2017 included a vast array of strong releases from various subgenres of Punk Rock including the likes of Hardcore, Post Punk, Post Hardcore, Riot Grrrl, and so on.
I was able to generate a list including ten of my favorites.
#10)
Wire–Silver/Lead
The UK Post Punk icons known as Wire celebrate the 40th anniversary of their staple record, Pink Flag, with a sixteenth LP straying as far from nostalgia as possible.
Silver/Lead is a psychedelic, artistic take on the Post Punk genre questioning the slow speeds of the world’s ethical progressions.
#9)
Pawns–The Gallows
New York-based punk outfit, Pawns, delivered a dark LP this year basking in the nostalgic sounds of early Post Punk acts melded with the Gothic sensibilities of Christian Death and Bauhaus.
#8)
Makthaverskan-III
Swedish Post Punk/Dream Pop hybrid act Makthaverskan grace our ear drums once more with a third LP leaning more towards the dreamy side of things.
The Gothenburg group fixates their sound around the vocal abilities of frontwoman Maja Milner birthing a darker, more mature follow up.
#7)
Pissed Jeans–Why Love Now
Pennsylvania Sludge Punk act Pissed Jeans tackle fragile masculinity on their fifth LP.
Why Love Now is the group’s cleanest, most mature album to date challenging the weaknesses of the male psyche.
#6)
Protomartyr–Relatives in Descent
Detroit rockers Protomartyr emerge once more with a fourth LP maturing their established Post Punk sound.
Mentally prepare yourself before beginning the exploration of vocalist Joe Casey’s brilliant mind as he rants about various topics often alternating between his distinct style and the spoken word nature of Nick Cave.
#5)
Quicksand–Interiors
New York Post Hardcore veterans Quicksand return for the first record in over two decades.
Despite mixed reviews, I feel Interiors is a more relaxed, mature take on the group’s stapled sound but still manages to rock hard enough to make it a worthy comeback record in the massive tidal wave trend of nostalgic reunions.
#4)
Kamikaze Girl-Seafoam
Leeds-based duo Kamikaze Girl storms the scene with their debut LP Seafoam.
This is undoubtedly the most unique release of the year blending Shoegaze, Dream Pop, and Riot Grrl flawlessly..somehow.
Vocalist Lucinda Livingston’s unwavering passion matches with each track ranging from droney, sorrowful emo ballads to upbeat, abrasive punk rock lyrically flipping off misogynistic behavior/people and the patriarchy as a whole.
#3)
Sect–No Cure for Death
The Vegan Straight Edge supergroup known as Sect (featuring an all-star cast of Hardcore veterans from bands such as Cursed, Earth Crisis, and Fall Out Boy) dropped their sophomore this past November.
No Cure for Death is raw, fast, chaotic, and crushing. If you prefer your Hardcore punk to be a pure adrenaline rush with a side order of unrestrained fury and blast beats, listen to this record.
#2)
Glassjaw–Material Control
After a 15 year gap, New York-based Post Hardcore legends Glassjaw strike back with their third and quite possibly their heaviest LP to date.
Material Control is pure Glassjaw through and through for old fans and new. The production is top-tier maintaining Daryl Palumbo’s trademark abrasiveness despite being comfortable pushed back into the mix of crushing yet hazy guitarwork, pounding bass, and complex drumming.
#1)
Burn–Do or Die
I have been a fan of legendary New York-based experimental Hardcore Punk outfit Burn for a good portion of my life. Despite maintaining a career spanning equally as long as my time on this planet, they FINALLY managed to release their first full length album EVER this year.
Do or Die is everything I have ever wanted a Burn LP to be. Chaka Malik’s vocal performance is as creative as ever channeling the bizarre nature of Mike Patton matched with his usual display of intelligent, thought-provoking lyricism.
Guitarist and other long-standing member, Gavin Van Vlack, illustrates his own form of creativity and passion with this signature playing guitar style now pushing far past the usual constrictive nature of the genre.
Burn always showed an incredible amount of potential throughout their EPs and singles, but Do or Die shows them finally fully breaking free past the traditional Hardcore Punk sound and truly finding themselves as a unique collective.