for Karmanjakah – and one that is more than deserved.
10. Lake Malice – Post-Genesis (Silva Screen Records)
Nai: Having been ear marked as one to watch last year it’s been a long but worthwhile wait for Lake Malice’s debut EP Post-Genesis. By taking their time to put forth their first collection, Alice Guala and Blake Cornwall have produced a cohesive record which strongly reflects their identity and feels like a solid arrival of their ‘sound’. They’ve had a stellar year of live shows, including bringing their high energy performance to the Dogtooth stage at Download20 and rounding out 2023 with their first headline show at the Black Heart following the release of Post-Genesis. The blending of hyper-pop melodies, EDM beats and some truly filthy riffs and breakdowns is a celebration of metal sub-genres and the possibility they hold to create unique sounds. Whilst it may be unpopular for ‘old school purists’ of the genre, the shift we have seen in recent times to metal (in the broader sense) becoming more progressive and really pushing the boundaries of what is possible from a musical standpoint is incredibly exciting, and this release is a perfect example of that. It’s refreshing and unique and in my opinion this is what makes Post-Genesis one of the best EPs of the year. It is without doubt a defining moment for the band. It’s barrier breaking and to have fused so many elements across the spectrum and come out with such a defining and identifiable collection, Lake Malice should be absolutely applauded.
9. Better Lovers – God Made Me an Animal (SHARPTONE)
Jonathan: Emerging as one of the year’s most unexpected supergroups, Better Lovers is a chaotic metalcore fan’s fantasy lineup come to life. With their debut EP, God Made Me an Animal, they launched themselves into the spotlight with a tight package of feral room spinners. With their lineup of legendary names, Better Lovers are poised to take the scene for a whirl with their signature, southern rock-infused chaos.
8. Origami Angel – The Brightest Days (Counter Intuitive Records)
Dobbin: It’s cheeky putting this one on here but you’re on my turf now and this one feels like an EP to me. Whilst The Brightest Days is a short release, it scratched every power-pop-math-punk-shaped itch deep in my bones. Origami Angel take a slight step back from mathy noodles in order to test out a slew of quirky ideas, telling a tale of a happy go lucky summer. There are blast beats over blues riffs on “Thank You, New Jersey”, spacious takes on “Picture Frame”, hardcore breaks on “Kobayashi Maru (My Very Own)”, some inevitable ukulele on “The Brightest Days”, and finally a few synths and woah-oh-ohhhs on “Second Best Friend”, all of which become career best tracks for this hyped band. Having finally crossed the Atlantic (twice) this year, it seems certain that Origami Angel are now an international fixture that haven’t lost their two piece DIY charm.
7. The Callous Daoboys – God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys (MNRK)
Sean: After dropping one of 2022’s best records in Celebrity Therapist, The Callous Daoboys returned to the grindstone to further evolve their sound on God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys. Displaying a deeply immersive yet chaotic experience, Daoboys show signs of what is to come on their upcoming LP that might just see them conquer the world.
6. Terminal Sleep – Chapter 2: Elicit Fear (Independent)
Joe: It may be a bold claim but it’s difficult not to seeing Terminal Sleep as one of the best bands going right now in Australia. Chapter 2: Elicit Fear is another impressive outings that follows on from Chapter 1: No Solace, rooted in a sound that is pissed off and angry, their sound has evolved into something much more aggressive and much more vengeful that will have the veins flowing with a blood red fury.
5. PSYCHO-FRAME – AUTOMATIC DEATH PROTOCOL (THE SWAMP SOUND)
Max: A supergroup in more ways than one, deathcore newcomers PSYCHO-FRAME made a resounding impact with their debut EP, REMOTE GOD SEEKER, earlier in the year. What fans likely didn’t expect, however, was for the US outfit to drop a second EP chock full of classic dxc ragers, with just as much consistency in quality as their debut. It’s been a busy year for PSYCHO-FRAME, and with the promise of shows and tours across the States (and hopefully beyond) in 2024, it seems next year will be no different.
4. XweaponX & World of Pleasure – Weapon of Pleasure (DAZE)
Dobbin: We can all name that one release that cracked open a genre, the one moment, song, album, or artist that turned a curiosity into a passion. Weapon Of Pleasure is what opened the floodgates of hardcore into my life. Whilst I was late to the party, the enthusiasm behind both straight edge bands has become immense, and this split has kept those fires burning through 2023. XweaponX bring the crowd participation moments with “Paid In Blood”, and “Uzis Akibo” is a nutty track from World of Pleasure with beat switches and namedrops galore. What takes Weapon of Pleasure one step further, and perhaps marks it as an all time classic, is the interplay between the bands on “Domination III” and “World War X”. Not only are the bands shouting for the same cause, they merge identities and melt ideas together in a manner that is frankly heartwarming.
3. Moodring – YOUR LIGHT FADES AWAY (UNFD)
Alex: While 2022’s Stargazer was a promising full-length debut from this rising alt metal outfit, it had some trouble carving out an identity distinct from its readily apparent Deftones influence. Yet on this brief three-song set, Moodring makes nothing short of a massive leap forward. These songs are full of thrilling dynamic shifts and massive hooks that still channel 90s alt metal, but filter it through modern metalcore in a genuinely fresh way. With a single EP, Moodring went from being one Deftones worship act among many, to being at the forefront of a genuinely exciting genre revival.
2. iRis.EXE – mercykiller (Independent)
Max: Having already proven herself to be one of the most creative and forward-thinking voices in the current landscape of alternative music with her stellar SMiLE EP in 2022, iRis.EXE’s three offerings in 2023 all culminated in a short, but undeniably special EP in mercykiller. Showcasing her songwriting and production talents across three distinct, yet identifiably iRis.EXE tracks, mercykiller is one of the most enthralling and breathtaking releases of the year. Alternative metal rager “chemical bleed” sees iRis tap into her heaviest yet, with downtuned guitars and belted vocals contrasting with its subdued, dancey electronics. Conversely, the pounding percussion of extreme club banger “mercykiller” showcases iRis at equally her most experimental, yet palatable to a mainstream audience. This, of course, is all rounded off by her stellar rendition of “sanctuary” from the Kingdom Hearts soundtrack, which seems to have captured the hearts of many as it skyrocketed her streaming numbers and general popularity early in the year.
1. PSYCHO-FRAME – Remote God Seeker (THE SWAMP SOUND)
Max: Potentially the most impressive debut release I’ve heard in some time, aforementioned deathcore supergroup PSYCHO-FRAME’s first of two stellar EPs in 2023 is simply beyond comparison in its genre. Having tapped into the primal, animalistic roots of the genre’s earliest formations, with modern songwriting and production flair to boot, there is something deeply embedded in the core of REMOTE GOD SEEKER that is undeniable. Truly realising the brutal, violent potential that the genre’s roots laid the groundwork for in six tracks that define the essence of all killer, no filler, with any justice, PSYCHO-FRAME will be an unavoidable and unmistakable presence within the extreme music mainstream in no time.