The title says everything, i'll go first:

Dodheimsgard - Black medium current / prog/avantgarde black metal
Nightmarer - Deformity adrift / dissodeath/deathcore-ish
Spirit possession - Of the sign... / weird wobbly punkish black metal
Lunar Chamber - Shambhallic vibrations / prog death
SARMAT - Determined to strike / free jazz/jazz fusion death metal
Kostnateni - Upal / weird black metal/noise rock
Nithing - Agonal hymns / ultra brutal weird death metal
'Oplitis - Pseudomeni / avantgarde black metal/mathcore-ish

Potential candidates: Thy darkened shade, Theophonos, The zenith passage (when it drops) Blut aus nord (when it drops), Bolzer (if they drop im positive it will go to the list), Porenut, Impetuous ritual, Fleshvessel (when it drops), Petrale, Entropia, Pestilenght, Mesarthim, Vanesburg Cathedral

The best albums I've heard this year came from:

Helleruin - Black metal with hooks that doesn't sacrifice the extremity. This is a must listen.

Inherits the Void - Techy, spacey black metal that pushes the boundaries without sounding like pretentious wank.

Ulthar - Tech death with hints of black. Maybe it's the fact that I've got it on vinyl, but every song leaves a mark.


We also enjoyed strong albums from Enslaved, Immortal, and Overkill, all of whom need no introduction.

Oh boy, mid-year reports! Got a batch of them here:

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/DemonFang/top-albums-of-2023/

Till Bolzer cough up im cheating and going with...

ISOLANT - Drain. Yeah its a EP but i just love the whole mechanical doomy vibe of this. (plus its nearly 30mins long so almost/kinda there).

So far, I have two contenders:

Ulfud-Of Existential Distortion: There is nothing new or groundbreaking on this, but the riffcraft and songwriting is just so damn excellent.

Ruim-Black Royal Spiritism - I​.​ O Sino da Igreja: So, I definitely do not buy the story that this is an album of leftover/rediscovered Mayhem riffs from 96/97, BUT, this album is still a complete mindfuck and is on par with Blasphemer’s best work with Mayhem.

My list so far:

1 - Sól Án Varma - Sól Án Varma
Some of the best Icelandic black metal I've ever heard. So much better than the two previous Misthyrming albums.

2 - Khanate - To Be Cruel
Incredible drone/doom album from one of the best bands in the genre. Bone chilling lyrics from the mind of a maniac.

3 - Miserere Luminis - Ordalie
Not as good as the previous Gris album but it's still some impressive melodic and melancholic black metal album.

4 - Nightmarer - Deformity Adrift
Think Ulcerate meets Meshuggah. It shouldn't work but it's actually pretty cool dissonant death metal. A bit two short but their previous EP was included with my copy of the album and they both fit perfectly.

5 - Burial Hordes - Ruins
Members of Dead Congregation playing black/death. It has some cool Bolzer-isms that I find pretty cool.

6 - Altari - Kröflueldar
Another great Icelandic band from the ashes of Abominor. Sounds like a mix of black metal and post punk. Of course this website doesn't consider it metal but who cares, we all know this site is wrong most of the times.

7 - Spirit Possession - Of the Sign…
Like a punkish version of Katharsis, some of the most deranged black metal of the year.

8 - Thanatomass - Hades
This one isn't as punkish as Spirit Possession but it's also some pretty cool Katharsis worship, some of the most deranged black metal of the year x2.

9 - Kostnatění - Úpal
Turkish melodies meets dissonant metal. Another album that shouldn't work but it's actually crazy good.

10 - Entropia - Total
Cool mix of progressive metal with some black metal.

11 - RuïM - Black Royal Spiritism – I – O Sino da Igreja
Some great moments on this one. I'm still digesting it and it's a bit overproduced but Blasphemer delivered again.

12 - Balmog - Covenants of Salt
Shame it's only an EP, another great addition to this Spanish black metal band catalogue. Super underrated, some 80s and psychedelic influence on this one though not as strong as on their previous one (Eve).

13 - Ulthar - Helionomicon
14 - Ulthar - Anthronomicon
Two great old school death metal albums, a bit on the technical side. I prefer Helionomicon but both are great. Same guy as Spirit Possession, crazy cool riffs.

