Putting records in a competing order for an AOTY list is silly, but I love shouting out music that made a lasting impact on me. Here's some records (and a few EPs) from artists that I think got grossly overlooked this year and deserve more attention.
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Colorful, intense, eclectic mathcore from Brazil. Each song a rich vignette that often passes by within the 3 minute mark.
FFO: Coalesce, Knut, The Callous Daoboys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjM0Tg4NRPc
An urgent, impassioned message in the face of America's only further unraveling in volatile foreign policy. For a debut record, these guys have a massive grasp on tension and release.
FFO: Gilla Band, Daughters, Model/Actriz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJND0ldtzTA
The sound of cyber collapse. A futuristic, dystopian sludge punk record with pulverizing mechanical drums and synthesizers whirring freakish melodies before disintegrating into distorted garbage.
FFO: Container, The Body, Youth Code
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRqXUazpks
Manic and twisted hardcore punk. Reminds me of the transgressive energy of 80s bands like Big Black and Jesus Lizard, but strapped to the back of a mack truck engine.
FFO: The Locust, Chat Pile, The Chariot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwScF0c1zU
This EP oscillates between goth-adjacent Birthday Party noise and explosive Scratch Acid freakouts within a thick metallic layer of industrial noise seeping through the instrumentation.
FFO: Rapeman, Body Choke, The Austerity Program
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3k8Bc_OI0
Fun surf punk to shake your ass to. I love each player on this, but the drums particularly feel so powerful on this EP. It's a good time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIEbJrqmQZw