“You’ve read all the other year end “best of” lists. Now get ready to read the only one that matters!” I must admit my fellow headbangers; 2023 is the first year that I have slight apprehension in typing that tagline. This year, especially the last few months, was plagued by professional and personal setbacks, neither of which I will bore you with. As a result, I wasn’t able to post nearly as regularly as in past years, something I’m sure you’ve all noticed. Yes, we still managed to put out 143 album reviews and 32 interviews (a new record). However, the former number pales in comparison to past efforts. For this, I sincerely apologize.
And yet, through it all, you’ve stuck by our side. If nothing else, 2023 will be remembered as the year that our following became bigger and more rabid than ever, yet again smashing past viewership records and making the comment section the stuff of legend, largely thanks to an album that’s NOT on this list. I cannot thank you all enough for your undying support. Without you, I’d be nothing. Together, we will soldier into 2024, steadfast in our efforts to crush the enemies of true metal. But before we do that, let’s look back at our Top 40 Albums of 2023!
40. Archon Angel – II
While it remains to be seen if 2024 will bring the arrival of a new Savatage album, the “Legions of the night” got the next best thing this year with the aptly titled sophomore outing from the Zak Stevens fronted Archon Angel, II. Whereas their 2020 debut, Fallen, followed in the vein of the classic Edge of Thorns, II is a more straightforward traditional metal album, albeit with that signature Savatage twist. Speaking of Savatage, II even features a guest appearance from none other than guitarist Chris Caffery. Perhaps a third installment in the Archon Angel saga will see a cameo from Al Pitrelli or the mad genius himself, Jon Oliva!
39. Blackbird Angels – Solsorte
After years of holding down the low end for Slash and countless other bands, 2023 saw Todd Kerns ditch the four string and step up to the mic for the debut album from newly formed Frontiers curated supergroup (Aren’t they all?) Blackbird Angels, Solsorte. With L.A. Guns’ namesake guitarist Tracii Guns and drummer Adam Hamilton in tow, Kerns and the gang offer up a piping hot platter of old school hard rock. One can’t help but recall the bong-rattling riffage of Zeppelin, Purple, and Humble Pie when cranking up this bad boy. I can only hope this hard rockin’ collaboration amounts to more than a one off.
38. Trespass – Wolf at the Door
Nearly 45 years since recording one of the most beloved anthems of the NWOBHM, “One of These Days”, Trespass are still proudly flying the English metal flag with their latest album, Wolf at the Door. Although only founding singer and guitarist Mark Sutcliffe remains from their initial run, the spirit of those glory days is alive and well in every riff, hook, and melody of this traditional metal monster. Even the production is reminiscent of yesteryear, which is always a plus in my book. Here’s to hoping Trespass keep howling for many years to come. We’ll always answer our door for them!
37. Cruel Force – Dawn of the Axe
2023 was a year full of unexpected surprises, one of the biggest being the return of German blackened thrash maniacs Cruel Force, albeit reinvented as a full fledged speed/thrash band. Dawn of the Axe came ripping through the underground like the feral bastard spawn of Bonded by Blood and Feel the Fire, and we were all for it. Considering modern thrash’s obsession with mosh breakdowns and redundant brutality, it’s refreshing to hear an album that takes us back to the genre’s earliest days when its traditional metal influences were not just prevalent, but unavoidable.
36. Sanguisugabogg – Homicidal Ecstasy
Sanguisugabogg’s rise to death metal superstardom has been nothing short of incredible. 2023 saw the band play high profile slots on festivals like the newly rebooted Milwaukee Metal Fest and hardcore centric Sound and Fury. The year also saw the release of their menacingly horrific second album, Homicidal Ecstasy. While cuts like “Pissed” and “A Lesson in Savagery” channel the IQ lowering slams that put this band on the map, there’s also a new dimension of Morbid Angel-esque darkness on the likes of “Skin Cushion” and “Proclamation of the Flesh”. Only time will tell which of these deadly paths the ‘Bogg will follow on their inevitable third assault.
