20 More Raging & Thrashing Records From 2023

Chain Whip’s latest offering is a no-brainer for inclusion on numerous “best of” lists in 2023. Thirteen tracks of pure, unadulterated hardcore punk, each thoroughly crafted to split the senses wide open. True to their razor-sharp sound and visually striking (and already recognizable) artwork, the band manages to weld together even tighter, yet their energy remains as frenzied and charged as ever. Call of the Knife cuts deep into the core of ’80s USHC, distilling its essence into something that feels both timeless and uniquely theirs. While a few slabs from their 2020 demo make a comeback, sharp and lethal as they are, they’re quickly overshadowed by the likes of “Hatewave,” “Re-Decapitated,” and the anthemic, everyone’s new Chain Whip favorite “State Hornets”. Taken as a whole, Call of the Knife is a masterful slash through the genre—straightforward and undeniably ferocious.

Less than a year on from their break-out Qualm LP, Berlin’s shadow-dwellers Glaas have released yet another stunning EP, sharpening their unique blend of hardcore-infused post-punk with a dose of nocturnal grime. The band, featuring veterans of Clock of Time, Exit Group, Lacqueur, and Idiota Civlizzatto, demonstrates refined craftsmanship, albeit with edges raw enough to cut through the dense fogs. The addition of Ruby Mai’s saxophone on the title track “Cruel Heart, Cold Summer” lends a distinct depth and ambiance to the track and sets the whole EP apart from other releases of the past year. Though, with Germany being home to the likes of Bohren & der Club of Gore, the sax is not that much of a shocker. Alongside contemporaries with a similar vibe such as Poison Ruïn, Straw Man Army, and Diät, Glaas reaffirm their position as a band to watch with each new release.

In the same fiery sessions that birthed their 2022 demo, Pennsylvania’s own Kinetic Orbital Strike unleashed their next annihilating strike, The True Disaster, in August 2023. Pulling strands from the insane noise raids of Japanese legends like Collapse Society, Disclose, and Framtid, they paint a picture of a world nuked to oblivion—visions of chaos, death, and a wasteland as far as the eye can see, all delivered with a sound fierce enough to burn right through you. Adding supercharged kinetic power to this apocalyptic ride is Chris Ulsh, the drummer of bands like Power Trip, Mammoth Grinder, Vaaska, Impalers, Hatred Surge, and more. His rabid aggression behind the drum kit brings a whole new level of ferocity and tightness that kicks the band’s sound into overdrive. With Ulsh pounding the drums like there’s no tomorrow, K.O.S. forge a sonic blast zone where the drive is relentless, and the vibe is pure apocalypse.

Like K.O.S. above, just a glance at the cracked skull gracing the cover of Lexicon’s Poison Head EP signals this isn’t your typical feel-good playlist. The Seattle crew has sharpened their mix of hardcore noise crust to a deadly point on this release, and Iron Lung Records were damn right describing it as “The perfect blend of Japanese noise, British chaos, and American muscle. And punk as shit.” With six tracks that tighten the screws and ramp up the sound to an almost unbearable level of fuzz and distortion, Lexicon demonstrates their command of Japanese inspired crust and raw punk, emitting a ferocity comparable to a raging inferno. While the opening tracks are rampant wildfires that keep things short and frenzied, the EP’s closer “Zero Sum Game” stands out, drawing you into a hypnotic state with its surge of feedback, pummeling riffs, and incisive vocals for an experience that’s as mind-bending as it is deafening in its loud, nauseating noise. Iron Lung Records has a knack for spotlighting the most abrasive, blistering, and ear-splitting new talents, and Lexicon’s latest effort hits the mark.

While we were busy applauding standout releases belted out by British bands like Stingray, Rat Cage, and Final Dose, we nearly missed another serious hard-hitter that was launched in the UK last year. Misery is the second drop from the hardcore squad Subordinates out of Birmingham, which bulldozed its way into 2023 as one of the most formidable records you could get your hands on. With an earth-shattering weight and brutality, Subordinates cranked out a full-on assault of hardcore so thick and relentless, with corrosive, down-tuned bass, reverbarting vocals and immense distortion, the sheer noise and savage feedback hit like an unrelenting storm. Eight tracks of intense hardcore noise—raw, heavy and unforgiving.

