GBHBL’s Top 25 Albums 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 25 albums 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.

Carl – Number 25
Blodet – Death Mother (Church Road Records)

The sound of beautiful misery. A sound that we all love to wallow in. Blodet are a revelation in experimental music. As an entity, you can never predict what will come out of them. There is no way to know the direction their music will take, but you’ll either love it or loathe it. Most will lean towards the former, rather than the latter. The epitome of obsessive discomfort, where you just can’t turn away from what Blodet produce even if the desolation is so disconcerting.

Brendan – Number 25
The Crawling – All Of This For Nothing (Grindscene Records)

Northern Ireland’s The Crawling were back this year with their 3rd album, All of This for Nothing. It’s been a long wait for The Crawling’s latest release and the years haven’t brightened their outlook much. To say this band smother you in a fog of atmospheric gloom and darkness is an understatement. You could cut the fog with a knife. Seriously heavy stuff, yet still finding moments of melancholy and bursts of melody to give songs that are the epitome of doom a more anthemic feel. The Crawling don’t do things by half. If they want to bring darkness, they bring it in a big way and All of this For Nothing is probably the darkest, gloomiest, and most suffocating album you could hear this year. It’s brilliant.

Carl – Number 24
Grief Symposium – …In the Absence of Light (Church Road Records)

Grief Symposium deal in darkness and genre-bend heavily, dealing in esoteric soundscapes that blend doom, death, and black metal. Then, cover it with a mind-melting level of gloomy atmosphere. …In the Absence of Light is a triumphant release of grim, imaginative, and horror-laden heaviness.

Brendan – Number 24
To Kill Achilles – Recovery (Arising Empire)

You have to love To Kill Achilles and if more reasons to were needed, there are plenty of them on their latest album, Recovery. One of the most open and honest bands in music, To Kill Achilles pour their heart and soul in to everything they release, and this album is no different. Mentally challenging, yet more filled with hope and optimism. Filled with reasons to fight and messages you can carry with you through your own struggles, Recovery feels like an important album and one that should resonate with anyone who gives it a chance. Within this deep and emotive music, there is a lot of enjoyment to be found. Lots of sped up, fiery numbers and lots of creative, interesting ideas and plenty of heartfelt music and lyrical content. Change ups in vocal delivery and the use of cleans from different band members makes Recovery feel fresh and vibrant to. It’s comfortably one of the best albums of this year.

Carl – Number 23
Orme – Orme (Trepanation Recordings)

It’s a mighty brave thing to make your debut album such a mammoth offering. An album that offers just two tracks, one of which coming in at around 42 minutes and one of which coming in around 54 minutes. An experimental form of doom mixed with drone elements; it is inventive and challenging. An acquired taste and few will have the attention span to last the full 95 minutes. Feelings of discombobulation, feelings of fear, feelings of wonder, feelings of despondency, feelings of horror, feelings of admiration, feelings of loss, and feelings of hope. Regardless of if you want to or not, Orme will make you feel something.

Brendan – Number 23
Ofnus – Time Held Me Grey and Dying (Naturmacht Productions)

Ofnus released their debut album, Time Held Me Grey and Dying, in June this year. The UK atmospheric and melodic black metal band were mostly unfamiliar to me until seeing them at Bloodstock. Even though this album came out before their performance, I hadn’t checked it out yet. That shows the importance of being decent live performers. I saw them play, loved it, went back to the album, loved it and here it is now in my top list of the year. Ofnus are so authentically black metal, they really sound like a band with a 10- or 20-year history behind them. It’s insane that a band in its infancy can sound this good. Raw and aggressive, there is a real old school black metal vibe to proceedings, but Ofnus have a few additional moments of magic. Parts that get a bit more grander, a bit more atmospheric to go along with the tracks that are just there to rip your face off. Time Held Me Grey and Dying is a debut album of the highest calibre.

Carl – Number 22
An Autumn For Crippled Children – Closure (Prosthetic Records)

Comfortably attracting the black metal crowd and the shoegaze crowd, An Autumn for Crippled Children have made a career out of making the listener ‘feel’ in unforeseen, disconcerting, and exhilarating ways. They’re a band that is exceptionally capable of delivering harsh lo-fi blackness with tormenting atmosphere and emphatic melody.

Fans of the band will not be surprised in any way to learn that Closure is a grand continuation of their abilities. Fans of the band will not be surprised that Closure will make your soul ache and your head bang. Misery has never sounded so beautiful, and every track delivers something special.