35. Jared James Nichols – Jared James Nichols
Armed with only a Les Paul Custom and 10 ferocious fingers (No picks here!), Wisconsin born guitarist Jared James Nichols gave us one of the strongest hard rock albums of the year with his long awaited self titled second album. This rising star of an axe-slinger goes absolutely gonzo from beginning to end, pummeling our eardrums with a tasty offering of heavy blues rockin’, downhome swaggering grooves, and the denim clad spirit of the ’70s. Will somebody call up Uncle Ted Nugent for a paternity test one and for all?
34. Enforced – War Remains
Crossover death/thrash devastation reigns supreme on Enforced’s third album, War Remains. Yet again, the heirs to Power Trip’s crossover throne have concocted a savage collection of mosh pit anthems that channel the aggression of ’80s thrash and no nonsense disposition of old school hardcore. One can practically feel their knuckles scrapping the ground upon hearing “The Quickening” and “Starve”. This is quickly contrasted by the neck snapping fury of “Mercy Killing Fields” and “Aggressive Menace”, the latter bordering on early death metal. If you like your metal fast and violent, War Remains is the album for you.
33. Jethro Tull – RökFlöte
After lashing out at organized religion, political demagogues, and authority as a whole on their cynical comeback album, The Zealot Gene, ’70s rock titans Jethro Tull quickly returned with an album that showcased the mystical folk infused side of their sound, RökFlöte. With its adventurous composition, mythological lyricism, and unorthodox instrumentation, RökFlöte takes us back to the proto-folk metal of past Tull opuses Stormwatch (1979) and my personal favorite, The Broadsword and the Beast (1982). While we’re sure Ian Anderson is cringing somewhere in the English countryside seeing his band featured on a metal webzine’s year end list, one can’t deny the musical excellence on display that landed them on here.
32. Lance Lopez – Trouble Is Good
If Trouble Is Good, then guitarist Lance Lopez better come claim his crown as King Troublemaker of 2023. The hard rocking bluesman, who played alongside the likes of late legends Jeff Beck and Johnny Winter, came out swinging this summer with his first studio album in 5 years, Trouble Is Good. It’s hard to remember the last time a Firebird came screaming out of a stereo with such emotion and gusto. Lopez is a master of his craft, daring you to lose your mind and crank the volume up full blast to this scorching collection of blistering blues rock.
31. Ascended Dead – Evenfall of the Apocalypse
If we were ranking these albums in terms of sheer musical darkness, there’s no doubt in my mind Ascended Dead’s Evenfall of the Apocalypse would come out at #1. This knockout, drag you down to hell display of bestial metallic insanity conjures the riffage and unholy spirit of Possessed, Necrovore, and even early Sarcófago. If that doesn’t make your metal heart skip a beat out of unabashed excitement, you’re probably a poser. There’s no trend hopping, hardcore flavored stupidity, or over the top technical wizardry here: Just death metal at its absolute darkest.
30. Murasaki – Timeless
One of the earliest Japanese metal bands, the Rising Sun’s resident Deep Purple worshippers, Murasaki, came roaring back in 2023 with their fifth studio album, Timeless. Could there be a better title for such an exciting musical affair? I think not. Although its driving Hammond organs, fuzz coated riffs, and wild delivery can be pointed to as ’70s metal tropes, when you put them all together, they create music that is truly, you guessed it, Timeless. Faithful re-recordings of classics “Starship Rock ‘n’ Rollers” and “Double Dealing Woman” drive this point home, sounding as fresh today as they did nearly 50 years ago.
29. Enslaved – Heimdal
You’d be hard pressed to find a band who better embodies the ethos of progressive black metal than Enslaved. While the legions who followed come off as mere imitators by comparison, these Vikings turned musical trailblazers continue to effortlessly enchant headbangers all across the globe. Their latest album, Heimdal, is arguably their strongest in a decade, channeling their early, barbaric Norwegian black metal roots while continuing to expand upon the tropes established by prog gods King Crimson, Yes, and the aforementioned Jethro Tull. In fact, if you play RökFlöte and Heimdal back to back, there isn’t much difference spiritually!