Pilau features members of iconic grinding violence acts like Assholeparade, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Enemy Soil. Given this background, it’s somewhat surprising that their seven-inch release from May 2023 hasn’t garnered more attention. Released by the recently resurrected Council Records, Pressure is an intimidating and harsh excursion into hardcore punk, packed with snarling vocals, unrestrained feedback, and deeply unsettling bass lines. The music carries a compact yet brutal intensity, blending elements of hardcore and powerviolence that oscillate between rapid tempos and a heavier, more oppressive feel. The entire thing feels tightly coiled, as if the band is bracing for impact or ready to wreak havoc. According to the press release, Pilau combine the speed and aggression of Attitude Adjustment and Japan’s Bastard with the raging tone of Skitsystem and Tragedy. While that comparison might seem a bit ambitious, this EP undeniably rips front to back.

What the heck? Isn’t this just some ultra-fast, brain-frying, mindless thrash? Absolutely, that’s exactly what it is! From the electrifying riffs of “Insatiable” to the thunderous, all-out attack of “Booze!” (also released on the Metal Solidarity Vol.2 compilation), Degrading Spectacle don’t ease off the gas for a second, delivering a full-throttle thrash onslaught straight to your speakers. Spawned in 2023 by veterans of the Athens, Greece’s hardcore punk and thrash metal circuits, the band brought their incendiary debut tape in November through their singer’s label. Fronted by George “Ironbeast” of Αντίδραση (Antidrasi), Violent Definition, and tons of other heavy hitters, once you press play, there’s no pause for breath. A total brain-scorcher through and through.

C’mon everybody, let’s punk!!! In a nutshell, Finland’s Tiikeri play simple, straightforward first-wave punk influenced by bands like Eppu Normaali, Sex Pistols, Rattus, and Vaavi. There isn’t a single track that isn’t super catchy, anthemic, and fist-in-the-air kind of fun. The lyrics are all about punk, tackling on punk’s role in challenging apathy through energetic engagement and political awareness (“Punk on mun elämä”), punk’s search for identity and belonging in a conflicted world (“Kuuma on moottoritie”), punk as an expression of love and defiance (“Punk on rakkaus”), celebrating the inclusiveness and communal spirit of punk shows (“Maiharit tai tennarit”), finding pleasure in the rebellious spirit and resilience of being a punk (“Oon punkkari”), reflecting on the authentic values and aspirations of punk (“Uskon punkkareihin”), or taking a stand for animal rights and environmental ethics by boycotting meat companies that produce vegan products for corporate profits in “Atria ja HK (ei oo OK)”. The vinyl comes with a super cool package and a solid DIY zine with lyrics and liner notes. If not the best, then it’s certainly one of the most positive and catchy punk rock records of 2023. Total fun guaranteed.

P.S. In December 2023, Tiikeri released an amazing split 7-inch with the Japanese band Vänsuut. Check it out!

The Croatian scene has been on the rise lately with great releases from bands as diverse as Sukob, Mižerija, and Koridor. Heihaizi, on the other hand, are packing a punch with energy that’s just itching to break loose, and they’ve got a vibe that feels distinctly more American compared to their local peers. Their debut, self-titled album slams through 13 tracks of old-school hardcore that’s fast, frantic, and furious in its own way. They’re channeling vibes from Circle Jerks to OFF!, JFA, RKL, and got a heavy nod to the early days of Beastie Boys. And when we say Beastie Boys, it’s the vocals that really flip the script—Heihaizi are not your usual hardcore scream-and-shout fest, but something that tends more towards spitting bars. All in all, it makes for a killer soundtrack to thrash on a board, tag up the streets, or just kicking back with the squad.

Blasting in your face like a shaken can of [insert some of the nastiest liquid a punk can drink], the Aussie trio Crêam Söda whip up a frothy, effervescent storm with their third release. Danny Sano, steeped in Japan’s ’90s punk heritage with bands like Redstain and Deathcage, leads this charge with forthright power and attitude. Fiction fuses the intense thrashing energy of Japanese classics like Gauze, Lip Cream, and Systematic Death with the raw essence of British and Scandinavian kängpunk and d-beat, conjuring a dense cloud of noise that’s electrifyingly sharp and utterly relentless. The guitar work sizzles with fierce distortion and intensity, creating a backdrop where the vocals occasionally seem to dive under the dense wall of sound. Each track pushes the envelope, showcasing Crêam Söda’s ability to blend different flavors into a full-throttle raw punk onslaught.

