Welcome to the 2023 list week at Boolin Tunes, starting with the singles of the year. Our singles list highlights tracks that did not appear on other releases this year, allowing us to turn a light towards a different set of bands from our upcoming LP and EP lists. These artists may be having a quiet year between album releases, shifting the paradigm by focusing on singles, or simply allowing these tracks to be their own milestones. No matter the reason, we’re proud that the results of our writers and editors discussions have generated a list this diverse, featuring both scene underdogs and champions.
25. fakeyourdeath – consume (Independent)
Dobbin: We highlighted fakeyourdeath in our roundup of 2023 ones-to-watch, so being able to feature “consume” on our singles list brings us full circle. It’s delightful how “drums-first” the production is, true to their live performances, and the track is filled out with a spectrum of obnoxious and panic-inducing industrial production. The vocals visit many styles from raspy screams to idiosyncratic cleans. fakeyourdeath are poised for even bigger things as we enter 2024.
24. Thornhill – Viper Room (UNFD)
Max: Following up 2022’s divisive Heroine (an album which, for the record, we quite liked, awarding it our top spot in last year’s Album of the Year rankings), Aussie riffers Thornhill return with a smooth, slick and stylish rock tune that has proven quite the earworm for myself and many others since its release. An iteration on the rock-angled cuts present on that record, “Viper Room” sees Thornhill fully embrace the Muse comparisons and unashamedly continue diving headfirst into their newfound sound. Fans longing for sounds akin to The Dark Pool need not apply, but those looking for some glitzy, glamorous and downright sexy hard rock have a certified banger on their hands.
23. Desolate – karoshi (Independent)
Jack: New York based nu-metalcore outfit Desolate returned this year and put out a few new tracks, of which “karoshi” was an instant stand out. Known for their incredible ability to weave the narrative of Anime and Manga into their releases, alongside their distinctive combination of metalcore staples and electronics, Desolate exploded back onto the scene with this incredibly hard hitting release. The inclusion of Rotnest only amplifies the brutality across this track, allowing for Desolate to show true versatility, and reach out to a new group of fans that previously may not have heard of them. Presumed to be from their highly anticipated second studio album Oyasumi, Vol 2, this track truly cements Desolate‘s space within the scene, and has us all very excited to hear the full release when it eventually comes out.
22. Love Is Noise – In the shadow of your former self. (Independent)
Jonathan: It’s impossible to condense Love Is Noise‘s sound into one genre. They push the boundaries of shoegaze in intriguing ways, and this is excellently executed on “In the shadow of your former self.“. A seamless stitching of ambience-led grooves and post-hardcore aggression create for something very unique, yet not hard to understand. Suffice to say, the future offerings of Love Is Noise are eagerly awaited.
21. Shokran – Thoth: The Silent Witness (Independent)
Harry: Shokran are a band with a long and storied history. They also have a wildly unique Egyptian sound, courtesy of their heavy reliance on sitars and Phrygian scales. With “Thoth: The Silent Witness“, the Russian quartet move firmly into the metalcore space, refreshing their sound and framing it in a more modern and accessible package without losing any of what makes them Shokran. It’s frenetic, the guitarwork is as intoxicating as ever, topped off with an incredibly infectious solo, and it’s even surprisingly hooky, with markedly improved clean singing. Rarely does a group eclipse their former work so clearly, but they have, with gusto; “Thoth: The Silent Witness” is the unit’s magnum opus and my pick for metalcore single of the year.
20. Novelists – Prisoner (Out of Line Music)
Joe: Upon the release of Déjà Vu, it seemed Novelists breath was faltering, odd for a band who had been a staple in their genre for the near good part of a decade. Unveiling new vocalist Camille Contreras on “Turn It Up“, what was to follow would show the full potential on the new line-up. Their second single “Prisoner” exudes charisma and razzmatazz from Contreras that sees Novelists once again brimming with life, and an excitement around what can be achieved with this latest iteration.
19. El Moono – Chains (Lockjaw Records)
Dobbin: “Chains” is a between-releases track from El Moono that is an indicator of the progress they have been making in the background. Their 2022 record Temple Corrupted has opened plenty of doors and seen them round the local tour circuit. “Chains” now shows a willingness to step into more melodic territory and clinches the pristine production that their blend of post hardcore deserves. It’s also an extremely groovy track with its odd-meter verses and sensual vocals. By not writing themselves into any one box, El Moono have truly expanded their horizons in 2023.