Brendan – Number 22
Burner – It All Returns to Nothing (Church Road Records)

Burner were introduced to me via a reaction video and instantly blew me away with their raucous and abrasive sound. Their new album, released in June and titled It All Returns to Nothing equally impressed. Their unique combination of hardcore, death metal, and black metal is maniacal and intense. A real aggression release in musical form. So hard and heavy, it almost feels too much at times but just as the weight becomes almost unbearable, just as you feel like you need to step away you get a little slab of groove, a chunky riff or a brief blast of melody. It’s a phenomenal release and a masterclass in intensity and aggression. Noisy as hell, but seriously impactful too. Best described as chaos, Burner are not for the faint hearted.

Carl – Number 21
Svalbard – The Weight of the Mask (Nuclear Blast)

Utilising this new album as an opportunity to exorcise some demons, Svalbard are back and sounding more focused and passionate than ever. The Weight of the Mask is a triumphant release, where no single song is found lacking. Svalbard are one of the best bands in the world and it’s albums like this that prove it unequivocally.

Brendan – Number 21
An Autumn for Crippled Children – Closure (Prosthetic Records)

An Autumn for Crippled Children have been around for a long time yet have never really been a band I have dedicated a load of time to, until this year with the release of their new album titled Closure. The blackgaze band released an absolute corker of an album here and one that instantly hooked me in, made me a fan and gave me a hearty back catalogue meal to get my teeth in to as well. It all started with the album’s second track, I See You…..But Never Clearly. That one song you find that resonates so much with you it makes you think deeper and harder when listening to the rest of the album. And a fan was born! Closure is a wonderful release, full of stunning beauty, gloomy atmosphere, intense black metal and emphatic melody. It’s a stunning piece of work.

Carl – Number 20
Hollow Front – The Fear of Letting Go (UNFD)

This album finds them arguably at their heaviest, most passionate, and at their most intense. The Fear of Letting Go is the sound of liberation, the sound of a band pouring all their pain and frustration into something that they can be proud of, and they should be so proud. The Fear of Letting Go is the best thing Hollow Front has released to date simply because there isn’t a song found lacking on the entire thing. Ten tracks, ten absolute bangers, ten undeniable anthems, and ten unforgettable listens.

Brendan – Number 20
Tortured Demon – Rise Of The Lifeless (Self Released)

It’s been a huge few years for Manchester-based thrashcore band Tortured Demon, and if there were any doubters remaining out there, surely they have been quashed with the release of Rise of the Lifeless. I think a lot of people have already realised these guys have a big future and it’s really pleasing to see them release such a strong album that you know doubters will be silenced. Full of songs that show the band have grown immensely since the release of In Desperation’s Grip. Still packing the same levels of intensity and vitriol but feeling more honed with songs that deliver their message in more concise and impactful ways. Thrashy, aggressive and mosh pit inducing metal combines with anthemic moments, plenty of groove and fiery solos to create an album that really does hit the mark in so many ways.

Carl – Number 19
[ B O L T ] – ( 0 5 ) (dunk!records)

Is it fair to say that the drone world of music is often finding the most interesting and exciting ways to be creative? It feels it as of late, especially when a band like [ B O L T ] come along and release something so impressive. Something that betrays the norm of ‘not being for everyone’, simply because it is such an imaginative and experimental listen.

The heavy use of percussion adds such an immense level of depth to what is extremely laborious ambience. [ B O L T ] have delivered one of the finest albums you’ll hear within the world of drone music this year. A spectacle of creativity and talent.

Brendan – Number 19
Insomnium – Anno 1696 (Century Media)

The well-known and highly regarded Finnish band, Insomnium, released their ninth full-length album this year titled Anno 1696. I’m a fan, so was looking forward to this album anyway and was very pleased it lived up to expectations in a big way. A conceptual tale, set in the year 1696 but based off of a short story by the band’s bass and vocalist, telling sad and tragic tales of witch hunts, murder and cannibalism, the topic seems perfectly selected for the melancholic gloomsters. A concept so well reenacted, you feel transported through time to a dark and dangerous place. It’s a cold and horrific release, masterfully crafted, grandiose and melodic. The accompanying short story adds a lot to the concept and helps you really visualise the band’s intentions here. Insomnium are a brilliantly imaginative band, constantly razing their own bar higher and Anno 1696 is another mesmerising piece of art from them.

