Top 10 Albums of 2023

[Glasser]

There's still a few releases I need to get to before I post mine. Shepherds Reign is coming out this month and I like what I heard so far. Polynesian metal by a bunch of Samoan dudes! 

[TAC]

There's still a few releases I need to get to before I post mine. Shepherds Reign is coming out this month and I like what I heard so far. Polynesian metal by a bunch of Samoan dudes! 

I heard when it's finishes you feel like you want to hear Samoa.













I'm so sorry.

[Glasser]

[Glasser]

Updated list…


1. Avenged Sevenfold - Life is But a Dream…
2. In Flames - Foregone
3. Faintest Idea - The Road to Sedition
4. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An 5. Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
5. Ghost - Phantomime
6. The Bar Stool Preachers - Above the Static
7. Enslaved - Heimdal
8. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
9. The Dirty Nil - Free Reign to Passions
10. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are

11. Beyond the Lamplight - Don't Forget to Leave It All Behind
12. Better Lovers - God Made Me An Animal
13. Stoned Jesus - Father Light
14. Haken - Fauna
15. Ihsahn - Fascination Street Sessions
16. Messa - Live at Roadburn
17. The Ocean - Holocene
18. Sigh - The Eastern Forces of Evil 2022 Live
19. Drain - Living Proof
20. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hag
21. Mutoid Man - Mutants
22. Joe Hisaishi - A Symphonic Celebration - Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki
23. Death Pill - Death Pill
24. Thy Catafalque - Alföld
25. Rancid - Tomorrow Never Comes
26. Nospūn - Opus
27. Periphery - Periphery V: Djent is Not a Genre
28. Ok Goodnight - The Fox and the Bird
29. Witch Ripper - The Flight After the Fall
30. The Meffs - Broken Britain, Pt. 2

This is definitely going to see some further movement soon, discovered some more great albums thanks to you guys recently.

Nice list man! Enslaved, Cattle, A7X, Haken, Nospūn probably on mine too   

[Glasser]

Forgive me Glasser, for I have sinned. As much as I love the band they ain’t cracking my top 30 at the moment. I admit, I’m just not as cool as you dude.

Once again Luke, Im sorry, I didn't mean to come off badly, I was completely joking with you brother! 

[twosuitsluke]

Forgive me Glasser, for I have sinned. As much as I love the band they ain’t cracking my top 30 at the moment. I admit, I’m just not as cool as you dude.

Once again Luke, Im sorry, I didn't mean to come off badly, I was completely joking with you brother! 

You’re good dude, no need to apologise at all!

As for my list, I’m pretty sure I have you to thank for Cattle Decapitaton and Nospūn.

I think you’d like the Sigh, Drain, and Death Pill albums, check em out.

[Glasser]

I do like Sigh, a lot actually. You're right, that's a top 10 easily.

[twosuitsluke]

I do like Sigh, a lot actually. You're right, that's a top 10 easily.

You should definitely check out Drain and Death Pill. Not many around these parts would probably like these albums but I know you would. They’re both really short as well, so wouldn’t take much to spin them both.

[Glasser]

I do like Sigh, a lot actually. You're right, that's a top 10 easily.

You should definitely check out Drain and Death Pill. Not many around these parts would probably like these albums but I know you would. They’re both really short as well, so wouldn’t take much to spin them both.

I absolutely will, thanks!

[cramx3]

Finally checked out a new album after a bit of a hualt to check out lots of the bands I've been seeing this summer that I wasn't too familiar with. 

Voyager - Fearless in Love definitely is shooting up my list, not to the top, but maybe into the top 10.

I've also listened to the new Bouncing Souls and Xandria.  Not sure where those will rank, need more listens but neither seem likely for top 10. (Bouncing Souls likely not even top 20)

I still have the new Greta Van Fleet, Rancid and Mammoth WVH on my phone to check out and I'll have time soon to do that. 

[Glasser]

Struggling to find 10 "top" releases this year. A7X, In Flames, Cattle Decapitation, Metallica, Haken, Pizza Death....... There's definitely a noticeable shortage of quality releases nowadays (says the Pizza Death fan) 

[twosuitsluke]

Struggling to find 10 "top" releases this year. A7X, In Flames, Cattle Decapitation, Metallica, Haken, Pizza Death....... There's definitely a noticeable shortage of quality releases nowadays (says the Pizza Death fan) 

I know what you mean dude. It is the downside of listening to so much music, unfortunately. It takes a LOT for something to really melt your brain.

There are definitely some great albums that have come out this year, but Avenged Sevenfold’s is the only one I am really in awe of.

