EPISODE 222: SUPER 7 PLAYLISTS 2023
EPISODE 222: SUPER 7 PLAYLISTS 2023
Happy New Year everyone! This week on the pod we made Super 7 Playlists of our favorite punk and hardcore songs from 2023. Listen to the episode here, here, or here and check out the playlist here or here.
There’s a bit of 185 merch left here if you’re interested.
Recapping the year as a whole, I think 2023 was a decent year for LPs, a really good year for EPs, and a stellar year for great songs. I was joined by Dan, Chris, and Brandon from Big Boy this time around. Here are our picks and I’ll break mine down a bit more at the bottom.
Chris
Home Front - Nation
Night Fever - Killing Floor
Coupe Gorge - Vengeance
Slant - Stranger
World I Hate - Suicide Magnet
Violencia - La Agonia De Vivir
The Enforcers - So Be It
Dan
Rat Cage - Change From a Fiver
MENTALITÉ 81 - La France De Futur
Gel - Honed Blade
Home Front - Faded State
Big Boy - Spades
High Vis - Forgot to Grow
Restraining Order - Locked In Time
Brandon
Hotline TNT - Protocol
Hereditary - Can’t Stop It
Done Deal - The Only Fool
Human Garbage - C.A. FIRST!
Outta Pocket - Wrong Hand
Angel Du$t - Born to Run
Apex Predator - Federal Way of Life
Zack
Rifle - Under Two Flags
Street Sweeper - Mama I Can’t Do No Time
Ends of Sanity - Last Rites
Bloodstains - Anti-Social
Speed Plans - Make Them Watch
Torena - Slave No More
Scarab - Scarab
This EP dropped late in the year but was an undeniable banger. It’s just a perfect one minute midtempo punk song with subtle melody. The best of the best. The whole EP rules and this is one of the bands I’m the most excited about in 2024.
My favorite and most played track of the year. The New Wave of Aussie Single Coil is giving FrOi! a run for its money. It’s an infectious, catchy tune so good that there’s no point in me trying to explain it - just jam it…loud! They’d fit right in playing with Radio Birdman and The Saints or even with Rose Tattoo and GNR. Crossing my fingers for a 2024 LP.
One of the best bands playing The Hard Style going today. What makes this band special is their ability to actually write hooks. They do it here with the opening guitar lick that comes around again during final mosh sequence, and with an actual chorus. They won our best breakdown of the year and are one of my favorite bands of the genre.
On the year end awards recap, I wrote about how a lot of the best stuff this year was referential to previous periods: Bayway channeling 1997 NE NJ, The Illiterates sounding like YOT in its infancy, or here with Bloodstains channeling 1981 OC. They sound like they could’ve headlined the final show at the Cuckoo’s Nest and probably should send Rikk Agnew 10% of their record sales. All that is to say, this rules and was one of my favorite 7”s of the year.
On the pod we talk a lot about how for old school bands, the recording itself is often essentially the 5th member. It’s a reality proved time and time again when old bands record their classics with modern technology and it straight up sucks the soul out of the track. This album will never be accused of being overproduced but I love how its not muddy or buried in reverb or other studio tricks folks used to try to make their recordings sound raw/old school. Make Them Watch is a perfect sub-minute Roots Hardcore ripper with the perfect recording to match its fury.
Torena was my personal favorite story of the year: another powerhouse band emerging out of Oxnard and taking it national. These local heroes trimmed all the fat off their previous material, got a stellar recording and took it out to the people - putting out a great Hard Style 12” and playing a ton of shows all across the country. This track was on the short list for riff of the year as well. You’re bobbing your head even before the drums kick. Love this band. Oxnard Hardcore always on top.
2023 was the year of Scarab. They came out the gate with the demo of the year then hit us again with an EP before the year’s end. They’re a dartboard band right now, batting 1000, or whatever term you want to use. They’ve put out 8 tracks and 0 are mid. Today I choose this track, tomorrow I might choose something else, but they had to make my list.
Here was my short list of honorable mentions:
Finally, here are some records that came out in 2023 that I purchased for the 185 collection.
Hardcore rules - can’t wait to get into 2024 with you all. Peace!
- Zack