So here it is, our best albums of 2020. Of course there could be much more. We could also have seperated it into albums, EPs, demos and even singles. But we've got something else prepared for you, that will cover much more ground than this. For now, these are the releases that made a big impression on us this year. Some because of their words, some because of their riffs, some because of both, some because they are just fun to blast out loud, and some simply because it's amazing that they even have seen the light of day.
The bottom line is, there was so many great releases by band fronted or composed of women, non-binary, queers and bipoc artists this year, that it's important to keep supporting any one of these, in any way you can. No need to say that with shows still on hold everywhere, spending 5$ on an EP, means a lot to any of these bands. We can all make a difference and what better way to do it than by bringing back marginalized artists to the front of the punk/rock/hardcore scene.
Here are our 25 favorite releases (that we know of!) for 2020.
Enjoy!
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25 - JANE DON'T - JUST KIDDING
Jane Don't is a punk rock trio from Montreal, and their 7 song EP is one of the best things to come out of the city this year. If you're into the 90's riot grrrl sound, this one is for you. Great tunes and an amazing sound too. Unfortunatly, the band announced the passing of their drummer, Seth Lesnow, this year. Seth was an amazing artist and a beloved feminist by the whole local punk scene. He also played in Vile Hussy and WSHR/DRYR. Do yourself a favor and go appreciate this gem that he worked on.
Favorite track: Reine Garcon
Bandcamp: https://janedont.bandcamp.com/album/just-kidding
24 - X- ALPHABETLAND
The legendary band from Los Angeles, X, fronted by the amazing Exene Cervenka, released their first record in 35 years, earlier this spring. Written over the course of 18 months, the album has that unique flavor that only veterans from the original first wave of punk are able to create.
Favorite track: Delta 88 Nightmare
Bandcamp: https://xtheband.bandcamp.com/album/alphabetland
23 - WORRIERS - YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
This Brooklyn based punk rock band, Worriers, put out a superb album this year. Produced by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, the effort showcases the amazing songwriting of singer/guitarist Lauren Denitzio. Its a feel good album of the year.
Favorite track: Chicago Pizza Style Is Terrible
Bandcamp: https://worriers.bandcamp.com/album/you-or-someone-you-know
22 - VÄRLDEN BRINNER - VI ÄGER NATTEN
The second album of the Swedish punk rock sensation, Världen Brinner, is such a powerful explosion of gritty and catchy anthems that will make you wish you were seeing them live tonight, singing along and raising your fist way up in the air.
Favorite track: Borde Aldrig Vart Tyst
Bandcamp: https://vicisolumrecords.com/album/vi-ger-natten
21 - THE RAMONAS - I WANT TO LIVE IN OUTER SPACE
The UK's all girl tribute to the Ramones, released this year their second album of original material, and it's everything you could hope for from women who bonded through their love of the New-York city fab four. Fun album with great production.
Favorite track: So Called This, So Called That
Website: https://www.ramonas.co.uk/
20 - VILIFY - CLARITY
We were hyped for this release ever since we started hearing soundclips of it, and we were blown away when the whole thing came out. Vilify is a trio from Newcastle, Australia, and they play hardcore with lots of emotion and depth, but also with amazing skills. The songs are powerful, very well crafted and wonderfuly produced.
Favorite track: Forgiveness
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vilifyau
19 - NOBRO - SICK HUSTLE
This Montreal based 4-piece has released one of the best rock n' roll EPs of the year, hands down. First of all, the whole thing sounds like a huge punch in the face of sexism in the name of rock, second of all, the ladies kill it at their respectful instruments, and finally, the production is just so massive for such a fun album. We can only hope that they release more songs soon, because this was way too short. Also Nobro wins best band name of the year.
Favorite track: Don't Wanna Talk About It
Bandcamp: https://nobro.bandcamp.com/
18 - SHARPTOOTH - TRANSITIONAL FORMS
Sharptooth's singer, Lauren Kashan, is one of the most fierce feminists out there with a mic, and she proves it on the band's second album, "Transitional Forms". The music is nothing short of aggressive, with plenty of razor sharp riffs and dynamics, but is also brutaly honest in its straight to the point, political and pro-feminist messages. A beautiful, heavy album.
