The Best Of 2025

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

An aside about this year’s lists. My favorite part of compiling the annual best of the year lists is that at the beginning I’m always feeling disappointed, believing nothing notable came out in the year. As I start looking up what was released, I am always, without fail, pleasantly reminded that not only were there good releases, but an overwhelming amount of them. Good new music is out there. You just have to want it and be willing to look for it. This was the deepest and most competitive year I can remember in the 11 years of making these lists. Thank you to all the artists who released great new music this year for making that possible.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) C-4 - Payback's A Bitch (Triple B)

2.) Béton Armé - Renaissance (La Vida Es Un Mus)

3.) Steröid - Chainmail Commandos (Crypt Of The Wizard)

4.) The Massacred - Nightmare Agitators (ACTIVE-8)

5.) Puffer - Street Hassle (Static Shock)

6.) Negative Charge - Negative Charge (Neon Taste)

7.) Mangled State - Learn To Suffer (Youth Attack)

8.) Necron 9 - People Die (Unlawful Assembly)

9.) Hot Load - Fate Unknown (Going Underground)

10.) Endless Joy - Endless Joy (Iron Lung)

11.) Bulls Shitt - Bulls Shitt (Rebirth)

12.) Ultimate Disaster - For Progress... (Kick Rock)

13.) G*U*N*N* - G*U*N*N (Going Underground)

14.) Terminator - Identity (Rebirth)

15.) Alienator - Meat Locker (Black Water)

16.) Inmates - Role Of God (Iron Lung)

17.) Psych-War - Psychotic Warmonger (Archaic)

18.) Illiterates - Does Not Compute (Sorry State)

19.) Dark Thoughts - Highway To The End (Stupid Bag)

20.) Ukko's Hammer - Ukko's Hammer (Self-Released)

21.) Scarab - Burn After Listening (Rebirth)

22.) Acid Casualties - Flags Are False (Iron Lung)

23.) Pyrex - Body (Total Punk)

24.) Tàrrega 91 - Ckaos Total (La Vida Es Un Mus)

25.) Plasma - Mua Et Voi Omistaa (Sorry State)

26.) Total Con - Who Needs The Peace Corps? (Static Shock)

27.) Ayucaba - Operacion Masacre (Educacion Cinica)

28.) Dust Collector - Dust Collector (General Speech)

29.) Kaleidoscope - Cities Of Fear (La Vida Es Un Mus)

30.) Industry - Industry (La Vida Es Un Mus)

31.) Traidora - Una Mujer Trans Sin País (La Vida Es Un Mus)

32.) Citric Dummies - Split With Turnstile (Feel It)

33.) Xiao - Control (Twelve Gauge)

34.) Cannonball - Cannonball (Youngblood)

35.) Hierarkin - Bomberna Faller (Cimex)

36.) Iron Lung - Adapting // Crawling (Iron Lung)

37.) Staticø - Absurdity of This World (Refuse)

38.) Deadsky - Reapers Call (Profane Existence)

39.) Nisemono - Nisemono (Toxic State)

40.) Death Gasp - Death Gasp (Profane Existence)

Honorable Mentions

Siyahkal - Days Of Smoke And Ash / روزای دود و خاکستر (Static Shock)

Face The Pain - Time & Dedication (Youngblood)

Black Convoy - Roadwork (Lionheart)

Suspect - Send The Bombs (Collective Memory)

Wiccans - Phase IV (Unlawful Assembly)

Second Death - Second Death (La Vida Es Un Mus)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Volahn - Popol Vuh (Crepúsculo Negro)

2.) Fellwinter - Dark Mediaeval Art (Blood And Crescent)

3.) Mephitic Corpse - Sickness Attracts Sickness (Extremely Rotten)

4.) Clandestine Blaze - Consecration Of The Blood (Northern Heritage)

5.) Hate Forest - Against All Odds (Osmose)

6.) Revenge - Violation.Strife.Abominate (Season Of Mist)

7.) Caustic Wound - Grinding Mechanism Of Torment (Profound Lore)

8.) Arbor - Erwache! (Blood And Crescent)

9.) Atheosophia - Bloodline Ascendance (Blood And Crescent)

10.) Arbor - In The Shadow Of The Vanguard (Blood And Crescent)

11.) Uranium - Corrosion Of Existence (Sentient Ruin)

12.) Pissgrave - Malignant Worthlessness (Profound Lore)

13.) Onyxblade - Quintessence Of The Shadowsword (Torture Palace)

14.) Teitanblood - From The Visceral Abyss (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)

15.) Mortual - Altar Of Brutality (Nuclear Winter)

16.) Blutschwur - Reclaim The Fire (Mordstreich)

17.) Ancient Death - Ego Dissolution (Profound Lore)

18.) Diabolical Fullmoon - Desecrating The Sign Of Christ (Medieval Prophecy)

19.) Forbidden Temple - In The Rotting Grave (Medieval Prophecy)

20.) Khaos Aura - Thorn Bringer (Sonorous Night)

21.) Kvad - Sort Skogsmesse (Sonorous Night)

22.) Ifernach - Dominus Brutalis (Black Marrow)

23.) Vider - Strike With Putrefaction (Self-Released)

24.) Wulkanaz - Luftuz (Regain)

25.) Warloghe - Logos Of All-That-Ends (Northern Heritage)

26.) Крюкокрест - Жестокость и власть (Horrible Room)

27.) Kommodus - A Foetal Wolf In Stained Glass (GoatowaRex)

28.) Impure - The Devil Sees My Dreams (H.S.F.T.W.)

29.) Corpus Offal - Corpus Offal (20 Buck Spin)

30.) Vile Apparition - Malignity (Dark Descent)

31.) Phrenelith - Ashen Womb (Dark Descent)

32.) Moosegut - In Nature's Embrace (Darker Than Black)

33.) Decrepisy - Deific Mourning (Carbonized)

34.) Sulfuric Cautery - Killing Spree (Blast Addict)

35.) Necromantic Worship - Necromantic Worship (Nuclear War Now!)

36.) Kiloton - Kiloton (War Vellum)

37.) Yahwist - Сорные Цветы (Horrible Room)

38.) Ossuary - Abhorrent Worship (Me Saco Un Ojo)

39.) Stangarigel - Za Striebornou Horou (Medieval Prophecy)

40.) Dark Divination - Liitto Hengen Ja Veren (Signal Rex)

Honorable Mentions

Sargeist - Flame Within Flame (W.T.C.)

Bidirna Dhamani - Ojash (Kaliyuga Konspiracies)

Vaurien - Merveilleux décombres (Croux)

Blood Monolith - The Calling Of Fire (Profound Lore)

Anguirel - Mist & Twilight (Sonorous Night)

Trhä - Ducel ëf ∂acet'asde§ den.... (Self-Released)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / R&B Releases

1.) Playboi Carti - MUSIC (AWGE)

2.) Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo 2 (ESGN)

3.) Nourished By Time - The Passionate Ones (XL)

4.) slaywitme - risen from the dead (Self-Released)

5.) EsDeeKid - Rebel (Lizzy)

6.) Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (Self-Released)

7.) Christ Dillinger & DJ Ess - Live Swag Daily (Self-Released)

8.) Smokedope2016 - The Peak (Listen To The Kids)

9.) Sickboyrari - Sahel Dreamz (Goth Money)

10.) Dijon - Baby (R&R)

11.) OsamaSon - psykotic (Motion Music)

12.) Sematary - HAUNT-O-HOLIXXX THE MIXTAPE (Haunted Mound)

13.) Bloodhound Q50 - Long Live My Brudda He Prolly Kilt Yo Brudda (Signal)

14.) NBA YoungBoy - Make America Slime Again (Never Broke Again)

15.) Che - REST IN BASS (10k)

16.) Ken Carson - More Chaos (Opium)

17.) Dave Blunts - You Can't Say That (Listen To The Kids)

18.) Tyler, The Creator - DON'T TAP THE GLASS (Columbia)

19.) CityBoy! - Glime Season Vol.2 (Self-Released)

20.) billy woods - GOLLIWOG (Backwoodz Studioz)

21.) keiyaA - hooke’s law (XL)

22.) Amaarae - Black Star (Golden Angel)

23.) Jim Legxacy - black british music (XL)

24.) SlimeGetEm - GetEm (Self-Released)

25.) AJ Tracey - Don't Die Before You're Dead (Revenge)

26.) Boldy James & RichGains - Murder During Drug Traffic (Self-Released)

27.) Theodora - MEGA BBL (Boss Lady)

28.) Disobey - Disobey Vol. II (Self-Released)

29.) Izaya Tiji - O2A (Self-Released)

30.) 2slimey - High Anxiety (Self-Released)

31.) Rochelle Jordan - Through The Wall (Empire)

32.) SINN6R - #FEDERAL (XV)

33.) Acid Souljah & DJ Foreign Money - Basedworld Strikes Back (Self-Released)

34.) Sudan Archives - The BPM (Stones Throw)

35.) 1oneam - Sin Ever After (Self-Released)

36.) Chuckyy - I Live, I Die, I Live Again (Santa Anna)

37.) Little Simz - Lotus (AWAL)

38.) Thirteendegrees - Clique City Vol. 2 (Clique City)

39.) Kkuba102 & 102 Boyz - Rucken Zur Wand (K.O. Syndikat)

40.) Bear1Boss - Lil Hotsauce 2 (Cleopatra)

Honorable Mentions

Bloodhound Lil Jeff - Bloody Bruddas (Drench LLC)

LAZER DIM 700 - Sins Aloud (Santa Anna)

SlimeGetEm - 2923 Hours (Self-Released)

sbk - SPIRIT (Self-Released)

Christ Dillinger - There's Evil In New York (Self-Released)

Easykid - I'M PART (Self-Released)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Oklou - Choke Enough (True Panther)

2.) Q Lazzarus -  Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives Of Q Lazzarus (Sacred Bones)

