GBHBL’s Top 10 EPs of 2023

It’s been a fantastic year for music, with great releases across the entire spectrum of rock and metal. So, as is the yearly tradition, here is our top 10 EPs of 2023. Two lists, one chosen by Brendan and the other chosen by Carl. Enjoy, and if you prefer the list in video format, you can watch/listen to us talk about them below.

Number 10 – Carl
Orbit Culture – The Forgotten (Seek and Strike Records)

I mean… have you heard Descent? It’s one of the finest heavy albums of the year and showed just how ‘on form’ Orbit Culture are right now, so a couple of more tracks from this period, is nothing to complain about at all. You don’t have to be a hardcore fan to love this EP, Orbit Culture are simply unstoppable right now.

Number 10 – Brendan
Admire the Grim – Rogue Five (Inverse Records)

The first of my melodic death metal entries this year comes from a new band, Finnish metallers, Admire the Grim and their debut EP Rogue Five which came out way back in January. Hailing from Lappeenranta in Finland, the group was formed by five friends and that friendship has helped them to create melodeath that is equally as tight. Admire the Grim have released a strong debut here with Rogue Five with plenty to appreciate across its 4 tracks. There are definite Children of Bodom vibes in a good way. Not like a copy but more like the band were inspired by them. You feel it in the structures, the backing shouts, and the mesmerising lead guitar work. It’s just good solid, heavy metal. The drums, bass, riffs and leads all work together perfectly with a nice mix of vocals to create songs that you can head bang along to, mosh to and enjoy. It’s a wonderful debut.

Number 9 – Carl
Beyond Grace – Welcome To The New Dark Ages, Part 1 (Self Released)

A lot has happened since they released their album in 2021, and one of the more significant things is the expansion and development of Beyond Grace’s sonic palette. Evident by the three original offerings, and unexpected cover song, on this new EP. A brash and brilliant EP that showcases brutal technical death metal at its finest.

Number 9 – Brendan
Insomnium – Songs of the Dusk (Century Media Records)

Insomnium are one of two bands that released both an EP and an album in 2023 and both releases made it into my respective “best of” lists. Interestingly, these are also the 2nd of 3 bands hailing from Finland that make it into this list, go Finland!

Insomnium released a masterpiece of an album this year in Anno 1696. An album full of darkness, sadness, mystery, and storytelling genius. Here on their EP, Songs of the Dusk, we essentially get an extension of that excellent album with 3 more chapters, and a mammoth 22 minutes of music. Dripping in mystery, darkness, gorgeous melody and a big dollop of misery, Insomnium have had a banging year, and this EP is just the icing on the cake. Emotionally heavy, plenty of blasts of energy and an overall gloomy outlook make for an EP that is admirable in its sounds, storytelling and composition from a band that consistently outdo themselves.

Number 8 – Carl
Binge – Toothache (Self Released)

One run through of Toothache and it becomes abundantly clear why those who have experienced their sound, rave about it. The instrumental duo combine mesmerising technicalities and creative progressive sounds with abrasive heaviness and bad-mannered intensity. It’s noise-rock but not as you know it. Toothache offers up six uniquely interesting tracks that subvert expectations and challenge the listener. Where every element of Binge is showcased in delicious clarity.

Number 8 – Brendan
Soul Incursion – Eternal Darkness (Self Released)

No messing about from Soul Incursion here, the Finnish death metal band released their first EP called Eternal Darkness in December and it slays. Hailing from Helsinki, Soul Incursion aim to deliver songs in the vein of old school death-metal bands like Pestilence, Death and Demolition Hammer, highlighting a penchant for an unrelentingly heavy, catchy riffage. And deliver they do in an in your face, unrelenting blast of what you might call “proper death metal”. No frills really but loads of skill as Eternal Darkness delivers a massive assault of big riffs, dark vocals, fiery solos and songs that energise you, get your head banging and that make you want to start a pit wherever you are right now.

