We’re expanding the top songs list to 15 this year. Why? Because we can, and I like adding up to an even number. That, and with there just being so damn much good music this past year. These all come from albums outside of my top 15 so that we can highlight more incredible acts that are beyond worthy of diving into.
15. Hypno5e – The Dreamer and his Dream (from Sheol)
Cinematic and filled with dramatic twists, Hypno5e creates imaginative sonic worlds that are a rewarding experience. While the album is best ingested as a whole, as it’s a concurrent narrative, “The Dreamer and his Dream” is a progressive tour de force that exemplifies Hypno5e’s best attributes.
14. Downfall of Gaia – Bodies as Driftwood (from Silhouettes of Disgust)
One of the bands that originally piqued my interest in the post-metal realm, Downfall of Gaia have yet to falter, and their latest Silhouettes of Disgust is another brilliant release for one of the best to ever create in this style. “Bodies as Driftwood” is equal parts murky atmosphere and full-on aggression, serving as a wonderful amalgamation of the band’s strengths. The drumming is out of this stratosphere, too, aiding the song’s flow and moments of tension, adding up to a knockout punch of a track.
13. Leiþa – 01.09.2015 (from Reue)
Noise’s productivity has never been in question, and 2023 was indeed busy for one of black metal’s best talents, putting out new material for all three of his projects. Kanonenfieber’s EP U-Bootsmann was one of the year’s best short players for black metal, while Non Est Deus’s Legacy is an album I loved. However, his best came in the form of Leiþa’s Rue. Opening track “01.09.2015” is a personal and heart-wrenching, while musically being a tremolo-laden blazing example of black metal done so right.
12. Sodomisery – Coming Home (from Mazzaroth)
Many recent attempts within the symphonic black metal realm have been reaching and ultimately boring, uninspired drivel. Imagine my surprise when listening to Sodomisery’s Mazzaroth for the first time – hope is restored! This is how you do it, people; orchestrations that enhance the blistering guitar work, vocals both harsh and clean that mix without flaw, and actual songwriting that emits energy instead of melatonin. This record is a blast, and “Coming Home” is the song that I’ve returned to the most. A new standard has been set.
11. Mānbryne – Suma wszystkich strat (from Interregnum: O próbie wiary i jarzmie zwątpienia)
To those who desire their black metal to be grand and tenacious, Poland’s Mānbryne is required listening. They write interesting songs that are anything but basic, while executing all of the needed elements better than most peers. Vocalist S. snarls and groans with force and control, always knowing what the song calls for, with “Suma wszystkich strat” – which translates to “The Sum of All Losses” – being a notable example. Multiple tempo changes, poignant acoustic sections, and smoldering guitars showcase music that possesses many textures, of which are constants throughout the beast that is Interregnum: O próbie wiary i jarzmie zwątpienia.
10. Warcrab – The Howling Silence (from The Howling Silence)
Battle tested sludgy crustacean doom. I bet you never thought you’d see that as a description for a band, but here we are. We’re of course talking about Warcrab and their latest and greatest, The Howling Silence. The band take a few risks that pay off in the song structure department, while also conjuring up their heaviest and most memorable release thus far. Sprinkle a generous amount of Old Bay onto the title track to hear what we mean. This one is just plain delectable.
9. Of Darkness – Requiem Aeternam (from Missa Tridentina)
Sticking with doom, but this time more of the blackened funeral variety is Of Darkness. Hailing from Barcelona, these Catalans have managed to stay well under the radar. Missa Tridentina being their first release in eight years doesn’t help, but no matter. They deliver in what may be the most noxious, frightening piece of droning doom metal you’ll lay ears on from last year. Listen to that stinging guitar tone that’s all sorts of sinister and tell me I’m wrong.