Carl – Number 18
Pupil Slicer – Blossom (Prosthetic Records)

Blossom is a concept album and it finds Pupil Slicer in an experimental mood. Experimentation that helps make the concept feel more real, while also allowing the group to test themselves and their listener base. Yet, be under no false illusions, this album is still an outrageous assault of abrasive heaviness.

What an evolution, what a story, what an eclectic and varied mix of ideas, what creativity, what a band. Pupil Slicer have crafted something truly special here. The more time spent in the company of Blossom, the more it impresses.

Brendan – Number 18
Avatar- Dance Devil Dance (Black Waltz Records)

It’s no secret that I have a lot of admiration for this band having become a bit of a superfan over the last 5 years having slept on them for the years prior to that. Being a big fan of a band doesn’t mean they get a free pass when it comes to releasing music though, if anything, it makes you judge them harder. If you love a band, the nervousness of listening to an album and being desperate for it to be great is intense. It just seems that with Avatar, despite those anxieties before starting an album, they never let me down and just reaffirm my belief that Avatar are one of the greatest bands of our generation and if you don’t believe that, it is probably just because you haven’t realised it yet, in the same way it took me years to understand the same. Dance Devil Dance feels a bit like an evolution of Avatar, not a revolution, and delivers an immense punch of excitement and exhilaration throughout. A breathless assault on the senses, jam packed with creativity and variety, with riffs for days and hooks that embed themselves deep into your very being. It makes you feel alert and involved, it makes you want to get out of your seat and move. It’s just Avatar doing Avatar things and being bloody brilliant, as they so often are.

Carl – Number 17
The Hirsch Effekt – Urian (Long Branch Records)

There’s prog metal and then there is the prog metal that The Hirsch Effekt play. A band that seems to revel in delivering something unexpected but enjoyable in so many different ways. An outstanding release that delivers an elating experience. One of the most creative records of 2023.

Brendan – Number 17
Icestorm – The Northern Crusades (Self Released)

Icestorm have delivered an absolute master class in story telling with their 4th concept album, The Northern Crusades. The Northern Crusades is a melodic death metal album but with a few touches of power and folk added in that keep it fresh over its runtime. It feels important, feels like a historical deep dive when you listen to it. The atmosphere they have created with the clever song writing and the flow of the album makes you feel part of the story. Musically, I love everything they offer from the quick powerful riffing, the lead melodies, the wonderful drum skills and grooving bass but man, those vocals are next level powerful. The Northern Crusades is a fantastic slab of metal that deserves its place on this best of the year list.

Carl – Number 16
Burner – It All Returns to Nothing (Church Road Records)

Hotly anticipated, as Burner have been making a hell of a racket in the underground scene for a little while now with their hardcore, death metal, and black metal sound. It All Returns to Nothing is the arrival of Burner and it’s a freaking doozy. The glorious sound of carnage that will leave all begging for more.

Brendan – Number 16
Vexed – Negative Energy (Napalm Records)

The Hertfordshire based, UK alt-metal band, Vexed released a brutal and powerful album in Negative Energy. The rising stars throw every ounce of their Negative Energy into these 13 tracks that explore PTSD, childhood trauma, survivor’s guilt, mental health, loss and more. Negative Energy is an album that oozes class and style, is jam packed with ingenuity and creativity but all while remaining brutally open and honest. Exploring topics that hold so much meaning for so many of us, they offer a pathway to momentary release and understanding. Vexed have released an album that feels important. It is well produced, nice and crunchy, polished but with a raw tinge that suits the topics covered. The drums throughout are wonderful, as are the guitars with both instruments really putting it all out there showing mastery of many styles and transitioning between them. The vocals are immense with an astonishing range displayed throughout. It’s a strong album from a band destined for very big things.

Carl – Number 15
Wallowing – Earth Reaper (Church Road Records)

With limitless imagination and ambition, the sci-fi extreme metal band Wallowing have released an astonishing release that grows and grows in grandeur as it goes on. Leading to a finale, the title track, that might very well be the most creative thing Wallowing ever release. Effectively an album of two halves, The first six tracks of the album serve as a prologue to the title track. A gargantuan track that is around 22 minutes long.

It will leave you aghast at the sheer bullishness of Wallowing to not just attempt something so grand but deliver on the promises of being thoroughly unforgettable. If Planet Loss was the release that put Wallowing on the map, Earth Reaper is the release that blasts them into the stratosphere.