3.) James K - Friend (AD 93)

4.) Rosalía - LUX (Columbia)

5.) Ethel Cain - Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You (Daughters Of Cain)

6.) Whirr - Raw Blue (Funeral Party)

7.) Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures (Psychic Hotline)

8.) Venera - Exinfinite (PAN)

9.) Roomer - Leaving It All To Chance (Squama)

10.) Nick León - A Tropical Entropy (TraTraTrax)

11.) Erika de Casier - Lifetime (Independent Jeep)

12.) Shlohmo - Repulsor (R&R)

13.) Ninajirachi - I Love My Computer (NLV)

14.) Skrillex - Fuck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but Ur Not!! (Atlantic)

15.) Easy Sevens - Guitar Music (Listening House)

16.) Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (Rimas)

17.) Real Lies - We Will Annihilate Our Enemies (Tonal)

18.) Mechatok - Wide Awake (Young)

19.) venturing - Ghostholding (deadAir)

20.) Isabella Lovestory - Vanity (Giant Music)

21.) Malibu - Vanities (Year0001)

22.) Anna von Hausswolff - ICONOCLASTS (Year0001)

23.) aya - Hexed! (Hyperdub)

24.) Sam Fender - People Watching (Capitol)

25.) Audrey Hobert - Who's The Clown? (RCA)

26.) Ancient Methods / Vatican Shadow / Salford Electronics - Oct 11, 2025 NYC (Hospital)

27.) Bassvictim - Basspunk 2 (Twin)

28.) Double Virgo - Shakedown (Year0001)

29.) Joanne Robertson - Blurrr (AD93)

30.) FKA twigs - EUSEXA (Atlantic)

31.) DJ Billybool - DYR (Bank Of Star Sound System)

32.) Khadija Al Hanafi - !OK! (Fada)

33.) Kelela - In The Blue Light (Warp)

34.) The Tubs - Cotton Crown (Trouble In Mind)

35.) Blood Orange - Essex Honey (Domino)

36.) Cowgirl Clue - Total Freedom (Vada Vada)

37.) Wet Leg - moisturizer (Domino)

38.) Smerz - Big city life (Escho)

39.) Tyler Childers - Snipe Hunter (Hickman Holler)

40.) Pearly Drops - The Voices Are Coming Back (Music Website ☺︎)

41.) Frost Children - Sister (True Panther)

42.) Night Tapes - portals//polarities (Nettwerk)

43.) Yandere - Affectionate (Self-Released)

44.) Japanese Breakfast - For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) (Dead Oceans)

45.) Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer (Warp)

46.) Wednesday - Bleeds (Dead Oceans)

47.) Skin On Skin - Home Is True (Stay On Sight)

48.) bambinodj - Silent Dispatch (OST)

49.) Hannah Cohen - Earthstar Mountain (Bella Union)

50.) girlpuppy - Sweetness (Captured Tracks)

Honorable Mentions

Turnstile - Never Enough (Roadrunner)

K-Lone - sorry i thought you were someone else (Wisdom Teeth)

Yung Lean - Jonatan (World Affairs)

Sophie Woodhouse - Natural Blonde (Silken Swan)

Richie Culver - I Trust Pain (Fixed Abode)

Low End Activist - Airdrop II  (Peak Oil)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPs Of Distinction

This is the first year of this category. To recognize EPs of note that merit recognition across all genres.

1.) Ecco2k - Cr₂ (Live) (9th.)

2.) Skrillex - hit me where it hurts x (OWSLA)

3.) Bladee & Yung Lean - Evil World (Trash Island)

4.) swedm® - Klubb Musik Vol.1 (Self-Released)

5.) Kelly Lee Owens - Kelly (DH2)

6.) Infectious Jelqing & DJ Smokey - Nuclear Slam Division (Self-Released)

7.) Dj Smokey & Varg2™ - Psychological Musical Warfare Vol. 2 (Acoustic Ammunition)

8.) Jane Remover - ♡ (Dead Air)

9.) PinkPantheress - Fancy That (Warner)

10.) Nuovo Testamento - Trouble (Discoteca Italia)

11.) Ma Sha & Hodge - No One Moves Alone (Kindergarten)

12.) Shygirl - Alias Is Me (Because)

13.) X Club - Stay With Me (Steel City Dance)

14.) Skaiwater - #Mia (Capitol)

15.) Seepy - Moment (TT)

Honorable Mentions

Chareth Cutestory - What Did I Miss (TT)

Bladee - Ste The Beautiful Martyr 1st Attempt (Trash Island)

HorsegiirL - v.i.p. - very important pony (Three Six Zero)

SPFDJ - Heel Thyself (Intrepid Skin)

Cortisa Star - E.M.O. (Evil Motion Overload) (Self-Released)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Dynamite - Settle The Score (Scheme / Northern Unrest)

2.) No Idols - No Idols (Iron Lung)

3.) The Final Agony - Depraved From Darkness (Triple B)

4.) Cadaver Dog - Bred To Fight (Youth Attack)

5.) Arson - Burning Future (General Speech)

6.) Nuclear Fear - Pantomime Of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)

7.) Laughing Corpse - Beyond Recognition (Sorry State)

8.) Private Hell - To Dust You Shall Return (Self-Released)

9.) No Time - Comply Or Die (TKO)

10.) Yellowcake - Apparitions Of War (Total Peace)

11.) Axon - Axon (Not For The Weak)

12.) T.S. Warspite - Trauma Stage (Northern Unrest)

13.) Who Remembers - Still Kickin (Rebirth)

14.) Hellbound - Seventh Seal (Northern Unrest)

15.) Piston - Capital Crime (Dynastic Yellow Star)

16.) Spikepit - Peacewalker (Pipeline)

17.) Mil-Spec - Mil-Spec (Lockin Out)

18.) Daunting Nightmare - Bloodshot (Sex Fiend Abomination)

19.) Rigorous Institution - Tormentor (Roachleg)

20.) Identity Shock - Traces (Designated Moshers Unit)

21.) Grand Scheme - EP (11PM)

22.) Total Con - This Whole World Is Gonna Pay (Brainrotter)

23.) No Fucker - No Fucker (No Real)

24.) Who Pays - Hard Times (11PM)

25.) Total Nada - Aquí y Ahora (11PM)

26.) Ruined Virtue - A Garden Without Birds (Televised Suicide)

27.) Zyclone - Visions Of Impending Death (Re_vile)

28.) The Berserk - Where's The Dictator? (Self-Released)

29.) Fuckin' Lovers - Crucifixion Of The Masses (General Speech)

30.) Jailbird - EP (Armageddon)

Honorable Mentions

Malaise - Malaise (Desolate)

Contempt - You Still Suffer (Advanced Perspective)

False Salvation - Through Shards Of Glass (Rebirth)

Destruct / Svaveldioxid Split (Prescription)

Electric Chair / Physique Split (Iron Lung)

EZ8 - EZ8 (Static Shock)

Brux - Sota La Influència (Mendeku Diskak)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk Demos

1.) Wits End - Demo I

2.) Wits End - Demo II

3.) Arsenik

4.) Direct Order '82

5.) The Damage

6.) Kleptocracy

7.) Self Arrest

8.) Pray To Be Saved

9.) Criminal Assault

10.) Automated Execution

11.) Critical Damage

12.) Subversive Intent

13.) Who Remembers

14.) Reason Why

15.) Lower Receiver

16.) Runnin Hot

17.) Narcan - Demo II

18.) Zero Mob

19.) Living Dead

20.) Madman

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Sets 

1.) Genocide Organ @ Hospital Fest in Brooklyn, NY (10/11)

2.) Oasis @ Wembley Stadium in London, UK (7/25)

3.) Ancient Methods / Vatican Shadow / Salford Electronics @ Hospital Fest in Brooklyn, NY (10/11)

4.) Beherit @ Brooklyn Monarch in Brooklyn, NY (9/19)

5.) Whirr @ Slide Away in Brooklyn, NY (4/26)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Best Of 2024

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

James Khubiar

Justified Arrogance

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Lifeless Dark  Forces Of Nature's Transformation (Side Two)

2.) Public Acid - Deadly Struggle (Beach Impediment)

3.) Vacant Life - Vacant Life 12" (Self-Released)

4.) The Dark - Sinking Into Madness (Toxic State)

5.) Muro - Nuevo Dogma (Fuerza Ingobernable)

6.) No Future - Mirror (Iron Lung / Televised Suicide)

7.) Gaoled - Bestial Hardcore (Televised Suicide / Iron Lung)

8.) Invertebrates - Sick To Survive (Beach Impediment)

9.) Sexpill - In Dust We Trust (Beach Impediment)

10.) Total Defeat - You Can't Win (Televised Suicide)

11.) Impotentie - Zonder Titel Deze Keer (Mendeku Diskak)

12.) Straw Man Army - Earthworks (La VIda Es Un Mus / D4MT) 

13.) Imposter - Oblivion Opens (Quality Control HQ)

14.) Alvilda - C'est D​é​jà L'heure (Static Shock)

15.) The Hope Conspiracy - Tools Of Oppression​/​Rule By Deception (Deathwish Inc.)