15 - VoidCeremony - Threads of Unknowing
Not as cool as de debut for some reason but still good. This one is also technical old school death metal.

16 - Bell Witch - Future's Shadow Part 1: The Clandestine Gate
It's mellow and catchy. Maybe a bit too long and not as memorable as Mirror Reaper but I think it's a good funeral doom album.

So far my top albums... all metal!
Megaton Sword - Might and Power
Gatekeeper - From Western Shores
Overkill - Scorched
Wings of Steel - Gates of Twilight
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
Metal Church - Congregation of Annihilation
Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament

Redemption, Sortilege, Obituary, Smoulder, Ascension, Blood Star, Century, Tanith, Savage Grace, Enforced, Anthem, Fifth Angel and Jag Panzer have all made albums I am enjoying but need to spend more time with.

I made the same kind of thread around the same time last year, haha! Right after the mid-year poll, it feels like a good moment to look back on the releases from the first half of the year for sure.

So here are my top picks for AOTY 2023 so far:

1. Ahab - The Coral Tombs : As always, solid funeral doom with death metal elements and a focus on nautical litterature in the lyrical themes. The album has some lighter moments and some more melodic ones in-between the heavier funeral doom and death metal sections that really makes for nice contrasts. This one is my top contender right now.

2. ...and Oceans - As in Gardens, So in Tombs : I'm usually not a big fan of electronics in symphonic black metal, but here they are used with parsimony, and they really complement the music, or bring some punch to some sections. Otherwise, it's just a very well-crafted black metal record that doesn't sacrifice riffing or song-writing in favor of symphonics or electronics.

3. Frozen Soul - Glacial Domination : Killer death metal album à la Bolt Thrower with hardcore elements and some solid grooves here and there. I think it's even better then their debut, which was already absolutely amazing!

4. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse : I was very surprised with this 2nd "metal" album by KG&TLW. Their previous effort in metal was good, but nothing mind-blowing. But here, damn does this one rip! It's everything that makes King Gizzard amazing, prog and psychedelic elements, but mixed tastefully with some great old-school speed metal elements and stoner metal/rock elements. A superb concept album about the apocalypse, caused by humans of course, but mixed with some weird witchcraft, conjuring of big ass monsters, dragons and other crazy stuff. I love it!

5. Pest Control - Don’t Test the Pest : Very solid crossover thrash à la Power Trip. It's a short record, but it delivers some killer, fast-paced tracks, and everything on this is mixed so well. The bass is crushing, the guitars are lacerating, and I love the vocals!

6. Majesties - Vast Reaches Unclaimed : Have you ever wondered what In Flames would sound like today if they were still good? Well, search no more. Vast Reaches Unclaimed is for you. This is some sweet old-school melodic death metal. I like it even better then some of the earliest outputs of the Gothenburg scene. Great stuff!

7. Chuch of Misery - Born Under a Mad Sign: Great stoner doom metal from legendary japanese band Church of Misery, as always. They truly are one of the best, and this last release is a proof that they are still a force to reckon with.

8. Nightmarer - Deformity Adrift : Solid dissodeath à la Ulcerate, Gorguts or Ad Nauseam with dark, bone-chilling atmospheres. I might have a little preference for their previous EP over this right now, but it doesn't mean that this new LP is not solid.

9. Kalmah - Kalmah : I wouldn't call this a return to form for Kalmah, but it sure shows some elements of their first three LP's mixed with their more modern approach to melodic death metal. Kalmah is a band that's at least good on all their records, and sometimes they release truly amazing stuff. I think this new one is one of the of their discography.

I have also enjoyed these a lot, but will need to revisit them to make a good, proper opinion:

The Ocean - Holocene
Imperium Dekadenz - Into Sorrow Evermore
Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust
Lamp of Murmurr - Saturnian Bloodstorm
Úlfúð - Of Existential Distortion
Lustre - Reverence
Non Est Deus - Legacy
Nattehimmel - Mourningstar
Haken - Fauna
Frozen Dawn - The Decline of the Enlightened Gods
Slog - Divination
Runemagick - Beyond the Cenotaph of Mankind
Thantifaxath - Hive Mind Narcosis
Dawn Ray’d - To Know The Light
Plague Bearer - Summoning Apocalyptic Devastation

Dodheimsgard - Black Medium Current - some of the more strikingly original metal music of the year for sure; a brilliant work that utilizes the full scope of its sonic abilities, riffs, silence, dynamics, long songs... wonderful sonic feast.