28. Shadows – Out for Blood
Seldom are we treated to a traditional metal album that boasts the mystique and darkness of a black metal album. Yet this is exactly what we get with the debut album from the newly formed Chilean outfit Shadows, Out for Blood. Fusing the occult pop metal of late ’70s Blue Öyster Cult and Ghost with the blackened forays of Mercyful Fate and early Death SS, Out for Blood stands out as one of the most unique traditional metal albums not just of the year, but of the decade thus far. Its marriage of infectious melodies with lo-fi production should not work, and yet it does. Talk about being bewitched!
27. Khymera – Hold Your Ground
Having played with the likes of Magnum, Pink Cream 69, and Sunstorm, AOR journeyman Dennis Ward continues to hold his ground with his main creative vehicle, Khymera, and their latest album, Hold Your Ground. As I’ve said for albums of a similar vein, if this had come out 35 years ago, it would’ve dominated MTV and rock radio. Few albums this year so brazenly capture the full trajectory of the AOR genre, from the hard rocking arena anthems to those lush synth driven ballads. Hell, there’s even some splashes of euro metal flavored pomp for good measure. Hold Your Ground rightfully holds its ground on this list!
26. Vandenberg – Sin
Despite their 1982 self titled debut being one of my favorite albums of all time, I was skeptical of the Vandenberg reboot from the beginning. Would Master Adrian be able to conjure the magic of the hard and heavy ’80s in the 2020s? Well folks, he’s now done so not once, but twice, striking back with an even stronger follow up to 2020 in the Mats Levén fronted Sin. Equal parts hard rock, heavy metal, and AOR, Sin is the ’80s throwback you didn’t know you needed in your life. If loving this album is a Sin, I’m gonna have to go to condession!
25. Soul Grinder – Filth Encrusted
Cruel Force wasn’t the only band to thrash us back to ’85. So did post-apocalyptic thrasher punks Soul Grinder with their second album, Filth Encrusted. Sounding and looking like something out of a Mad Max inspired hellscape, the Portland based power trio absolutely ripped us a new one with this 9 song high speed assault. “Melting Spree”, “Overload”, and “Siege Breaker” kept the mosh pit going all year long, while cuts like “Plague Pilgrim” and “A Foul River” recalled the pioneering metalpunk of Plasmatics. No doubt Wendy O. would be proud of these radioactive mutants.
24. Hellwitch – Annihilational Intercention
When it comes to Florida death metal, people are so quick to rattle off the likes of Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary, and all the other usual suspects that they often forget one of the scene’s elder statesmen, Hellwitch. To anyone who forgets to namedrop these cult legends after the release of their long awaited third album, Annihilational Intercention, I say shame on you. These devils have been going at it for nearly 40 years and still dish out devastating death/thrash like it’s nobody’s business. If I didn’t any know better, I’d think this album was recorded in the late ’80s and just seeing the light of day now. It doesn’t get much better than that!
23. The Gauntlet – Dark Steel and Fire
It’s been a long time since we black ‘n’ rolled. The Gauntlet knew so, which is exactly why he rode his heavy metal motorcycle right into our hearts and this list. Dark Steel and Fire is far from your typical “one-man black metal” affair. Perfectly melding the primal rage of early Bathory and fist pumping sleaze of Venom, it’s about as pure of a first wave black metal album one could ask for in 2023. Corpsepaint clad kvltists beware: If you’re looking for blast beats and tremolo riffs on loop, look elsewhere. Dark Steel and Fire will kick your favorite Mayhem clone band to the curb with a sense of pride.
22. Freeroad – Do What You Feel!
They say you shouldn’t judge a book (or in this case, an album) by its cover, but when I first laid eyes on the cover of Freeroad’s debut album, Do What You Feel!, I knew it was gonna rule. Come on people. A naked guy jumping in front of a mountain? This thing HAD to rock, and it sure does. Despite being the band’s debut voyage, Do What You Feel! effortlessly captures metal’s transitional stage from the arena rock hedonism of the late ’70s to the rough and tumble straightforwardness of the early ’80s. Some songs sound English, others sound American, and the band hails from Mexico! As I said, don’t judge an album by its cover! ¡Ay, caramba!
