As we prepare to bid farewell, whether fondly or not, to another year and look back on the albums released in 2023, one thing is evident; creativity is once again through the roof and the music has not slowed down in the slightest. The good news is that it is never a struggle to find stuff to review and already we have promo material stretching ahead a few months into the next year, so running out of music is not going to be an issue. The bad news is that try as we might we will never get to everything much as we would like to. It’s one of the reasons we don’t really focus on reissues, there’s simply too much new material clamouring for attention. Thankfully much of what we have listened to over the past year has been of consistent high quality and as far as what we look for in our particular genres of choice, ever challenging and inventive. As ever these lists reflect our very personal choices of what has kept us occupied, entertained and captivated during the last 12 months. There are no right or wrong answers but for those of you who enjoy looking through these lists we hope you might find something new that you had perhaps missed and find yourself similarly enthralled in the varied worlds of their creators. So without further ado, let’s do this!
Pete Woods – Top 20 (Editor)
1: Dodheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Peaceville)
Continuously shape-shifting and pushing at the boundaries of black metal, this sprawling album is a humungous listening experience offering new realms on each and every play. ‘Black Medium Current’ proves to be a fascinating rich tapestry of forward thinking music and one that is guaranteed to stretch way beyond the last note.
2: Marduk – Memento Mori (Century Media)
Addictively vicious and hostile, Marduk’s uncompromising approach continues to relentlessly roll over the corpses of its peers. Dragging you in and spitting you out ‘Memento Mori’ is deadly as anything previously delivered over the 15 albums of the Swedish war machine’s distinguished career.
3: Godflesh – Purge (Avalanche Recordings)
The bleak and industrial realms rhythmically forged from the heart of Birmingham have never been more apt as the country continues to spiral out of control and back to the dark ages. Broadrick and Green continue to explore the soundscapes of discontent and ‘Purge’ is ultimately an album that uncomfortably harks back to the cold, grey 80’s.
4: Primordial – How It Ends (Metal Blade)
This is an incredibly well-balanced album and one with every song having its own form of scintillating identity. Honest, profound and heroic ‘How It Ends’ covers all bases and should certainly touch all who are incited to rally to its call.
5. Shining – Shining (Napalm Records)
The ever divisive Kvarforth continues to challenge and confront but musically does so with rich devotion to the dark and depressive arts. Ploughing into perdition once more, destructive chaos and enchanting beauty are balanced perfectly as the frontman unleashes his mania as the sincerest form of musical expression.
6: Fen – Monuments To Absence (Prophecy Productions)
As nature got a respite from a locked-down human race, this howl of frustration was rendered into musical form. Reaching into the windswept abyss the UK isolationist atmospheric black metal trio pondered whether all was lost and created a masterful and epic album.
7: Krieg – Ruiner (Profound Lore)
Back after a lengthy absence these USBM pioneers manifested ritual horror, unlocking doors to nightmares and unleashing the demons within. Not entirely harrowing nihilism but blossoming with divine melodicism too, this one terrified and mesmerised in equal measures with its addictive personalities.
8: RUÏM – Black Royal Spiritism – I.O Sino da Igreja (Peaceville)
Blasphemer finally peeled back the ancient skin of Mayhem and returned to his black roots. Along with an esoteric and arcane knowledge of old traditions and rites the result was an album of pure spellbinding witchcraft. The old gods turned in their graves and we all welcomed this unholy resurrection.
9: Imperium Dekadenz – Into Sorrow Evermore (Napalm Records)
Profound atmospheric nostalgia once more conjured up by Vespasian and Horaz from deep within their Black Forest enclave. Passionate and grandiose they provide a naturistic insight into their magical kingdom with an album of rich textures which paradoxically proved nothing short of life-affirming.
10: Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (Peaceville)
Sometimes all you need is blood and guts and who better to provide it from their charnel house of horror than Autopsy? Although serving up nothing unexpected, the relish and enthusiasm as well as plenty of damn fine bangers here was enough to have everyone skipping on entrails in delight. In gore we trust!
11: Taake – Et Hav av Avstand (Dark Essence)
12: Blood Ceremony – The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above)
13: Deviser – Evil Summons Evil (Hammerheart)
14: Majesties – Vast Reaches Unclaimed (20 Buck Spin)
15: Laibach – Sketches Of The Red Districts (GOD Records)
16: Diablation – Par La Fue (Osmose)
17: Endstille – DetoNation (Ván Records)
18: Austere – Corrosion Of Hearts (Prophecy)
19: Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (Metal Blade)
20: Vulture Industries – Ghosts From The Past (Karisma)
Andy Barker – Top 20
1: Pyramaze – Bloodlines (AFM)
Progressive/Power Metal band Pyramaze go from strength to strength, actually managing to surpass their excellent 2020 opus ‘Epitaph’ with this, their latest offering, packed with power, melody and class.
2: Frozen Crown – Call Of The North (Scarlet)
Cementing their place as one of the best Power Metal bands around, this fantastic Italian band are pushing their sound even further with striking results whilst maintaining all of their previous majesty.
3: Beyond The Black – Beyond The Black (Nuclear Blast)
Rewarding their new label Nuclear Blast with their most accomplished album to date, giving Symphonic Metal a modern twist with even more infectious melodies and of course, totally nailing it.
4: Ad Infinitum – Chapter III Downfall (Napalm)
Pure class of the Symphonic Metal world, the amazing Melissa Bonny and her band deliver once more – that’s three chapters in a row with no signs of this superb act diminishing in quality.
5: Sacred Outcry – Towers Of Gold (No Remorse)
Fantastic return to the Power Metal limelight for the fabulous voice of Daniel Heiman, proving if someone writes songs of the standard of Lost Horizon, he still has the voice to sing them.
6: Trold – Der Var Engang… (Mighty Music)
Unapologetic catchy Folk Metal from this new band of slightly insane Danish Metallers. Packed with infectious melodies and folk-infused grooves that hit all the right notes.
7: Axenstar – Chapter VIII (Inner Wound)
Over twenty years in the heart of the Swedish Power Metal scene and still able to impress with a wealth of anthemic Power Metal monsters.
8: Grymheart – Hellish Hunt (Scarlet)
Infectious Melodic Death/Power Metal made unique by the addition of some great Folk Metal-leaning musical hooks, setting Grymheart apart from so many others.