Excalion - Once Upon a Time - great, exuberant, heartfelt PM, no bad tunes, some of their heaviest and most complex music.

Blood Star - First Sighting - seamless, flawless classic metal, a great sense of bounce and groove, endless catchy hooks.

Dawn Ray'd - To Know the Light - immensely meaningful, cathartic music, wonderfully rebellious lyrics, dynamic and emotive music.

Smoulder - Violent Creed of Vengeance - heavy, hammering fucking trad metal. Absolutely on point and a great new talent on the scene.

Wytch Hazel - IV Sacrament - some of the most heartfelt music of the year.

Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold - Traditional power metal that really works because they took it so seriously - a meticulous, beautiful piece of work.

https://ardwisur.bandcamp.com/album/ardwisur-2 Ambient

https://ettinskjalf.bandcamp.com/album/ ... d-delusion Jumpy Black Metal

https://ebonypendant.bandcamp.com/album/ebony-pendant Raw Seattle Black Metal


https://amun.bandcamp.com/album/spectra-and-obsession Extremely Lengthy Folkish Black Metal

The new Fen album seems to be one of the better albums around and definitely a crowning achievement for the band itself.

I'm going to make a division between albums that are almost sure to be in my top 10 (although between now and December things may change) and potential top 10 but not sure.

(Almost) Sure Top 10:

Obituary-Dying Of Everything: There hasn't been an Obituary album I've liked this much since Cause of Death, for me an unexpected comeback being faithful to their style already evolved after a long career and taking it to its maximum level.

Hellripper-Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags: Every song is pure energy, it's full of distinctive and memorable moments, it's a work that exudes a youthful vibe but at the same time calibrated by a veteran mind, James has really put his best in this release.

Ὁπλίτης(Hoplites)-Τρωθησομένη: Technical and complex as well as adventurous. I find it incredible how he channels so much into such short songs, it takes my breath away. As of today it's in my top 1 so far this year.

Khanate-To be cruel: I listened to it for the first time on June 18th, and since that day I couldn't help but get addicted to this release, I still have to check all his previous catalogue but this album alone is incredibly good, it makes me feel miserable at the same time that it scares me with that vocal performance.




Potential top 10

Thy Darkened Shade-Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya: First album I listened to from 2023 back at the beginning of the year, I liked it but I found it hard to swallow and I haven't gone back to it much, I have to listen to it more closely.

Twilight Force-In the Heart of Wintervale: I'm actually a bit of a fan of the hyper mega cheesy, Disney-esque Twilight Force style of music that is Twilight Force, I don't think any of their releases will make it into my favourites of the year or of all time in general, but they are a comfort band that I like to listen to and they are very good at what they do, even if not everyone can dig it.

Soulmass-Let Us Prey: Another one I listened to earlier this year and liked it but I haven't gone back to it. It has potential but maybe it gets a bit lost in its compositions and lacks ambition, but maybe future listens will take away that idea.

Ὁπλίτης(Hoplites)-Ψευδομένη: I think this release has attracted more attention on social media, probably because it was the first one. For me it also deserves to be in my top 10 if I didn't apply the rule of one release per band. Even so, the second one does the same but even better.

Enforcer-Nostalgia: I like Enforcer, I like what they do and how they do it (including Zenith) and here they basically offer a mix of everything they have done so far, from speed metal to heavy metal with AOR elements and with that they have won me over.

Catacomb-When The Stars Are Right: I don't think it will make my top 10 but I liked the approach of such a veteran band on their debut album, the production has an old school feel but without being redundant making it very interesting.

Immortal-War Agaisnt All: I don't understand many of the criticisms of this album, it differs little from the previous work, it's still Immortal doing things in their own style with a more than functional result. There are better parts and worse parts but an album like this is always going to be at least a 8 for me.