8. Ne Obliviscaris – Equus (from Exul)
The wait was definitely longer than anyone, including the band, anticipated for album number four from the Aussie progressive black/death/whatever else metallers Ne Obliviscaris. The payoff proved more than worth it, as Exul is arguably their best since the legendary Portal of I. Possibly also their most touching record, which isn’t surprising considering the reflection of struggle that main songwriter Tim Charles experienced while crafting Exul. The best example of which for these ears is “Equus”; a long, winding exploration of sweet melodies, hefty black/death metal, heartfelt vocal passages, and of course, exquisite violins. Glad to have you back, gents.
7. Aara – Emphase der Seelenpein (from Triade III: Nyx)
Foggy atmospheric black metal merchants Aara have been on an album per year clip, with 2023 being no different with Triade III: Nyx; the third and final entry in the trilogy based on Charles Maturin’s novel Melmoth the Wanderer. The re-telling of this fascinating tale has been inspired, with each album gaining further dynamics as the band became bolder with their sound. The annual tradition of Aara topping their previous release continues with more complex and outside the box writing and tighter instrumentation, well exemplified by the compelling “Emphase der Seelenpein.” Indeed Aara is working on a new concept album for 2024, so here’s to keeping the streak alive!
6. Krigsgrav – An Everflowing Vessel (from Fires in the Fall)
Krigsgrav is a band who will be celebrating twenty years as a band in 2024, yet they’ve inexplicably managed to stay well below the radar. Their sound has changed as the years have gone by, and with their later work, they’ve found the groove that fits best. With Fires in the Fall, the band have their magnum opus. Gushingly melodious, emotive black metal at heart, with song structures that are well plotted, and even some occasional doom elements for emphasis, combining to form a record the listener doesn’t forget. “The Black Oak” is a fitting track to pluck out, boasting sweeping melodies and mesmerizing guitar work that will engrave upon your psyche.
5. 71TonMan – Conquest (from Of End Times)
Heavy in both name and sound, Poland’s 71TonMan is proof of how mind-bendingly massive sludged up doom can be. With their third album Of End Times, they’ve nailed the perfect dirt-ridden, filthy tonality that fits their abrasive stylings better than anything previous. “Conquest” satisfyingly splashes in the muck with reckless abandon, being a fine example of the four tracks that combine into the soundtrack for a colossal, meteoric man of an oddly specific tonnage.
4. Nightmarer – Suffering Beyond Death (from Deformity Adrift)
We hear the term “dissonance” often in metal these days, and admittedly, it’s a solid descriptive term. It’s also become a sub-genre of sorts within death metal. Case in point – Nightmarer, who even started their own label named Total Dissonance Worship, are one of the leading proponents of the style that Ulcerate built. Releasing their second full-length Deformity Adrift – which even has a very different second version – the band have ascended up the ladder of dismal, darkness enraptured deliciousness. “Suffering Beyond Death” is a cacophonous vacuum of riff insanity of which is truly the thing nightmare(r)s are made of.
3. Decipher – Chants of the Unholy (from Arcane Paths to Resurrection)
We visited several parts of Greece this past summer, and it was one of the best trips my wife and I have ever taken. The food, culture, and the people are awesome, while the metal scene there absolutely is thriving. We found several neat local shops, including Metal Era (records) and Top Man (shirts/merch). We had a great conversation about Greek black metal with one particular gentleman at Top Man, and I mentioned a new black/death band from Greece named Decipher. I gave him info about the band, as they had impressed me greatly with their debut, Arcane Paths to Resurrection. Whether or not he checked them out is anybody’s guess, but you absolutely should, since they dropped one of the best inaugural full-lengths this year. Mature beyond their years, their robust sound profile and knack for interesting songs propelled by rhythms that tear you to shreds. Try “Chants of the Unholy” on for size, as it stampedes anything in its path with galloping riffs and vigorous aggression.
2. Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze – Suffocate O Earthen Lungs; They Now Lungs of Ash (from The Fractal Ouroboros)
Those late releases will get you if you’re not paying close enough attention. The sophomore effort from Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze was on my list of albums I needed to check out, laughing at me with its December 21 drop date. The wait was indeed worthwhile for The Fractal Ouroboros; a tightly packed, razor sharp prodigious giant of a black metal album. Best be patient – the run time is a hair under 75 minutes, yet without even a hint of bloat. “Suffocate O Earthen Lungs; They Now Lungs of Ash” is a standout moment amongst many, never losing focus amongst an array of piercing leads, elegant writing, and gobs of glorious tension that pays off in so many ways. Their message is inspiring, too, in what amounts to a hell of a package.
1. Moonlight Sorcery – The Secret of Streaming Blood (From Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle)
The world is a screwed up place in so many ways, but damn, it feels good to live in a time and place where such an odd mash-up can thrive. I know, perspective, but you have to take the wins where you can get them. Moonlight Sorcery is a gigantic victory for lovers of fun and excitement in their metal, and this oil and water mixture of ice cold melodic black metal and power metal whimsy just plain works, no matter how ridiculous the notion is. Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle is over the top, but rabidly fierce all at once. “The Secret of Streaming Blood” is the embodiment of shredding guitars, blackened shrieks, and non-stop memorable moments. Crank this loud, and let me know if they ever get the long sleeve shirts back in stock, as it’s a need at this juncture.
Honorable Mentions
Without any ranking or further description, here are some other bands that didn’t make the above lists who you definitely should check out. I literally could have listed over a hundred, but as that’d be overkill for a single article, here’s a selection of somewhat less than that, in alphabetical order (don’t make me rank anything else). Just click the link and listen!
Aetherian – At Storm’s Edge (Melodic Death)
Altarage – Worst Case Scenario (Dissonant Death)
Ashen – Ritual of Ash (Death)
Asphagor – Pyrogenesis (Black)
Calligram – Position | Momentum (Blackened Hardcore)
Carnosus – Visions of Infinihility (Tech/Melodic Death)
Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Obsession Destruction (Doom/Sludge)
Columbarium – The Morbidious One (Doom)
Crust – Dissolution (Death/Sludge/Crust)
Cursebinder – Drifting (Black)
Dyssebeia – Garden of Stillborn Idols (Progressive Death)
Foretoken – Triumphs (Symphonic/Black/Melodic Death)
Fossilization – Leprous Daylight (Death/Doom)
Frozen Dawn – The Decline of the Enlightened Gods (Melodic Black/Death)
God Disease – Apocalyptic Doom (Death/Doom)
Godthrymm – Distortions (Doom)
Gorod – The Orb (Tech/Progressive Death)
Inherits the Void – The Impending Fall of the Stars (Atmospheric Black)
Lovebites – Judgement Day (Power)
Marianas Rest – Auer (Melodic Doom/Death)
Moonreich – Amer (Black)
Morkera – Aggravations (Black/Death)
Night Crowned – Tales (Melodic Black/Death)
Non Est Deus – Legacy (Black)
Nospūn – Opus (Progressive)
Rorcal – Silence (Doom/Post-Hardcore)
Rosa Faenskap – Jeg Blir Til Deg (Black/Hardcore)
Scorched Moon – Obsidia (Progressive)
Shores of Null – The Loss of Beauty (Melodic Death/Doom)
Svalbard – The Weight of the Mask (Hardcore)
The Mosaic Window – Plight of Acceptance (Melodic Black)
Tribunal – The Weight of Remembrance (Doom/Gothic)
Tryglav – The Ritual (Melodic Black)
Valdrin – Throne of the Lunar Soul (Melodic Black)
Vomitheist – NekroFvneral (Death)
Walking Corpse – Our Hands, Your Throat (Death/Grind)
Wayfarer – American Gothic (Atmospheric Black)
Xoth – Exogalactic (Tech Death/Thrash)
Yfel – Beneath the Mountain’s Vigil (Atmospheric Black)
Ὁπλίτης – Ψευδομένη (Progressive Black/Death)
Ὁπλίτης – Τρωθησομένη (Progressive Black/Death)
Ὁπλίτης – Ἀντιτιμωρουμένη (Progressive Black/Death)
Best Concert of 2023: Hulder/Blackbraid/Aeviterne/Stress Angel – February 25, 2023 – (Le) Poisson Rouge (LPR), New York, NY
An evening of firsts overflowing with palpable buzz, this show stood out amongst the many we attended last year. The circumstances around it added to the fondness for this particular evening – both extending our trip to NYC a day to ensure we could attend, making new friends, etc.