21. Winger – Seven
From the sound of recent interviews, Kip Winger is one of those veteran rockstars who’s flat out sick of the road. I don’t blame him. Playing town after town, night after night nonstop is hard enough for bands just trying to make it. For someone who’s been in this game for well over 35+ years, it must be exhausting. If Winger were to hang it up right now as a touring act, I wouldn’t even be mad. I’d say, “Job well done Kip and company!” I just hope they don’t hang it up as a studio act because holy smokes Seven is the best album this band has put out in 30 years. If you’re still letting Beavis and Butthead or Midtallica determine your opinion on this band, grow the hell up, because this is a stellar traditional metal album.
20. Spirit Possession – Of the Sign…
OUGHing their way to the halfway mark of our list are bizarro black metal duo Spirit Possession with their second album, Of the Sign…. This album is the stuff of nightmares and I mean that in the kindest way possible. Whereas most so called black metal bands today pander to hipsters with brainless shock tactics and pointless musical fusions, Spirit Possession take the best of ’80s black metal (specifically the tropes of Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost) and up the deranged factor 666 fold. Horrific riffs and cavernous production dominate this infernal affair, warding off those who are faint of heart.
19. Jag Panzer – The Hallowed
40 years since their debut EP and Jag Panzer are still “Harder than Steel”! This year, the US power metal icons treated headbangers to their first album in 6 years, The Hallowed. An ambitious conceptual piece at its core (with an accompanying comic book no less), The Hallowed combines the grandiose prog-power of their late ’90s resurgence with the barbaric bloodlust of Ample Destruction and the end result is glorious. Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin shrieks and wails like there’s no tomorrow, guitarists Mark Briody and Ken Rodarte unleash a merciless twin guitar attack, and the rhythm section of bassist John Tetley and drummer Rikard Stjernquist so subtly hold it all together. What more could you ask for?
18. Gatekeeper – From Western Shores
From the Great White Northern shores of Canada (See what I did there?) comes epic maestros Gatekeeper with From Western Shores. Although the lineup has changed since we last heard from them back in 2019, the spirit remains the same. Founding guitarist and songwriter Jeff Black proudly carries the epic power metal torch, shining a light through a barren landscape of overproduced and overblown image centric bands that have dominated this field as of late. Everything about From Western Shores, from the songs and performances to the lyrics and atmosphere, screams “epic”. Can I get a, “Fucken eh!”?
17. Century – The Conquest of Time
Sweden’s Century sure knew what they were doing when they titled their debut album The Conquest of Time. It’s as if in some sort of musical display of wizardry, they took the spirit of ’80s metal and transported it to the ’20s! Granted, Century aren’t the only band capitalizing on this approach (as you’ll soon see), but they sure are unique about it. The album so flawlessly hits that “not too clean, not to raw” sweet spot reminiscent of Angel Witch’s self titled debut and Satan’s Court in the Act. Swedish steel hasn’t cut this deep in quite some time.
16. Blood Star – First Sighting
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Blood Star! The Visigoth offshoot band appeared overhead this past Spring with their debut album, First Sighting, capturing the imaginations of headbangers from this galaxy and beyond. This is largely due to charismatic frontwoman Madeline Smith who belts her way through this retro affair sounding like the love child of Bruce Dickinson and Pat Benatar. The songs are equally as compelling, sounding straight out of an ’80s metal wonderland. Tubular? Totally. Bitchin’? You better believe it!
15. Overkill – Scorched
Metalliwho? Leave it to the “Mean, Green, Killing Machine” that is Overkill to give us an absolute no holds barred thrash metal clinic *checks notes* 40 years into their career! You’d never be able to tell the band’s veteran status by the sound of their 20th (!!!) studio album, Scorched. Old and tired, Overkill is not. These bastards of brutality are still “Rotten to the Core”, pushing the neckbones, eardrums, and cardiac output of headbangers to their furthest limits. Folks, this is thrash the way it was meant to be played: fast, unrelenting, and pissed beyond belief. I give Scorched two middle fingers up!
14. Raven – All Hell’s Breaking Loose
Speaking of speed crazed albums from legacy metal bands, is Raven still kicking ass or what? A band who’s been around as long as they have (50 years next year) should have no business being this heavy this far into their career, right? Wrong! Not only are Raven still heavy as ever, but they continue to push themselves musically, reaching new heights of extremity on their latest album, All Hell’s Breaking Loose. The brothers Gallagher and extreme metal mainstay Mike Heller on the drums are a match made in heavy metal heaven…or perhaps heavy metal hell? Muhahahahaha!