9: Fifth Angel – When Angels Kill (Nuclear Blast)
Finally a true return to form for the 80’s Heavy/Power Metal band best known for their fantastic debut released way back in 1986. Welcoming back original guitarist Ed Archer and introducing new vocalist Steve Carlson has clearly reinvigorated the band.
10: Skiltron – Bruadarach (Trollzorn)
A more melodic vocal approach to the bagpipe-laden Skiltron sound takes a bit of time to get used to, but on the whole this is another fine addition to the Folk Metal genre.
11: Winterstorm – Everfrost (Scarlet)
12: Sorcerer – Reign Of The Reaper (Metal Blade)
13: Within Temptation – Bleed Out (Force Music)
14: Saint Deamon – League Of The Serpent (AFM)
15: Evermore – In Memoriam (Scarlet)
16: Bloodbound – Tales From The North (AFM)
17: Battle Born – Blood, Fire, Magic and Steel (Prosthetic Records)
18: Excalion – Once Upon A Time (Scarlet)
19: Sylvatica – Cadaver Synod (Trollzorn)
20: Delain – Dark Waters (Napalm)
Andrew Doherty – Top 20
1: Anubis Gate – Interference (No Dust Records).
This is such a riot of flavours and sounds that it blew my mind. Fly away into the world of dreams, imagination and epic progressive metal. No, progressive metal is too mundane a description for this album of goose-bumping wondrousness.
2: Haken – Fauna (InsideOut Records)
Prog band Haken take us in all different directions in this latest album. “Fauna” is luxurious and a cornucopia of styles and moods, making it difficult to digest to begin with but ultimately rewarding as each listen reveals ever more technical finery, emotive power and innovation.
3: Mercenary – Soundtrack for the End Times (Noise Art Records)
This is a heavy, breathtaking, multi-layered and catchy whirlwind. Recognisably Mercenary, the tightness and control of melody are testament to the band’s maturity.
4: The Zenith Passage – Datalysium (Metal Blade)
This is a rapid and dazzling journey where technical metal and progressive sound structures are the vehicle for colourful and varied explorations.
5: Virta – Horros (Svart Records)
Electro-acoustic, but with a trumpet and flugelhorn, this experimental work from the Finnish trio has great depth.
6: Oblivion Protocol – The Fall of the Shires (Atomic Fire Records)
This album is dystopian in theme, and prog in nature. The project of Threshold’s Richard West and collaborators from other bands, the music is melodious, unpretentious and fluid, making it a delightful listening experience.
7: Aarniseppä – Aallonmurtaja (s/r)
The artist behind Aarniseppä is a photographer who here has mixed a series of ambient sounds and, using nature as the base, is the creator of a vivid and spiritual tableau for us to contemplate and savour.
8: Dawn of Ouroboros – Velvet Incandescence (Prosthetic Records)
This is one of those albums that transcends genre, but it pulls us in all the while with its combination of power, extremity and transfixing loftiness.
9: Black Orchid Empire – Tempus Veritas (Season of Mist)
Prog in part, “Tempus Veritas” sticks to the basics, and present eleven purposeful songs with melody, heaviness, and a number of delicious musical toppings to intrigue and delight us.
10: Temic – Terror Management Theory (Season of Mist)
A masterpiece of co-ordinated prog virtuosity from a band of seasoned musicians, “Terror Management Structure” is a collection of sensitively crafted and sophisticated songs. Reach to the sky and stay there while absorbing the dynamic and exciting structures.
11: Dwaal – Never Enough (Dark Essence Records)
12: Immortal – War Against All (Nuclear Blast)
13: Wormhole – Almost Human (Season of Mist)
14: Hegerøth – Disintegration (self-released)
15: November Might Be Fine – All (self-released)
16: Vexed – Negative Energy (Napalm Records)
17: Enforced – War Remains (Century Media)
18: Structural – Decrowned (ViciSolum Productions)
19. HamaSaari – Ineffable (Klonosphere)
20: Sylosis – A Sign of Things to Come (Nuclear Blast)
Chris Davison – Top 20
1: Memoriam – Rise to Power (Reaper Entertainment)
The British war-like death metal veterans maintain their iron grip on being the most essential home-grown death metal band still active. Politically savvy, perfect for the moment and ever so heavy, their fifth release in six years is their best.
2: Lurk – Aegis (Transcending Obscurity)
Finnish doom/sludgers Lurk produced something in Aegis that was so horrifying that it’s actually disturbing to listen to. Dark, discordant and dismal – just the way you like it.
3: Stuka Squadron – Zeppelin (Metal for Metal)
Fools may have thought that the Squadron was done for, but you just can’t keep a bad vampire down. Daft, daring and death-defying, this is the album that you wish Maiden would put out (but won’t).
4: Rumemagick – Beyond the Cenotaph of Mankind (Hammerheart)
Deliberately obscure, weird, occult and oh so very heavy, every Runemagick release is something special to mark on the calendar. A tremendous platter of crawling terror.
5: Thronehammer – Kingslayer (Supreme Chaos)
The sound of a band really confidently becoming its own thing, “Kingslayer” is a triumphant hymn to all things epic and doom. This album deserves to be huge.
6: Hellripper – Warlocks Grim and Withered Hags (Peaceville Records)
An unholy mix of blackened thrash and heavy metal, it’s a bit like Sabbat, Venom and early Maiden fighting in a sack. Fun, and best enjoyed with beer and at high volume.
7: Imperishable – Come, Sweet Death (Hammerheart)
Death metal in the old-style way – grizzly, unapologetic and like a punch right in the ear. A slab of unfussy, unmistakeable fury.
8: Roots of the Old Oak – The Devil and his Wicked Ways (Hammerheart)
Pagan deathly-doom with interesting things to say, and said in interesting ways. One of the most out-of-nowhere releases of the year.
9: Decembre Noir – Your Sunset My Sunrise (Lifeforce Records)
Majestic, sweeping doom-death that set an almost impossibly high bar for other acts from similar genres. An emotional and monolithic release.
10: Nattehimmel – Mourningstar (Hammerheart)
Sweeping, vast black metal with a touch of genius. It put releases from “bigger names” to shame by producing music that was just on a different scale.