[nick_z]

Struggling to find 10 "top" releases this year. A7X, In Flames, Cattle Decapitation, Metallica, Haken, Pizza Death....... There's definitely a noticeable shortage of quality releases nowadays (says the Pizza Death fan) 

Hey Glasser - did you check out the latest Voyager? I thought I remember you are a fan, but I might be wrong...

[Glasser]

Struggling to find 10 "top" releases this year. A7X, In Flames, Cattle Decapitation, Metallica, Haken, Pizza Death....... There's definitely a noticeable shortage of quality releases nowadays (says the Pizza Death fan) 

I know what you mean dude. It is the downside of listening to so much music, unfortunately. It takes a LOT for something to really melt your brain.

There are definitely some great albums that have come out this year, but Avenged Sevenfold’s is the only one I am really in awe of.

I have become picky to my own taste, listening to a lot of my older albums. The market is saturated and I just can't keep up with it. The new Scar Symmetry is a top 10 as well.

[Glasser]

Struggling to find 10 "top" releases this year. A7X, In Flames, Cattle Decapitation, Metallica, Haken, Pizza Death....... There's definitely a noticeable shortage of quality releases nowadays (says the Pizza Death fan) 

Hey Glasser - did you check out the latest Voyager? I thought I remember you are a fan, but I might be wrong...

I skimmed it. I love the early Voyager albums a lot, it seems they are departing from their style that drew me in. That said, I plan on giving it a fair listen being how talented Dan Estrin is.

[twosuitsluke]

Updated list again.

I do this every year, I swear I’m not gonna get sucked into listening to a stupid amount of albums and ranking them, but here we are. I’ll just post my top 30, and maybe at the end of the year post the master list of all the albums ranked…

1. Avenged Sevenfold - Life is But a Dream…
2. Faintest Idea - The Road to Sedition
3. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
4. In Flames - Foregone
5. Ghost - Phantomime
6. The Bar Stool Preachers - Above the Static
7. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
8. Distant Worlds Orchestra - Distant Worlds VI: More Music From Final Fantasy
9. Enslaved - Heimdal
10. The Dirty Nil - Free Reign to Passions

11. Haken - Fauna
12. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
13. Stoned Jesus - Father Light
14. Beyond the Lamplight - Don't Forget to Leave It All Behind
15. Better Lovers - God Made Me An Animal
16. Mutoid Man - Mutants
17. AVKRVST - The Approbation
18. Nospūn - Opus
19. Rannoch - Conflagrations
20. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium
21. Messa - Live at Roadburn
22. Sigh - The Eastern Forces of Evil 2022 Live
23. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hag
24. Ihsahn - Fascination Street Sessions
25. Ok Goodnight - The Fox and the Bird
26. Joe Hisaishi - A Symphonic Celebration - Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki
27. Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows
28. Drain - Living Proof
29. The Ocean - Holocene
30. Sarmat - Determined to Strike

[ReaperKK]

I haven't add too much to my 2023 list but here is how it shakes out now:

1. Post Malone - Austin - 5/5 (really impressed by how great this album is)
2. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - All Our Friends Are Vampires - 5/5
3. Ola Englund - The Chug Project, Vol. 1 - 4.5/5
4. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are - 4.5/5 (Surprisingly good album)
5. Jakub Zytecki - Remind Me - 4.5/5
6. Fractures - Shift - 3.5/5
7. Metallica - 72 Seasons - 3.5/5
8. Balmorhea - Pendant World - 3/5
9. Skrillex - Quest For Fire - 3/5
10. Gorillaz - Cracker Island - 2.5/5
11. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Weathervanes - 2.5/5
12. Filter - The Algorithm - 2/5 (there were some good spots here but otherwise this album isn't great)
13. Haken - Fauna - 2/5
14. The Winery Dogs - III - 2/5

[WilliamMunny]

I haven't add too much to my 2023 list but here is how it shakes out now:

1. Post Malone - Austin - 5/5 (really impressed by how great this album is)
2. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - All Our Friends Are Vampires - 5/5
3. Ola Englund - The Chug Project, Vol. 1 - 4.5/5
4. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are - 4.5/5 (Surprisingly good album)
5. Jakub Zytecki - Remind Me - 4.5/5
6. Fractures - Shift - 3.5/5
7. Metallica - 72 Seasons - 3.5/5
8. Balmorhea - Pendant World - 3/5
9. Skrillex - Quest For Fire - 3/5
10. Gorillaz - Cracker Island - 2.5/5
11. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Weathervanes - 2.5/5
12. Filter - The Algorithm - 2/5 (there were some good spots here but otherwise this album isn't great)
13. Haken - Fauna - 2/5
14. The Winery Dogs - III - 2/5

Wow...that Isbell album and the Haken release are probably my top releases for the year.

At this point, I dare to say, Fauna is my favorite (gasp!) Haken album.