Triumpher-Storming The Walls: Greeks doing Manowar worship? I'm in! Seriously, the more I listen to this album the more I like it, it's great and it's direct with it, it asks you to take it seriously and you end up doing it because the energy it radiates is simply too strong for any mortal.

The Evil-Seven Acts Towards the Apocalypse: I liked their debut, I thought it was a more than competent stoner/doom album. But with this one they have simply raised the bar, more interesting songwriting, more riffs, more hooks and a more ambitious vocal performance.

Lovebites- Judgement Day: In an effort to prove they can survive without one of their primary songwriters, Miho, they decide to go full Speed (as in the movie where the bomb blues up if the bus goes below 50 mph). They more or less succeed.

Frozen Crown- Call of the North: This band keeps getting better and better. The fact that this band isn't hyped like crazy right now offends me. Power metal with the occasional modern djenty drum rhythm and damn good harmony vocals throughout. Lacuna who?

1) Hellripper 'Warlocks grim & withered hags'
2) Enforced 'War remains'
3) Blodtår 'Det förtegna förflutna'
4) Tsjuder 'Helvegr'
5) Arrogant Destruktor 'Written in blood from the blade'
6) Smoulder 'Violent creed of vengeance'
7) Cloak 'Black flame eternal'
8) Non Est Deus 'Legacy'
9) Siege of Power 'This is tomorrow'
10) Azaghal 'Alttarimme on luista tehty'

I'd say about half of these are set in stone for the final list although probably not in that order (apart from the first two, I can't see them going anywhere unless something drastic happens, such as a new Mgla album or something).

My current top 10 is:

1) Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) - Τ​ρ​ω​θ​η​σ​ο​μ​έ​ν​: Wildly playful and over the top mathy dissoblack. Basically just the dude taking all the silliest ideas he has and doing them as fast as humanly possible. Makes me grin like an idiot.

2) Impetuous Ritual - Iniquitous Barbarik Synthesis: Wall of distorted bullshit for sure but this one has some kinda BDM-y palm muted chugs and HEAP of portal squiggle riffs on it so it's a pretty interesting wall.

3) Heáfodbán - Heáfodbán: A much better full length expansion than expected, while I found it fun the prior EP did come across as a bit of a joke with the dance punky playfulness paired with raw BM being such a silly idea, but in this one they've pushed the raw BM up to war metal intensity and kept the silly parts a little more reined in and it's got that perfect balance between legitimately badass and wildly surprising.

4) Arnaut Pavle - Transilvanian Glare: Best black/punk band going around. They don't do anything specifically different, they're just better at it than everyone else.

5) 7H. Target - Yantra Creating: Some chunky ass tech slam with a bunch of ridiculous genre bending divergences. Silly but hard af seems to be a consistent trend for me this year.

6) Kostnatění - Úpal: Not as wild and brutal as their fantastic debut, but still some mindbendingly technical dissoblack with a really strong sense melody except all the notes are six frets away from each other.

7) Ὁπλίτης (Hoplites) - Ψευδομένη: Pretty solid Serpent Column worship, is a lot more mature than the follow up but I like the absurdity of the other one more.

8) Torsofuck - Postpartum Exstacy: Absurdly brutal brutal death metal which isn't distracted by being groovy or techy like most modern stuff, just goes hard at a level or raw brutality I haven't seen a while. Samples are far, far too long though, it's literally half sample and they're stupid.

9) Runemagick - Beyond the Cenotaph of Mankind: Real good return to form for these guys, balances that traddy doom with the deathy doom really nicely so it's heavy and nasty while still quite large in scale and fun.

10) Devangelic - Xul: Nile at home but like, not in a disappointing way.

I don't think the year has had much really top end stuff so far so I'm hopeful a large portion of this will drop off into the "neat also ran" tiers. Like my #3 wouldn't have made my top 20 last year.

Obituary - Dying of Everything. What a great album. I did a run through of their discography not long ago and was surprised by just how good this is compared to everything they've done since Cause of Death.

Profane Order - One Nightmare Onto Another. Vicious war metal with enough biting riffs and visceral rage to set it apart. Think Revenge but with more discernible guitars. Really great stuff.

