It's that time of the year again and despite some issues keeping the channel alive, I am back to talk about my favorite albums of 2023. Due to those other priorities I have also reduced significantly the number of albums I checked out this year. Some years ago it used to be almost 150. This year was down to about half of that. There were 5 albums that I missed during the year but due to analyzing other lists I gave those albums a chance and some of them made my top 20 others are in the honorable mentions. And I guess that's the most useful outcomes of those lists, to help people discover new music and albums that they may have missed. So I hope my list will also help some of you. I do have some very mainstream records in here, but also some personal favorites that I haven't seen in any lists and of course some gems to be discovered. So I hope you enjoy it! See you in 2024.
Nospūn, the Progressive metal band from Charlotte, NC was a late addition to my list and a big surprise. After a couple of recommendations, I checked Opus out and I am very happy I did. This is an impressive debut on the lines of Dream Theater meets Symphony X with a hint of BTBAM. That means impressive musicianship, catchy song writing and heaviness. For any prog metal fans it's a must listen.
Having lasted 32 years, the Irish band have consistently delivered their epic blend of Celtic and black metal. The 2023 effort is no different. The opening a title track is classic Primordial, it's big, epic dark and yet catchy. There's nothing really different from previous albums, it's more of the same, but the same works for me and How It Ends delivers on what the band is set out to do.
Dying of Everything is a solid addition to Obituary's extensive discography. The band's trademark sound is on full display throughout the album, with heavy, chugging riffs and John Tardy's guttural growls leading the charge. The musicianship is tight and precise, with each member of the band delivering a strong performance. Overall, fans of Obituary and death metal in general will find plenty to enjoy on this very good album.
Horrendous is no stranger to my year-end lists, and here they are back with Ontological Mysterium. While not as impactful as 2014's Ecdysis, this new endeavor is pretty solid. With 9 songs in only 38 minutes, it's a direct and straightforward modern but deep rooted in the 90's Death Metal. It's brutal and energetic but also melodic, atmospheric and technical. Welcome back!
Another band that has been on a roll, did they ever release a not great album? Anyways, with Terrasite Cattle Decapitation continues to demonstrate their unique blend of deathgrind and progressive elements, while addressing environmental and social issues. The tempo changes and the incredible versatile vocal style of Travis Ryan is a notable aspect of Cattle Decapitation's sound, adding depth and intensity to their music. The album closer, "Just Another Body", is a curve ball from the band, A 10min epic song with slow tempo moment and even clean vocals. It was an interesting experiment, but not my favorite part of the album.
If 72 Seasons would be released by any other band, it would get no attention at all and nobody would care. But it's Metallica, so we try. I guess I mostly hoped that without any pressure from timelines or financially that those guys could use the potential they have to create something cool, heavy and sharp. We saw some light of it, pun indented, with "Lux Æterna". The album has good moments all over it and some cools riffs and hooks. But it just feels that they didn't care enough to trim the album and polish the song writing further. With all that said, I still had some fun with it and listened to it quite a few times.
This album was a roller coaster for me, it went from being a disappointment to a top album and it gets better with every listen. But initially I hate it, it was only once I put aside expectations and pre conceptions that I started to enjoy it. I mean I am a prog metal/rock fan and I do like their early albums. So Life Is But A Dream combines the best of both worlds. Yes, it's weird but in a good way. The first 4 songs are kind of A7X from Nightmare and Self Titled album, then the middle session is a bit weaker, and the closing with GOD is super proggy and fun. The final and title track is an epilog that could be in a jazz album. I gotta give it to them, it's a cool album.
Another late entrant to this list Moonlight Sorcery's album is a mesmerizing journey into the realms of atmospheric black metal and, wait for it, Power Metal! In fact the themes, lyrics, imagery and vocals are all traditional black metal, but the musically it's pure power metal melodies, intricate guitar work, and atmospheric synth layers. Moonlight Sorcery successfully captures the essence of dark magic and medieval fantasy. The album's dynamic compositions offer a compelling blend of genres and stand-out as something rather different and engaging.
A doom metal masterpiece that displays crushing guitar riffs, thunderous drumming, and hauntingly melodic vocals, creating an atmosphere that is dark and emotional. Special shout out to the vocal delivery! Awesomely powerful melodies. The band's ability to blend traditional doom elements with a modern touch is evident throughout the album, showcasing a dynamic range that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. Reign of the Reaper not only pays homage to the genre's roots (think Candlemass) but also dives into traditional Heavy Metal elements, delivering a powerful and emotionally charged listening experience that solidifies Sorcerer's place among the contemporary master of doom metal.
A progressive metal journey showcasing the band's virtuosity, complex polyrhythms, ethereal atmospheres, and emotive melodies create a captivating listening experience. The seamless integration of intricate guitar work, dynamic rhythms, and Daniel Tompkins' evocative vocals which are much more aggressive this time, result in a complex journey without sacrificing melody and accessibility. It's not a short album as it runs for 60min and features a couple of epics, but it holds my attention and it's worth the effort.
Periphery's latest album, Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre, is a progressive metal musicianship journey. With complex and intricate guitar riffs, precise and dynamic rhythms, and powerful vocals, the band showcases their technical proficiency and versatility throughout the album. Periphery experiments with different time signatures and textures, keeping listeners engaged and interested. The album's impressive production quality and innovative songwriting make it a must-listen for fans of the genre.