[nick_z]

Updated list again.

I do this every year, I swear I’m not gonna get sucked into listening to a stupid amount of albums and ranking them, but here we are. I’ll just post my top 30, and maybe at the end of the year post the master list of all the albums ranked…

1. Avenged Sevenfold - Life is But a Dream…
2. Faintest Idea - The Road to Sedition
3. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
4. In Flames - Foregone
5. Ghost - Phantomime
6. The Bar Stool Preachers - Above the Static
7. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
8. Distant Worlds Orchestra - Distant Worlds VI: More Music From Final Fantasy
9. Enslaved - Heimdal
10. The Dirty Nil - Free Reign to Passions

11. Haken - Fauna
12. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
13. Stoned Jesus - Father Light
14. Beyond the Lamplight - Don't Forget to Leave It All Behind
15. Better Lovers - God Made Me An Animal
16. Mutoid Man - Mutants
17. AVKRVST - The Approbation
18. Nospūn - Opus
19. Rannoch - Conflagrations
20. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium
21. Messa - Live at Roadburn
22. Sigh - The Eastern Forces of Evil 2022 Live
23. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hag
24. Ihsahn - Fascination Street Sessions
25. Ok Goodnight - The Fox and the Bird
26. Joe Hisaishi - A Symphonic Celebration - Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki
27. Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows
28. Drain - Living Proof
29. The Ocean - Holocene
30. Sarmat - Determined to Strike

More than a few that I haven't checked out yet...

I'm seeing the AVKRVST record (which I very much enjoyed myself)...have you tried The Anchoret - "It All Began With Loneliness"? It's a tad heavier, but I  feel it overall has a similar mood.

[ReaperKK]

I haven't add too much to my 2023 list but here is how it shakes out now:

1. Post Malone - Austin - 5/5 (really impressed by how great this album is)
2. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - All Our Friends Are Vampires - 5/5
3. Ola Englund - The Chug Project, Vol. 1 - 4.5/5
4. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are - 4.5/5 (Surprisingly good album)
5. Jakub Zytecki - Remind Me - 4.5/5
6. Fractures - Shift - 3.5/5
7. Metallica - 72 Seasons - 3.5/5
8. Balmorhea - Pendant World - 3/5
9. Skrillex - Quest For Fire - 3/5
10. Gorillaz - Cracker Island - 2.5/5
11. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Weathervanes - 2.5/5
12. Filter - The Algorithm - 2/5 (there were some good spots here but otherwise this album isn't great)
13. Haken - Fauna - 2/5
14. The Winery Dogs - III - 2/5

Wow...that Isbell album and the Haken release are probably my top releases for the year.

At this point, I dare to say, Fauna is my favorite (gasp!) Haken album.

I liked the Jason Isbell album it just didn't click with me as much as his other work. It has some great songs, some good songs, and some forgettable songs.

The Haken album is good, Ross is the reason it's rated lower. I can't get onboard with his vocals.

[WilliamMunny]

I haven't add too much to my 2023 list but here is how it shakes out now:

1. Post Malone - Austin - 5/5 (really impressed by how great this album is)
2. A Winged Victory For The Sullen - All Our Friends Are Vampires - 5/5
3. Ola Englund - The Chug Project, Vol. 1 - 4.5/5
4. Foo Fighters - But Here We Are - 4.5/5 (Surprisingly good album)
5. Jakub Zytecki - Remind Me - 4.5/5
6. Fractures - Shift - 3.5/5
7. Metallica - 72 Seasons - 3.5/5
8. Balmorhea - Pendant World - 3/5
9. Skrillex - Quest For Fire - 3/5
10. Gorillaz - Cracker Island - 2.5/5
11. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Weathervanes - 2.5/5
12. Filter - The Algorithm - 2/5 (there were some good spots here but otherwise this album isn't great)
13. Haken - Fauna - 2/5
14. The Winery Dogs - III - 2/5

Wow...that Isbell album and the Haken release are probably my top releases for the year.

At this point, I dare to say, Fauna is my favorite (gasp!) Haken album.

I liked the Jason Isbell album it just didn't click with me as much as his other work. It has some great songs, some good songs, and some forgettable songs.

The Haken album is good, Ross is the reason it's rated lower. I can't get onboard with his vocals.

Hey, fair enough.

While I'm of the opinion that Ross has come a long way in the vocals department, I will be the first to admit that he's a lot like JLB–pretty much love or hate.