13. Smoulder – Violent Creed of Vengeance
The past few years have been turbulent times for epic doom disciples Smoulder. Amidst the lovely little pandemic that royally screwed up everything, frontwoman Sarah Ann and guitarist Shon Vincent got married (aww) and relocated to Finland, which means there are now Smoulder members in Finland, Canada, and the US of A. Despite the countless miles between them, the band still managed to follow up their brilliant debut album, Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring (2019) with the equally thrilling Violent Creed of Vengeance. Although the doomy tropes of the debut have largely been traded in for a straightforward epic traditional metal approach, Violent Creed is still a metallic marvel.
12. Danava – Nothing but Nothing
Contrary to its title, Danava’s Nothing but Nothing is sure more than nothing. It’s the long running psych rock powerhouse’s most metallic album to date. With one foot steeped in the no frills, headbanger mania of the NWOBHM and another in the hazy daze of metal’s early ’70s inception, Nothing but Nothing is one of the most unique traditional metal outings of the year. At times, it sounds less like an album and more like a mixtape of obscurities from everyone from Budgie to Diamond Head. Something tells me this was exactly the point. Far out man!
11. Tanith – Voyage
What do you do when you’re the guitarist for one of the greatest bands in metal history? Start a side band that’s equally great. That’s exactly what Satan’s Russ Tippins did with Tanith. Serving as a sort of musical love letter to Tippins’ youth, Tanith traverses the vast sonic landscape that is ’70s metal and hard rock on their second album, Voyage. Some songs are heavy (“Never Look Back”). Some songs are proggy (“Architects of Time”). Some songs are pastoral (“Olympus by Dawn”). What they all have in common is raw passion and unabashed honesty. Fear not my child; this is a Voyage worth taking.
10. Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
The Scottish one man blackened speed juggernaut that is Hellripper gets more impressive with each subsequent album. They damn near topped our 2020 list with their last album, The Affair of the Poisons. Three years later and they nearly do so again with their most ambitious album to date, Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags. The songs are longer and the musicianship is a tad more polished, but not to the point of sacrificing the unadulterated wickedness of this album. Indeed, Hellripper continues to rip hell with sinister hymns in the tradition of Venom and Sodom, WG & WH being no exception.
9. Malokarpatan – Vertumnus Caesar
Music is the universal language. You know how I know this? Malokarpatan. The band sings (or rather rasps) all of their lyrics in their native Czech tongue, something I grasp about as well as Eddie Trunk knows Manilla Road. And while I don’t understand a single word they’re saying, their singular blend of ominous first wave black metal, fiery traditional metal, ripping thrash, and atmospheric prog rock is enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. If black metal existed in the ’70s, it would’ve sounded like this!
8. Kerrigan – Bloodmoon
Kerrigan is one of those bands who, quite frankly, I have no idea how the hell they entered my orbit. I’m just glad they did because their debut album, Bloodmoon, is one of the finest metal debuts I’ve heard in ages. Similar to the aforementioned Century, Kerrigan too hits that “not too clean, not too raw” sweet spot, but with a distinct melodic twist. This is especially the case on the BÖC inspired title track, which just might be my favorite metal song of the year. May the Bloodmoon shine on for many more albums to come!
7. Flight – Echoes of Journeys Past
Having listened to their last album, A Leap Through Matter (2018), more times than I can count, I welcome the latest Flight album, Echoes of Journeys Past, with open arms. Was it worth the 5 year wait? You better believe it. Easily their most diverse album to date, Echoes lies somewhere between the burgeoning metal, daring progressive rock, and introspective singer/songwriter of rock’s most innovative decade, the ’70s. In this regard, with the right marketing, its reach would extend far beyond that of metal circles. Too bad corporate rock radio is too chicken to play music this true.
