The Callous Daoboys had a very busy 2023. They came into the year riding high off the strength of 2022’s excellent Celebrity Therapist, played a bunch of wild shows, and kept the momentum going with their wild new EP God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys. Before the year ends, the Daoboys will play Every Time I Die/Dillinger Escape Plan offshoot Better Lovers’ holiday shows in Buffalo and they’ll be the house band at at the Two Minutes to Late Night show at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre on December 14.
As 2023 wraps up, all six members of the band made us a list of their favorite albums of the year, including releases by bands they’ve collaborated with like Circuit Circuit and pulses., as well as an array of other artists including Militarie Gun, Panchiko, Underscores, Fireworks, Angel Du$t, Mitski, 100 gecs, JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown, Fall Out Boy, New World Man, full body 2, Dying Fetus, and more. They gave commentary on each pick, and you can see what they had to say below.
We’ve also got a new multi-color vinyl pressing of The Callous Daoboys’ 2019 debut LP Die On Mars up for pre-order in the BV shop, limited to just 150, and we’ve got copies light of our “highlighter yellow” variant of Celebrity Therapist. Get both here while they last.
Jackie’s Albums:
New World Man – The Beast Is Back
Hardcore for shredders. Blisteringly fast and heavy with some seriously impressive instrumentation. They play the “Purple Haze” riff for no reason and it’s awesome. FFO: Dive bombs
FAVORITE TRACK: Trapped In Murderworld
full body 2 – infinity signature
This band has such a unique style of synth-driven shoegaze that instantly immerses you in the soundscape that it creates. Their debut EP blends a lot of electronic influences with delightfully noisy shoegaze instrumention and it sounds like music you would hear in a dream.
FAVORITE TRACK: nokia login
Militarie Gun – Life Under The Gun
Endlessly catchy with some of the best guitar tones I’ve heard. Power-pop influenced while maintaining a certain level of aggression. The interlude track of See You Around with the mellotron is one of my favorite Musical Moments™ of this year. This band will be on top of the world.
FAVORITE TRACK: Never Fucked Up Once/Will Logic
World I Hate – Years Of Lead
Fuck you-Powerviolence from Wisconsin. I adore everything about this band. Full of blasts and d-beats while still managing to sound fresh, alongside some of the best sounding vocals and heaviest breakdowns for the genre.
The “World I Hate” call-out in the album’s opener also goes crazy.
FAVORITE TRACK: Meat Grinder
Dying Fetus – Make Them Beg For Death
For a death metal band 30+ years into their career, Dying Fetus just seems to get better and heavier. They’ve rightfully earned their spot in the Death Metal Hall Of Fame because this album is perfect. Robotically precise and relentlessly brutal.
FAVORITE TRACK: Feast of Ashes
Amber’s Albums:
Panchiko – Failed at Math(s)
Panchiko’s Failed at Math(s) is an impressive follow-up to their 2000 masterpiece, D>E>a>T>H>M>E>T>a>L. This art rock gem solidifies their place in music, well beyond the intriguing mythos surrounding their initial discovery and proving their success was absolutely not a fluke. Tracks like the synth-rich ‘Portraits’ seamlessly transition into ‘Until I Know,’ showcasing some of the year’s most memorable guitar riffs and choruses. If you’re a fan of bands like Radiohead (like I am) this is a must-listen for those seeking something fresh, yet familiar.
Underscores – Wallsocket
Typing this so quickly so another member of my band doesn’t get to this album first. I can say it’s an album that elicits a sense of awe with its very existence. The whole project is filled with stunning lyricism, topped off with a cracked-out vibrance and sheen that has few competitors. Each listen unveils new, captivating production details. I don’t know of many people who would disagree – this LP houses the year’s most compelling choruses and emotionally resonant moments. Just such a high point in musical creativity.
Clark – Sus Dog
Hearing this album in a coffeeshop was the fastest I’ve ever whipped out Shazam. Now on his sixteenth album, Clark continues to surprise and captivate. The opening track, featuring Thom Yorke’s Sufjan Stevens-esque performance, immediately drew me in, and the entire album is a collaboration that goes the distance on beautiful soundscapes. So compelling, start to finish.
Marty’s Albums:
Fireworks – Higher Lonely Power
The evolution of this band, starting around Gospel, has been so impressive. Hopefully they stay a band forever.
Angel Du$t – Brand New Soul
Angel Dust write the kind of songs that made Green Day and Nirvana huge, simple but catchy. They should be as big as both of those bands.
Night Verses – Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night: Part 1
Love the album title. Anything else I have to say about this record would turn into 500 words about Aric Improta, who is the most creative and interesting drummer right now. Can’t wait for part two!
Maddie’s Albums:
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
Yeah this record is good now but I take one more L and this record is gonna be incredible.
100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs
There are few lyrics I’ve ever related to as much as “I did science on my face I’m the dumbest girl alive”
JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown – SCARING THE HOES
I have so much fun listening to this record it should be illegal
Carson’s Albums:
Underscores – Wallsocket
Catchiest music in the world, I’m so glad this exists and is popular
Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust
Good to know my favorite band’s still got it
Closure In Moscow – Soft Hell
This one is so crazy, I can’t believe it’s real
Dan’s Albums:
Bejalvin – Bejible
I’m only going to say this once. Bejalvin are the future of music. I’m not exaggerating in the slightest. These two are absolute geniuses in every definition of the word and they’re going to be stars
pulses. – It Wasn’t Supposed To Be Like This
pulses. know how to make music for absolutely any occasion. This album will make you fall in love with music all over again. I dont know how else to describe the feeling this album gives me, when I first heard it in full, I couldn’t stop smiling. Don’t forget the period.
Johnny Booth – Moments Elsewhere
This album took every little fun intricacy that made Firsthand Accounts so memorable and pumped it full of adrenaline, cranking it to 100. To see these guys SOMEHOW continue to reinvent the genre and innovate upon an already perfect formula is nothing short of awe-inspiring and to call them my peers/friends is the cherry on top
Circuit Circuit – Body Songs
This is the catchiest mathcore release of the last decade. If this is any indication of what Circuit Circuit is capable of, you’ll soon find their name among the greats of this genre and beyond. They’ve managed to take a usually “inaccessible” sound and make into something with ear-worms from front to back, notably Slander Eats Slander. They also prove that stealing riffs is very cool and awesome and it should be done more often
Great Wide Nothing – Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol. II
This is the best prog band on the east coast and I’m not going to argue with you about it. I’m simply right in saying this. You won’t find another band today writing 20 minute epics that are actually memorable. No one has been doing something like this worth a damn since the 70s/80s and to have a modern sensibility about it makes it all the better. Would you believe this is ONLY 3 guys making these massive walls of sound?
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Callous Daoboys tour dates here. Exclusive Daoboys vinyl here.