[Qrusher14242]

Not a ton of "great' albums released this year but there were some good ones. Not many i have listened to a lot though

1. Voyager - Fearless in Love
2. Arjen Lucassen's Supersonic Revolution - Golden Age of Music
3. Redemption  I Am the Storm
4. Eclipse - Megalomanium
5. Ray Alder - III
6. Jag Panzer - The Hallowed
7. UDO - Touchdown
8. Metal Church - Congregation of Annhiliation
9. Overkill - Scorched
10. Archon Angel - II

Flower Kings just came out and Subsignal later this month so those may top these, but not sure.Last year there were a ton of good albums, but its kinda light this year at least for what i listen to.

[ariich]

At this point, I dare to say, Fauna is my favorite (gasp!) Haken album.

Yay!

*hugs*

[The Curious Orange]

I quite like Haken, but I've never been that into them. Fauna is a good album, but there's something missing. 72 Seasons is a great album, really enjoyed it, but there's a feeling Metallica are just going through the motions at this point, there's no real artistry there. I'm loving Six by Extreme, but there's too many truly naff songs on it.
In short, I haven't heard a truly great album yet this year. If this carries on, my favourite album of the year may well be an award not given this year (not that anyone cares!)

[Zydar]

Going over the release date calendar thread, there's not much more for me of interest this year. There's Steven Wilson, Rolling Stones, and D'Virgilio/Morse/Jennings left this year.

And I agree with The Curious Orange above - there's been good albums but not one truly great that stands out for me this year. We'll see what will end up as my #1, but as of now I have no clue. Maybe Foo Fighters.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

i won't begin to compile my favorites until december probably, but there's been a lot of good stuff this year! my personal list is up to 190 2023 release i've heard

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

At this point, I dare to say, Fauna is my favorite (gasp!) Haken album.

Yay!

*hugs*

Oh boy, don't hate me, but I actually haven't even listened to it yet....

I suppose I should do that.....soon...

[The Curious Orange]

Think I've just heard what might be my favourite album of the year - Mother Road by Grace Potter.

[cramx3]

My current rankings....

Avenged Sevenfold - Life Is But A dream
Delain - Dark Waters
Ad Infinitum - Chapter III - Downfall
Haken - Fauna
Voyager - Fearless in Love
Avatar - Dance Devil Dance
VV - Neon Noir
Greta Van Fleet - Starcatcher
Kamelot - The Awakening
Xandria - The Wonders Still Awaiting
The Winery Dogs - III
Babymetal - The Other One
In Flames - Forgone
Metallica - 72 Seasons
Bouncing Souls - Ten Stories High
Rancid - Tomorrow Never Comes
Steel Panther - On The Prowl

Still some other new albums already out that I need to check out, should get more time to explore new music after this week.  Also going to the Code Orange album release show next week so I'll have to check their new album out too.

[twosuitsluke]

Nice list Cram! As a fellow punk fan I’d suggest checking out…

Faintest Idea - The Road to Sedition (ska punk)
The Bar Stool Preachers - Above the Static (pop punk)
The Dirty Nil - Free Reign to Passions (kinda pop punk ish)

Really great albums!

[Trav86]

Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II is my number one of the year easily. I’ve yet to hear anything that can dethrone it.

[cramx3]

Nice list Cram! As a fellow punk fan I’d suggest checking out…

Faintest Idea - The Road to Sedition (ska punk)
The Bar Stool Preachers - Above the Static (pop punk)
The Dirty Nil - Free Reign to Passions (kinda pop punk ish)

Really great albums!

Nice, not sure when/if I'll get to these but I'll keep it in mind.  I know we've got a lot of similar tastes so I wouldn't be surprised if these are solid. (although I'm generally not a huge pop punk fan, even though I've seen like 20 pop punk concerts the last two years  )

Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II is my number one of the year easily. I’ve yet to hear anything that can dethrone it.

This has been on my list for awhile now to check out since seeing Mammoth WVH on their album release date opening for Metallica.  I just haven't gotten around to it.  Having said that, I also didn't love a couple of the singles so that's proabbly why I haven't gotten to it.  Definitely hoping the meat of the album is good though, got my tickets to see them again this fall.

[lonestar]

Tesseract - War of Being is passing OK Goodnight on them left to take my top spot.

[cramx3]

Tesseract - War of Being is passing OK Goodnight on them left to take my top spot.

I was looking at local venues yesterday to see if there were shows before the end of the year that I may want to check out.  I've never actually listened to Tesseract, maybe I should chekc out the album and potentially go to the show if I enjoy it.

[lonestar]

Tesseract - War of Being is passing OK Goodnight on them left to take my top spot.

I was looking at local venues yesterday to see if there were shows before the end of the year that I may want to check out.  I've never actually listened to Tesseract, maybe I should chekc out the album and potentially go to the show if I enjoy it.

I wouldn't miss them if I were you. They're pretty amazing live. For someone who likes to take chances, this is a chance you should definitely take