16.) Lasso - Parte (Läjä)

17.) Suffocating Madness - Unrelenting Forced Psychosis (Toxic State)

18.) Extortion - Threats (15.1.1919)

19.) Bootlicker - 1000 Yd. Stare (Neon Taste)

20.) Paprika - Let's Kill Punk (Iron Lung)

21.) Subdued - Abattoir (La Vida Es Un Mus)

22.) Frenzy - Beyond The Edge Of Madness (Distort Reality

23.) Peace Decay - Peace Decay (Beach Impediment)

24.) Candy - It’s Inside You (Relapse)

25.) Kriegshög - Love & Revenge (La Vida Es Un Mus)

26.) Savage Pleasure - Savage Pleasure (Toxic State)

27.) Innuendo - Peace & Love (Unlawful Assembly / Roachleg)

28.) S.H.I.T. - For A Better World (Iron Lung / La Vida Es Un Mus)

29.) The Losers - Land Of Opportunity (11PM)

30.) Bad Breeding - Contempt (One Little Independent)

Honorable Mentions

LiFE / Destruct - To Stop The Conflict (Desolate)

Svaveldioxid - Främmande Samtid Skrämmande Framtid (Phobia)

Contention - Artillery From Heaven (Daze)

Sect Mark - Self Obliteration (Iron Lung)

Vampire - What Seems Forever Can Be Broken (Televised Suicide)

Extinguish - One Less Enemy (Daze)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Gauntlet Ring - Phantoms Of Dark Symmetry (Blood & Crescent)

2.) Black Curse - Burning In Celestial Poison (Sepulchral Voice)

3.) Concrete Winds - Concrete Winds (Sepulchral Voice)

4.) Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere (Century Media)

5.) Invunche - Atavismo (Nuclear War Now!)

6.) Antichrist Siege Machine - Vengeance Of Eternal Fire (Profound Lore)

7.) Spectral Voice - Sparagmos (Dark Descent)

8.) Tzompantli - Beating The Drums Of Ancestral Force (20 Buck Spin)

9.) Departure Chandelier - Satan Soldier Of Fortune (Occult Antiquities)

10.) Fellwinter - In Night’s Eternal Grasp (Blood & Crescent)

11.) Corrupted - Felicific Algorithm / Mushikeras (Cold Spring)

12.) Spite - The Third Temple (Invictus)

13.) Old Wainds - Stormheart (Darkness Shall Rise)

14.) Bereft Raven - Following The Splendorous Voice Of The Black Corvus (Torture Palace)

15.) Primitive Warfare - Extinction Protocol (Stygian Black Hand)

16.) Arbor - Eventide Primitivism (Blood & Crescent)

17.) Horna - Nyx (Hymnejä Yölle) (World Terror Committee)

18.) Wrathprayer - Enkoimeterion (Nuclear War Now!)

19.) The Body & Dis Fig - Orchards Of A Futile Heaven (Thrill Jockey)

20.) Diocletian - Inexorable Nexus (Nuclear War Now!)

21.) Stress Angel - Punished By Nemesis (Dying Victims)

22.) Gloomy Reflections - Oath Of The Paladins (Crypt Of The Wizard)

23.) Hulder - Verses In Oath (20 Buck Spin)

24.) Crypt Sermon - The Stygian Rose (Dark Descent)

25.) Sanguine Relic - Within The Fog Of Fragmented Memory (Perverse Homage)

26.) Vengeance Horde - Surging Vengeance (Stygian Black Hand)

27.) Darkthrone - It Beckons Us All... (Peaceville)

28.) Sabbat - Sabbaticult (Nuclear War Now!)

29.) Lament In Winter's Night - Whereunto the Twilight Leads (Hell's Headbangers)

30.) Trhä - ∫um'ad​∂​ejja cavvaj (Self-Released)

Honorable Mentions

Upon Stone - Dead Mother Moon (Century Media)

Tyranni - Dränkt Av Livets Sekret (New Era)

Crucifier - Led Astray (Iron Bonehead)

Heresiarch - Edifice (Iron Bonehead)

Maquahuitl / Ifernach - Awaken Spirit (GoatowaRex)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / R&B Releases

1.) Bladee - Cold Visions (Trash Island)

2.) Nettspend - BAD ASS F*CKING KID (Interscope)

3.) Kendrick Lamar - GNX (pgLang/Interscope)

4.) xaviersobased - ​keep it goin xav (34 Ent. / 1c)

5.) Christ Dillinger - Based Negative Squad (Self-Released)

6.) Chief Keef - Almighty So 2 (43B)

7.) Tyler, The Creator - Chromakopia (Columbia)

8.) Dave Blunts - If I Could I Would (Listen To The Kids)

9.) BabyChiefDoIt - ANIMALS ONLY (Artist Partner Group)

10.) Kkuba102 & Uncle F - SACHSCHADEN 2 (JINX)

11.) dollywood1 - This is just a Dream (and soon I will awake) (Forced Resignation)

12.) Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal (TDE)

13.) Denzel Curry - King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 (PH Recordings / Loma Vista)

14.) Westside Gunn & DJ Drama - Still Praying (Griselda)

15.) Boldy James & Harry Fraud - The Bricktionary (Srfschl)

16.) Future - Mixtape Pluto (Epic)

17.) Julio Foolio - DEMI GOD (E6PN)

18.) Sematary - Bloody Angel (Haunted Mound)

19.) Mach-Hommy - #RICHAXXHAITIAN (Self-Released)

20.) Kali Uchis - Orquídeas (Geffen)

21.) Christ Dillinger & RXKNephew - This Album Is Terrorism (Self-Released)

22.) wolfacejoeyy - Valentino (Alamo)

23.) Erika de Casier - Still (4AD)

24.) Mel V. Chapo - Chapolations (Foundation Media)

25.) skaiwater - #gigi (Capitol)

Honorable Mentions

Christ Dillinger & Seepy - There's Evil in This Club (Self-Released)

Tems - Born In The Wild (RCA)

JPEGMafia - I Lay Down My Life for You (AWAL)

Future & Metro Boomin - WE DONT TRUST YOU (Freebandz / Boominati)

Bloodz Boi & cat soup - time & place (TeamSESH / Empire)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World (Fiction)

2.) Charli XCX - Brat (Atlantic)

3.) MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks (Anti-)

4.) Varg2™ - Nordic Flora Series, Pt. 6: Outlaw Music (Year0001)

5.) Yung Lean & Bladee - Psykos (World Affairs)

6.) 68+1 - echoes of the past (Ictasis Music Group)

7.) A.G. Cook - Britpop (New Alias)

8.) Cindy Lee - Diamond Jubilee (Realistik)

9.) Exploited Body - Here, I Abandon (Changeless)

10.) Kelly Lee Owens - Dreamstate (DH2)

11.) 2hollis - boy (Self-Released)

12.) Nilüfer Yanya - My Method Actor (Ninja Tune)

13.) High Vis - Guided Tour (Dais)

14.) Skee Mask - Resort (Ilian Tape)

15.) Sturgill Simpson (as Johnny Blue Skies) - Passage Du Desir (High Top Mountain)

16.) Mdou Moctar - Funeral For Justice (Matador)

17.) Toxe - Toxe2 (Year0001)

18.) Urika's Bedroom - Big Smile, Black Mire (True Panther)

19.) Dj Smokey & Varg2™ - Psychological Musical Warfare (Self-Released)

20.) Chain Cult - Harm Reduction (La Vida Es Un Mus)

21.) Zach Bryan - The Great American Bar Scene (Warner)

22.) Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood (Anti-)

23.) wiv - wivcore (Self-Released)

24.) Jamie xx - In Waves (Young)

25.) Merely / Malibu - Essential Mixtape (Year0001)

26.) Kali Malone - All Life Long (Ideologic Organ)

27.) Bubble Tea And Cigarettes - We Should've Killed Each Other (Lauren)

28.) Two Shell - Two Shell (Young)

29.) Joon Gloom - Ballads For Da Bizness (Cease 2 Exist)

30.) Khruangbin - A LA SALA (Dead Oceans)

31.) Beth Sawlts - Collar Kindness (Self-Released)

32.) Kamixlo - Deathwork (PAN)

33.) Blair - Blair II (Self-Released)

34.) claire rousay - sentiment (Thrill Jockey)

35.) Kontravoid - Detachment (Artoffact)

36.) Shadow Wizard Money Gang - 5K1NW4LK3R (Self-Released)

37.) Billy Strings - Highway Prayers (Reprise)

38.) Violent Magic Orchestra - Death Rave (Virgin Babylon)

39.) Europa - NOBEDIENCE (Transatlantic)

40.) Mk.gee - Two Star & The Dream Police (R&R)

Honorable Mentions

Fuera De Sektor - Juegos Prohibidos (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Odintyr – A Bit Of The Hard Stuff (A.S.K.E.)

Floating Points - Cascade (Ninja Tune)

ESP - Promise (Year0001)

Soccer Mommy - Evergreen (Loma Vista)

Fabiana Palladino - Fabiana Palladino (XL)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Rixe - Tir Groupé (La Vida Es Un Mus)

2.) Ignorance - Nothing Changed (Iron Lung)

3.) Direct Threat - Endless Siege (Iron Lung / Quality Control HQ)

4.) Forced Humility - Forced Humility (Mendeku DIskak)

5.) Dynamite - Blow The Bloody Doors Off! (Quality Control HQ)

6.) S.M.F. - The US Government Is A Kleptocratic Doomsday Cult (Autsajder Produkcija)

7.) Sørdïd - Reality's A War (Roachleg)

8.) Armor - Afraid Of What's To Come (11PM)

9.) Speed Plans - DUI (Convulse)

10.) Vidro - Upp Till Dans (Beach Impediment)

11.) Guerra Final - Purgatorio (Desolate) 

12.) Paprika - Paprika (Iron Lung)

13.) Golpe - Subisci. Conformati. Rassegnati. (Static Shock / Sorry State)

14.) Woodstock 99 - 99 Ta Life (Sorry State)

15.) No Way Out - Better You Than Me (Triple B)

16.) Pest Control - Year Of The Pest (Quality Control HQ)

17.) Candy - Flipping (Triple B / Retribute)

18.) Zorn - Endless Funeral (Sorry State)

19.) Electricka - Maquina Destruye Sue​​​ñ​​​os (11PM)

20.) Rifle - Pack Mentality (Year0001)

Honorable Mentions

Gigan - Crime Scene Photos (Streets Of Hate)

Nothin' But Enemies - The Real Steel (Northern Unrest)

Cicada - Wicked Dream (Unlawful Assembly)

Corrective Measure - Not For You, Not For Anyone (Designated Moshers Unit)

Mirage - Legato Alla Rovina (Roachleg)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk Demos

1.) Demonstrate

2.) Love & Compassion

3.) No Idols

4.) King's Command

5.) Kasso

6.) Who's To Blame

7.) Straight To Hell

8.) Inversion

9.) Cruciform

10.) Life Of One

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I would be remiss if I didn't say something about this being Justified Arrogance's 10th year of existence. A decade ago when I was prattling on about bands I liked on a blog, I never thought anyone was reading. Most of the time I still don't think people are. I suppose that's the point though, about all of this, about JA and subculture and everything. It's about the things we love getting us through life and trying to take that love we have for these things and paying it forward by sharing it back in the faint hope that maybe, just maybe it'll help someone else like it helped you. That's all this was ever about: love and survival. 