6. Diabolic Night – Beneath the Crimson Prophecy
4 years since they last blitzed the underground, the Teutonic twosome known as Diabolic Night have struck again with Beneath the Crimson Prophecy. Conjuring a collection of ragers that can only be classified as epic blackened speed, Diabolic Night easily take the gold medal of black metal in 2023. Every aspect of this album, whether it be the songwriting, musicianship, production, or so forth, blows its predecessor (Beyond the Realm) out of the water, and that album was a masterpiece! This album is as well, taking Venom’s At War with Satan formula and pumping it with steroids.
5. High Spirits – Safe on the Other Side
High Spirits have done it again! From day one, the classic metal alter ego of multi-instrumentalist Chris Black has gone “Full Power”, cranking out one hit record after the next. On their latest album, Safe on the Other Side, Black has assembled the most dynamic and diverse collection of High Spirits songs to date, all while still maintaining the anthemic spirit that put them on the map to begin with. If you haven’t tuned up your air guitar or warmed up your singing voice, you’re gonna need to do so before dropping the needle on this one. Better safe than sorry!
4. Uriah Heep – Chaos & Colour
Few bands can stake the claim of influencing bands as iconic yet diverse as Blind Guardian, Saxon, Fates Warning, and Mercyful Fate. Uriah Heep is one of said few. Over half a century since their groundbreaking debut album, …Very ‘eavy …Very ‘umble (1970), and they’re still churning out top shelf heavy metal and hard rock with album #25, Chaos & Colour. Everything you loved about classic Heep, the monstrous organs, the shredding solos, the grandiose choirs, the unforgettable hooks, are present on this album and then some. Demons and Wizards alike are rejoicing at this album’s mere existence, and so should you.
3. Tygers of Pan Tang – Bloodlines
Bloody hell mate! Tygers of Pan Tang’s bite is still as deadly today as it was in the halcyon days of the NWOBHM. Their 21st century resurgence continues with the absolutely incredible Bloodlines. Much like Uriah Heep above them, Tygers too is down to only one founding member (guitarist Robb Weir), but continues to specialize in melodic hard and heavy music guaranteed to keep old schoolers on the edge of their seat. This is an all killer, no filler, English metal triumph that’s bound to teach the youngsters a thing or two in the songwriting department.
2. Autopsy – Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts
For the second year in a row, Autopsy have released a new album. For the second year in a row, they’ve come in at #2 on our year end list. For the 36th year in a row, they are the greatest death metal band of all time for roughly two zillion reasons. Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts is reason number two zillion and one. Listen here Maggot Stompers, posturing dorks, and posers of all ages. When Autopsy arises from their crypt, you better run on home to mommy, because these flesh feasting cretins show no mercy. Four decades on and their riffs, lyrics, and tunes are as repulsive as ever, the absolute epitome of death metal. Severed? No. Surviving? Well, you can’t kill what’s already dead, can you?
- Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade
3 years ago now, in the midst of a global pandemic and unparalleled turmoil, a younger and slightly more naïve Joe was putting together his first ever year end list: A list that was, against all odds, topped by his epic metal heroes, Cirith Ungol. I will forever be of the disposition that, alongside Perfect Strangers and Monotheist, Forever Black is one of the greatest metal comeback albums of all time. Its very existence was nothing short of miraculous, considering their multi-decade dormancy.
3 years later, the US gods top my year end list again, this time with their darkest, doomiest, and final album, the aptly titled Dark Parade. Assuming this is truly it for Cirith Ungol (and I believe it is), they’ve chosen to go out on top. Dark Parade takes the bleakest moments of King of the Dead (1984) and cranks up the dread factor to 11, creating an epic doom monolith. Upon first listen, my jaw hung open at the absolute brutality of the riffage. Add to that a thunderous rhythm section, dark fantastical lyricism, and the unforgettable shrieks of Tim Baker, and you’ve got the finest metal album of 2023.
Thank you Cirith Ungol for your colossal contribution to the greatest music of all time, heavy metal. We will never forget you. And thank you again reader, for another year of unwavering support. We wish you the happiest of holidays and look forward to seeing you in 2024. We plan on kicking off the new year at full throttle with a barrage of album reviews and interviews thrown your way. You’ve been warned. Heavy Christmas to all and to all a good night!