Number 7 – Carl
Druids Of Eld – A Day Of Sorrow (Self Released)

A substantial offering, A Day of Sorrow is only five tracks long, but comes in at nearly thirty minutes long. Not only that, it’s an epic wander through atmospheric locales, the sound of death, destruction, and sacrifice. All delivered in an awe-inspiring folk-infused, melodic, and metal way.

Number 7 – Brendan
The Forgotten by Orbit Culture (Seek and Strike)

An the second of the two bands that released both an EP and an album in 2023 and both releases made it into my respective “best of” lists. This time it is the growing force that is Orbit Culture and their EP, The Forgotten. This is straightforward to write about. Unless you have been on some sort of interplanetary mission, you will be aware that Orbit Culture released one of the very finest albums of the year in Descent and here, on The Forgotten, we have 3 tracks from the same recording sessions that didn’t make it onto the album. Yep, 3 more songs stylistically in line with the mastery of Descent packed full of rhythm, heaviness, groove, and intensity. It’s a phenomenal EP and really puts a bow on this gift of a year we have had from the Swedish force.

Number 6 – Carl
Imperium – When Kings Meet (Self Released)

Imperium’s rise through the metal ranks continues to delight, but not amaze. That’s only because once you hear what they have to offer, it’s clear that their dominance is inevitable. Be it on record or live, the group’s groovy and excitable heaviness is impossible to ignore and with the release of this EP, the chorus of voices shouting about them is only going to increase in number and volume.

Number 6 – Brendan
Imperium – When Kings Meet (Self Released)

London’s Imperium are a band really making a name for themselves over the last couple years and gaining a reputation for immense live performances so what better way to way to really cement home your promise than by releasing your first EP, When Kings Meet. Four tracks of immense power, groove and thrash metal delivered with attitude, aggression, skill and intelligence. Songs to punch air to, songs that you just have to headbang along to. They bring choruses to shout along with, plenty of pit worthy energy and fiery lead guitar work in a package that feels a bit like a celebration of heavy metal. Imperium bring creativity in their sound too though with plenty of variety in the powerful vocals, speed and intensity of the different tracks on offer. I love the stop start riffing of the title track, I love the meaty groove of Iron Thunder, the more frenetic edge to Capable of Murder – this EP is just a damn fine slab of metal.

Number 5 – Carl
Kilonova – Moment Of Clarity (Self Released)

One of the hottest acts in the UK heavy scene, Kilonova are back with an emphatic statement of who and what they are. Delivering five high-powered, aggressive, head-banging, and thrash-based beauties. If you thought this band was on fire before, you’ve not heard anything yet. The step-up? It’s how anthemic Kilonova are sounding, all while staying true to their core intense heavy sound.

Number 5 – Brendan
Headwreck – Reflection Room (Self Released)

Australia always delivers top quality metal and this time it comes via the rising alternative metal stars, Headwreck. Hailing from Brisbane, the band delivered their sophomore EP, Reflection Room, in April. Combining melodic hardcore and electronic influences mixed with pop inspired hooks and lyrical content telling different stories based around human connection, with each song conveying a different situation, Reflection Room is exactly that. The sort of album you can put on, feel like it is written for you personally and spend some time on yourself, reflecting. Headwreck display so much talent and creativity here on Reflection Room. The tracks are balanced nicely with a few that delve more into technical creativity and a couple that show Headwreck can do intense aggression just fine too. That variety keeps the whole EP sounding fresh and exciting throughout. You would be foolish not to check this one out.

Number 4 – Carl
Trendkill – Dissociate (Self Released)

Trendkill are an awesome band, but if by chance you needed you needed further convincing of that statement, we have this new EP. A four-track release filled with heart-racing and head-banging heaviness. The intent of this EP is to smash heads and break necks. Something Trendkill do with incredible ease thanks to their impressive talents.