Justified Arrogance still feels like its nothing as it did then, but I know it has become something because people keep reminding me. Whether that something is good or bad is a matter of opinion, but it exists and it's tangible and that is something. It's ironic because I feel like the reasons I started when it was nothing are more vital than ever now that it is something: my only goal with Justified Arrogance, back then and now and until the end, is if I can get through the day knowing I got one person into something they didn't know about then I will have done my part. 

Subcultures survive on transmission. In the end, it's just us. So it is up to us to keep this strong and that happens with each individual and sharing their passion every day. The only thing you need to do during your time here is ensure that this place will be better after you've left it.

Thank you to everyone who ever read something I wrote, told a friend about JA, shared a post, offered me a suggestion / critique, bought a shirt or just said a kind word. None of this would be possible without you nor will it ever be. I hope that I did enough the last 10 years and I can only hope that I will do better in the next 10. I don't know if I'm the person I thought I would be when this started, but I do know I am a better one and for that I can say that I am the person I wanted to be.

With eternal love and respect,

James Khubiar

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blair Kemp

FSP Outdoors / Amateurs Magazine

magazine - Acid Magazine

old music - Ramallah - But A Whimper

new music - Nick Cave - Wild God

book - Perks of Being a Wallflower / Mount Analogue

outdoor sport gear - Drew Austin Fish

app - iMessage

exercise - Side Steps

camera - Nikon FM

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Friend Stu Kirst

Hate Book

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zach Stachura

Pain Of Truth / Palehorse

Tells us his favorite cities he played in 2024:

• Albuquerque, NM
• If you’re in a band do not skip this for an off day. Packed out VFW vibes. Shout out Third Vision Booking
• Milan, IT
• It never disappoints. Good food. Good people. My paisanos.
• Melbourne, AUS
• Basically Brooklyn, except everyone is happy.
• Leeds, UK
• Shout out Tat Shack and Higher Power.
• Stockholm, SWE
• Real deal moshers. Go train at Odenplan Fight Gym.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keaton Khonsari

Semantix

RLGN - PANITA (single)

AUTUMNS - TAKE THE BAIT (EP)

SIRDSAPES - sirdsapes_hlwif_241124_ep (EP)


PLAYBOI CARTI - ALL RED (single)


NEXT WAVE ACID PUNX DEUX - VA COMP (VA compilation)


NORMAL BIAS - KINGDOM COME (LP)


X CLUB - NEW WORLD EXPRESSION (EP)


DAS TAPE, VOL. 1 - MIROSLAV062, OMON BREAKER (split)

The Best Of 2023

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

James Khubiar

Justified Arrogance

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Skourge - Torrential Torment (Lockin Out)

2.) Destruct - Cries The Mocking Mother Nature (Grave Mistake)

3.) Rat Cage - Savage Visions (La Vida Es Un Mus)

4.) Stigmatism - Ignorance In Power (Toxic State)

5.) Mil-Spec - Marathon (Lockin Out)

6.) Physique - Again (Iron Lung)

7.) Stingray - Fortress Britain (La Vida Es Un Mus)

8.) Salvaje Punk - Salvaje Punk (Toxic State)

9.) Conservative Military Image - Casual Violence (Lionheart)

10.) Heavy Discipline - Your Scapegoat (Painkiller)

11.) Tozcos - Infernal (Toxic State)

12.) Existence - Go To Heaven (Quality Control HQ)

13.) Stiff Meds - Tales From The Slab (Quality Control HQ)

14.) G.U.N. - G.U.N. (Sorry State)

15.) Fairytale - Shooting Star (Toxic State / Quality Control HQ)

16.) Pest Control - Don't Test The Pest (Quality Control HQ)

17.) Abism - Abism (Toxic State)

18.) Mutant Strain - Murder Of Crows (Sorry State)

19.) Quarantine - Exile (La Vida Es Un Mus)

20.) Pain Of Truth - Not Through Blood (Daze)

21.) Illiterates - No Experts (Sorry State) 

22.) Intention - Brand New Story (Break The / Beach Impediment)

23.) Human Garbage - Straight Not Giving A Fuck (Criminalized)

24.) No Time - Suffer No Fool (TKO)

25.) Planet On A Chain - Boxed In (Revelation)

26.) Speed Plans - Statues Of God (Iron Lung)

27.) Zorn - Zorn (Sorry State)

28.) Enzyme - Golden Dystopian Age (La Vida Es Un Mus)

29.) Vamachara - No Roses On My Grave (Closed Casket Activities)

30.) Skinhead - Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt (Closed Casket Activities)

Honorable Mentions

Spine - Raices (Convulse)

Castillo - Pleasure And Pain (Battled Scarred)

Geld - Currency // Castration (Relapse)

Artificial Joy - 100% Pure Joy (Shitkicker)

Sunami - Sunami (Triple B)

Blow Your Brains Out - The Big Escape (Quality Control HQ)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Arbor - Behold... The Age Of Pagan Blood (Blood And Crescent)

2.) Nuclae - Bringing Out The Beast (Self-Released)

3.) Gauntlet Ring - Raped In The Blood Of Angels (Blood And Crescent)

4.) Godflesh - Purge (Avalanche)

5.) Cruciamentum - Obsidian Refractions (Profound Lore)

6.) Gauntlet Ring - Beyond The Veil Of Night (Blood And Crescent)

7.) Trhä - §​º​an​Ω​ë aglivajsamë cá n​ë​lh​¶​iha i eddana pi​¶​e (Self-Released)

8.) Deathfucker - God Devourer (BlackSeed)

9.) Tetragrammacide - Typho-Tantric Aphorisms From The Arachneophidian Qur'an (Iron Bonhead) 

10.) Suffocation - Hymns From The Apocrypha (Nuclear Blast)

11.) Lamp Of Murmuur - Saturnian Bloodstorm (Argento)

12.) Mortual - Evil Incarnation (Nuclear Winter)

13.) White Death - Iconoclast (Werewolf)

14.) Khanate - To Be Cruel (Sacred Bones)

15.) Moonlight Socrery - Horned Lord Of The Thorned Castle (Avantgarde)

16.) Fellwinter - The Dawn Of Winter (Blood And Crescent) 

17.) Vargrav - The Nighthold (Werewolf)

18.) Arnaut Pavle - Transylvanian Glare (Amor Fati)

19.) Vastum - Inward To Gethsemane (20 Buck Spin)

20.) Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy (Century Media)

Honorable Mentions

Kommand - Death Age (20 Buck Spin)

Purulent Remains - Fermented Death (Headsplit)

Jesus Piece - So Unknown (Century Media)

Atheosophia - Shadowgate Of Winter's Spirit (Blood And Crescent)

Protrusion - Protrusion (Self-Released)

Autopsy - Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts (Peaceville)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / R&B Releases

1.) JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring The Hoes (AWAL)

2.) Lil Peep & iLoveMakonnen – Diamonds (AWAL)

3.) Hackle - Haunted Nation (Haunted Mound)

4.) Westside Gunn - And Then You Pray For Me (Griselda)

5.) Channel Tres - Real Cultural Shit (GODMODE)

6.) billy woods & Kenny Segal - Maps (Backwoodz Studioz)

7.) J Hus - Beautiful and Brutal Yard (Black Butter)

8.) Rome Streetz - Wasn't Built In A Day (Big Ghost Ltd)

9.) Genesis Owusu - STRUGGLER (Ourness)

10.) Kaytraminé - Kaytraminé (CLBN)

11.) Danny Brown - Quaranta (Warp) 

12.) Kali Uchis - Red Moon In Venus (Geffen)

13.) HiTech - Détwat (FXHE)

14.) Noname - Sundial (Self-Released)

15.) RXK Nephew & DJ Rude One - The ONEderful Nephew (Closed Sessions)

Honorable Mentions

ICECOLDBISHOP - Generational Curse (Epic)

Veeze - Ganger (Navy Wavy)

Bad Bunny - nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana (Rimas)

Sexyy Red - Hood Hottest Princess (Open Shift)

MIKE - Burning Desire (10k)

Jorja Smith - Falling Or Flying (Famm)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Home Front - Games Of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)

2.) a​.​s​.​o. - a.s.o. (Low Lying)

3.) Nuovo Testamento - Love Lines (Discoteca Italia)

4.) Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan (Belting Bronco / Warner)

5.) Narrow Head - Moments Of Clarity (Run For Cover)

6.) Nothing & Full Of Hell - When No Birds Sang (Closed Casket Activities)

7.) Hannah Diamond - Perfect Picture (PC Music)

8.) Yves Tumor - Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (Warp)

9.) Temple Of Angels - Endless Pursuit (Run For Cover)

10.) Slowdive - everything is alive (Dead Oceans)

11.) Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You (Perpetual Novice / Sony)

12.) PinkPantheress - Heaven Knows (Warner UK)

13.) bar italia - Tracey Denim (Matador)

14.) Tanukichan - GiZMO (Company)

15.) Kumo 99 - Headplate (Self-Released)

16.) Kelela - Raven (Warp)