18. HEAVENSGATE – Violent Joy (Independent)
Nick: Australian newcomers HEAVENSGATE have come out of the gate swinging with an incredibly strong inception this year. Following an acclaimed debut EP, the nucore act would ensure the momentum continued with “VIOLENT JOY”, an aptly titled three minute onslaught that proves that even as the group are just getting started, it won’t be a long wait until the band reach their apex.
17. Pest Control – Enjoy the Show (Independent)
Joe: After dropping debut full-length Don’t Test The Pest and a busy year on the touring and festival circuit, Pest Control seem determined not to rest on their laurels. Dropping “Enjoy the Show“, which is packed with juicy riffs and another noteworthy vocal performance from Leah, delivering an array of hooks, it sees the crossover thrash metal unit evolve and innovate on their sound into something even more exciting.
16. Heriot – Soul Chasm (Century Media Records)
Dobbin: Heriot have risen far beyond expectations since we first featured them as one to watch in 2022. This year they’ve toured and festival-ed extensively and stepped up their game through singing to Century Media, without a single compromise to their abrasive sound. Somehow they managed to get to the studio amid all this, and “Soul Chasm” is the first hint of what’s in their pipeline. With tones that sound like chainsaws dragged against cavern walls, and their classic and harrowing dual vocals, there’s no indication that a major label signing has dented their dedication to ‘soundscape hardcore’.
15. Kublai Khan TX – Theory of Mind (Rise Records)
Max: Time and time again, release after release, and year after year, Kublai Khan TX continue to prove they are some of the hardest to ever do it. Following up one of my personal favourite EPs of 2022 in Lowest Form of Animal comes “Theory of Mind”: an unadulterated display of bravado and violence. One of 2023’s hardest and heaviest tunes, it left me yearning for more, and that only lends more excitement to the prospect of a brand new LP on the horizon in 2024.
14. Many Eyes – Revelation (Independent)
Max: The second head of the hydra to rise from the once-severed head of Every Time I Die comes in the form of Many Eyes – the brand new band from vocalist Keith Buckley. It’s a testament to not only his skill as a vocalist and songwriter, but also to the group of musicians he has placed his trust into, as “Revelation” is a shining example of how to hit the ground running as a new band, proving itself to be one of the most catchy and explosive tracks of the year. Buckley’s sense of melody shines through in spades here, and the way in which the infectious chorus contrasts with the ballistic fury of the rest of the track shows a refinement and mastery in songwriting often lacking in many supergroups and follow-up acts.
13. SeeYouSpaceCowboy… – Chewing The Scenery (Pure Noise Records)
Jonathan: One of the forerunners of the throwback metalcore resurgence, SeeYouSpaceCowboy… continue to deliver their nostalgic sound with “Chewing The Scenery”. The track pairs abrasive, dissonant-laden chugs with frontwoman Connie Sgarbossa’s manic screams, while being balanced out by lead-driven melodic sections. Consistently delivering a refreshed take on a classic sound, SeeYouSpaceCowboy…’s next major release is highly anticipated.
12. Vildhjarta – + ylva + (Century Media Records)
Max: Thall.
11. Spaced – Boomerang / Cycle Killer (New Morality Zine)
Joe: After an impressing outing on debut record Spaced Jams, it did always seem that Spaced were full of potential waiting to be realised. With dual single offering on “Boomerang / Cycle Killer” it has began to show: the infectious joy and attitude on each track comes with moments to two-step and yell along to, and will hopefully only offer a taste of what is to come from the Buffalo unit.
10. Invent Animate – Heavener (UNFD)
Jonathan: Swathes of comforting, melancholic ambience envelop your ears on “Heavener“, the late-released title of track of Invent Animate‘s fourth studio album. Exploring the acceptance of grief, the track beautifully encapsulates the comforting feeling of finding peace, with a wall of sound that hardly feels heavy. Every little detail adds up to an ethereal experience, adding more to Invent Animate‘s already impressive repertoire.
9. Poppy – Spit (Sumerian Records)
Alex: You never know what you’re going to get with Poppy. Even though her recent full-length Zig is largely a return to more pop-leaning territory, she still found time in 2023 to drop the absolutely brutal “Spit” as a standalone single. Boasting one of the heaviest instrumentals of Poppy’s career thus far, the cover of a classic Kittie track from 1999 feels right out of the nu metal era. And Poppy sells every ounce of the track’s righteous anger, her vocals dripping venom in a way that reminds listeners that her crossover into the metal scene is borne out of genuine passion for the genre and everything it represents.