Favorite track: Nevertheless (She Persisted)
Bandcamp: https://sharptoothmd.bandcamp.com/
17 - INITIATE - LAVENDER
Initiate, from California, plays a mean hardcore. Their EP released earlier in february, is a great example of straight-foward energy. The only other thing you need to know about it, is that the title was chosen in reference to the Alice Walker's book, "In Search Of Our Mother's Gardens", which is about the power that lies in Black Feminism. Enjoy both.
Favorite track: Myopia
Bandcamp: https://initiatehc.bandcamp.com/
16 - MARCH - SET LOOSE
March's second album, came out 4 years after their first release, but it was totally worth the wait. It is lead by the fantastic gritty voice of singer Fleur van Zuilen. The songs range from epic, to raw, to give the listener a well balanced experience of pissed off anthems from the Netherlands.
Favorite track: Evil Kicks
Bandcamp: https://marchofficial.bandcamp.com/
15 - MOLLY RHYTHM - DARK MATTERS
We basically waited 6 years for this album, and it's everything that we hoped it was gonna be. Even though the Philly based band is now on hiatus, it's a real pleasure to be able to listen to what they were up to for so long. It's impossible to describe what it sounds like, and although going from alternative, to ska, to punk to cabaret, might sound like a tricky thing to do, they pull it off so well it's crazy. There's also two cherries on top of that, in the form of Elissa Janelle Velveteen and Nikky Nailbomb, who trade mics like they were born to do, with both delivering unique and powerful peformances.
Favorite track: A Hopeful Lament
Bandcamp: https://mrlrr.bandcamp.com/
14 - PEER PRESSURE - CATHARSIS
Peer Pressure released their first album this summer, and it's one of the most vicious things to come out of Quebec in 2020. Their style of hardcore is in your face with almost metallic edges, but in between the heavy breakdowns and fast parts, there's plenty of emotion, delivered by singer Victoria Mladenovski, who has one of the most fiercest screams we've heard this year.
Favorite track: Cutthroat
Bandcamp: https://peerpressurehc.bandcamp.com/
13 - THE VENOMOUS PINKS - I WANT YOU
The Pheonix, Arizona, trio, The Venomous Pinks, gave us a colorful EP this year. From the punk rendition of Joan Jett's, "I want you", to the street punk anthem "Todos Unidos", there's plenty of raw, unapologetical punk for everyone in this release.
Favorite track: Todos Unidos
Website: https://thevenomouspinks.com/
12 - SVETLANAS - DISCO SUCKS
Soviet punks, Svetlanas, released an album this year that will go down as one of the most pissed off hardcore punk testimonies of the new decade. Singer Olga Svetlanas was described by Jello Biafra, as an "angry cornered mongoose", but she is much more than that. Yes her delivery is unique, vicious and threatening, but her lyrics about politics, mental illness, and the state of our scene, are straight up savage.
Favorite track: Tear Me Down
Bandcamp: https://demonsrunamok.bandcamp.com/album/disco-sucks
11 - PSYCOTIC SCUM - HOLY HYPOCRITE
Psycotic Scum is 4 badass women from Whittier, California, playing some of the most ferocious hardcore/punk crossover we've heard this year. The music is as pissed off as it gets, taking shots at stalkers, the church, depression and shitty humans in general. This is the perfect soundtrack to fuck shit up.
Favorite track: Holy Hypocrite
Bandcamp: https://psycoticscum.bandcamp.com/album/holy-hypocrite-ep
10 - THICK - 5 YEARS BEHIND
Thick are from the DIY Brooklyn scene and they finally released their first length this year. Mixing catchy pop melodies with raw punk feels, the trio showcase very mature songwriting, through well crafted songs, that will make you wish you were on roadtrip to nowhere, but still thinking about how you can expand on your feminism.
Favorite track: You Mom
Bandcamp: https://thick.bandcamp.com/album/5-years-behind
9 - THE BOMBPOPS - DEATH IN VENICE BEACH
The Bombpops describe their latest album as a love letter to Los Angeles, and we can totally hear it. It's got that sunny california feel-good touch to it, with catchy light mid tempo tunes. Knowing that co-frontwoman Poli van Dam ended up in rehab during the recording process of the album, we can also hear the downward spiral of being in a place where the party never stops. Solid release.