Brendan – Number 15
In Flames – Foregone (Nuclear Blast)

Swedish melo-death pioneers, In Flames returned with their 14th full-length album titled Forgone back in February. In Flames always do exactly what they want and that sometimes gains them fans, sometimes gains them derision and here in Foregone we got to see In Flames reenergised, imaginative, and reminding everyone of why they have managed to stay relevant for such a long time. Coming with moments of creativity and new ideas but also, at its core, stirring, riff heavy melodeath with mesmerising lead guitar work, it really is a stunning album jam packed with energy and intensity and may well be the best In Flames album in some years.

Carl – Number 14
OWDWYR – Receptor (Self Released)

OWDWYR, an extreme metal convergence of tech death, prog, and grind framed around a classical core. OWDWYR are unique. This album is stupendously creative, absurdly diverse, confidently insightful, and so much more. Don’t balk at the fact that it is fifteen tracks long, balk at the fact that it’s not longer. Such is the amazing amount of variety on show.

While all the separate elements of OWDWYR will be familiar. The technical death brutality, the fantastical progressive twists, the grinding and gnashing horror, and classical turns. It’s how they are all mashed together that truly makes this band, and this album, so unique. It shouldn’t work, or it at least shouldn’t be as compelling as it is, but OWDWYR have crafted something unforgettable here.

Brendan – Number 14
Ne Obliviscaris – Exul (Season of Mist)

Australian extreme progressive metallers Ne Obliviscaris deliver yet another phenomenal piece of art in Exul. A band already renowned for their intelligent craftsmanship but reaffirmed here. Exul offers a lot, whether it’s pummelling metal that hits you hard, chunky bass led groove, melancholic introspective sections, chaos, order – and that all usually comes in a single song. Where the band excel for me is the fact that they throw everything, and the kitchen sink, at a song yet manage to make it flow, make it work. As an album, Exul was deeply creative, deeply intelligent and I felt quite hypnotised and emotional throughout. Occasionally, gloomy but also offering rays of optimism to poke through those dark clouds at just the point I needed them, the supremely talented band have once again delivered an album of the utmost quality in Exul.

Carl – Number 13
Calligram – Position | Momentum (Prosthetic Records)

If you know this band, you know what they are capable of. Position | Momentum is every bit the blackened atrocity that a listener would hope it be. A familiar tornado of noise that leaves you battered and broken, wondering how the hell it came to this.

Yet, for all of that, there is no denying that Calligram have grown and found new and fresh ways to dish out the punishment. Position | Momentum is a step-up from everything this band has done before and it might be the most ‘complete’ sounding release they have ever sent out into the world.

Brendan – Number 13
Dimwind – The Futility of Breathing (Self Released)

Gothenburg based post-metal band, Dimwind, an instrumental duo, released the most heart wrenching, emotional album of the year with The Futility Of Breathing. Dimwind planned to explore a state of grief after losing a loved one as the concept of the album when they suffered a terrible tragedy as one of the members, Andreas’ wife suddenly passed away. A tragedy that fit so eerily with the theme they were already weaving into the album. The Futility of Breathing is quite the album. Fully instrumental, morose and melancholic, the sadness and struggle gushes out of every note on every song. The courage and strength shown by Dimwind here to pour their heart and soul into this album is inspiring. Facing such significant loss, well, I can’t pretend to understand the feeling, but listening to this, I think I do and I think this would be an album of great comfort to those who are feeling loss or grief. Not because it is going to raise your spirits, but it will help you understand that you are not alone. That you will get through this. Any album that can convey such feeling, such breadth of emotion deserves our fullest respect and gratitude. It’s terrible, and perfect.

Carl – Number 12
Orbit Culture – Descent (Seek and Strike Records)

Expectations are met, as Orbit Culture take a massive step forward with their sound. Descent is a mightily impressive release. How good is this album? Diverse and rousing from beginning to end, it’s actually sad to see it come to an end. Orbit Culture have absolutely knocked it out of the park here. There’s not a single thing wrong with this record.