17.) ML Buch - Suntub (15 Love)

18.) Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We (Dead Oceans)

19.) yeule - softscars (Ninja Tune)

20.) André 3000 - New Blue Sun (Epic)

21.) Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good! (Interscope)

22.) 8485 - Personal Protocol (Helix Tears)

23.) Yaeji - With A Hammer (XL)

24.) Tyler Childers - Rustin’ In The Rain (Hickman Holler / RCA)

25.) Neggy Gemmy - CBD Reiki Moonbeam (100% Electronica)

26.) Black Magick SS - Burning Bridges (Creep Purple) 

27.) Overmono - Good Lies (XL)

28.) Gia Margaret - Romantic Piano (Jagjaguwar)

29.) Sweeping Promises - Good Living Is Coming For You (Feel It)

30.) Belgrado - Intra Apogeum (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Honorable Mentions

Body Of Light - Bitter Reflection (Dais)

Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya - Orbweaving (The Flenser)

Croatian Amor - A Part Of You In Everything (Posh Isolation)

James Blake - Playing Robots Into Heaven (Republic)

Kali Malone - Does Spring Hide Its Joy (Ideologic Organ)

Sparklehorse - Bird Machine (Anti-)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Bloody Flag - Bloody Flag (Bunker Punks)

2.) Concealed Blade - 2023 Promo (Kill Nothing)

3.) Secretors - Comparing Missile Size Vol. 1 (Roachleg)

4.) Killing Frost - Killing Frost (United Forces)

5.) Rifle - Under Two Flags (Standard Process)

6.) Black Dog - Overthrow (Roachleg)

7.) Kinetic Orbital Strike (K.O.S.) - The True Disaster (Self-Released)

8.) Loosey - Winter Promo '23 (Self-Released)

9.) The Hope Conspiracy - Confusion/Chaos/Misery (Deathwish Inc.)

10.) Doomsday - Doomsday (Creator-Destructor) 

11.) M.O.A.B. - Massive Ordinance Air Blast (Roachleg)

12.) Delco MF's – The March Of The M.F.'s (MF)

13.) 偏執症者 (Paranoid) - S​.​C​.​U​.​M. (Never Enough) 

14.) Mock Execution - Circle Of Madness (La Vida Es Un Mus)

15.) New World Man - The Beast Is Back (Streets Of Hate)

Honorable Mentions

Anti-Machine - Too Many Eyes (Toxic State)

Stress Positions - Walang Hiya (Iron Lung)

Cold Decay - Cold Decay (Quality Control HQ)

Béton Armé - Second Souffle (Primator Crew)

Balmora - With Thorns Of Glass and Petals Of Grief (Ephyra)

People's Temple - I'm With The People's Temple (Roachleg)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) Spleen

2.) Kato

3.) No Way Out

4.) Coin Toss

5.) Asinin

6.) Capsule

7.) Scarab

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cody DeFranco

Cody DeFranco Studio

Best of Bullshit for Jimbo

Andre 3000 - New Blue Sun (Epic Records)

I feel like everyone was taken by surprise with this release. Some were upset there were no bars but for me, I didn’t need em. I really enjoy ambient and experimental music so this fit right in with my taste and I preordered the LP immediately. It’s truly an immersive album, I also find it to be very mediative and relaxing. You have to give it up to this guy for taking on a new approach to a genre he’s never breached before all while learning new instruments. Absolutely love it and can’t wait to have in my collection.

Mizmor - Prosaic (Profound Lore)

When this came out I couldn’t stop listening to it. I am often so critical about new music in general but this one struck a chord within me. I really love the whole one person band approach, there’s a sense of primal intensity to it, raw so to speak without it sounding so. 

Kelela - Raven (Warp Records)

I’ve been following Kelela’s work since back in 2013 or so with her album “CUT 4 ME” and I never looked back ever since. She was always in Fade to Mind mixes that I simply couldn’t get enough of. The hype is all there and it’s deserving too - I was really to see her continue on the path with Warp Records. I can blast this in the studio and immediately feel energized and motivated. Her voice is so beautiful and it just melts perfectly into the whole production. Always returning to this one and of course her others.

Yves Tumor - Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between World) (Warp Records)

Another artist I’ve been following since they appeared in the music world. This album takes a slight departure from previous albums because Yves has a full band backing them up. This album is so powerful and another one I find myself putting on to motivate and energize me in the studio. I feel like this is a glam pop punk album but with more of a pulse to it, every song is amazing. I was critical of the song “Echolalia” at first because they completely lift the instrumental from Neon’s “Lobotomy” but I quickly got over it because they kind of pay homage to it, both songs are great.

Reissues I was really happy with this year:

I’ve had Catherine Wheel’s albums on my want list forever on discogs. I would’ve pulled the trigger on some original copies but they were never in good condition / in the US for purchase. When “Ferment” (1992) and “Chrome” (1993) was announced to be reissued I waited patiently and it was all worth the wait. Really happy to have both of these in my collection and maybe one day upgrade to original copies - but these will do for now.

µ-Ziq - 1977 (Balmat)

I’ve bee enjoying the music of Mike Paradinas aka µ-Ziq (pronounced “music” or “mu-zik”) ever since I was in high school back in 2001-5. I go through waves of being completely mesmerized by IDM / Electronic music like this and sometimes I never come out of the damn hole I’m in. Though this album isn’t as loud and ntense as previous releases I find myself returning to it when working on designs on my computer because it’s consistent and gets me in some sort of zone. The whole series that Balmat came out with is also something worth exploring.

John Coltrane - Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy (Live) (Impulse Records)

I believe the story behind this unearthed gem was an archivist was going through the New York Public Library and stumbled upon this, which has been buried in time. I know a lot of people that were beyond ecstatic for this to be released on vinyl, simply because the song “Africa” had never really been recorded live before. We all know that Coltrane passed at such a young age too so we tend to cling on these relics from the past when they come to light. The album opens with “My Favorite Things” which is actually one of my favorites by Coltrane haha. Anyone that is reading this and a Coltrane fan already has this in their collection. 

TV SHOWS

Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix Anime Series)

I had no clue what I was getting involved in when being told by a friend to watch this. There’s a lot of junk on Netflix but this one, this one is truly something special. The level of detail and style of animation is worth watching alone never mind the story which in it’s on respect is top tier. It’s a revenge driven story, I don’t want to get fully into it because I don’t want to give it away. But this is not a kid’s anime, it’s completely savage and beautiful - anyone that’s a fan of anime should watch it, unless you’re into the softer anime out there. This one is VIOLENT haha.

Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story (Hulu Series)

Those who know me they know I truly am obsessed with Formula 1, though it’s a fairly new obsession of mine it’s REAL. The 2023 F1 series just ended last month so I was simply jonesing for anything related to F1 (as I wait patiently for the new season of Drive to Survive coming in February) and then this mini series came out. It follows a truly rags to riches story of a F1 team that was dumped and discarded by Honda. Brawn is the last name of the team principal Ross Brawn, who didn’t actually choose to have his name associated like that. It’s an action packed docuseries showing the rise of Brawn who later becomes Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Oh and the host and narrator is Keanu Reeves…

Life on Our Planet (Netflix Series)

Narrated by the oh so soothing voice of Morgan Freeman, he takes us on a journey of Earth’s history far beyond the existence of humans. We see in this series the five times, yes fives times that our planet witnessed extinction. It’s extremely informative yet fun but also scary considering there was very large bugs that one roamed our Earth’s surface. I won’t get fully into this because I feel like anyone should watch it, even with their children. When will the sixth extinction happen? In another million years or in another year??

BOOKS

Bráulio Amado - 2022 (Stolen Books)

I am a complete sucker for ANYTHING Bráulio touches. This is one of several from his series of essential a year in review of the work he does. These books live in my studio so I can grab at random when I need a surge of inspiration. I honestly don’t think anyone is like him and how he approaches design blended with his illustrations. This guy will bring life to the most mundane things in life and is always snapping photos of trash on the streets and turning them into the foundation to amazing designs. I cannot stress enough how much this individual inspires me and I am fortunate enough to call him my friend!

Seeing <—> Making: Room for Thought / Susan Buck-Morss, Kevin McCaughey, Adam Michaels (Inventory Press)

Thought I just received this book last week and only just begun to scratch the surface I can say that it’s beautifully designed and well thought out. If you, like myself are into design and the philosophy of design and the process of constructing creative ideas with images look no further. There’s a lot of discussion on the works of Walter Benjamin (The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction) and John Berger (Ways of Seeing) whom I read and enjoyed back in college. I can’t wait to get into this one.

Brigade Cynophile Posters 2019-2023  (Animal Press)

This is the second book of posters from French artist Félicité Landrivon. I fell in love with her work from her Tumblr years ago and was excited to get my hands on her first book of posters (2014-2018.) It just seems like she has a lot of fun with designs, layout and source material. I find there to be a slight correlation between our work when it comes to finding use to the countless graphics one can find while digging through ephemera. People should definitely get their hands on this one before it slips away into obscure oblivion like her previous book.