8. Foreign Hands – Conditioned for a Head-On Collision (SHARPTONE)
Kath: Foreign Hands expertly weaves a thread of nostalgia-laden post-hardcore into their own classic metalcore-inspired sound with a notable feature from Olli Appleyard. The Static Dress frontman goes toe-to-toe with Tyler Norris and Jack Beatson for the explosive “Conditioned for a Head-On Collision”, a brilliant pairing in a year abundant with standout collaborative efforts. All parties do well to represent the nostalgia revival waves of their respective sub-genres, offering a blend that is both refreshing and familiar with its lyrics about confronting one’s own mortality.
7. Tribe of Ghosts – HIVE (Independent)
Joe: On single “HIVE“, Brighton unit Tribe Of Ghosts put forward a barrage furious soundscapes that were vicious while also adding a sprinkle of magic. Meshing together their industrial and electronic influences, there’s an authenticity to the performance that casts the mind back to the turn of the century in a heartwarming manner. With an equally fitting aesthetic to match, Tribe of Ghosts have begun the start of something grand with “HIVE“.
6. Northlane – Dante (Independent)
Max: One of the greatest to ever do it, the increasingly-difficult-to-categorise Aussie unit offer their first taste of new music since 2022’s Obsidian, which sees the group tapping into the more melodic and dnb-influenced side of that album’s wider sonic spectrum. Stripping back screamed vocals in service of allowing vocalist Marcus Bridge to truly flex his range and capability as a clean vocalist, “Dante” is just another notch on Northlane’s ever-growing chart of undeniably dense, catchy and brilliant outings.
5. Bring Me the Horizon – AmEN! (feat. Lil Uzi Vert and Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw) (Sony Music)
Alex: Following up several singles that saw Bring Me the Horizon treading increasingly further into mainstream rock territory, Oli Sykes and company returned to metalcore with a vengeance on “AmEN!” One thing that has always set BMTH apart from the scene pack is their ability to switch between and blend genres seemingly at will without feeling cliche or insincere, and this blistering track is a stellar example of everything that makes the band great. Boasting a pair of guest features that seem destined to lead to a confused mess of a song, the band somehow seamlessly integrates Daryl Palumbo’s visceral post-hardcore angst and Lil Uzi Vert in full rap-rock mode, while still delivering one of the best hooks of their recent career, if not their entire discography.
4. Graphic Nature – Fractured (Rude Records)
Joe: There is no band more deserving of their 2023 success than Graphic Nature. Years spent honing their sound came to fruition in Febuary with A Mind Waiting To Die. Aiming to move quickly in response to the roaring feedback, Graphic Nature dropped single “Fractured“. It puts together the strongest elements of their debut, including massive breakdowns, jungle beats and impactful lyricism. Graphic Nature have produced one of their best songs to date that, if built upon, will see write their magnus opus.
3. Tracheotomy – Mask of Sanity (Independent)
Joe: When telling the story of deathcore revival over the recent years, Tracheotomy will exist as a vital part of it. They are not only an integral part of the scene, but also a project that shows the deathcore sound can still return to its roots and produce an impressive and noteworthy sound. While they may have proved this on debut EP Dissimulation, Tracheotomy make further strides on both “Mask of Sanity” and “Sadistic Advent“, showing there is so much left in the tank, and the unrelenting and massive sound the Florida unit will thunder onwards.
2. Knocked Loose – Deep in the Willow / Everything is Quiet Now (Pure Noise Records)
Nick: Coming out of left field with a mid-year double single, hardcore veterans Knocked Loose delivered their strongest material to date. Featuring vocalist Bryan Garris’ most impressive performances to date, both lyrically and vocally, alongside some of the most crushing yet memorable breakdowns to ever grace the scene, this is a group that’s sure to shine brightly on the hardcore radar for years to come. One can only hope the band’s next release will continue to expand on this sound even more (and exceed 7 minutes).
1. Omerta – Antiamorous (feat. JOHNNASCUS) (Blowed Out Records)
Jack: Omerta are a band that requires no introduction as their reputation precedes them. Known for their crazy instrumentation, a mixture of vocal styles, and generally unhinged ideas, Omerta came out swinging with this track, and it definitely pays off in their favour. “Antiamorous” takes everything that the band was already pretty great at, combines it, and cranks the dials up to 11. If this is anything to go by – which, based on unreleased tracks that have been played live, it is – Omerta are set to storm the scene once again when they inevitably release the incredibly anticipated Suicycle. Keep your eyes and ears peeled; Omerta are coming, and you will pay attention.