Brendan – Number 12
Tribunal – The Weight of Remembrance (20 Buck Spin)

The deeply gothic/black metallers, Tribunal won me over in a big way this year. Their debut release, The Weight of Remembrance needs to be put up on some sort of pedestal so we can all gaze upon it and give it the adulation it so deserves. This is a masterpiece of intelligent, atmospheric gloom. Wonderfully composed, oozing atmosphere and dark, morose beauty. Every note feels perfectly placed; it is a work of art with perfect brushstrokes. I can honestly say that I had to stop almost every track at a point, sometimes multiple points, to just listen back to a moment while I exclaimed out loud to those around me things like “oh wow”, “that’s amazing”, “unbelievable” and “you have to hear this”. The Weight of Remembrance is comfortably one of the best albums 2023 has to offer. Not bad for a debut.

Carl – Number 11
To Kill Achilles – Recovery (Arising Empire)

There are few bands who epitomise believable honesty quite like To Kill Achilles. They have proven themselves to be an exceptionally lovable band with a bevy of brilliant tracks. So, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the release of this new album. More people need to be talking about To Kill Achilles and Recovery might be the record to push them to an even higher level. This is To Kill Achilles and they are one of the best bands in the entire world.

Brendan – Number 11
Scar Symmetry – The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph) (Nuclear Blast)

Scar Symmetry are back and it feels like they never went away. This second chapter of The Singularity trilogy lived up to the first and despite the long gap, still made sense in terms of leading the concept on from Neohumanity. Scar Symmetry are well known for their genre bending and that is of course a prominent feature here. I find Xenotaph to be exciting, exhilarating, fresh and interesting to listen to. It doesn’t stop, constantly changes direction and for me, that’s great. The concept is awesome, the musicianship, the album artwork, the way the tracks are laid out – everything works here and, even if you don’t care for all this science fiction stuff, don’t fear because at its heart, Xenotaph is also just a damn good metal album.

Carl – Number 10
Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound Like Me (Prosthetic Records)

The punishingly heavy Australian death metal trio that is Werewolves do one thing and one thing alone, which is smash heads, hearts, and souls. They’re back, as furious, and feral as always, delivering an album that is heavy enough to send you into a catatonic state. If you have a deep love for this band’s inherent and straight-forward savagery, you’re going to feel right at home here, and who doesn’t? Werewolves are the epitome of carnage and we love them for it.

Brendan – Number 10
Lightlorn – At One with the Night Sky (Black Lion Records)

Swedish cosmic black metal duo Lightlorn released their latest creation in September. An album full of contrasting song structures and an interplay between light and dark, between stirring and gloomy, and between serene and aggressive. At One with the Night Sky is a truly impressive piece of art and showcases Lightlorn as masters of their craft. The way these songs are structured, the synchronicity across the whole record, shows a level of song writing and musicianship that many can only ever aspire to. It is fully engulfing, a captivating journey that will see you transported into another world. This album is a fine example of how to create atmosphere and engage a listener, make them feel and come on the journey with the artist. It’s a phenomenal album.

Carl – Number 9
Mairu – Sol Cultus (Trepanation Recordings)

Liverpool based post-sludge-metallers Mairu do a phenomenal job of marrying enthralling post sounds with the filthy power of sludge. The end result is an album that can be summed up as jaw-dropping. The depth to their sound is immense, and the twists and turns it takes the listener on across the album’s eight tracks are stunning.

Brendan – Number 9
Urne – A Feast on Sorrow (Candlelight Records)

Having blown me, and many others away with their phenomenal debut album ‘Serpent & Spirit’ in 2021, Urne are back with one of my most anticipated albums of the year, A Feast On Sorrow. Such is the quality of that debut, you wonder how they could possibly top it, hell, even just getting close pot it would be a huge achievement but, to show just how good Urne are and can be, they did the impossible and set a new bar. They sound better, bigger and appear to have thrown every emotion into an album that is full to the brim with charged and challenging songs. Heavy, yet catchy, lyrically poignant and dripping in atmosphere, A Feast On Sorrow is an apt name and you leave more than satisfied. Comfortably one of the very best releases of the year from a band that continue to impress.

Carl – Number 8
Thy Catafalque – Alföld (Season of Mist)

One of the most unique albums this year, which is par for the course, with Thy Catafalque. A daunting but exciting listen, Thy Catafalque embody the ‘do what feels right’ mantra of music. You never know what you will you get from them. There are no genre limitations with Thy Catafalque and that is on full display here. Alföld is big, and by that I don’t mean it’s long or features a ton of tracks. No, big as in, big in sound and big in ideas. As unpredictable as ever, as indescribable as always, and as unforgettable as only Thy Catafalque can be. There is nobody quite like Thy Catafalque in metal and we should all be extremely grateful for that.

