2023 had an abundance of quality EPs, to the point where even though I slightly extended beyond my usual top 10, some difficult choices still had to be made while putting together my selection :
1.) Karmanjakah - "Ancient Skills" :
Karmanjakah did something special with these four tracks and I believe this release might be a turning point in their career as it seems to have put their name on the map more than ever before. Some of the most gorgeous sounding met(h)al(l) of 2023.
2.) The Callous Daoboys - "God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys" :
Another band who has been drawing more and more attention to themselves as they slowly but surely chip away at the ice constraining them to the underground.
2022's "Celebrity Therapist" was already a massive statement but this is easily my most favourite material from the Daoboys so far.
The rambunctious Atlanta mathcore crew seem unstoppable right now.
3.) ten56. - "Downer Part.2" :
I came back to this EP a lot during the first half of 2023 solely due to how infectious ten56.'s punishing sound is, between riffs that cut like spinning sawblades and Aaron Matts's venomous vocal delivery.
Technically "Downer" is a full album with its first half being 2021's "Part 1" EP but I still consider them as separate EP's, especially since the production felt different between the two.
4.) Poh Hock - "Gallimaufry" :
Aside from containing a track that is as close as we're gonna get to hearing new Native Construct, "Gallimaufry" was easily one of the biggest prog metal highlights of 2023 for me, displaying impressive musicianship from everyone involved and exhilarating songwriting.
5.) Chat Pile x Nerver - "Brothers in Christ" :
After having dropped my AOTY of 2022, I wasn't expecting to hear from Chat Pile again so soon but here we are.
Both tracks of Chat Pile's side of "Brothers in Christ" are highly memorable, with "King" probably being one of my favourite tracks of the year and it also allowed me to discover another brilliant upcoming noise rock act, Nerver, whom I wouldn't be surprised to hear much more of in the future.
6.) Catsclaw - "Human Fission" :
Modern metalcore with a good balance of heavy and melodic while having enough of thall's outlandish qualities to keep it fresh.
There's so stupidly heavy moments on this debut EP and this seems to be only a preview of things to come.
7.) Ice Sealed Eyes - "Vol.1 : Torments" & "Vol. 2 : Fragments" :
I believe there's no such thing as too much thall, however there are bands that definitely pull it off better than others.
In this case, these Belgian lads bring a brilliant sense of atmosphere and emotional vulnerability to an otherwise ridiculously crushing sound.
I'm cheating a little bit by counting both of their EPs as one entry but I just had to do it.
Same story, these guys are only getting started, so keep an eye out for them.
8.) GGGOLDDD - "PTSD" :
GGGOLDDD re-invent the past and embrace the future on the long and difficult road to recovery.
The PTSD version of "He Is Not" has to be one of my favourite tracks of 2023 which, on the flip side, might have overshadowed the rest of the EP for me as a result.
9.) Better Lovers - "God Made Me An Animal" :
From the ashes of what once was great (kudos to you if you catch that lyric reference) rises new yet familiar life with the premise and promise of further greatness.
Yet another new project of 2023 that teased the world with even bigger things to come, all hail The Better Lovers Escape Every Time I Die For An Autopsy.
10.) Spiritbox - "The Fear of Fear" :
Spiritbox have the modern metalcore recipe down to a t and "The Fear of Fear" perfects it while condensing everything that makes modern metalcore enjoyable for both heavy music veterans and more "casual" listeners willing to dip their toes into more turbulent waters.
11.) Plini - "Mirage" :
I kinda drifted away from Plini's style of instrumental metal for a while after having a massive phase around 2016/17 and I didn't look too much into "Impulse Voices" when it came out.
However, the singles for "Mirage" kinda sparked that interest in the style again and this EP almost felt like a rediscovery of sorts for me.
12.) Tokky Horror - "Kappacore" :
Something a little different from the rest of this list ; part grimy diy punk show, part underground UK jungle rave, "Kappacore" manages to make you feel as though you're actually there, in a questionable venue surrounded by dodgy characters and yet you're having the best time of your life.
13.) Scowl - "Psychic Dance Routine" :
Alternative rock meets riot grrrl influenced powerviolence ; I was surprised by the amount of long-lasting earworms contained within the mere ten minutes of "Psychic Dance Routine".
14.) Graysea - "Weight in the Water" :
Emotionally unraveled and sonically unhinged mathcore/emoviolence that leaves its mark upon first impression.
A Graysea x Kaonashi collaboration needs to happen at some point.
15.) Glass Casket - "Glass Casket" :
An unexpected return ever since their last output in 2006, Glass Casket (or "deathcore BTBAM" to some) puts a fresh coat of paint on the original technical deathcore sound and it makes for a fantastic, brutal, bite-sized listen.
Here's hoping they'll stick around for more!