There are countless books, records, tv shows, films that I enjoyed through out this year that I am simply blanking on because it’s not in front of me. Anyone that knows me knows I collect a lot of books and records and not all of them are new / or from this years. So I tried my best to compile some things that have stuck out for me. I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings. <3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hunter Winstead 

Into The Void Printing

Top of 2023

Albums

1. Narrow Head - Moments Of Clarity

2. VV - Neon Noir

3. Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy

4. Deluxxe - If You We’re Me

5. Nuovo Testamento - Love Lines

6. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg For Death

7. Harms Way - Common Suffering

8. Final Gasp - Mourning Moon

9. Never Ending Game - Outcry

10. Year Of The Knife - No Love Lost

Tracks

1. Final Gasp - Mourning Moon

2. Code Orange - Mirror

3. Deluxxe - Sweet With Sin

4. Sanguisugabogg - Pissed

5. Harms Way - Terrorizer

6. Narrow Head - Flesh & Solitude

7. VV - The Foreverlost

8. Never Ending Game - Tank On E

9. Nuovo Testamento - Heartbeat

10. Fuming Mouth - I’ll Find You

11. Charli XCX - Speed Drive

12. ABRA - FKA MESS

13. Year Of The Knife - Heaven Denied

14. Kim Petras - Castle In The Sky

15. My Big Hot Wife - Hold Your Tongue

16. Faerie Ring - Silver Man In The Sky

17. Dying Fetus - When The Trend Ends

18. PinkPantheress - Mosquito 

19. Skream - Summoned 

20. Torture - Blinding Ignorance 

Sets

1. Cold As Life - Detroit 10/7

2. The Killers - Louisville 9/15

3. Narrow Head - Chicago 5/19

4. VV - Cincinnati 4/8

5. Depeche Mode - Chicago 4/5

6. Nuovo Testamento - Louisville 10/2

7. Weekend Nachos - Chicago 11/19

8. VV - Louisville 9/10

9. Volcano - Louisville 3/17

10. Death Threat - Detroit 10/7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zechariah Ghosttribe

Angel Du$t

New York Hounds @ Brooklyn Monarch in Brooklyn, New York (December 16th)

High Vis @ Outbreak Fest in Manchester, UK (June 23rd) 

Nosferatu @ Tunnel in Brooklyn, New York (July 15th)
Firewalker @ Bootleg Bar in Brooklyn, New York (July 29th)
Xibalba @ Tied Down Fest in Detroit, Michigan (June 4th) 
(Special mention Romeo Taylor in London)

- Zech Ghosttribe 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris Dooley

DJ 12XU

JA AOTY List

HC/Punk LP

Mil-Spec- Marathon (Lockin' Out)

Diztort - Vengeance Is Mine (Alternatives)

Stigmatism - Ignorance In Power (Toxic State)

Skourge - Torrential Torment (Lockin' Out)

Home Front - Games Of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Truth Cult - Walk The Wheel (Pop Wig)

Quarantine - Exile (Damage United)

Salvaje Punk (Toxic State)

Brain Tourniquet - An Expression In Pain (Iron Lung)

Burden - Scorched Earth (RnR Disgrace)

Restraining Order - Locked In Time (Triple B)

Spirito Di Lupo - Veda La Tua Faccia Nei Giorni Di Pioggia (Iron Lung)

Mindforce - Excalibur (Triple B)

Hc Punk EP

Intensive Care Unit - Sand + Gravel (Active-8)

No Fucker - No Future (No Real Music)

Fury - Vie

Intimidation - Total Aggression (Mr Face)

Wreckage - Our Time (Scheme)

Golpe - Assuefazione Quotidiana (Beach Impediment

C-4/Worn (Triple B)

Delco MF's - March Of The MF's (MF)

Live It Down - Thy Kingdom Come (Triple B)

The Social - Dogs Of War

The Massacred - Post Mortem (Active-8)

Concealed Blade '23 Promo

HC Punk Demos

Contempt

Dimension

Collateral 

Fatal 

Asinin

Laughing Corpse

S.O.S.

Open Competition 

Jim Kirkwood - Herongale (Dark Age)

Joseph Hammer Joe Potts John Wiese Elusive Flexure (Helicopter)

Bill Nace & Chik White - Off Motion (Open Mouth)

Thee Retail Simps - Live On Cool Street (total punk)

Los Llamarada - S/T (C-Site)

Kjostad/Matriarch (New Forces)

Animal Piss Its Everywhere (Half A Million)

Scald Hymn/Permanent Waves (Phage)

Red Herrings - Zax Amoire (Dot Dash)

Emily Robb - If I Am Misery (Petty Bunco)

Shirese - The Rose Of Smiling Faces (Grapefruit)

Carniverous Bells - Room Above All (Human Headstone)

Xard - Cerebal Circuitry Vol 1 (Dream Research)

Steve Gunn & David Moore - Reflections Vol 1 (Rvng)

Universal Cell Unlock - Power Of Misunderstanding (No Rent)

Headroom - s/t (Repressed recs)

Burnt Envelope - 1 For Croz (4th Eye Musick)

Sunburned Hand Of The Man - Hypnotape (VHF)

Nuclae - Bringing Out The Beast 

Metal

Black Sorcery - Decipering Torment (Eternal Death)

Disengagement - Formless In A Violent World (Dry Cough)

Dream Unending/Worm - Starpath (20 Buck Spin)

Incantation- Unholy Deification (Relapse)

Torture Chain - Reign Of Deimos (Hospital)

One Master - The Names Of Power (Eternal Death)

Kommand - Death Age (20 Buck Spin)

Trha/Careus - Abcu (Flowing Downward)

Ahulubrum/Harlots Nest (Atrocity Altar)

Akitsa - Denevir Le Deible (Tour De Garde)

Sanguine Relic - Labyrinth Of Nightmares (Perverse Homage)

Rap

Juicy J - Mental Trillness (Trippy)

Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips (Fat Possum)

Larry June & The Alchemist - Great Escape (Empire)

Lola Brooke - Dennis Daughter (Arista)

Gucci Mane - Breath Of Fresh Air (Atlantic)

Kofi Flexxx - Flowersman In The Dark (Native Rebel)

Gunna - Gift & A Curse (300 Entertainment)

Conway - He Won't Do It (Empire)

Mike Wiki The Alchemist - Faith Is A Rock (ALC)

Armani Caesar - The Liz 2 (Daupe!)

Nas - Magic 2 (Mass Appeal)

Sexyy Red - Hood Hottest Princess (Heavy On It)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Best Of 2022

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Savageheads - Service To Your Country (Social Napalm)

2.) Mindforce - New Lords (Triple B)

3.) The Flex - Chewing Gum For The Ears (Static Shock / Lockin Out)

4.) White Lung - Premonition (Domino)

5.) Vein.fm - This World Is Going To Ruin You (Closed Casket Activities)

6.) Gridiron - No Good At Goodbyes (Triple B)

7.) Candy - Heaven Is Here (Relapse)

8.) Innocent - Architects Of Despair (Side Two)

9.) Warfare - Doomsday (Triple B)

10.) Rigorous Institution - Cainsmarsh (Black Water)

11.) Terror - Pain Into Power (Pure Noise Entertainment)

12.) Syndrome 81 - Prisons Imaginaires (Destructure)

13.) Electric Chair - Act Of Aggression (Iron Lung)

14.) Mock Execution - Killed By Mock Execution (La Vida Es Un Mus)

15.) Frisk - Stalker (Iron Lung)

16.) Irreal - Era Electrónica (La Vida Es Un Mus) 

17.) Bad Breeding - Human Capital (One Little Independent / Iron Lung)

18.) Long Knife - Curb Stomp Earth (Black Water)

19.) Arma X - Violento Ritual (Quality Control HQ)

20.) T.S. Warspite - Stop The Rot (Quality Control HQ)

Honorable Mentions

Eteraz - Villain (Iron Lung)

Praise - All In A Dream (Revelation)

Lexicon - Devoid Of Light (Iron Lung)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Gauntlet Ring - Tyrannical Bloodlust (Blood And Crescent)

2.) Worm - Bluenothing (20 Buck Spin)

3.) Sumerlands - Dreamkiller (Relapse)

4.) Fellwinter - Night Of The Blood (Blood And Crescent)

5.) Undeath - It's Time...To Rise From The Grave (Prosthetic)

6.) Arizmenda - Spiders Lust In The Dungeon's Dust (Self-Released)

7.) Ares Kingdom - In Darkness At Last (Nuclear War Now!)

8.) Negative Plane - The Pact... (The Ajna Offensive)

9.) Fugitive - Maniac (20 Buck Spin)

10.) Ifernach - Neo-Tribal Manimal (ASRAR)

11.) Archgoat - All Christianity Ends (Debemur Morti)

12.) Innumerable Forms - Philosophical Collapse (Profound Lore)

13.) Faceless Burial - At The Foothills Of Deliration (Me Saco Un Ojo)

14.) Ebon Reliquary - Malicious Blood And The Fullmoon (Dark Adversary)

15.) Tribal Gaze - The Nine Choirs (Maggot Stomp)  

16.) Phobophilic - Enveloping Absurdity (Prosthetic)

17.) Mortuous - Upon Desolation (Carbonized)

18.) Vampirska - Vermilion Apparitions Frozen In Chimera Twilight (Inferna Profundus)

19.) Greve - Föllo Af Svavel, Lifvets Dimridå (Purity Through Fire)

20.) Trhä - Endlhëdëhaj Qáshmëna Ëlh Vim Innivte (Self-Released)

Honorable Mentions

Cave In - Heavy Pendulum (Relapse)

Sanguine Relic - From Ruin & Emptiness (Destroyed Remains & the Absent Beauty) (GoatowaRex)

Imprecation - In Nomine Diaboli (Dark Descent)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Releases

1.) SZA - SOS (Top Dawg)

2.) Pusha T - It's Almost Dry (GOOD Music)

3.) Hackle - Gunsmith Tha Mixtape (Haunted Mound)

4.) Benny The Butcher - Tana Talk 4 (Griselda)

5.) Future - I Never Liked You (Epic)

6.) Westside Gunn - Peace "Fly" God (Griselda)

7.) Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately (Warner)

8.) Stormzy - This Is What I Mean (#Merky)

9.) Conway The Machine - God Don't Make Mistakes (Griselda)

10.) YoungBoy Never Broke Again - 3800 Degrees (Never Broke Again, LLC)  

11.) Megan Thee Stallion - Traumazine (1501 Certified)

12.) Earl Sweatshirt - Sick! (Tan Cressida)

13.) Bladee & Ecco2K - Crest (Year0001)

14.) Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future (Loma Vista)

15.) The Weeknd - Dawn FM (XO)

