2023 flew by, nevertheless it was one other glorious yr for various music. Rife with releases from veterans (blink-182, Paramore, Fall Out Boy) and buzzy new acts (Drain, Militarie Gun, Scowl) alike, there have been additionally a ton of albums that went below the radar. Provided that it’s the tip of the yr, we requested our readers to vote on probably the most underrated albums of 2023, and so they fired again with a slew of titles that may preserve us busy till the subsequent couple of months.
Learn extra: 50 finest albums of 2023
From Taking Again Sunday to Pierce the Veil, discover the highest fan picks ranked beneath.
5. Taking Again Sunday – 152
Taking Again Sunday’s newest album, 152, tops off a joyful yr. Between shock yard exhibits on their house turf and headlining Unhappy Summer season, the Lengthy Island crew are nonetheless kicking and influencing the individuals round them. Named after the exit the place the band and their associates would convene as youngsters earlier than exhibits, their new report displays a better maturity and emotional depth. From “Hold Going,” a driving anthem about betrayal, to candy love songs like “The One,” 152 is one other bonafide nice in Taking Again Sunday’s catalog.
4. Story of the Yr – Tear Me to Items
Story of the Yr made a long-lasting mark on pop punk with their debut album, Web page Avenue. Twenty years later, their newest full-length, Tear Me to Items, provides comparable dramatics that match proper in with these songs. The band clearly know learn how to write an anthem that may final, just like the anxiety-riddled title monitor that opens with Dan Marsala’s pleads and transitions right into a seamless breakdown. Not one of the album’s songs ever linger too lengthy, however all of them supply a nostalgic heat that makes maturity really feel surreal.
3. Polaris – Fatalism
Polaris’ third studio album, Fatalism, was knowledgeable by not solely the turmoil that consumed the world over the previous few years but in addition the overwhelming grief that comes with dropping a liked one. Marking their ultimate challenge with lead guitarist Ryan Siew, who handed away in June, the album’s songs, like “Nightmare” and “Aftertouch,” took on new meanings. For sure, the Australian metalcore crew pushed themselves to the brink, providing a heaviness that resonates each sonically and emotionally.
2. Trophy Eyes – Suicide and Sunshine
Trophy Eyes ushered in a brand new period with Suicide and Sunshine. Centering on frontman John Floreani dropping his finest buddy to suicide, the album is deep and unrelentingly weak. “Life in Gradual Movement” is a tear-jerker, whereas “What Hurts the Most” demonstrates the band’s capability to pair unhappy lyrics towards buoyant instrumentals. Floreani’s songwriting chops shine as properly — lyrics that may rock anybody who’s skilled deep loss. The result’s their most frank and impassioned batch of songs in years.
1. Pierce the Veil – The Jaws of Life
The Jaws of Life, Pierce the Veil’s first correct album in seven years, sees them return with a brand-new perspective. Whereas the album will definitely attraction to followers of their basic work (assume Egocentric Machines and Collide with the Sky), the band have additionally grown up significantly. Maybe that’s why they attain for various genres, like alt-pop and ’90s rock, to enrich frontman Vic Fuentes’ spectacular vocal vary. It culminates in a wildly catchy combine that may satiate oldheads and captivate new ears.