11: Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts (Peaceville Records)
12: Industrial Puke – Born into the Twisting Rope (Suicide Records)
13: Siege of Power – This is Tomorrow (Metal Blade)
14: Just Before Dawn – A War Too Far (Raw Skulls Recordz)
15: The Grief – Crucible (Independent)
16: Immortal – War Against All (Nuclear Blast)
17: Thulcandra – Hail the Abyss (Napalm Records)
18: Frozen Dawn – The Decline of the Ascending Gods (Transcending Obscurity)
19: Vomiteist – NekroFvneral (Transcending Obscurity)
20: KK’s Priest – The Sinner Rides Again (Napalm Records)
Doogz – Top 20
1: Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask (Nuclear Blast)
The Bristolian quartet juxtapose depressing, poignant lyrics with uplifting guitar melodies and combative riffs, delivering some of their best work so far. A mighty opus of wall-to-wall bangers, the opening two tunes are worth the price of admission alone.
2: Blut Aus Nord – Disharmonium: Nahab (Debemur Morti)
Whilst the mainstream black metal community continue to cosplay at themes of horror, Blut Aus Nord once more quietly produce something dark and threatening which plunges the listener into despair. A wonderfully terrifying audio experience.
3: Pupil Slicer – Blossom (Prosthetic Records)
Though sophomore albums are often difficult, it’s proved no problem for Pupil Slicer, truly forging their own path of post-math-deathcore or however you’d describe it.
4: Enslaved – Heimdal (Nuclear Blast)
Consistently reliable and ever evolving, the 16th(!) studio album from these Norwegian legends manages the deft balancing act of being epic and sprawling in scope, yet concise and punchy in delivery.
5: Fen – Monuments To Absence (Prophecy Productions)
Having evolved from the despair of youth, through bleak optimism, this seventh full-length sees Fen at their most aggressive though still reflective, continuing to deliver high quality progressive black metal.
6: Violet Cold – Multiverse (self released)
Somewhat of a “marmite” act with their unique brand of black-gaze, Violet Cold remain unashamedly original in their approach to blending genres, their latest offering maintaining a high bar of quality.
7: Trivax – Elijah Burns Out (Cult Never Dies)
Concise songcraft interwoven with punchy atmospherics equate to a very modern and aggressive evolution of authentic black metal; Trivax even throw in a sprinkling of classic occult rock for good measure on this, their second full-length album.
8: Stortregn – Finitude (The Artisan Era)
Dripping with the precision normally associated with timepieces from their native Switzerland, Stortregn seamlessly blend the raging melodic black metal of Dissection with tech-death virtuoso flair and intelligent song composition. Never a dull moment.
9: Wayfarer – American Gothic (Century Media)
Providing a unique blend of black metal and Americana, Wayfarers fifth album succeeds in capturing the listeners imagination, and also proving that there’s more to USBM than Agalloch.
10: Primordial – How It Ends (Metal Blade)
Whilst their unique blackened doom tinged with Irish folk melodies may not come across as spectacular, it’s certainly as epic and consistent as ever on their tenth album.
11: Suffocation – Hymns From The Apocrypha (Nuclear Blast)
12: Yakuza – Sutra (Svart Records)
13: Elegant Weapons – Horns For A Halo (Nuclear Blast)
14: Dawn Ray’d – To Know The Light (Prosthetic Records)
15: Godthrymm – Distortions (Profound Lore)
16: Dodheimsgard – Black Medium Current (Peaceville Records)
17: Spectral Lore – 11 Days (self released)
18: Host – IX (Nuclear Blast)
19: Mesarthim – Arrival (self released)
20: Thy Catafalque – Alföld (Season Of Mist)
Fraggle – Top 20
1: Crypta – Shades Of Sorrow (Napalm)
An almost perfect musical journey through the human psyche to the soundtrack of classic 90’s Death Metal with a modern edge. Equal parts raw and melodic, it is a phenomenal listen from start to finish.
2: Prong – State Of Emergency (Steamhammer/SPV)
Tommy brings the trademark riffs and sneers on this one, marrying post-punk and sludgy influences into the groove laden sound Prong are known for, along with giving us one of the greatest ever covers of a song!
3: El Caco – Uncelebrate (Indie Recordings)
It’s been a long wait but it was worth it. From the energetic opening track to the reflective closing track, El Caco have delivered a fine album with plenty of hooks and infectious riffs. Big sounds, big riffs and big energy, this is a wonderful album.
4: Angelus Apatrida – Aftermath (Nuclear Blast)
Thrash with friends? Fuck yes! Angelus Apatrida bring the riffs and guest spots on the album add some great musical moments. It’s once again, another fantastic release from this thrash machine.
5: Colpocleisis – Elegant Degradation (Reality Fade)
Dredging the bottom of society’s barrel and combining it with some hugely brutal slams, Colpocleisis has delivered an intense release. Pounding bass, crushing guitars, relentless drums and some of the tightest vocal work in extreme metal I’ve heard this year create a majestic monstrosity.
6: Protean Shield – Protean Shield (No Remorse)
The epic Athenian heavy metal outfit manages to forge transatlantic approaches to heavy metal, power metal and traditional metal to create a formidable debut release. Fantastic storytelling and superb musicianship throughout promises the listener an epic adventure.
7: Nuclear Power Trio – Wet Ass Plutonium (Metal Blade)
Progressive Instrumental Dictatorialists deliver some phenomenal fusion inspired progressive metal loaded with plenty of big hooks, big bass and persuasive percussion. This positive endorsement is not because there is a secret agent pressing a gun against my head!
8: Voyager – Fearless In Love (Season Of Mist)
A unique and captivating release which blends elements of synth pop and progressive metal in ways similar to that of Devin Townsend. Voyager are a band who will worm their way into your mind and enslave you with their melodic hooks and superb musicianship.
9: In Flames – Forgone (Nuclear Blast)
Forgone is a long overdue return to form for In Flames who have managed to successfully blend their Melodic Death Metal roots with their current melodic metal approach. Recapturing the spirit of the late 90’s/early 2000’s sound, the band might have recaptured that spark which made so many of our generation gravitate towards them.