Man Must Die - The Pain Behind It All. Great return after ten years with one of the best albums ever from this Scottish death metal group. It maintains the melodic sensibilities, technicality, and unhinged anger of their previous work, but couples it with more progressive ideas that remind me of what Napalm Death has been experimenting with on their later albums. Plenty of variety and catchy stuff here.

Plague Bearer - Summoning Apocalyptic Devastation. Really love that primitive blackened death metal sound here. It hearkens back to a time when the two genres hadn't quite separated yet. Nice riffs throughout and even some catchy moments, especially on the closing track.

Other albums that I've enjoyed but need to spend more time with are:

Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy
Enforced - War Remains
Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust
Judiciary - Flesh + Blood

Coffinborn's Cadaveric Retribution was pretty cool too, though probably a bit too generic to make it onto my Top 10.

It’s all about the new Gatekeeper for me, takes everything I liked about East of Sun and gives it better production and tighter songwriting with a perfect balance of scope and catchiness. Twisted Towers lives rent free in my head.

Church of Misery, Stoned Jesus, Acid King, Mansion, Oceanlord, Blood Star, Margarita Death Cult, Smoulder, and Blazon Rite are currently rounding out my top ten. As somebody who’s gotten burned out on the genre in the last couple years, it’s been a surprisingly great year for stoner doom!

So far.

Same description applies. Power metal that reminds me why I loved Power Metal so much in the 90s.

Top of the list. - Warlord meets Land of the Free. That solo. That voice.
Second- Manowar meets early Hellenic Bathory-esque Black Metal? That chorus.

You're in for a treat, all their albums are great.

Demoniac - Granada

The Chilean "So It Goes" Demoniac, are releasing their third album September 1st. First single is great to my ears, 4th most enjoyable listen in. Clarinet and melodies are back. All Spanish this time around. Vocals the same, I prefer them on their thrashiest not their blackest but other than that, definite list candidate.

My top 2 so far are these but reversed.

Kruelty - Untopia
Tribunal - The Weight of Remembrance
Triumpher - Storming the Walls
Lamp of Murmuur - Saturnian Bloodstorm
Ruim - Black Royal Spiritism

I guess this would be a handful of faves so far this year off the top of my head. I've dug a bunch of others as well that I'll spend more time with. Gotta say that the new Smoulder is a bit of a bummer for me -- I was so looking forward to it but I like the debut way more. I dunno, I'll keep listening because clearly most people disagree.

The new At The Altar Of The Horned God - Heart Of Silence (I, Voidhanger Records); The debut was a curiosity unto itself with its uneven yet interesting weaving of black metal and ritual music of sorts, but this one, their second effort sees this Spanish one man band develop even further, walking even deeper into that left-hand, left-field forest of darkness and dark sounds, making this sophomore album one of the most interesting, most esoteric blends of dark ambient, ritual ambient, spoken word, black metal, electronica and hellish soundscapes all tightly and masterfully delivered.

These 2 are also in my current top 5 with Sacred Outcry's being head and shoulders above anything else. I just love this album so much, flawless and gorgeous and there is 0% chance anything else will top it for me this year.

Some of my favorites so far without any particular order:

Wretched Fate - Carnal Heresy, melodic old school death metal in the veins of Bloodbath.
Rotten Sound - Apocalypse, grindcore, for sure one of their stronger releases in recent years.
Imperial Demonic - Beneath the Crimson Eclipse, catchy fast black metal.
Stillbirth - Homo Deus, brutal death metal/deathcore, fast and groovy.
Demon King - Vesania, blackened technical death metal
Fatuous Rump - I Am at Your Disposal, brutal slam death metal, groovy, pure fun, best vocals by boss man Larry Wang.
Kill Division - Thoughts and Prayers, deathgrind, simple and catchy, those vocals by Kyle Symons voff.
Vomitory - All Heads Are Gonna Roll

Spotify playlist: Best of 2023 by Rowolta

Surprised to see this degree of fondness for Blood Star from you given your general lack of affection for their retro heavy revival contemporaries (some of who also kick ass and destroy at Hells Heroes). Really dig this album as well.

