Your album of 2023 (thus far)

[Bram576]

Number one for me has to be Suffocation - Hymns of the Apocrypha. I really was bummed after frank hung it up, but this legitimately may be my favorite suffo release. Grows on me with every listen.

Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg For Death
Really happy fetus is starting to get the recognition they deserve.

Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific
Another solid out with rutan.

In 2024 I’m thinking vitriol will be a strong contender. Stoked they recorded with otero this time around, the few tracks put out sound amazing.

 

[Kosthrash]

Overkill - Scorched

 

[budda]

I havent listened to a lot of 2023 releases.

Off the top of my head I would have to say Mutoid Man.

 

[Ralyks]

Pretty sure this is my top 10:

Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden

Pupil Slicer - Blossom

Maruja - Kocknarea

Metallica - 72 Seasons

McRocklin and Hutch - Press Start

Avenged Sevenfold - Life Is But A Dream...

Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit

Aesop Rock - Integrated Tech Solutions

Peter Gabriel - I/o

Codeseven - Go Let It In

 

[crushingpetal]

I'll call it for myself, mostly because I'm tired of thinking about it:

1. Humanity's Last Breath - Ashen
2. Svalbard - The Weight of the Mask
3. Thy Art is Murder - Godlike
4. To the Grave - Offcuts
5. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
6. Entheos - Time Will Take Us All
7. END - The Sin of Human Frailty

Not that anyone cares, but I meant for my #4 to be To The Grave's _Director's Cuts_ (though the EP is also awesome). @crushingpetal regrets the error.

 

[Musiscience]

There’s been so many great releases in metal this year. But for me, Black Classical Music by Yussef Dayes takes no 1 for 2023. Breathtaking drumming performance and just a phenomenal record.

Here’s a recent live performance. Can’t get over their rendition of Portrait of Tracy.

 

[zappatton2]

If I might add to my earlier selections, I'll also throw the latest Green Lung album "This Heathen Land" on my list.

I always liked Green Lung, in the way that I like most stoner/doom metal; it's got some great tones and cool vibes, but I really have to be in the mood for it.

This album transcends that, it's probably the only album from that sub-genre that I'm inclined to listen to on repeat.

 

[electriceye]

I'm pissed off that most people haven't even heard of Elegant Weapons (Richie Faulkner, Scott Travis from Judas Priest). It is, HANDS FUCKING DOWN, the best album of '23. Followed by Overkill and Metallica. Faulkner ascends to an entirely new level with his playing and songwriting here. If I had a million dollars to blow, I'd spend it on their CDs and hand them out.

(If you want your mind blown, go to the last track on the album and go to about 2:10 in to hear one of the most INSANE riffs you'll ever hear.)




Biggest disappointment of '23: Extreme. Remove the insane single with Nuno's mind-blowing solo and you have a shit album with several throwaway tracks.

 

[electriceye]

Prong's State of Emergency or Majesties' Vast Reaches Unclaimed for sure.

Yes! I was looking forward to the new Prong and was not disappointed. In my top 5.

 

[electriceye]

Forgot to put his in my first post. Definitely top 5 for me.

Is there some sort of competition amongst black metal bands to have the most unreadable band name logo?

 

[electriceye]

I'm pissed off that most people haven't even heard of Elegant Weapons (Richie Faulkner, Scott Travis from Judas Priest). It is, HANDS FUCKING DOWN, the best album of '23. Followed by Overkill and Metallica. Faulkner ascends to an entirely new level with his playing and songwriting here. If I had a million dollars to blow, I'd spend it on their CDs and hand them out.

(If you want your mind blown, go to the last track on the album and go to about 2:10 in to hear one of the most INSANE riffs you'll ever hear.)




Biggest disappointment of '23: Extreme. Remove the insane single with Nuno's mind-blowing solo and you have a shit album with several throwaway tracks.

Sorry, 1:20 mark, not 2:10.

 

[Alex79]

I found 2023 very disappointing for metal music. Lots of extreme stuff, none of which appeals to me.

My favorite album of the year is a re-recording: Paradise Lost's Icon 30! I don't care. It is still awesome!

 

[primitiverebelworld]

Alkaloid - Numen.

 

[chewpac]

Earthside - Let the Truth Speak

 

[Xetplion]

Esoctrilihum - Astraal Constellations of the Majickal Zodiac was a life changing album for me. The whole thing is just from an other dimension.
Tȃiɱonh Ѳx was the track that really got me hooked the first time. By the end it is just like what the fuck is this?


All by one guy too that has no interviews, live performances or many pictures of himself online

 

[Andromalia]

That's really good, I can get people having trouble with the singer singing in english with a strong japanese accent, but I'm used to it.
The closing song is insane.

It's power metal* in the style of Helloween and Rhapsody, before you head in.
And the bass player is a babe.

*I'm 50. Sue me.