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the French scene and have written about a lot of great records from that country lately. However, we somehow failed to give enough credit to the debut LP from this crust demolition squad called Barrage. The band consists of an all-star cast of former and current members of a variety of other bands, and their 12-track debut with lyrics in French finds the perfect spot between the dark apocalyptic visions of American bands like Severed Head of State and World Burns To Death and the Scandinavian prowess of Wolfbrigade and Disfear. There are plenty of different influences to be found, yet Barrage successfully avoid sounding like a modern “stadium crust” band, opting instead for the raw production of classics like Extreme Noise Terror and Disrupt. True to its name, the album is a constant barrage of crustcore and raging d-beats that never lets up.

Extensive Slaughter are unmistakably influenced by UK crust veterans Excrement Of War, as the band was named after a classic track from the 1994 masterpiece Cathode Ray Coma. Similarly, the Vancouver band’s latest More Than a Nightmare LP ticks all the right boxes for fans of bulldozing ’90s crustcore. Eight thick, heavy and obliterating tracks of epic leads, machine-gun d-beats and gruesome growls for the impending doom and earth’s annihilation. Fans of battle-ready, iron-clad crust, take note.

P.S. Also check out Iron Warning, the solo project of Extensive Slaighter’s Ian Schram, who also released a ferocious demo in 2023.

Hailing from the Dutch town of Groningen, Glitch made a forceful entry with their debut Tells It Like It Is in 2022, and didn’t let up the heat with their 2023 sequel, Towards The Gutter. The record is laden with serrated riffs, paranoid vocals on the verge of a mental breakdown, and a touch of post-punk darkness. The journey begins with the energetic “Glitch II” and concludes in the deep end with the aptly titled remix “Punishment, Life Itself,” creating a sound that is both fiercely aggressive and eerily unsettling. True to its title, Towards The Gutter isn’t a safe walk, but an uncomfortable ride that takes you into the dirty, uncomfortable realities of our chaotic world, or the shadowy corners of your own psyche.

Japanese hardcore punk is consistently brimming with high-octane bands, and the new Tokyo/Hiroshima outfit 珠鬼 (TAMAKI) stands firmly within this tradition. Dropping their 珠鬼 EP (which translates to “Pearl Ghost”) in December 2023, the supergroup, which features three members of Klonns among other killer bands, spewed out six tracks of pure, adrenaline-fueled hardcore that manages to be both intensely aggressive and irresistibly catchy. Vocalist Sailor Kannako truly shines, delivering her lines with a ferocity and purpose that is hard to match, which is no surprise as she is no newcomer to the scene, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the gothic/synthpunk wrath of Xian to her solo endeavors as a Japanese witch house DJ. 珠鬼’s guitar work blazes with energy while the rhythm section pounds out a relentless assault of power. Fans of bands like GEL, Slant, or Crunk will find 珠鬼’s raging debut to be a total barnstormer.

Out of Cage is the name of the debut seven-track EP from Bandung, Indonesia’s LAXX. Released on tape by local Bandung label Iron Thread Records, Out of Cage provides a platform for the band to express their deep-seated anger against sexism, misogyny, sexual assault and abusive behavior both within and outside of the hardcore punk scene. Their brand of short, blistering hardcore brims with urgency and determination in self-explanatory tracks like “No Means No,” while in “Abuse of Power,” the band makes a powerful statement that unequal power relations and abusive behavior occur everywhere, even in the closest of intimate relationships. The last song is a cover of “Everyone is Sick” by Oakland’s XVX band Tørsö, which is interesting as it shows that young international bands are just as, if not more, influenced by bands from the last decade than by what are considered ’80s or ’90s classics.

P.S. It turns out the blackened crust outfit Dissolve, another band from Indonesia, also plays a cover of the same Tørsö track.

Along with all the other stuff we reviewed, last year was also ripe with amazing North American bands singing in Spanish, and it was really hard to pick just one band for this article. On the heels of 2021’s blistering self-titled EP, Montreal’s Total Nada released seven fresh tracks that deliver a raw, anthemic punk sound, imbued with a spectrum of dark emotions. The vocal style brings to mind the golden era of Latin American punk from the ’80s, enriched by a blend of haunting gothic/post-punk gloom and the distinct vibe of Norsk hardcore, reminiscent of pioneers like Svart Framtid, Kafka Prosess, and So Much Hate. Both of their EPs are fantastic!