Blood Star just know how to write songs better for my tastes. I try and keep open minded and listen for the stuff I like.

I am going to add a few.

Narnia - Ghost Town/ I underestimated this album. It is a masterpiece. Very passionate performance from Rivel. I also love the keys on this one.

Vultures Gathering - The Hunt/ This is the most immediate album I have listened to all year. Chaz Bond is an amazing vocalist.

Alcatrazz - Take No Prisoners/ This one threw me off. V was more of a euro metal feel but this is more rock. Excellent.

Megaton Sword - Might and Power/ great epic stuff that makes me think of Heavy Load and Manowar and Uzzy Unchained is my favorite vocalist of any band that debuted in the last 20 years.

Gatekeeper - From Western Shores/epic stuff. Love that new vocalist.

Overkill - Scorched/ this is one of their best albums.

Wings of Steel - Gates of Twilight/ This band reminds me of so many greats, Riot, Queensryche, Fifth Angel, Crimson Glory and even Whitesnake. Great HR/HM with first rate vocalist and guitarist.

Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold/Outstanding! that is all I can say.

Metal Church - Congregation of Annihilation/ I like these guys first 5 albums. They are not my favorites though. I am beginning to think this is their best album.

Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament/Such a refreshing sound. I think that how someone described this who said they listened to the new Metallica and then this. Agreed.

Great tip. Thanks. Listening to it right now!

My top 3 this year is non-metal so far but afa metal goes the new Arkona (Kob) and Ne Obliviscaris (Exul) are contenders.

so far:

Thy Catafalque - Alfold (black experimental folk, whenever they release a new album usually goes into my top list. Best album i've heard this year so far)

Blackbraid - Blackbraid II (indian themed black metal, for me their best album to date. And Bathory's cover is fantastic)

Dodheimsgard - Black Medium Current (avantgarde black metal, any album from DHG is great and once again they successfully reinvent themselves)

Enslaved - Heimdal (it's hard t describe how good these guys are. Consistent and solid discography all around. Heimdal will go down as one of their best)

Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite (still not as good as Monolith but close. Another great album by these grindcore/death metal titans)

...And Oceans - As in Gardens, So in Tombs (top notch melodic black metal, this and their previous are must haves if you like this sub genre)

Afsky - Om Hundrede Ar (on their way to become a household name in black metal, this album proves the "hype" is deserved)

Mork - Dypet (finally Mork were able to materialize their potential. Mixing black and doom and writing very catchy songs)

Kommand - Death Age (bolt thrower worship but i don't care. What a banger of an album!)

Deitus - Irreversible (came across these guys on bandcamp and was immediately hooked on their melodies. Fantastic black metal album)

Khanate - To Be Cruel (it's hard to describe this. Do you enjoy uncomfortable music? If yes, this is for you)

Sworn - A Journey Told Through Fire (black metal promotion tuned me on these guys. Awesome epic melodies that transport to other dimensions)

Runemagick - Beyond the Cenotaph of Mankind (90s death doom classic band. Very good comeback)

Thumos - Symposium (Random discovery on bandcamp. Instrumental post rock with sprinkles of doom. Pretty solid album.)

Overkill - Scorched (solid thrash album, kind of lengthy for its own sake, but enjoyable)

Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars (i'm a massive Katatonia fan, but this is by far their worst record to date. Why is it here then? Because even if it's the lower point, they're still able to pull out songs like Atrium, Impermanence, Opaline, Birds and No Beacon to Illuminate Our Fall)

Ahab - The Coral Tombs (good continuation on their discography, although it didn't fill my measures the same way the others did, still pretty solid and original)

Metallica - 72 Seasons (people can talk whatever they want, but 72 season is a pretty solid album. Yes it's not perfect, some songs should be cut in half and the production is a tad soulless, but come on, songs like 72 Seasons, Shadows Follow, Chasing Light, Room of Mirrors and Inamorata are instant classics and much better songs than 90% of the post-90 material)

Burden Of Ymir - Heorot (folk black metal with very cool and catchy melodies, been singing the first track for months already)

The Night Eternal - Fatale (this is a grower and maybe it may climb a couple of steps until december. Classic heavy metal with vocals that cross over to goth country. Very catchy, heavy and enjoyable. Another bandcampo discovery)

Nice to see some more love for Deitus, I'll be adding them to my list along with (probably) Marduk and Demoniac.