This is where doom and traditional heavy metal meet and this time around more traditional than doom. Overall, the album seamlessly blends thunderous riffs, intricate melodies, and Nathan Garrett's powerful (and not over the top) vocals to create a sonic experience rooted in 80's Heavy Metal. The first 1.5 min could be out of Killers. Even the format reminds me of Maiden in the 80's, 8 songs withing 45min. Ghost at the Gallows is likely the best entry in the already prolific Spirit Adrift's discography.
It's groovy, heavy and melodic at times. Call me crazy, but I get some serious Pantera vibes here and there. I really liked their Forever album and Underneath was quite OK, but lost track of them, when I heard this release only a few days ago I was immediately hooked. This is much less noisy and experimental than the previous albums. There's still some of that, but now, to me, at the right dose. Probably their best and most mature album. These guys have a promising future.
ID.Entity Riverside's latest album is a masterful blend of hardrock and experimental prog rock. The band takes the listener on a journey through a variety of moods and emotions. Overall, ID.Entity is a must-listen for fans of prog-rock. The band has truly allowed themselves the freedom to create something unique. It is a testament to their skills as musicians and composers in this newly open new phase for the band. To me except for a couple of missteps it's a very good album deserving the 7th place.
Anno 1696 is a solid addition to Insomnium's discography, with the band continuing to deliver their unique brand of melodic death metal. While the album may not necessarily break new ground, it certainly delivers on the expectations of Insomnium's fans. It's a more cohesive and easily digestible statement and yet very dynamic between sadness and anger. A very good melo death album deserving spot #6 proving further why Insomnium are at the top of their class.
Overall Foregone is the best In Flames album in many years, and while some songs really bring me back to their 90's sound, the band has maintained their later alt-rock influences very much alive, I just think the song writing and the balance is much better than in previous albums. At the end of the day, it may just be that I wanted to like a new album from them so much that I'm glancing over their over produced vocals and sounding like Bullet From My Valentine at times. With that said, I'm enjoying it and it's a very good effort deserving spot number 5.
I love this album and I even got it in vinyl (something I reserve now for very special albums only). The two reasons why it's not number 1 in my list are one because it's a bit too long and two I don't really like the two ballads. Other than that it is a perfect modern progressive metal album. The accomplishment here was to keep it interesting and complex and yet accessible and the songs short. Soen have boiled it down to the essentials without compromising their already well stablished signature sound. "Sincere" was my top Spotify song and 4 other made the list. Enough said! Great album.
Not a lot of Power Metal albums on my list this year which is a pity since it is one of my favorite sub-genres. But Primal Fear is an awesome representation claiming the bronze medal. I've always liked their albums but often they are too long and feature many fillers. This time around they were able to keep it consistent despite being almost 1 hour long and featuring a couple of less interesting songs on its last third. Regardless of this, the album is full of well known Primal Fear style anthems, "Deep In The Night" being my favorite. An inspired Power Metal album full of hooks, heaviness and catchiness.
Creeper, an English rock band from Southampton, was the surprise of the year for me. I missed Sanguivore when it was released in mid-October as I didn't even know the band. But then when casually listening to some year-end lists, Sanguivore stood out as something different from anything else in those lists. In sum, I'd describe Creeper as a darker version of Meat Loaf. There's also quite a bit of 80's Rock and that theatrical dark elements we see in the band HELL. "Cry To Heaven" is such a catchy rock anthem, and the album is dynamic, for example the opening track "Further Than Forever" is a 9min epic masterpiece. It's been a refreshing experience to listen to this great album and it certainly deserves number 2.
Overall, Fauna is one of Haken's best albums since The Mountain and a must-listen for fans of progressive rock and metal. It is a testament to the exceptional musicianship of Haken, with each member of the band contributing to a sound that is both technically impressive and emotionally engaging. The result is a unique blend of progressive rock and metal, with elements of jazz and pop music. The album theme using animal kingdom as metaphor for personal messages is quite interesting and the lyrics sound amazing under the soaring vocal melodies. My album of the year since it was released and no one could beat them.
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Honorable Mentions:
- Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars
- Enslaved - Heimdal
- Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
- Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
- Immortal - War Against All
- Enforced - War Remains
- Marduk - Memento Mori
- ANGUS McSIX - Angus Mcsix and the Sword of Power
- Kataklysm - Goliath
- Baroness - Stone
- Xandria - The Wonders Still Awaiting
- Uada - Crepuscule Natura
- Myrkur - Spine
- The Ocean - Holocene
- Gloryhammer - Return to the Kingdom of Fife
- Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph)
- Twilight Force - At The Heart Of Wintervale
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
Haken - Fauna
Creeper - Sanguivore
Rise by Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt
Nobody by A7X's Synyster Gates
Top songs:
- Sincere by Soen from Memorial
- Taurus by Haken from Fauna
- The Alphabet of Me by Haken from Fauna
- Rise by Extreme from Six
- Wildfire by Periphery from Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre
- Deep In The Night by Primal Fear from Code Red
- Friend or Foe? by Riverside from ID.Entity
- The Place Where I Belong by Riverside from ID.Entity
- Violence by Soen from Memorial
Favorite Shows:
Iron Maiden
Pantera
Disappointing Shows: None, after COVID...I think a concert will never be disappointing again in my life.