10: Blak29 – The Waiting (Cleopatra Records)
A fun blend of Goth, Punk and Dirty Rock and Roll, all wrapped up with guest appearances from New York music titans and one of the deepest voices I’ve heard since the passing of Peter Steele. Just give it a spin, you’ll thank me later!
11: Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade)
12: Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (Metal Blade)
13: Dyssebeia – Garden Of Stillborn Idols (Transcending Obscurity)
14: Tribunal – The Weight Of Remembrance (20 Buck Spin)
15: Nervosa – Jailbreak (Napalm)
16: Dog Tired – The Red Verse (S/R)
17: Bio-Cancer – Revengeance (Hammerheart)
18: Conquer Divide – Slow Burn (Mascot Records)
19: King Kraken – MCLXXX (S/R)
20: Blessed Curse – Pray For Armageddon (M-Theory Audio)
Gizmo – Top 20
1: Trivax – Eloah Burns Out (Cult Never Dies)
Trivax have found their path and are not walking it, they are striding along it like djin with bared teeth, steel in their hands and single intent in their eyes leaving burning footprints in their wake.
2: Khanate – To Be Cruel (Sacred Bones)
This is not for everyone, and most will be glad of that. Khanate is not what’s outside, but what is inside squirming and screaming and tearing to get out. And it is not right. But it is terrifying genius.
3: Hellripper – Warlocks Grim And Withered Hags (Peaceville)
Hellripper are just draw dropping. Mr McBain’s songwriting here is flawless here, the arrangements amazing and the depth shocking. Grin inducing, face ripping, skull crushing metal at its absolute finest
4: Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade (Metal Blade)
Cirith Ungol haven’t missed a beat in the twenty odd years they were absent from recording. They are still the wielders of epic tales and sharp insight, the masters of riding chaos and without a doubt they have forever kept it true.
5: Aeon Winds – Night Sky Illuminations (Avantgarde)
This is dark, often brooding music that is a spectacle designed to behold and to stand in awe of. It glistens darkly and shifts and turns and blocks out the world with waves of timeless scenes and promises of other voids to explore.
6: Church Of Misery – Born Under A Mad Sign (Rise above)
It’s great to have this unique band back on their proper psyched out blues track. Filthy stoned blues that staggers, weaves and wanders all to its own beat.
7: Blood Magic – Goetic Blood Spells (Spiritual Disease)
Debut of raw but deeply atmospheric black metal. Dark magic and shadows and blood. Excellent.
8: Lone Sentinel – Adventure Calls Thy Name (Hammer & Flail Recordings)
In a world of shite, escape is needed and dungeon synth fulfils it. And this epic, enthraling album will take you away in the blink of an eye. Beautiful.
9: Of Darkness – Missa Tridentia (Personal Records)
It creates horrors in my mind and only allows me peace when it stills. This is dark but irrefutably beautiful music. Strange, utterly focussed and crafted with power.
10: Ord And Demonologists – Secret Ceremonies (Aesthetic Death)
This is both a most relaxing album and possessed of an undeniable touch of unease of facing the unknown and the uncanny as it is slowly revealed through the ceremony. It speaks to the skills of the artists that it kept me enthralled and intrigued throughout.
11: Blackbraid – II (Independant)
12: Mork – Dypet (Peaceville)
13: Vorna – Aarmunkoi (Lifeforce Records)
14: Wynter Myst – Bitter Hymns (Death Prayer Records)
15: By Fire And Sword – Glory (No Remorse)
16: Blood Star – First Sighting (Shadow Kingdom)
17: Edenfall – To Gaze Longer At The Earth (Self Released)
18: Damnation’s Hammer – Into The Silent Nebula (Massacre)
19: Thronehammer – Kingslayer (Supreme Chaos)
20: Sturmtiger – Transcendent Warfare (Demented Omen Of Massacre)
Martin Harris – Top 20
1: Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll (Metal Blade Records)
A bludgeoning groove infested return from the brutal Swedish death metal masters, with a record of unrepentant violence.
2: Lunar Tombfields – An Arrow To The Sun (Les Acteurs De L’ombre Productions)
A stellar second album from this French atmospheric black metal duo, their palpable emotive riffing teems from every song crafting an enduring and superb album.
3: Noisy Neighbors – Derailing The Hype Train (Self Released)
Few grindcore albums have come close in 2023 to the incessant savagery of this debut, every track is repeated machine gun shots to the cranium.
4: Shores Of Null – The Loss Of Beauty (Spikerot Records)
Wondrous and saturated in majestic harmonies this Italian band continues to release spellbinding passionate albums and this is their finest to date.
5: Primordial – How It Ends (Metal Blade Records)
Few bands harness the pernicious black metal ethos with flamboyant progressive structuring as Primordial and this album proves they are utter maestros at the combination.
6: Frozen Dawn – The Decline Of The Enlightened Gods (Transcending Obscurity Records)
Melodic black metal of the highest order, an album that oozes epic qualities surrounding malevolent mind bending catchy riffage.
7: Whore Of Bethlehem – Ritual Of Homicide (Comatose Music)
An utter sonic abomination from this US band, songs that salivate ferocity with every second during its unerring bombardment.
8: Sanguisugabogg – Homicidal Ecstasy (Century Media Records)
Trawling the depths of death metal’s sonic sewerage subgenre this sophomore submerges you in a vat of boiling caustic sludge.
9: Necroticgorebeast – Repugnant (Comatose Music)
Yet another devastating release from the Canadians, there are few bands as heavy, dense and outright pulverising as this four piece.
10: Numeron – Road To Valhalla (Meuse Music Records)
A scintillating journey through mesmeric atmospheric sonic landscaping courtesy of this exceptionally talented Indonesian band.
