It is hard to believe I am sitting here writing the intro for another year end article. Seems like yesterday when I was obsessing over the latest album from the Manges. For those who know, I am the bassist of the Chicago area power pop / pop punk band Space Age Zeros. This year was extremely active for us with recording and playing shows. This definitely impacted the amount of new music I was able to fully absorb. I also noticed that I increased the number of interviews and live reviews this year which I fully enjoyed. That being said, there were still many standout full-lengths which rocked 2023. My list will be limited to my top 10 albums of the year.

This one will be a surprise to some and may irritate others. No apologies here. This is the Metallica album I have waited decades for. I felt their last few were simply song ideas thrown together just to complete an album. There is a strong cohesiveness here that takes one back to earlier albums. The lead off single “Lux Aeterna” is chock full of NWOBHM riffs on which is what Metallica was initially built. James Hetfield sings and screams about all his demons through tracks such as “If Darkness Had A Son” amongst others. If you are the one who can absorb a lengthy metal epic, the album closer “Inamorata” clocks in at just over 11 minutes. If you have ever been a fan and have not yet absorbed this album, then I strongly urge you to do so.

Last year I had the chance to review albums by both Lesser Creatures and The Hawaiians. Therefore, I had zero hesitation in fully absorbing and reviewing this split release. The Hawaiians from Germany play a solid mix of surf rock and pop punk. Lesser Creatures are more influenced by the 90’s Lookout Records! sound, and vocalist Nick Spoon channels the great Joey Vindictive vocally quite well. Each band turns in five songs which effectively represent what each has to offer. As an added bonus, The Hawaiians cover “Teenage Bonehead” by the Queers with guest vocals by Joe Queer himself. This split serves as a solid template to what is going on these days in the global pop punk bubble.

The inclusion of this one on my list really showcases my dedication to the Midwest this year. I had heard about this project for over a year. Pierre Kezdy and Naked Raygun were extremely crucial to everyone’s musical upbringing in the Chicagoland area. What we have here is a good combination of well known bands mixed with lesser known local bands, paying tribute to Pierre. Here we have punk staples such as Hot Water Music doing “Wonderbeer” and Face To Face delivering their rendition of “I Don’t Know.” This comp also highlights various Chicago area bands such as Pegboy, The Methadones, The Usuals and Death And Memphis to name a few. This is a great album for a great cause and would serve as a viable introduction to the music of Naked Raygun for those not familiar.

One of Canada’s greatest pop punk exports returns with their first proper full length in over a decade. It has been great to witness the band take on a more active role in the scene again these past few years through various singles and festival performances. If you love the band, then you know exactly what you are getting. This album is chock full of all the power pop and pop punk sweetness you can handle. Songs about the summer, COVID lockdown and simply having fun are all present. This album will please long time fans as well as those new to the band.

I was fortunate this year to get the opportunity to interview Jason Cruz about his side project How’s new album. This one took a lot of preparation. As a casual Strung Out fan, I knew very little of this project. I truly enjoyed the chance to dive deep into this album and discuss the meaning of many of the songs with Jason. That always gives a different appreciation for the music when you get to discuss the lyrics. Most of the songs deal with introspectiveness, regret and overall life experiences. This is truly a singer/songwriter album. This is definitely recommended for all Strung Out fans to get inside the head of their favorite vocalist.

Horror Section has been one of my favorite bands in the pop punk bubble for many years running. They definitely appeal to my Misfits fanaticism, both in their music as well as the collectibility of their vinyl. In a live setting, the band has not been terribly active these past few years. Still, they delivered a top notch sophomore album that had repeated listenings on my turntable. This album always plays through very well with no desire for skipping tracks. Definitely recommended if you like a little horror mixed with your pop punk. Vocalist Teflon Dave is the second coming of Dr Frank.

Ohio’s Houseghost first came on my radar from reading the rave review it was given right here on Punknews. I was actually surprised that up until that review I had not heard the band. The band boasts a true midwest sound complete with dual sibling vocals. The band offers up yet another album of haunting rhythms and spooky lyrics to keep you warm on a cold fall evening.

Anyone who has been part of the “pop punk bubble” these past few decades is no stranger to Geoff Palmer. He has worked with bands such as the Queers and The Guts as well as collaborations with Kurt Baker. Over the past few years, Palmer has released a handful of catchy and infectious power pop albums. This new one is no exception. Lyrically, the album covers his usual topics of love, relationships, self-expression and passion for music. This long player is one you will definitely play straight through like I have many times this year.

This Minnesota band has been on my radar after first seeing them live a couple years back. I had heard some of their songs on various podcasts, and was immediately impressed. The band released their sophomore full-length to rave reviews and spent ample time on the road to support. This album definitely picks right up from where their debut leaves off. This band is the perfect hybrid of pop punk combined with the contemporary sounds of bands such as Dillinger Four and Off With Their Heads. The album plays through very comfortably with the track “Party” standing out as one of my favorites.

Deanna Belos and Sincere Engineer really came on my radar when their last album was released. The single and video “Coming In Last” caught my attention. I later was able to check them out live at Riot Fest where they proved they deliver on stage as well as on record. This album seemed to quickly follow. The lead off single “California King” might be my top listened to song of the year. It has every element of power pop, alt rock and punk you can ask for. Lyrically, this album goes to dark spaces, especially on songs such as “Anemia” and “Fireplace.” The band has spent most of the year on the road continuing to build up a legion of fans. It has been great watching this band grow from a local to an international sensation.