Experimentation, nostalgia, and breakout records defined a musically innovative and fun 2023.
By Ashley Oken
2023 has given rock and metal listeners more great albums that one can listen to on streaming services. It was a year that was tough to keep pace with, as highly anticipated albums were released across the scene. Some old favorites have returned to deliver seminal works while newer groups have found their voice and sound, establishing a loyal fanbase quickly. Between Fall Out Boy’s nostalgic record So Much (For) Stardust, Paramore’s electric comeback album This Is Why, Avenged Sevenfold’s experimental record Life Is But A Dream, and Spiritbox’s genre-defining The Fear of Fear EP being among the genre’s releases, this year was full of great tunes and gave fans a mixture of music to choose from. In addition to established bands that captured the nostalgia of millennials with throwbacks to the early aughts sound, youthful exuberance from pop-punk outfits Meet Me At The Altar and Magnolia Park colored the year too, with both groups making their mark as fledging bands that inject fun and a fresh perspective into pop punk. Other newcomers such as Honey Revenge and Boygenius added an updated, expansive sound to the rock genre. With all of these defining factors, fans can find it difficult to narrow down their best-of-the-year list to a handful of albums.
Well, New Noise is here to help you.
This year, it was tough to pick ten albums to put onto this list ( I could easily have convinced myself to put 20 on this list) but these bands, whether they are newer or have a long-time legacy in the rock scene, have pushed the genre forward while keeping the nostalgia for early aughts sounds alive.
- Fall Out Boy- So Much (For) Stardust
Release date: March 24
Elder emo adults and newly emo kids alike rejoiced when rock icons Fall Out Boy released “So Much For Stardust”, an album that takes listeners through the growth of the band’s sound accompanied by catchy riffs, clever lyrics, and nostalgia for the group’s previous sound. With tracks such as the earworm “Hold Me Like A Grudge” “Love From The Other Side”, and “Heartbreak Feels So Good”, the band is seen playing to their strengths. With a solid record from front to back, Fall Out Boy expertly brings fans back into their theatrical, emo world.
2) Paramore- This Is Why
Release date: February 10
An angsty pop-punk delight, Paramore’s latest record is a guitar-forward leaning album that harkens back to the band’s roots. Whether it’s the title track, “Figure 8”, or “Big Man, Little Dignity”, there is a song for every fan. Combining nostalgia and the influence of Bloc Party, Paramore crafted a mature, thoughtful album that can be listened to numerous times, making it the perfect antidote to one’s apprehension about society and one of the best releases of 2023.
3) Spirit Box- The Fear of Fear EP
Release date: November 3
Spirit Box continued its reign on the rock charts, pushing the genre forward, becoming a Grammy-nominated band for the hit single “Jaded.” Whether it’s the heavy “Cellar Door”, the closer “Too Close/ Too Late”, or the single “Angel Eyes”, the beloved band pushes the boundaries of rock while exploring a variety of themes and emotions. Lead vocalist Courtney LaPlante’s screams, Mike LaPlante’s chunky riffs, and the EP’s catchiness and haunting feel are bound to make listeners return to the burgeoning Canadian band.
4) Waterparks- Intellectual Property
Release date: April 14
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A solid concept record that thoughtfully explores the rollercoaster of a toxic relationship alongside mental health and religious trauma, Waterparks manages to make the best work of its discography: colorful, honest, and experimental. Whether it’s the catchy “Starfucker”, the grunge “Real Super Dark”, or the sassy “Funeral Grey”, Awsten Knight and company manage to make delving into blunt, dark material fun with incredible production, eclectic influences, and new colors, stepping into mature, new territory. With its diversity of sound, this record will have you floating their way, melting for the band.
5) Meet Me At The Altar- Past// Present // Future
Release date: March 10
The debut studio album from the pop-punk trio has rightfully earned critical acclaim for its soaring choruses and early aughts pop influence, elements that help them powerfully forge forward with their own sound. The track “ Say It To My Face” calls out misogynistic online commentary within the scene while the flirty “Kool” shakes up typical song structure, making the group one that With this album, the group establishes itself as the new voice of a generation.
6) From Ashes to New- Blackout
Release date: July 28
Bringing the nu-metal genre back into the mainstream through hard-hitting lyrics, dual vocals, and inventive sound, this album carves out a new space for the band that hails from “nowhere Pennsylvania.” Both uplifting and critical— the album contains moments of positivity with its inspiring lyrics on “Heartache” and showcases its penchant for experimentation on “Monster In Me” while it directly addresses the frustrations around pandemic distress and anxiety — the record works as a solid combination of hip-hop, rock, and electronica that harken back to Linkin Park and other pioneers of the genre. With its experimentation and solid songwriting, this album gives fans a channel for angst and a collective sense of hope that something better is on the horizon.
7) The Used- Toxic Positivity
Release date: May 19
Combining the band’s old sound and new sound well, this album acts as an emotional examination of mental health, engaging in the uncomfortable honesty that The Used is known for, assisted by earworm hooks and aggressive drums. The opening track “The Worst I’ve Ever Been” paints a portrait of someone living at the intersection of anxiety addiction, struggling with the pressures of sobriety, something that McCraken has personally grappled with. (He’s been sober for 10 years) Set against aggressive drums, the lyric “Desolation’s Kicking In” makes the track a powerful opener, one that sets the tone for the rest of the record. Opening up a conversation on mental health and addiction, this album is one that those nostalgic for the band will love as well as one that new listeners can lean into.
8) Pierce The Veil- Jaws of Life
Release date: February 10
Diverse in its sound and style, this album showcases the band’s evolution while harkening back to their roots. The single “ Death of An Executioner” is slow and full of synths while “Emergency Contact” zeroes in on the band’s ability to craft relatable lyrics for fans at every stage of life. However the track “Pass The Nirvana’ shows that the band is not afraid to break new ground. Mature and embracing new sounds, Pierce the Veil crafts an alt-rock banger that boldly steps into the future.
9) Honey Revenge- Retrovision
Release date: June 23
Fun, addictive, and fresh, indie rock band Honey Revenge makes breakups, and anxiety easier to deal with by taking listeners through their journey with heavenly vocals and synth-laced instrumentals. Bursting onto the scene with outrageously danceable and catchy tunes such as “Airhead” and “Habitual” (a personal favorite), the band manages to make pop-punk a colorful, retro-leaning, and enjoyable genre, giving listeners a digestible and cool sound that includes clever metaphors. A band on the rise, the album explores many iterations of the genre, going from pop confetti to gritty alt sound over the course of eleven tracks, making fans want to make listening to their record habitual.
10) Currents- The Death We Seek
Release date: May 5
Delving into the heaviness of the weight of our choices and their possible outcomes, this album is one that makes listeners think of their lives on a grander scale while infusing the band’s old sound into the record. With guttural screams, vocal perfection from lead singer Brian Wille, and great production, heaviness is present all the way through the record. Tracks such as the brutal “Living In Tragedy” and the sorrowful “Remember Me” show listeners the full capabilities of Wille, making it live up to its reputation as one of the most anticipated albums in the metalcore genre. With breakdowns that make one want to headbang in the car on the way to an outing and lyrics that pull at one’s heartstrings, Currents cements itself as a band to watch in 2023 and beyond.
Bonus picks:
Boys Like Girls- Sunday At Foxwoods
Avenged Sevenfold– Life Is A Dream
As December Falls- Join The Club
Bury Tomorrow- The Seventh Sun
Olivia Rodrigo- GUTS
