Top 15 Punk/Hardcore/Grind/Powerviolence Releases I Heard in 2023

1) ROTTEN SOUND (FINLAND) - Apocalypse (Season of Mist)

Addictive, very aggressive, and unusually well-written.  I can't stop listening to it.  Their best work so far that I've heard.  The buzz around this album is completely justified.  GET IT NOW!!!
https://rottensound.bandcamp.com/album/apocalypse

2) SUPPRESSION & BASTARD NOISE (US) - Infernal Legions LP (Anthems of the Undesirable)
They finally did something together (it's a collab...) and naturally, it's weird, incredible, and groundbreaking.  This is the next step in the evolution of powerviolence.  Straight up.
https://theundesirable.bandcamp.com/album/suppression-with-bastard-noise-infernal-legions-undesirable-027

3) SHITGRINDER (AUSTRALIA) - s/t (Headsplit and RSR)
Grindcore from Down Undah that you'll find yourself going back to ovah and ovah, oi!!!
https://shitgrindershit.bandcamp.com/album/shitgrinder

4) PROLAPSE (US) - Chaos Noise Supremacy Demo (Self-Released)
"DUDE.  Thanks for telling me about this!  Fresh noisecore.  I needed this." - Big Frank
https://prolapse402.bandcamp.com/album/chaos-noise-supremacy

5) WITH HONOR (US) - Boundless (Pure Noise)
Triumphant return from Connecticut positive melodic hardcore band.  Best thing they've done since their demo.  Helps a lot with my mood, which is saying a lot, considering how negative and angry most of the bands on my lists are... hahah
https://withhonorct.bandcamp.com/album/boundless

6) SULFURIC CAUTERY (US) - Suffocating Feats of Dehumanization (625 Thrashcore, Haunted Hotel, Malokul, Sickening Shit, Blast Addict)
Pissed pissed pissed grindcore from the rapidly-decaying neo-liberal disaster zone that is Los Angeles, they continue to bring the PING!!!  Still progressive, probably even moreso given how the corporate "Left" has turned their home into an absolute dystopia.  Did you know that LA county has a fourteen-percent SALES TAX?!??
https://blastaddict.bandcamp.com/album/suffocating-feats-of-dehumanization

7) SIDETRACKED (US) - Rumination Collected Works Vol. 1 - 2002-2014 2xCD (F.O.A.D.)

With over 200 songs, this is overwhelming.  Everything from "powerviolence collage" to noisecore to old-school hardcore.  Total buffet.  How much anti-art can you take?

https://sidetracked.bandcamp.com/album/rumination

8) HolyName (US) - Initiation: Live In Chicago (Facedown)
Eastern Orthodox metalcore from former SLEEPING GIANT members, has a lot of notable guest appearances, from Ryan Clark of DEMON HUNTER to Brian "Head" Welch of KORN.  Has some "post-rock" influences, too, to keep things interesting.
https://facedownrecords.com/2023/07/27/holyname-initiation-2/

9) WORLD PEACE (US) - It Is Written (Deathwish, Twelve Gauge)
Unique powerviolence from the San Francisco Bay Area.  Very short full-length, you could almost consider it noisecore.  Seriously, just blink and it's over!  You're gonna need to put it on repeat to truly appreciate it.
https://worldfuckingpeace.bandcamp.com/album/it-is-written

10) WHY BOTHER? (US) - Calling All Goons (Feel It)
Solo punk side project from some guy in Iowa.  Unusually good.  Feel It Records have been absolutely killing it lately.
https://whybotheriowa.bandcamp.com/album/calling-all-goons

11) SPASTIC AMOEBAS (WORLDWIDE COLLABORATION) - Wheelchair Mutations Revisited (Backwoods Butcher)
Out-of-print and not sure if this is streaming anywhere.  Weird and humorous covers by a collection of weird punks across the globe from far too many bands to name.  The only one I will name is SOCKEYE, because this totally has that "brain-damaged" sound that listening to it makes me feel like someone hit me in the head.  Looking forward to the upcoming full-length, as the last one was good, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGhMVOHz-Q0&list=PL7t5cmuiL9z09u2YTaP9G8vLpVU5Lidwl&index=9 , but good luck finding it physically - it's out of print!!!!

12) BEEF (US) - s/t (Feel It, Let's Pretend)
They've only been at this for a year, but you wouldn't know it.  They do have a couple of punk veterans plugged in on guitar and bass, but that's besides the point.  This more than stands on its own.  Yet another killer release from Feel It Records.
https://beef.bandcamp.com/album/beef

13) comando (US) - s/t (Self-Released)
Sometimes, all a grind or powerviolence band needs is two people.  Especially if it's from Ohio (you should know that by now...).  This is a really strong first release from former FORCED OPINION members and I highly recommend it.  It's very rare that I hear a demo or first release that's this good...  8/10
https://comando.bandcamp.com/album/s-t

14) SHITSTORM (US) - Only In Dade (Malokul)
Florida grind band returns with an almost ten-minute... "full-length"?!??  What the hell?  Not the first band to do that, but the first to really irk me with it.  I don't know why.  Anyhow, it's worth your time.  All nine minutes and change...
https://malokul.bandcamp.com/album/shitstorm-only-in-dade-lp

15) TEST (Brazil) - Disco Normal (Self-Released)
Grindcore/death metal that I'll let their brief write-up explain -  "Our 4th full length, recorded on the streets, under an overpass, on an abandoned train wagon with experimental microphones during may 2020 mostly in Bauru/SP, Brazil."
https://testgrind.bandcamp.com/album/disco-normal-2023-4th-full-length