It was our first time seeing all of these bands, and was a special show for Blackbraid, being the longest set they had played to date, while also debuting new songs that would end up on Blackbraid II. Furthermore, it was a one-off appearance for Hulder and Aeviterne, both of which put on memorable performances that won’t soon be forgotten.
Best Label of 2023: Transcending Obscurity Records
We have a defender of the crown! The three of you (give or take) that remember my list from last year, Transcending Obscurity was my label of the year for 2022. Well, they’re back!
Of the thirty bands that reached my top albums and songs of 2023, five were from TO, with more that didn’t miss the cut by all that much. For fans of death, grind, black, doom, and the heavier side of extreme metal in general, this label is the most consistent out there. The competition wasn’t easy, mind you, as quality outfits such as Avantgarde Music, 20 Buck Spin, Dark Descent, and Debemur Morti Productions had excellent years, proving to be some of the most reliable around. But again, the consistency and level of quality across the board places TO on the top of the mountain.
With TO, every single 2023 release was at the very least good, with the majority trending from great and up. It should be an official rule: if Kunal is putting it out, it’s going to be worth giving a listen. There’s also no label who is more fan friendly, and if you like merch, they’ve got you covered more so than any other with both quality and variety. They also take in many stray cats and dogs, giving them forever homes, and how can you not support that?
There’s also zero sign of slowing down, having already a ton in store for 2024 with new (in some cases, debut) albums from bands such as Eternal Storm, Saevus Finis, Resin Tomb, Fathomless Ritual, Defect Designer, Vorga, Replicant, and others. Keep a close eye on TO. Can they do a three-peat in 2024? We shall see!
Thoughts on 2024
We mentioned some releases that we were looking forward to for 2023 last time, and only one of them got a mention in this article. None of them were bad; far from it, actually! Sometimes it’s the albums that you don’t expect that stand out the most, and 2023 was an excellent example of that principle. Don’t hesitate to give something unknown a spin; it could be your next favorite band. It also goes to show that one never knows what’s around the pike, both in life and in music. With that said, always tell your loved ones how much you care, as nothing is guaranteed.
For music that we’re looking forward to in 2024, there’s a fair number of announced releases already, with much more that we don’t know yet. For what I’m looking forward to, here’s a few names to check out: Counting Hours, Pestilength, Spectral Voice, Caligula’s Horse, Resin Tomb, Chapel of Disease, Eternal Storm, Ihsahn, Borknagar, Stiriah, Darkest Hour, Haunt, Firewind, Vorga, and Saturnalia Temple all have albums that will drop within the next few months. Beyond that, Gaerea, Iotunn, Nyktophobia, Dark Tranquillity, Disarmonia Mundi, Withering Surface, Blood Stain Child, and Suldusk all have new stuff coming. A big year for melodic death metal, perhaps. Keep an eye out for tours, too, as it seems like we’ll have another packed calendar.
What I hope most for in 2024 is for empathy to become more commonplace. I think many will agree that there’s a lot of bad faith merchants out there spreading falsities, constant negativity and hatred, and we need to do our best to counteract it. Be kind, friendly, understanding, and try to see other perspectives. If there’s somebody being a jackass, counteract their negative energy with kindness. It’s the best way to win someone over, and if not, it is what it is. Can’t win them all, but you can win some! Take care of yourselves all, and I can’t wait to sit down and torture myself in writing my 2024 lists.