11: The Bleeding – Monokrator (Redefining Darkness Records)
12: Sarcoptes – Prayers To Oblivion (Transcending Obscurity Records)
13: Atomwinter – Sakrileg (Trollzorn Records)
14: Conjureth – The Parasitic Chambers (Memento Mori)
15: Svalbard – The Weight Of The Mask (Nuclear Blast Records)
16: Malice Divine – Everlasting Ascendancy (Self Released)
17: Marduk – Memento Mori (Century Media Records
18: Cardinal’s Folly – Live By The Sword (Soulseller Records)
19: Winds Of Tragedy – Hating Life (Digipak) (Tragedy Productions)
20: Imperium Dekadenz – Into Sorrow Evermore (Napalm Records)
Matt Mason – Top 20
1: Marthe – Further In Evil (Southern Lord)
1: Going Off – What Makes You Tick (Church Road Records)
Joint top albums for me this year. First time ever but there is not a fag paper between em for me – as different as they are. Marthe blends Black Metal, Doom, Anarcho Punk and Riot Grrl in a glorious atmospheric collection that explore pain and anger in a very personal way. It makes you sing along and hug yourself in equal measure. Meanwhile Manchester’s Going Off take anger and frustration and spit back in the faces of the world. On record this is visceral and rebel rousing – live they are a fucking riot covered in tattoos and sweat. The future of UK punk and hardcore is here!
3: Gunship – Unicorn (Horsie In The Hedge)
When I first heard the singles I wasn’t sure. Dave Lombardo playing on a dancey synthwave track. Ha past me was a sceptical idiot. This is the album I wanted from Gunship. I always felt the last release didn’t quite live up to the brilliance of “When You Grow Up Your Heart Dies”. Unicorn does. Plus John Capenter baby!
4: Home Front – Games Of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)
I have seen this album described as Tears For Fears meets GBH. I can’t describe it any better. Post PUNK but the punk is in capital letters covered in studs and glue. The Chisel’s Cal Graham’s guest spot on “Nation” is an instant singalong modern Oisynth classic.
5: Buggin’ – Concrete Cowboys (Flatspot Records)
Hardcore is in Rude health. Chicago’s Buggin’ drop massive riffs, big breakdowns and groovy chugs. Bryanna Bennet spits bile with the best of em. I wanna be a cowboy baby!
6: BlackBraid – II (S/R)
Difficult second album? Pfffft. Sgah’gahsowah laughs at the idea. A bit more melody this time round but still as ferocious and filled with songs of the earth as the debut – real old gods stuff without a devil horn in sight.
7: Sunami – Sunami LP – (Triple B Records)
This is meant to be a joke I think. Knuckledragging pisstaking hardcore bro tunes with massive beatdowns and slam parts. It’s meant to be funny. But why is it so fucking good? Just massive chugs and breaks that could crowdkill an East End boozer. Don’t like it? You’s a Bitch!
8: Panopticon – The Rime of Memory (Bindrune Recordings)
This just sneaked onto my list as I only got it on release at the end of November. Death and loss is given the Panopticon treatment. Black Metal, folk, Americana, misty mountains and traditional instruments. You can smell the smoke and the pine forests. Lush and bleak in equal measure.
9: Immortal – War Against All (Nuclear Blast)
Life without Abbath continues to treat Immortal well. Demonaz does what he always has- write great riffs and songs about cold battles in well you know the compass point. It sounds great. It is frostbitten and mighty.
10: Snuffed On Sight – Smoke (Maggot Stomp records)
Not my usual cuppa tea at all. Slam with porcine vocals, hardcore breaks and mad snare hits. Why oh why does it hit so well in my headphones when I am in the gym. I dunno. It fucking slams in all the right places. Don’t think just slam baby!
11: Harm’s Way – Common Suffering (Metal Blade)
12: An Autumn For Crippled Children (Prosthetic Records)
13: Magnitude – Of Days Renewed (Triple B Recordings)
14: Drain – Living Proof (Epitaph)
15: Underdark – Managed Decline (Church Road Records)
16: Pest Control – Don’t Test the Pest (Quality Control)
17: Dawn Ray’d – To Know the Light (Prosthetic Records)
18: Zulu – A New Tomorrow (Flatspot Records)
19: Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit (20 Buck Spin)
20: Green Lung – This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast)
Paul Maddison – Top 20
1: Century – The Conquest of Time (Electric Assault)
Taking inspiration from the early Swedish scene, Century have been nailing their style for a while now. This resonated most with me this year.
2: Kerrigan – Bloodmoon (High Roller)
German traditional metal, my summary was “awesome heavy metal”!
3: Tower Hill – Deathstalker (No Remorse)
Epic Canadian metal, heir to the throne of the likes of Visigoth, Eternal Champion etc.
4: Old (Ger) – Dawn of Darkness (Unsilent Tombs)
Nasty, powerful, blackened thrash. It’s been a long time coming, but this one hits hard and fast.
5: Trespass – Wolf at the Door (From the Vaults)
NWoBHM legends, with an album out of the blue, this album that hits everything you want from this style. Classy from start to finish.
6: Obituary – Dying of Everything (Relapse)
Death metal legends come straight at you with a hammer blow album, supported by some great live shows, for me one of their best releases in a few years.
7: Malokarpatan – Vertumnus Caesar (Invictus)
I really enjoy this band, they exhume massive variation loosely dipping between a black metal, NWoBHM and traditional metal styled combination, its mental, it really works though.
8: Zlortcht – Welcome to the Zlortchterhaus (Witches Brew)
Complete Celtic Frost/Hellhammer worship from Australia, enough said!
9: Screamer – Kingmaker (Steamhammer)
This band just keep on delivering the goods. Total high end melodies, smooth and classy.
10: Allfather – A Violent Truth (Trepanation)
“Beards, metal, F*ck You” by summary, a sludge/heavy thrash driven band from Medway.
11: Els Focs Negres – Martirus Carnivors (Rafchild)
12: Oreida – The Eternal (Debemur Morti Productions)
13: Lamp of Murmuur – Saturnian Bloodstorm (Argento Records)
14: Sznur – Ludzina (Godz Ov War)
15: Hellkrash – Demonic Assassination (Dying Victims)
16: Sintage – Paralyzing Chains (High Roller)
17: Necromancer – Arrival of Death (Evil Spell)
18: Mace N Chain – Among Ancient Pillars (No Remorse)
19: Tailgunner – Guns for Hire (Fireflash)
20: Masters Call – A Journey for the Damned (Fireflash)
Slavica Sikora – Top 20
1: Hexvessel – Polar Veil (Svart Records)
Polar Veil combines black metal, doom, folk and psychedelia into a truly unique sound mixture. While the overall atmosphere is frightfully cold, Mat McNerney’s clean, musing vocals and poetic lyrics add a bit of autumnal sun. Sonic beauty beyond belief.
2: Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter – Saved! (Perpetual Flame Ministries)
Lingua Ignota might have been put to rest, but Kristin Hayter’s new project is as original and as captivating as her last one. Madness, darkness, painful emotions, but also glimmers of hope characterize the folk-horror Americana of Saved!. Recorded on tape, the songs sound raw and authentic. Ingenious, as always.
3: Blood Moon Wedding – Blood Moon Wedding: An American Nightmare (Mobilization Recordings)
A trans-Atlantic project involving Steve Lake of legendary English anarcho-punk band Zounds and Mia Dean, an American opera singer from Oakland, California. A road movie put to music, the story unfolding through ten duets assembled from post punk, a neo-gothic atmosphere and a bit of murder folk.
4: Grave Pleasures – Plagueboys (Century Media)
Gothic rock and darkwave tunes are employed to portray a post-apocalyptic setting, where the boundaries of civilization have been eroded. The music is bittersweet and melancholic, but also characterized by a hectic, nervous energy. Doomsday melodies that you can dance to.
5: Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (Self-Released)
One of my favourite projects in recent black metal. Album number two is even better than the debut long player. Black metal, uncompromising, melodic and fast, interlaced with beautiful acoustic parts. Hear the wind on the prairie and the return of the Native American spirit.
6: Howling Giant – Glass Future (Magnetic Eye)
Glass Future is an exciting, adventurous, energetic musical journey into science fiction worlds, provided by a trio of musicians who are also excellent story tellers. Doom and stoner rock, bursting with action, heavy bass lines, meaty guitar riffs and spectacular drumming. What a trip!
7: Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows (Century Media)
The one thing that delights metal fans of all shades is a traditional sound, a sound that cherishes the basics. If you like Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Slayer and Metallica, if you are here for the RIFFS, the stirring drumming, clean, expressive vocals and lyrics studded with slogans – Ghost at the Gallows will give you all of that.
8: Johnny The Boy – You (Season Of Mist)
Justin Greaves and Belinda Kordic of Crippled Black Phoenix, joined by Matthew Crawford on bass, have cast off a bit of the tristesse and replaced it with a nice portion of spite to provide you with the kick in the butt that you didn’t know you needed. Blackened sludge with witchy-scratchy vocals. Vicious!
9: Maggot Heart – Hunger (Svart Records)
Maggot Heart surprise the listener with raw, edgy, barely reigned-in chaos materialising as noisy post punk, with a dash of jazz here and there. While a multitude of influences can be heard, the songs stand proudly for themselves, displaying character in abundance.
10: Silence in the Snow – Ghost Eyes (Prophecy Productions)
Cyn M and Trevor DeSchryver (Wolves in the Throne Room, Deafheaven) still play darkwave and post punk, but their new album has slightly warmer sonic textures than previous releases and now calls The Cure, Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees to mind.
11: SOL – Promethean Sessions (I, Voidhanger)
12: The Abbey – Word of Sin – (Season Of Mist)
13: Nebelkrähe – Ephemer (Crawling Chaos)
14: Mishkin Fitzgerald and the Chemical Perils – Grace’s Cradle (Not Saints)
15: Headstone Brigade – Victory and Defeat (Weregnome Records)
16: 1476 – In Exile (Prophecy Productions)
17: Iskandr – Spiritus Sylvestris (Eisenwald)
18: Godflesh – Purge (Avalanche Recordings)
19: Home Front – Games Of Power (La Vida Es Un Mus)
20: Emphasis – Lazaret (Geenger Records)
Spenny – Top 20
1: Blood Ceremony – The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above Records)
Seven whole years since their last release, these Canadian magicians return to cast a spell of magnificent occult rock. Leaning into a strong retro vibe, it was as if no time had passed at all; simply magnificent.
2: Green Lung – This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast)
It has been a privilege to see this band grow year by year, both in terms of ability, and popularity. Mixing Sabbath worship, hooks that would make Queen proud, and British mythology, they really could be the next big thing, and deservedly so.
3: Solar Sons – Another Dimension (S/R)
Were these the 1970’s as opposed to 2020’s, this power trio of astonishingly capable musicians would be spoken of in the same revered tones as Rush. That after 10 years and 5 albums they are still self-releasing just for the joy of playing is in some ways saddening, but in terms of musical achievement, fantastic.
4: Graveyard – 6 (Nuclear Blast)
Mixing blues, psychedelia, and raw emotion, Graveyard will have you crying one moment, and stamping your feet with joy the next. Equally excellent live, catch them if you can.
5: Dorthia Cottrell – Death Folk Country (Relapse Records)
Taking time out from fronting Windhand Dorthia Cottrell has release an album of such melancholy beauty it would bring a tear to the eye of a statue. Stripped back, raw, and a dark joy to listen to.
6: Alice Cooper – Road (earMUSIC)
I’m an old git, but Vincent Furnier has been a touring musician since before I was born. This album, written on tour with his band, and then recorded with minimal overdubs and the band all together essentially live, it has a fresh energy that belies the 50 plus years he has been performing.
7: Hawklords – Space (Shellshock)
The ever changing and evolving line-up of space rockers is now a lean three piece, but Messrs. Dibs, Pearce and Richards create a massive sound as they travel the cosmos in their riff powered star ship.
8: Morass of Molasses – End All We Know (Ripple Music)
The Beard, The Mountain, and The Guru return with their melange of the heavy and delicate, one second carrying the listener to a sonic Nirvana, the next bringing them down to earth with a headbanging crunch.
9: Church of Misery – Born Under A Mad Sign (Rise Above Records)
Do you want your music delivered to you skull with the crushing heaviness of a lead cosh? Well, bass dragger Tatsu Mikami has brought original vocalist Kazuhiro Asaeda back into the fold, and all is mad with the world again.
10: Dee Calhoun – Old Scratch Comes to Appalachia (Argonauta Records)
Continuing his quest to prove that heavy music doesn’t need amps on overdrive and wailing solos, this slice of dark Americana has more presence and menace then any number of corpse painted grunters. True metal warriors, stretch your musical boundaries, you won’t be disappointed.
