Top 23 of 2023: Part 3
Hello Heathens,
Alright the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the top slots including number 1. I would suggest also reading the first part and second part of my top 23 albums of 2023 so you can understand the scoring system. There is one of those collage lists at the end of this for people too lazy to read the other two posts.
- In Exile by 1476
I think at this point I’ve played nearly every track off this album for the show. Just a great blacked folk metal album that gives strong Death in July and Agalloch vibes. This is a great album to send off to people who maybe aren’t massive metal heads so they can see how diverse the full genre is. I think a lot of people imagine that metal albums are just screams when in reality it’s a super wide genre that has something for everything. These alternative metal albums are just fantastic.
- Ruins by Burial Hordes
Very good album. Just go and listen to it. I don’t want to justify why this album deserves a spot until you listen to it for yourself.
- Under the Veil of Madness by Ascension
Wow only 1 power metal album on the list this year? Yes, unfortunately while there were a few solid power metal releases like the Fellowship and Theocracy albums they didn’t make the cut. I would still recommend checking those albums out, but Ascension takes the crown as the sole power metal album on my list this year. I love the overall concept of this album being about a megalomaniac killer compared to the usual slop we get as power metal fans. Right from the rip “Sayonara” let’s you know what the album is all about. The guitar solos are impressive without being guitar-wank, the vocals are solid while venturing into fun jester-like styles at times. The plucky keyboard comes through with the harlequin-esque vocals in tracks like “Under the Veil of Madness”. Overall just a really fun and unique power metal album in a year where power metal was somewhat weak on my list.
- Trial By Chaos by Raider
Honestly surprised by this album. I had never heard of the band before, and I believe that I saw it on Angry Metal Guy and it received a 3.5 out of 5 in their review. This album got a 100% from me as I enjoyed all the tracks, and it became a go to album to throw on at work when I wanted something to listen to where I knew I could enjoy the whole thing.
- Air Not Meant for Us by Fires in the Distance
Wow not much to say about this one. Loved this album from the very start. Fires in the Distance last release also was a favorite of that year. This band has been very impressive so far. This album also sounds very good which is something I am biased towards as I’m a big of a hifi audio enthusiast.
- The Garden by Hanging Garden
It’s hard to describe why I like this album. This band reminds me a lot of acts like Tristania and Draconian. I guess there’s just something about goth-y metal that I love deep down inside. A slower moving album that just hits all the right chords for a sad metal boy like myself. The interweaving of clean male and female vocals just fucking works.
- Throne of the Lunar Soul by Valdrin
Found this album from youtube recommendations and holy shit is it good. I had an absolute blast listening to this album, and it continued to be heavy in my rotation for the last 2 months of the year. Everything I love about dungeonsynth wrapped up with some great black metal. My list is heavy with black metal this year, and I think that this album really encapsulates the sound of the year for me. I sent this album to Larry Kensington and he agreed with me that it’s a beast of an album and endorsed it getting in my top 3 albums of the year.
Keep Heavy The Sabbath Day
Playlist tracks
“Lapis Fire: Through The Mist” by +1476+
“Infinite Sea of Nothingness” by Burial Hordes
“Under the Veil of Madness” by Ascension
“Rite of Conquest” by Raider
“Crumbling Pillars of a Tranquil Mind” by Fires in the Distance
“The Garden” by Hanging Garden
“Holy Matricide” by Valdrin