Favorite track: In The Doghouse
Bandcamp: https://thebombpops.bandcamp.com/
8 - AUXILIO - EP
Auxilio is 4-piece all female hardcore punk band from Los Angeles, and the EP they released this year, is only 8 minutes long, but we can't stop listening to it since it came out this summer. 4 songs of pure agressivity, with fast riffs, verocious vocals, and influences ranging from d-beat to thrash, it just doesn't get any better than this.
Favorite track: Ciclo Vicioso
Bandcamp: https://auxilio-la.bandcamp.com/album/ep-2
7 - BAD COP/BAD COP - THE RIDE
As soon as we heard that Bad Cop/Bad Cop was going to release a new album this year, we knew it would end up right here in our top 10. It's got it all; catchy melodic vocal lines that makes you wanna sing along out loud, anthemic power chords progressions, head bobbing rhythms, and of course, fierce political lyrics. Get ready for a smooth ride.
Favorite track: Pursuit Of Liberty
Bandcamp: https://badcopbadcop.bandcamp.com/
6 - DREAM NAILS - DREAM NAILS
Dream Nails, our favorite punk witches from the UK, have finally released their debut album, and it's wonderful! Smashing the patriarchy never sounded so good. Bringing 50's rock n' roll and surf influences to the mix, these fierce activists have managed to create their unique brand of pop punk, while educating us on feminist solidarity.
Favorite track: Vagina Police 2.0
Bandcamp: https://dreamnails.bandcamp.com/album/dream-nails
5 - MAID OF ACE - LIVE FAST OR DIE
Talk about an album that exceeded our expectations! Maid of Ace's third album, is nothing short of amazing. All killer no filler, the title says it all. The songs are fast and instantly give you an urge to live life to the fullest. The intensity never drops from the first to the last song. Whether it's with Alison's searing vocals, or the solid musical foundation layed by her sisters, the gang clearly set the bar real high for themselves, amd any other punk band for that matter.
Favorite track: The Terror
Bandcamp: https://maidoface.bandcamp.com/album/live-fast-or-die
4 - POWER ALONE - RATHER BE ALONE
Power Alone's debut album, hit us hard this year. The california based band, led by ex-Gather singer, Eva Hall, could be described as another straight edge hardcore mosh machine, but they are much more than that. They bring to the table some of the most efficient groovy riffs we have heard this year, and also extremely brillant lyrics about corporate greed, our community, and the sense of despair about the future of our society. Give it a spin, we garantee it will hit you hard too.
Favorite track: Rather Be Alone
Bandcamp: https://powerxalone.bandcamp.com/album/rather-be-alone
3 - THE DEAD KRAZUKIES - ICARUS
Straight out of Hossegor, France, The Dead Krazukies offered us this year the most impressive release we didn't expect at all. Bringing back the classic EpiFat sound, the band led by amazing singer Maider, made sure to add their own twist all over it. The production is flawless, and every song sounds powerful, with crushing skate punk riffs, anthemic gang vocals, and beautiful melodies. We can't wait to see all this live!
Favorite track: Burn Out
Bandcamp: https://thedeadkrazukies.bandcamp.com/album/icarus
2 - ALICE BAG - SISTER DYNAMITE
What can we say, besides that we love Alice. Not only her band, The Bags, was one of the most important all-female punk acts of the whole 70's punk scene, but she is still very much active, and has become a role model for any feminist artists out there. Exploring the "intersections of punk, queer pop and alternative rock", the album is a breath of fresh air in a toxic masculinity infused scene. The songs are rocking and catchy, but Alice's voice and her lyrics against the systemic oppression of women, are really stealing the show here. Thank you Alice for being who you are, and giving us this gem.
Favorite track: Gate Crasher
Bandcamp: https://alice-bag.bandcamp.com/album/sister-dynamite
1 - WAR ON WOMEN - WONDERFUL HELL
War On Women's Shawna Potter is not done shoving her feminist rage down your ears, and it's the best thing that could've happened to us in 2020. Of course we love the raw and hard hitting hardcore punk foundations layed by the band here, and even the more mid tempo and melodic breaks. Shawna's fury is what's hitting the hardest. Her unapologetical intersectional tirades and political lyrics, against patriarchy and social injustices are delivered in such a fierce and brillant way, that we can't get enough of it. It will make you wanna fight, refuse and resist, and this is exactly what we hope for everyone of you in 2021.
Favorite track: Wonderful Hell
Bandcamp: https://waronwomen.bandcamp.com/
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