A man after my own heart I see. Yes, enjoy all of these, especially Thy Catafalque, this release was the first I listened to by this band and have been going back discovering the rest. ...And Oceans was even better than the previous effort, some of the best bm of the year

Couple of others i liked, will really have to go through my purchased and wantlist on bandcamp to remember them all:

Ebony Pendant - Ebony Pendant - Doesnt stand out a huge amount from the current wave of lofi melodic bm but it does what it does very well

Non Est Deus - Legacy - Their previous effort was pretty good but this is even better. Mgla style bm with well crafted songs

Nattehimmel - Nattehimmel - One of my favourites this year. Ex In The Woods.. members

GODFLESH - PURGE - Crushing industrial metal

FANGE - Privation - Also crushing industrial metal / sludge

Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust - Took a long time for this to click

Pyramid Mass - Monolith - Doom mixed with some black, death post hardcore, sludge etc. Hard to categorize but I really like it. The second half of Mutiny is unreal

Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold - Not normally a big power metal fan but this is very good. Everything I could want from the genre

Fen - Monuments to Absence - Atmo black / doom with some fantastic songs and instrumentation. Still getting familiar with it but so far its brilliant

Krigsgrav - Fires in the Fall - More atmo black / blackened doom

Will Haven - VII - Crushing as usual

Im sure that list will come down by year end and im sure ive missed a few

Haven't been checking out as many new albums this year. One that I'm enjoying a fair bit is the new Stray Gods album Olympus. The vocalist takes a lot of cues from Bruce Dickinson, and musically there's some modern Iron Maiden vibes too, which is a good thing.

2023 FAVORITE RECORDS thru July 2023
1. Spotlights | Alchemy for the Dead
2. Pupil Slicer | Blossom
3. Church of Misery | Born Under a Mad Sign
4. SOM | Faith EP
5. Fvnerals | Let the Earth Be Silent
6. Lana Del Rey | There is a Tunnel....
7. Harakiri for the Sky | MMXXIII
8. Beach House | Become EP
9. The Ocean | Holoscene
10. Messa | Live at Roadburn

My preliminary top-ten is probably something like this:

Gorod -- The Orb
Carnosus -- Visions of Infinihility
Cattle Decapitation -- Terrasite
Porta Nigra -- Weltende
Somnuri -- Death is the Beginning
Blindfolded and Led to the Woods -- Rejecting Obliteration
Katatonia -- Sky Void of Stars
Omnicidal -- The Omnicidalist
Raider -- Trial by Chaos
Church of Misery -- Born Under a Mad Sign

It is going to be very tough chopping some of these for releases that come the rest of the way.

Edoma - Buried by Permafrost

Black/Death Metal with a ton of super catchy melodies and interesting tempos. The songs are full of amazing riffs and it's a master class in how to make a song develop while still maintaining the original theme. Please check this one out, i can't speak highly enough. Not just one of the best albums of the year, but maybe of the last 5-10 years.




Hrogthgar - Rise of Ragnarok

This is the best Amon Amarth album since Twilight of the Thundergod. It's formulaic no doubt, but there's a certain energy to the music that keeps me coming back.





Other contenders:

Blackbraid
Sworn
Serpent of Old
Deitus
Ciemra
Krigsgrav
Vomitory
Carnosus

I REALLY need to revisit those new The Ocean and Pupil slicer albums, thanks for reminding me

Opposite here. I find them getting worse.
Well, to be nuanced: their 4th is actually a bit better than their 3rd which was an utter turd.
But the fourth, despite having their best production sofar, cannot hold a candle to their first two when it comes to songwriting.
They're churning them out way too fast. Just like their social media is spewing content the whole time. They're too busy branding instead of perfecting the art of effective songwriting.

I uhh might go give their earlier stuff a listen whenever I can if that's the case. I like their newest, even if it has been souring on me a little, although I am still considering it an AOTY contender.