Honorable Mentions

Buckshot - Burning Barn (Haunted Mound)

Nas - King's Disease III (Mass Appeal)

Quavo & Takeoff - Only Built for Infinity Links (Quality Control Music)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) High Vis - Blending (Dais)

2.) Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop)

3.) Beyoncé - Renaissance (Parkwood) 

4.) The 1975 - Being Funny In A Foreign Language (Dirty Hit)

5.) Björk - Fossora (One Little Independent)

6.) Harry Styles - Harry's House (Columbia)

7.) Beabadoobee - Beatopia (Dirty Hit)

8.) The Berries - High Flying Man (Run For Cover)

9.) Rosalía - MOTOMAMI (Columbia)

10.) Straw Man Army - SOS (D4MT Labs Inc)

11.) Liam Gallagher - C’mon You Know (Warner)

12.) Angel Olsen - Big Time (Jagjaguwar)

13.) Charli XCX - Crash (Asylum)

14.) Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B (Rough Trade) 

15.) Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl (Dirty Hit)

16.) Beach House - Once Twice Melody (Sub Pop)

17.) FKA Twigs - Caprisongs (Young)

18.) Mitski - Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)

19.) Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever (Loma Vista)

20.) Orville Peck - Bronco (Columbia)

21.) Duster - Together (Numero Group)

22.) Alvvays - Blue Rev (Polyvinyl)

23.) Shygirl - Nymph (Because Music)

24.) Isabella Lovestory - Amor Hardcore (Self-Released)

25.) Warpaint - Radiate Like This (Heirlooms)

Honorable Mentions

Confidence Man - Tilt (I Oh You)

Sault - 11 (Forever Living Originals)

Wizkid - More Love, Less Ego (RCA)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Chainsaw - When Will We Die? (Roachleg)

2.) Warthog - Warthog (Toxic State)

3.) Ä.I.D.S. - The Road To Nuclear Holocaust (La Vida Es Un Mus)

4.) Speed - A Gang Called Speed (Flatspot)

5.) Extortion - Seething (Self-Released)

6.) Mirage - Immagini Postume (Roachleg)

7.) Brain Tourniquet - Brain Tourniquet (Iron Lung)

8.) Flower City - Maggots Consume (Esos Malditos Punks)

9.) Rashōmon - Nin-Gen (Iron Lung)

10.) Killing Pace - Killing Pace (Triple B) 

Honorable Mentions

Abuso De Poder - Vago Muerto (Roachleg) 

Persona - Free Your Mind! (Iron Lung)

Poison Ruïn  - Not Today, Not Tomorrow. Parade of Phantoms/Edifice. (Roachleg)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) The Final Agony

2.) Save Our Children

3.) Churchgoers

4.) Phantom 

5.) Invertebrates

6.) Xero

7.) Semtex 87

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Best Sets 

1.) Mercyful Fate @ King's Theatre in Brooklyn, NY (11/10)

2.) Warthog @ Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, NY (5/7)

3.) Nick Cave / Warren Ellis @ King's Theatre in Brooklyn, NY (3/25)

4.) Cold World @ Market Hotel in Brooklyn, NY (2/25)

5.) War Hungry @ Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY (2/26)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Best Of 2021

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) The Chisel - Retaliation (La Vida Es Un Mus)

2.) Gauze – 言いたかねえけど目糞鼻糞 (XXX)

3.) Ekulu - Unscrew My Head (Cash Only)

4.) Quarantine - Agony (Damage United)

5.) Section H8 - Welcome To The Nightmare (Flatspot)

6.) Rudimentary Peni - Great War (Sealed)

7.) Goodbye World - At Death's Door (Youth Attack) 

8.) God's Hate - God's Hate (Closed Casket Activities)

9.) Koma - Internment Failure (La Vida Es Un Mus)

10.) C-4 - Chaos Streaks (Triple-B)

11.) Rata Negra - Una Vida Vulgar (La Vida Es Un Mus)

12.) Scowl - How Flowers Grow (Flatspot)

13.) Porvenir Oscuro - Asquerosa Humanidad (La Vida Es Un Mus)

14.) Dead Heat - World At War (Triple-B)

15.) Tower 7 - ...Peace On Earth? (Roachleg)

Honorable Mentions

Jarhead Fertilizer - Product Of My Environment (Closed Casket Activites)

Hologram - No Longer Human (Iron Lung)

Nag - Observer (Self-Released)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Gauntlet Ring - Upon The Wings Of The Black Eagle (Blood And Crescent)

2.) Pan-Amerikan Native Front ‎– Little Turtle's War (Self-Released)

3.) Dream Unending - Tide Turns Eternal (20 Buck Spin)

4.) Fellwinter ‎– Loyalty, Honor, Darkness (Self-Released)

5.) Worm - Foreverglade (20 Buck Spin)

6.) Gauntlet Ring - May The Skies Rain Blood Upon The Earth (Self-Released)

7.) Frozen Soul - Crypt Of Ice (Century Media)

8.) Gatecreeper - An Unexpected Reality (Closed Casket Activites) 

9.) Lamp Of Murmuur - Submission And Slavery (Black Gangrene)

10.) Stress Angel - Bursting Church (Stygian Black Hand)

11.) Antichrist Siege Machine - Purifying Blade (Profound Lore) 

12.) 200 Stab Wounds - Slave To The Scalpel (Maggot Stomp)

13.) Mortiferum - Preserved In Torment (Profound Lore)

14.) Hulder - Godslastering Hymns Of A Forlorn Peasantry (Iron Bonehead)

15.) Enforced - Kill Grid (Century Media)

Honorable Mentions

Genocide Pact - Genocide Pact (Relapse)

Hooded Menace - Blood Ornaments (Season Of Mist)

Full Of Hell - Garden Of Burning Apparitions (Relapse)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Releases

1.) Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Age 101)

2.) Young Thug - Punk (YSL / Atlantic)

3.) Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost (Columbia)

4.) Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud - The Plugs I Met 2 (Black Soprano Family)

5.) Westside Gunn - Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf (Griselda)

6.) Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales (RCA)

7.) Dave - We're All Alone In This Together (Neighbourhood)

8.) Boldy James & The Alchemist - Bo Jackson (ALC)

9.) Key Glock - Yellow Tape 2 (Paper Route EMPIRE)

10.) Conway The Machine - La Maquina (Griselda)

11.) Kanye West - Donda (GOOD Music)

12.) Peewee Longway & Cassius Jay - Longway Sinatra 2 (MPA BandCamp)

13.) Nas - King's Disease II (Mass Appeal)

14.) Maxo Kream - Weight Of The World (RCA) 

15.) Polo G - Hall Of Fame (Columbia) 

Honorable Mentions

Skepta - All In (Boy Better Know)

Mach-Hommy - Pray For Haiti (Griselda) 

Moneybagg Yo - A Gangsta's Pain (Roc Nation)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee (Dead Oceans)

2.) PinkPantheress - to hell with it (Parlophone)

3.) Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime (Matador)

4.) Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg (4AD)

5.) Dean Blunt - Black Metal 2

6.) Lil Ugly Mane - Volcanic Bird Enemy And The Voiced Concern (Self-Released)

7.) Faye Webster - I Know I'm Funny haha (Secretly Canadian)

8.) Chubby And The Gang - The Mutt's Nuts (Partisan) 

9.) Chvrches - Screen Violence (Glassnote)

10.) Dawn Richard - Second Line (Merge)

11.) Sturgill Simpson - The Ballad Of Dood And Juanita (High Top Mountain) 

12.) Turnstile - Glow On (Roadrunner)

13.) Snail Mail - Valentine (Matador)

14.) Converge & Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon ● I (Epitaph)

15.) BADBADNOTGOOD - Talk Memory (XL)

Honorable Mentions

Joy Orbison - Still Slipping Vol. 1 (Hinge Finger)

Iceage - Seek Shelter (Mexican Summer)

Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready (Sargent House)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Electric Chair - Social Capital (Iron Lung)

2.) Dollhouse - The First Day Of Spring (Toxic State)

3.) Never Ending Game - Halo & Wings (Triple-B)

4.) Chain Whip - Two Step To Hell (Neon Taste)

5.) The Chisel ‎– Enough Said (Wardance)

6.) Spy - Habitual Offender (Triple-B)

7.) Reek Minds - Rabid (11PM)

8.) Suffocating Madness - Suffocating Madness (Roachleg)

9.) Sunami / Gulch Split (Triple B)

10.) Ztuped - Are You Stupid? (11PM)

Honorable Mentions

Mess - Innercity (Offside)

Taqbir - Victory Belongs To Those Who Fight For A Right Cause (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Final Gasp - Haunting Whisper (Triple B)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) People's Temple

2.) 80HD

3.) Sociedad Bastarda

4.) Indre Krig

5.) The Anarchy

6.) Kontaminate 

7.) Nisemono 偽者

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Best Sets 

1.) Warthog @ Undisclosed Location on July 30th 

2.) Public Acid @ Market Hotel on August 28th 

3.) Hank Wood And The Hammerheads @ Saint Vitus on September 23rd

4.) Skourge @ Meanwhile Brewing Company on July 10th 

5.) Cave In @ Saint Vitus on December 1st

6.) Nothing @ Elsewhere on October 15th

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The Best Of 2020

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

2020 was the worst year of my life. nothing has made sense nor does it ever feel like it will again. Truthfully, I've spent the entire year trying to forget the day before it so the proposition of trying to remember everything that happened this year is absurd. I apologize to artists whose releases I may have forgotten or not heard. It was an unfair year for everyone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Gulch - Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress (Closed Casket Activities)

2.) Oily Boys - Cro Memory Grin (Static Shock)

3.) Muro - Pacificar (Beach Impediment)

4.) Rated X - United Front (Painkiller)

5.) Lebenden Toten - Synaptic Noise Dissociation (Iron Lung)

6.) Big Cheese - Punishment Park (Triple B)

7.) Chubby And The Gang - Speed Kills (Static Shock)

8.) Subdued - Over The Hills And Far Away (La Vida Es Un Mus)

9.) Mil-Spec - World House (Lockin Out)

10.) Destruct - Echoes of Life (Grave Mistake)

11.) Loose Nukes - Cult Leaders (Mutant Sounds)

12.) Drain - California Cursed (Revelation)

13.) Rat Cage ‎- Screams From The Cage (La Vida Es Un Mus)

14.) Bib - Delux (Pop Wig)

15.) Gag - Still Laughing (Iron Lung)

Honorable Mentions

Raspberry Bulbs ‎– Before The Age Of Mirrors (Relapse)

The Fight - Endless Noise (Triple B)

Geld - Beyond The Floor (Iron Lung)

Three Knee Deep - Three Knee Deep (Triple B)

White Stains - Make Me Sick (Song Book)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron (No Remorse)
2.) Bone Awl - An Obelisk Marks The Line (Klaxon)

3.) Gravesend - Preparations For Human Disposal (Stygian Black Hand)

4.) Black Curse - Endless Wound (Sepulchral Voice)

5.) Undeath - Lesions of a Different Kind (Prosthetic)

6.) Of Feather & Bone - Sulfuric Disintegration (Profound Lore)

7.) Miasmatic Necrosis - Apex Profane (P2)

8.) Undergang - Aldrig i Livet (Me Saco Un Ojo)

9.) Skeleton - Skeleton (20 Buck Spin)

10.) Internal Rot - Grieving Birth (Iron Lung / 625 Thrashcore)

11.) Caustic Wound - Death Posture (Profound Lore)

12.) Revenge - Strike.Smother.Dehumanize (Season Of Mist)

13.) Slutet - Love & Beauty (Behest)

14.) Siege Column - Darkside Legions (Nuclear War Now)

15.) Kommand - Terrorscape (Maggot Stomp)

Honorable Mentions

Goatpenis ‎– Decapitation Philosophy (Nuclear War Now)

Scalp - Domestic Extremity (Creator-Destructor)

Omegavortex - Black Abomination Spawn (Invictus)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Releases

1.) Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist - Alfredo (ESGN)

2.) Megan Thee Stallion - Good News (1501 Certified)
3.) 21 Savage and Metro Boomin - Savage Mode II (Slaughter Gang)

4.) The Weeknd - After Hours (XO)

5.) Benny The Butcher - Burden Of Proof (Griselda)

6.) Future and Lil Uzi Vert - Pluto x Baby Pluto (Epic / Freebandz)

7.) Westside Gunn - Pray For Paris (Griselda)

8.) J Hus - Big Conspiracy (Black Butter)

9.) Drakeo The Ruler - We Know the Truth (Stinc Team)

10.) Conway the Machine - From King to a GOD (Griselda) 

11.) Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake (Generation Now)

12.) Juicy J - The Hustle Continues (Trippy Music)

13.) Pop Smoke - Meet The Woo 2 (Republic)

14.) King Von - Welcome to O'Block (Only The Family)

15.) Drakeo The Ruler - Thank You For Using GTL ‎(Stinc Team)

Honorable Mentions

Juice WRLD - Legends Never Die (Grade A)

Future - High Off Life (Freebandz)

Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats - Unlocked (PH)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now (Asylum)
2.) Nothing - The Great Dismal (Relapse)
3.) beabadoobee - Fake It Flowers (Dirty Hit)

4.) Sweeping Promises - Hunger For A Way Out (Feel It)

5.) Narrow Head - 12th House Rock (Run For Cover)

6.) Straw Man Army - Age Of Exile (D4MT Labs)

7.) Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song (Smalltown Supersound)

8.) Hum - Inlet (Earth Analog)

9.) Jesu - Terminus (Avalanche Recordings)

10.) Supercrush - Sodo Pop (Don Giovanni)

11.) Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher (Dead Oceans)

12.) Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA (Dirty Hit)

13.) Dame - Dame (Beach Impediment)

14.) Soccer Mommy - color theory (Caroline International)

15.) Popcaan - Fixtape (OVO Sound)

Honorable Mentions

Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters (Clean Slate)

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure? (PMR)

Yumi Zouma - Truth Or Consequences (Polyvinyl)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Public Acid - Condemnation (Beach Impediment)

2.) Heavy Discipline - Heavy Discipline (Painkiller)

3.) Spine - L.O.V. (Bridge 9)

4.) The Chisel - Deconstructive Surgery (La Vida Es Un Mus)

5.) Loose Nukes - Forced Compliance (Self-Released)

6.) Healer - Resurgence (From The Head Of Zeus / 625 Thrashcore)

7.) Haircut - Cake (11PM)

8.) Nosebleed - Outside Looking In (Triple B)

9.) Krigshoder - Krig I Hodet (Suck Blood)

10.) Pain Of Truth - No Blame​.​.​. Just Facts (Daze) 

Honorable Mentions

Mindforce - Swingin' Swords, Choppin' Lords (Triple B)

Mystic Inane - Natural Beauty (La Vida Es Un Mus)

G.U.N.N. - Peace Love And Heavy Weaponry (Going Underground) 

Rolex - Rolex (11PM)

Real People - Life Without A Head (Self-Released)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) Quarantine - Demo

2.) Tower 7 - Entrance To A Living Organism 

3.) NSA - NSA Is Watching

4.) Hounds Of War - Demo

5.) Pillars Of Ivory - Genesis Twenty Twenty 

6.) Flower City - Demo

7.) Septic Yanks - Septic Yanks

8.) Subliminal Excess - Demo

9.) Vivisected Numbskulls - 4 Track 

10.) The Annihilated - Demo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Special Commendations

Because of the lost year, in lieu of best live shows which historically have been part of the end of year awards, we are choosing to award special commendations to bands, labels, and other figures in the subculture who soldiered on to keep the spirit of community alive in a time defined by isolation.

 

While venues remained shuttered and live shows becoming an increasingly distant memory, bands have been forced to become more creative with how they provide audiences with an at-home that could move audiences in a way that made them feel like they were watching something more than a glorified YouTube video. To punctuate the release of their latest album The Great Dismal, Nothing, with Full Of Hell in tow, put on The Great Dismal: An Auditory And Ocular Trauma. In collaboration with creative agency Everything Is Stories, the band's performance played like a movie that hit the emotions this year ground into oblivion. Truthfully, I had no expectations going into the stream and by the time Nothing began their set with "A Fabricated Life", I was crying. Maybe it was the song. Maybe it was the last few months. Maybe it was a confluence of the last year. I don't know. Live shows in our world are not a mere rehearsal of songs. They are a place in time. Nothing's set came at a time and place where the songs spoke to the times and of times lived and times not yet known. A livestream of that kind may not ever happen again, let alone be as powerful. Justified Arrogance would like to commend Nothing, Full Of Hell, and Everything Is Stories for helping to redefine the virtual show experience.

There is a boom of bootleggers and independent merchants emerging across all subcultures right now. Hardcore punk, metal, pro wrestling, movies, and everything in between. That on its face is something commendable but I would like to highlight the efforts this summer, specifically after the protests and riots began across the country in June. Hundreds of merchants stepped up to raise money toward bail funds, black and indigenous organizations, and other worthwhile charities. It was a once in a lifetime moment to see what's often dismissed as a fringe community come together to produce tangible economic might to support those who are without economic might. Justified Arrogance would like to commend anyone and everyone who raised money or even just donated money toward BLM causes. Please keep that energy moving into the future.

While we do not typically celebrate live albums, they are an important component of the subculture as they seek to capture the energy that sets us apart from others. Be it Lemmy's wanton recklessness at the Hammersmith, Greg Wilmott's mischievous banter on WERS, or Dmize's gang callouts on Crucial Chaos... live albums don't necessarily take you to the show, but they certainly tell you what happens at those shows. The purpose is to feel it, not replicate it. Power Trip's Live In Seattle was released in May this year and provided audiences with a taste of the bedrock that made the band's name in their live shows. Masterfully mixed by sound engineer Zach Rippy, this live album captured the band's tight instrumental section, the string section's buzzsaw riffs, and Riley Gale's inimitable energy. Power Trip shows have always been known to be violent spaces. However, if you're able to get out of the blast radius, they're also a marvel to behold because you're witnessing the best thrash band in a generation working to engage the audience as much as they do to win them over. Which is part of the point: Power Trip wanted to win you over. What they wanted was more than passing fandom. They wanted more than shirt sales, streams, or records sold. They wanted you to tell your friends, make you keep coming back to their shows, and earn and keep your loyalty because they deserved it. This live album captures that drive to win the crowd. Justified Arrogance would like to commend Power Trip for adding to the elite volume of worthwhile live albums. I hope future vocalists will also call their friends out for being on their phone during the chorus.

Last but not least, Justified Arrogance would like to take a moment to remember and celebrate the lives of Riley Gale and Wade Allison. This blog, really me as a person, would be nothing without the influence both of these incredible people had on my life. The first two essays this blog ever did were about Power Trip and Iron Age. All I ever wanted was for them to think I was cool and deserving of being around them because I counted every time hanging out as a privilege. Everything I ever did was because I wanted them to be proud of me. I know the standards they created and the standards I had to live up to because I never wanted to be unworthy of their friendship, much as I often felt like I was. Truthfully, I do not know where to go from here. This world is new and alien to me. I do not know it and I do not want to know it but I'm going to keep trying because I know that's what they'd want. As much as existing hurts, the thought of disappointing and dishonoring them hurts even more.

Thank you for saving my life, Riley. 

Thank you for teaching us how to live, Wade.

Thank you both for being my brother.

Riley Gale and Wade Allison were the absolute best of us and I hope that others remember their example. Your best is always a stepping stone to better. Never stop looking to the next level. 

Do it for them because they wanted you to do it for yourself.

- James K