Brendan – Number 8
Helfró – Tálgröf (Season of Mist Underground Activists)

Icelandic blackened death metal force, Helfró, released an absolute beast of an album in Tálgröf. An album that is jam packed with layers and creativity. Subtle use of symphony, less subtle use of lead guitars and differing vocal tones all adding respite and reward to songs that absolutely slay hitting hard with the blackest of drums and riffing yet somehow managing to stay catchy and interesting throughout. I don’t even think I have a stand out song, well maybe Sindur or Minning um Morðingja, it’s just a consistent, quality slab of the bleakest metal you are likely to hear this year. Perfect for a cold winter’s day and one of the very best I have listened to in 2023.

Carl – Number 7
Earthside – Let the Truth Speak (Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group)

Cinematic rockers Earthside released arguably the most elaborate and dense release of the year. Featuring as ton of guests from a wide array of musical backgrounds, it is a journey of an album that will leave most with their mouth hanging wide open.

Words can’t do this album justice. It needs to be heard, but it also needs a serious amount of time invested into it. Only on multiple listens does the many, many layers begin to unreel. Earthside’s ambition was out of this world when it came to creating this release, and it seems likely that they’re not returning to this planet anytime soon.

Brendan – Number 7
Drama Noir – Nightfall Upon the Asylum (Floga Records)

Hailing from Greece, the dark and atmospheric symphonic black metal world of Drama Noir was new to me until the release of their third full-length album, Nightfall Upon The Asylum this year. This talented band delivered a haunting and powerful experience and won me over with an album that does not have a single second of filler, not a moment of weakness – it is intensely creative and exciting throughout. There is so much talent in this band, clearly, and everything and everyone has a place and a purpose. The drums and vocals stand out to me but the bass, the guitars, the orchestration – nothing works unless all of it works. In that, the thing that really stands out the most is how well put together each individual song is with them all having a very clear identity yet fitting perfectly together on the album. Make no mistake, this is one of the best albums you are likely to hear this year.

Carl – Number 6
Ghosts of Atlantis – Riddles of the Sycophants (Hammerheart Records)

Their second album is a step up in all departments, but none more than the grandeur. This is a massive sounding Ghosts of Atlantis and the songs reflect that. Grandiose, but also incredibly heavy, it shows a deepening of their storytelling and song-writing abilities. It holds several of my favourite Ghosts of Atlantis’ songs overall now.

Brendan – Number 6
Orbit Culture – Descent (Seek and Strike Records)

Wow – what an album, by Orbit Culture. What a year they had with music offered that has made it into my top 10 albums, my top tracks of the year and top 10 EP lists this year. A band I liked but didn’t follow too closely turned my world on its head with the release of Descent. It’s an album full of such power and force, so dark and heavy yet so catchy and infectious, it almost beggars belief. Descent is a band hitting that golden spot, where everything just comes together, and you create your masterpiece. Can Orbit Culture ever top this? Well, maybe – time will tell – and for me, I will be on that journey watching and listening thanks to the fan I became through the quality of Descent. A spectacular release.

Carl – Number 5
Ofnus – Time Held Me Grey And Dying (Naturmacht Productions)

UK atmospheric and melodic black metal band Ofnus are a new revelation in British black metal and Time Held Me Grey and Dying is a stunning debut release. Filled with harshness and callous rawness, but balanced out by grander atmospheric moments that oozes emotion. Expect their name to spoken in the same reverence as the other UK black metal greats as time goes by.

Brendan – Number 5
Dragoncorpse – The Drakkath Saga (Shattered Earth Records)

Dragoncorpse unveiled a mind boggling, genre challenging work of art with The Drakkath Saga. It’s refreshing and exciting to listen to, taking a ton of different sub genres into the mixing pot and coming out with a style that truly is quite unique. The talent in the band, the ability to perform so many styles expertly is jaw dropping, the composition of the songs, the intelligently used orchestral elements and the clever interlude structure also makes the whole album flow immeasurably well. I absolutely adored every second of the experience, maybe taking 30 to 45 seconds to adjust at the beginning because it defies expectation in a wonderful way. It’s been a large part of the soundtrack to my year with their song “Undying” possibly being my most played track of the year.