Number 4 – Brendan
Trendkill – Dissociate (Self Released)

I’m pretty confident in saying that I have never heard a Trendkill song I don’t like. The groove, thrash, heavy metal outfit just release song after song that grabs me and holds my attention every single time, so any new release is welcome. And then, once again, their new EP, Dissociate, is stunning. Four new tracks of attitude filled, adrenaline fuelling heaviness and all four are of the utmost quality. Meant purely as a compliment but for me, they are like a best era reincarnation of Pantera and bring all the aggression, power, and energy of that iconic band. It’s all on display here across Dissociate’s 4 tracks. Huge riffs bringing massive groove, bone shaking percussion, vicious vocals in songs that are as infectious as they are crushing. What a band Trendkill are and Dissociate is up there alongside their very best work to date.

Number 3 – Carl
Draconian Reign – Tragedy Eternal (Seek and Strike)

Epic-sounding brutal heaviness is the core aspect of Draconian Reign and with this new EP, they make it undeniably clear that they are one of the UK’s most exciting extreme prospects. Delivering a frenzy of bullish deathcore melded with the horrifying sound of black metal, but blended with stunning symphonic elements. That is what gives this EP such an epic flavour and it’s mightily rich tasting.

Number 3 – Brendan
The Harvest Trail – Spree (Self Released)

Another melodic death metal entry from me here, this time coming all the way from Australia courtesy of The Harvest Trail and their brand-new EP titled Spree. Another EP that came out in April but stayed in rotation throughout the whole year. I was always going to like this – I mean the press kit mentioned the “for fans of” bit and listed At the Gates, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, In Flames, Darkane, Dark Tranquillity, and The Halo Effect. Literally some of my all-time favourite bands and it’s a phenomenal force of melodeath. Coming with six tracks of rapid-fire riffs and enthralling themes of Aussie crime tales that will leave you breathless. It is a stunning release with tons of variety on it, plenty of balls to the wall death metal and solos as melodeath fans would expect. Superb release.

Number 2 – Carl
Gozer – The Path Always Leads To The End (Self Released)

With heavy themes, featuring grand and creative post-metal, and infused with a ton of sludgy elements, Gozer’s brilliance continues to shine with this new EP. One that features four tracks (one of which is an intro) and one that showcases a very confident band. One of the most impressive, mentally taxing, and effective EPs released this year.

Number 2 – Brendan
Tribulation – Hamartia (Century Media)

Swedish metal masters Tribulation are a superb band and extremely consistent with releases across their career so far. I think it is fair to say they don’t release bad music and this new EP, Hamartia, is another top-quality release. Coming out way back on the 7th April, it has stuck in the mind and finds itself in the number 2 spot on this list. Hamartia is an exciting and refreshing release without a single misstep on it. The band sound charged and ready to go bringing their typical masterful song structures, phenomenal solos and music that bleeds genres wonderfully to create a truly captivating sound. From the first notes, to the last I found myself fully embedded and almost hypnotised – loving every minute.

Number 1 – Carl
Sugar Horse – Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico (Fat Dracula Records)

Even though this new EP is split into six parts, it is imperative you hear it as one full thing. To hear it as something that ebbs and flows, has peaks and valleys, twists and turns, and is every bit the Sugar Horse we know and love, and something complete different too.

When we describe Sugar Horse as a band that you never know what you’re going to get from them, we mean it. Yet, whatever they let escape from their mind, it always seems to work, and once again, they have crafted something brilliantly unique.

Number 1 – Brendan
Finsterforst – Jenseits (AOP Records)

The German black forest metal band are a favourite of mine. They creative style, the harmonious folk elements, heavier blackened metal combination really hits the mark for me, so any news of a new release is welcome. Excitement creeps even higher when you see that while this is an EP, with 4 tracks on it, Jenseits is a fan funded concept and is actually just a single song split into 4 parts. That single song is 40 minutes in length. To call it creative, or expansive is a massive understatement. It’s hard to describe and summarise – there is too much happening for mere words to express, too many twists turns and transitions so let me just leave you by saying that I feel like I left reality for a while there, completely hypnotised and mesmerised by a composition that is cinematic, grand, majestic, heavy, dark and gorgeous making Jenseits my favourite EP of 2023.