PORTLAND, Maine — The year 2023 has come and gone, but we didn't want to send it off without first looking at some of the top musicians from New England over the past year. Chris Brown and Callie Lirakis joined us on 207 to share the top local releases at Bull Moose from 2023.
1) TRAWL - "Cosmic Aquatic"
Top of the list is the funk metal band formed in 2018 known as TRAWL. Even during the pandemic when they couldn’t perform live, this band stayed active and passionate by forming a podcast centered on local music. Since then, they’ve released three separate EPs, and you can hear their passion to grow and experiment within each one.
2) Melvern Taylor - "At His Worst"
3) Alions - "Disillusion"
Be sure to keep an eye on this metalcore band based out of Lewiston. They’re already posting some upcoming shows this month so you can see for yourself why they made the list.
4) Griffin Sherry - "Live at Sun Tiki Studios"
The Ghost of Paul Revere frontman Griffin Sherry is no stranger to 207. Last May, he came on to share some of his new music as a solo artist, including tracks from his secret recording session at Sun Tiki Studios, a venue right here in Portland that frequently features local talent.
5) I, The Conqueror - "For Glory"
6) Dewmar Campfire - "Sinister Sounds of Halloween Horror"
Some of you may remember us talking about this album on 207 before! Streaming an album like this delivers only half of the experience, with all the creativity and art that went into producing this, and we can’t wait to get our hands on future projects from the minds behind this unique piece.
7) Mammothor - "The Ecstasy of Silence… The Agony of Dreams"
8) Mammothor - "Lies by Omission"
The only act to hold TWO spots on this list: Mammothor is a hard rock band from Boston that’s shared a stage with musical legends such as Korn, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, and more, and we’re excited to see where they’ll go next.
9) Dean Ford - "Dream Fever"
Dean Ford has included the likes of David Bowie, Prince, Freddie Mercury, and Madonna as his biggest inspirations, and you can hear it in his music with how he blends 80s synth-pop and rock. Dean’s infectious.
10) Nick Hersom - "Revenant"
Rounding out the list is singer-songwriter Nick Hersom. If "Revenant" is his first-ever solo album, we can’t imagine what will come next from him. His music is a blend of alt-folk and indie that almost any listener will connect with.