We first heard of Naarm (Melbourne), Australia’s powerviolence band Dire Need a few years ago with their Homecoming EP, and since then the band has been building muscle and ferocity to release their latest Pure Hatred EP. With a logo ripped from Infest and a cover artwork of a white supremacist getting punched after giving the Roman salute, these are 14 songs of pure rage and animosity towards cops, fascists and anyone who stands in the way of the working class. If you follow the band on Instagram, you’ll also see various renditions of the artwork, with images of old-school British skinheads, SHARPs, burning cops, and riot scenes from around the world. Pure Hatred is a raging beast from start to finish and one of our favorite PV releases of the past year. Death to commercial hardcore, death to false powerviolence!

Hailing from Half Moon Bay/San Francisco, Nightstick Justice was a short-lived yet remarkable force in the ’00s California scene, delivering straight-forward, no-bullshit hardcore in the vein of Tear It Up, Cut The Shit, and Direct Control. In 2023, fans were thrilled when 625 Thrashcore, Thrash Tapes, and Smiling Is Not A Crime dropped a discography tape featuring all of Nightstick Justice’s works from 2006 to 2008. Jeff Corso, formerly of Nightstick Justice, also kicked off a new venture called Coffin Party amidst the pandemic, unveiling a demo in 2020 and the Solidarity EP in 2021. In this project, Corso teams up with the exceptional drummer Aesop Dekker, known for his work with metal outfits like Agalloch, Ludicra, and Hickey. Yet, in Coffin Party, the duo steers clear of complex, avant-garde styles in favor of a raw, traditional hardcore vibe, drawing inspiration from bands such as Jerry’s Kids, Gauze, and Poison Idea. Their 2023 self-titled EP, Coffin Party, serves up six tracks of unadulterated hardcore at its most primal and powerful, with raging riffs recycled from Nightstick Justice. For those who favor hardcore that’s unrefined and aggressive, Coffin Party is sure to strike a chord.

The Bulgarian band Savage Ravage formed around 2009 as a high school group in the capital city of Sofia. The members, who attended the same school—all proudly wearing their Misfits and Slayer shirts—shared a common interest in skateboarding and going to metal, punk, and hardcore shows. In the summer of 2023, a full decade after their first EP, Savage Ravage released their self-titled album with nine tracks that showed great potential and technical ability. Savage Ravage’s musical style is straightforward, trim-the-fat death metal with gruff vocals, continuous riffing, and punishing breakdowns. The band opts for simplicity, letting the riffs speak for themselves, with all lyrics in Bulgarian adding an extra layer of interest for those seeking music with an international touch. While the album reflects ten years of development, it contains tracks that vary in maturity—some retaining a more youthful simplicity and others, like their latest single “Claire”, showing deeper lyrical and compositional growth. Expertly recorded and mastered by Nick Berberov at Audioslot Studio in Sofia, the album presents a cohesive body of work that will appeal to metal fans who embrace the DIY punk spirit. Happy 15th Anniversary to Savage Ravage!

Genocide Doctrine’s Sleepers incorporates even more death metal than their 2022 self-titled EP, a transformation that can be attributed to the addition of new bassist Thomas Fischer (also in Dysgnostic). In short, Sleepers blends an extreme grindcore ferocity with intricate death metal, particularly evident in tracks like “Nuclear Salvation,” “Monuments to Failure,” and the eponymous “Sleepers,” which convey a deep-seated disgust with humanity. Despite the heavy focus on destruction, the integration of discordant death metal nuances, as heard in “Gouged,” “Embrace the Descent,” and “Blinders,” gives the album a clear direction. “Barren” closes the album with a doomy, atmospheric finale that emphasizes desolation and eternal bleakness. Representing a significant Danish contribution to the genre, Genocide Doctrine’s sound diverges from Scandinavian grindcore norms, offering a novel and dissonant take that challenges regional stereotypes.

Thank you for reading to the end, let’s wrap it up with the brilliant video of the saxophone-induced frenzy of Glaas.