11: Hawkwind – The Future Never Waits (Cherry Red Records)
12: Yes – Mirror To The Sky (Sony Music)
13: Jethro Tull – RökFlöte (Inside Out Music)
14: Blind River – Bones for the Skeleton Thief (House of Bones)
15: Massive Hassle – Number One (S/R)
16: Trevor’s Head – A View From Below (APF Records)
17: Cosmic Evoked Potentials – L’Ira Del Baccano (Subsound Records)
18: Smokey Mirror – Smokey Mirror (Rise Above Records)
19: Hands Of Orlac – Hebetudo Mentis – (Terror From Hell Records)
20: Arkham Witch – Beer and Bullet Belts (Metal on Metal Records)
Ellie – Top 10
1: Omnikoloss – Wandering Through Concrete Valleys (Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork)
To the immense surprise of absolutely no-one, while I’ve listened to some excellent stuff since May, nothing has (or was ever likely) to beat this masterpiece of dystopian electro-synth black metal. We may never get The Kovenant’s Aria Galactica, but this is the next best thing.
2: Årabrot – Of Darkness and Light (Pelagic Records)
This would earn a top ten spot on the strength of We Want Blood alone, but luckily the rest of the album is superb as well.
3: Tsjuder – Helvegr (Season of Mist)
Assuming you know and love all the masterpieces of the genre, how is it possible to listen to a stone-cold classic Second Wave Black Metal album for the first time? By listening to Tsjuder, that’s how. And yes, I know that a new classic in the genre is unfeasible after 30 years, but I don’t know what else to tell you, other than that’s exactly what Helvegr is.
4: Pääkallo – Pääkallo (Svart Records)
Sleazy, bluesy occult rock with Beach Boys guitars and more hooks than a cloakroom? Let me count the ways in which this should not work. And yet it does, and it’s magnificent. Levitoiva Nainen in particular is in a class of its own here.
5: Altari – Kröflueldar (Svart Records)
This may look like a standard Black Metal album, but nothing could be further from the truth. To quote an old friend: “There’s nothing straight about it, it’s like Atilla-era Mayhem covering the weirder end of Pink Floyd, all through a Nachtmystium filter”. And it’s glorious.
6: Ershetu – Xibalba (Debemur Morti)
Not so much an album, as a recreation of Mayan death rites, and an attempt to immerse the listener in the sensory world of same. Ershetu are here to take you through a completely alien soundscape, and frankly I’ve never heard or experienced anything quite like it, which is saying a lot given some of the things I’ve reviewed in my time.
7: Green Lung – This Heathen Land (Nuclear Blast)
Much like number 2 above, this would have made it into the top ten purely on the strength of Maxine (Witch Queen), but the rest of it’s pretty damn good too.
8: Rise to the Sky – Two Years of Grief (Meuse Music/Tragedy Prod.)
A suffocatingly complex doom album about the nature of long-term grief, that I ended up reviewing just before the 11th anniversary of losing my dad. As such I can’t, hand on heart, say this was an enjoyable experience. It is, however, superb, and genuinely cathartic if you’re prepared to spend 40+ minutes getting punched in the emotions.
9: The River – A Hollow Full of Hope (Cavernous Records)
Dense, shimmering post-doom that scoops you up and deposits you somewhere else entirely. One of only a handful of albums I’ve ever reviewed that swallowed me up so completely, that I actually resented having to snap out of it for long enough to put a review together.
10: Dun Ringill – Where the Old Gods Play Act 1 (The Sign Records)
An incredible, but frankly bizarre genre-buster of a Nordic folk/doom album, which also happens to embody the meeting point between my existing loves of dark folk/folk metal, weird post-black/doom, and dry, snarky experimental rock. This is the first part of an indeterminate number of instalments, and I can only hope the rest are as good as this one.
Johnny Zedd – Top 10
1: Urne – A Feast On Sorrow (Candlelight Record)
The harrowing, personal experience of losing a loved one to dementia is captured on this powerful record. Gojira’s Joe Duplantier took them under his wing and the result is raw emotion. Musically magnificent and lyrically heart-breaking, this finds Urne taking the giant leap forward as a band.
2: Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – Kings Of The Asylum (Nuclear Blast)
A rip-snorting, heavy rock ‘n’ roll banger from Phil and his boys. Joel Peters vocals are killer and this is a 100 mph ride on the riff highway. Motörhead pedigree is there for sure but this band is a monster in its own right.
3: Destructor – Blood, Bone, and Fire (Shadow Kingdom)
These ‘80’s Ohio thrash veterans still have the goods. Powerhouse riffs and circle pit inducing anthems are aplenty. 35 minutes of pure thrash intensity at its very best will satisfy anyone with the need to speed.
4: Metallica – 72 Seasons (Blackened Recordings)
The granddaddy thrash icons have dropped a banger. Papa Het & Co have dug deep and put together a big album full of riffs and hooks only they could conjure. This is an album that feels as though it’s been gestating and it slams in grand style.
5: Gévaudan – Umbra (Meuse Music)
These British underground doom lords took the bold step to make a single track concept album. That boldness paid off; this is an expansive, immersive slice of beautifully crafted music full of light and shade. The emotion and vision is crushingly grand.
6: The Damned – Darkadelic (earMUSIC)
These punk veterans delivered a late career stunner. The album’s sound hints at moments from their entire career and has an urgency that’s completely irresistible. Dave Vanian’s baritone gothic tones are as smooth as ever while Captain Sensible ensured that the guitar is front and centre.
7: Restless Spirit – Afterimage (Magnetic Eye)
Classic ‘70’s inspired heavy metal and themes dealing with pain and loss on a personal level colour a rich, powerful album. Swathed in greasy riffs with plenty of punchy moments, this is stoner heaven.
8: The Night Eternal – Fatale (Van Records)
Taking classic heavy metal influences and giving them a macabre radio friendly accessibility, these Teutonic metallers crafted a clever, darkly themed album. Packed to the rafters with ear worms they come on like a grittier, nastier Ghost.
9: Oceanlord – Kingdom Cold (Magnetic Eye Records)
The fuzzy, stoner tones on this debut from the Aussie trio are mammoth sized. Traditional stoner doom mixes with a little psyche prog and more. Atmospheric with moments of dirty, garage styled proto metal, this album is one to completely lose yourself in.
10: Waxen – Die Macht Von Hassen (Moribund)
The creative mind of guitar maestro Toby Knapp is nothing short of incredible. This release finds him recalling the true essence of classic black metal. Stunning neo-classical guitar flourishes adorn some dark, brutally aggressive music. Hail.