Carl – Number 4
Thumos – Symposium (Snow Wolf Records)

US progressive post-metal band Thumos’ ‘theatrical’ presentation of Plato’s famous dialogue on the god of love, Eros. Richly detailed, technically impressive, dramatic, and atmospheric, Thumos’ new album is both familiar and different in equal measures. Heady themes, heavy emotion, thought-provoking and executed immeasurably well. It demands your full attention, and your full attention is what you’ll give it.

Brendan – Number 4
Ghosts of Atlantis – Riddles of the Sycophants (Hammerheart Records)

Another Ghosts of Atlantis album, another place in my top albums of the year. GOA have again managed to bring a concept to life on Riddles of the Sycophants. The continuation from their debut into this new album is there in concept and sound but the band have grown significantly too and there are clear evolutions in the song writing, song and album structure and overall sound. This is still the Ghosts of Atlantis we have come to love, just bigger and bolder. Helped by the addition of different vocal tones, choirs, solos and more, the band have more directions to turn in. These songs, all of them, impress me so much in how often they change, how many transitions there are, yet, somehow, it all flows, all feels so very natural. The songs twist, they turn, they writhe and pulse and leave you feeling hypnotised, awe struck and often a little emotional in an album that comfortably makes it into the top spots in this list.

Carl – Number 3
Urne – A Feast on Sorrow (Candlelight Records)

A deeply personal record, Urne blew just about everyone away with this release. A step up in almost every area, not just improving upon Serpent & Spirit, but by moving forward and sounding even more polished. This is Urne, and this is A Feast on Sorrow. One of the most immersive records you will hear all year. From the instrumental power, to the vast vocals, and incredibly powerful lyrical content, this album delivers.

Brendan – Number 3
Serenity – Nemesis AD (Napalm Records)

I guess it should come as no real surprise that I, being a fan of power and symphonic metal, have really enjoyed Nemesis AD. It is a great album from a band I have really come to admire over the years. Serenity really are one of the most talented and capable bands we have in this genre. They are wonderful song writers and really capture the magic and emotion of each tale, each concept they delve in to. I’m a big fan of Georg Neuhauser’s voice as well which obviously helps but mostly, I just always come out of a Serenity listening feeling emotional, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but I always feel something and on Nemesis AD, it is a rollercoaster of those emotions and my 3rd favourite album of 2023.

Carl – Number 2
Din of Celestial Birds – The Night Is for Dreamers (A Cheery Wave/A Thousand Arms Music)

The debut album of the Leeds instrumental cinematic post-rockers Din of Celestial Birds. It has such a dynamic sound, intricate detail, and narratives weaved into its instrumental soundscape. Telling stories without the use of a vocalist. An impossible task for many, but one that Din of Celestial Birds makes seem so easy. This was much anticipated, and it surpassed expectations. The word is ‘brilliant’ and no-one who lets this record fully envelop them, will come away thinking differently.

Brendan – Number 2
The Circle – Of Awakening (AOP Records)

The Circle’s Of Awakening blew my tiny little mind when it released in August and continues to impress me and stay in my rotation many months later. It is dark, morose, heavy yet somehow beautiful and a truly engaging piece of art. There is a lot going on, many components crafted expertly to make these magical compositions and it showcases some serious talent in this band and in their song writing ability. The flow of each track, and the album, is hypnotic and a treat for your ears and your soul. Within all of the blackened beauty, there is plenty of powerful and emotive brutality too. I adore this album and am so excited to see what the future holds for The Circle.

Carl – Number 1
Underdark – Managed Decline (Church Road Records)

Combining black metal and post metal, you couldn’t have gotten a more perfect album for my taste. Telling a deep story over three generations, Managed Decline is about the degradation experienced by the residents of a post-industrial town in the Midlands. It’s a behemoth with only seven tracks and I’ve probably listened to this album more than any other this year, and it’s only been out since November 24th.

Brendan – Number 1
Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (Metal Blade Records)

It actually got quite close for a bit, having been my favourite album of the year for such a long time then having albums from the likes of Serenity, Ghosts of Atlantis and Orbit Culture drop later that year but, a little internal debate made me realise that I still don’t skip a single song from this album, ever, so it gets my top marks. Cattle Decapitation hit it out of the park for me with Terrasite, taking all their best elements from albums like Death Atlas and just turning it all up a bit more. A bit heavier at times, a bit more anthemic, a bit more in the way of vocal change ups – its everything I love about this band on an album of nonstop, consistent quality and my favourite album of 2023.