Nick Griffiths – Top 10
1: Spotlights – Alchemy For The Dead (Ipecac Recordings)
Tempering their elephantine yet ethereal guitar riffs with a more melodic flavour, Spotlights manage to keep everything that makes them one of the world’s heaviest and ingenious bands intact whilst adding a soupcon of indie/shoegazing which conflate to create a complex and densely woven collection of songs that make you weep, tap your foot and bang your head in equal measures.
2: Great Falls – Objects Without Pain (Neurot Recordings)
Great Falls have come up on the rails of 2023 and produce a body of work that is as stunning as it is misanthropic, bleak and aurally arresting. I may hear better albums this year, but the chances of that seem slim. The bar has been raised. Essential listening.
3: healthyliving – Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief (La Rubia Producciones)
That said it may be the compressed and long form mood building crescendos of the slower songs that lend the faster, punkier aspects of the album the bite, context and grit that make the album such a well-rounded, captivating, and engaging listen. healthliving, have created an album of real imagination and depth.
4 : KEN mode – VOID (Artoffact Records)
VOID may lack the raw power and immediacy, on the whole, of their previous albums, but it’s in these quieter moments where the kernel of what makes KEN mode a band worthy of your attention exists.
5: Throat – We Must Leave You (Svart Records)
Throat’s new album sees them steer away from the rockier paths of their previous material and embraced a more electronic smeared indie/rock/pop direction. It’s not quite a volte face but when you compare this new musical direction with what has come before, it’s certainly intriguingly bold.
6: Tortured – Genetically Engineered Monstrosity (Comatose Music)
On the face of it, there’s nothing ground-breaking on offer here, but such is the sheer ferocity, and musical proficiency, it would be churlish to be anything other than effusive in terms of praise. Its well-played, well written and well produced replete with the usual genre accoutrements of a grotesque gore drenched cover art and lyrical content.
7: Pupil Slicer – Blossom (Prosthetic Records)
Pupil Slicer have taken the bull by the horns and have backed themselves with an album of stark contrasts and oblique turns. The band have moved away from the blunt force trauma of their debut and moved into more interesting territories. I hope that fans realise what the band are trying to do and go on this journey with them.
8: Jesus Piece – …So Unknown (Century Media)
This album is still heavy as balls but, it has enough variety in terms of song writing, whilst adding textures and atmosphere, that precludes Jesus Piece becoming a one trick pony. It doesn’t stay TOO far from their patented metallic stomp but provides enough variation to make this an engaging and fearsome body of work.
9: Suicide Silence – Remember…You Must Die (Century Media)
Following up their last album, which I felt was somewhat placeholder in a career resuscitation exercise, the band have returned with a belter of an album that takes all that is good, heavy, and wholesome about Suicide Silence. Its eminently enjoyable and a fearsome return to form.
10: Iron Void – IV (Shadow Kingdom Records)
Scrappy little fuckers that will buy you a pint but then kick you up the arse. It’s pared to the bone, cold, dark, bouncy, head banging nirvana that will one hundred percent appeal to their existing fan base but also shows just enough imagination and song writing nuance to entice new fans.
The Flâneur – Top 10
1: Afsky – Om Hundrede År (Vendetta Records)
I don’t know how this album was only released this year. I feel like I’ve been listening to it on repeat forever. And it always hits just as hard. Soulcrushingly painful for all eternity.
2: Sulphur Aeon – Seven Crowns and Seven Seals (Van Records)
Not my usual cup of tea as I mentioned in my review for this album, but I’ve now actually learnt a fair bit of the lyrics, so that surely has to amount to something. Right?
3: Valdrin – Throne of the Lunar Soul (Blood Harvest)
You only need to know about one sort-of-straight-up-black-metal album from 2023, and that’s Throne of the Lunar Soul. Vaguely Moorcock-ian, and full of clever songwriting – and not to mention sexy synths – this album slowly but surely wormed itself up to my unholy trinity. Cheers!
4: Esoctrilihum – Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac (I, Voidhanger)
Another one I reviewed this year – a much more listenable offering from Esoctrilhium, this time in an even more unlistenable length. Never mind, stick with it, and it shall pay off, big time.
5: Wayfarer – American Gothic (Century Media)
This one is all around top of 2023 lists and for good measure. It fills the gap where the highly anticipated new Panopticon underdelivered – mainly on cohesion and pleasantness of the listening experience.
6: Bell Witch – Future’s Shadow Pt 1: The Clandestine Gate (Profound Lore)
I feel like this album was swept under the rug. Which makes no sense as Mirror Reaper still has a legendary standing in the annals of drone doom. Perhaps it was precisely because of that. In a year that saw many impressive strides on the doom front, Bell Witch may have been dwarfed by others, yet they remain ever the giants of wall of sound-ism.
7: Ebony Pendant – Ebony Pendant (S/R)
Is Ebony Pendant the new Lamp of Murmuur? 2022 was the year of raw black metal and 2023 barely saw any good offerings from the genre. Even LoM themselves massively changed direction. While Ebony Pendant has always fallen short in impressing me, in a year of slim pickings, his last offering has stood out – almost like a sore thumb.
8: Gridlink – Coronet Juniper (Willowtip)_
I mean, come on, how can I not? Longhena is still one of my most listened to albums, and I don’t even like grindcore. So its unexpected yet highly anticipated follow up was a no-brainer.
9: … And Oceans – As in Gardens, So in Tombs (Season Of Mist)
I have a confession to make. I thought …And Oceans was a post rock band. And, with that name, they could well be. If you, like me, are confused about their genre, As in Gardens, So in Tombs will most definitely dissipate any doubt. And punch you to a pulp in the process.
10: Spirit Possession – Of the Sign… (Profound Lore)
I mean this is quite literally G.I.S.M. with black metal guitars – but from the US. Though, it’s not like that makes them any more understandable to Western audiences. So, overall, what’s there not to like?
Banners with thanks – DeltaThetaSigma design
13/12/2023 at 3:34 pm
I. Morne: Engraved with Pain
III. Bell Witch: Future’s Shadow Part I: The Clandestine Gate
II. Godflesh: Purge
IV. Prong: State of Emergency