So, what did you think of these Top 10 choices? Do you have your OWN Top 10 list, whether as a video, or just inside your head? Let me know all of that, as well as anything else that makes sense, in the comments below.
Without further ado, here's my best of 2023 list! 1. Air Raid - Fatal Encounter NWOTHM, classic Malmsteen style. 2. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags Black N Roll from Scotland 3. Enforced - War Remains Hardcore/Crossover. Similar to Power Trip. 4. Obituary - Dying of Everything Old-school Death legends. Heavy riffs, haunting and in your face vocals. 5. Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament Christian metal, with a trad flair. Very catchy and good riffs. 6. Powerwolf - Interlludium Modern Power Metal giants. They're blowing up. Don't miss the boat on them. 7. Smoulder - Violent Creed of Vengeance NWOTHM. For fans of Chastain. Fronted by Sarah of Banger TV. 8. Nervosa - Jailbreak Modern Death with classic Thrash influences. All-female. 9. KNIFE - Heaven Into Dust Modern Black N Roll/Thrash. 10. Legion of the Damned - The Poison Chalice Very catchy and melodic modern Thrash. Honorable mentions: 1. Cirith Ungol - The Dark Parade Classic metal legends. Celebrating their farewell tour in 2024! 2. Crypta - Shades of Sorrow Nervosa-esque (ex-members) with harsher vocals/screams. 3. Green Lung - This Heathen Land Stoner/Doom Metal. Sabbath and Sleep influences 4. Helms Deep - Treacherous Ways Modern band with a classic vibe. Halford-like vocals, which can be overwhelming at times. 5. GAMA BOMB - BATS Modern Thrash, with tons of classic influences, headbanging riffs, funny lyrics and interesting jazzy arrangements which work very well!
Great list Matt. Quite a few albums here that I also picked up this year, and thanks for reminding me that I've not picked up the latest Horrendous album yet. Cheers
I recently saw Crypta with Morbid Angel in Cincinnati. Fantastic show! I definitely like them. Looking forward to seeing them again next year in Louisville.
That was a very heavy list mate. A lot of death metal which was a little surprise. Your list is completely different to mine which is great for me as that's why i watch these. Love that DF and Cattle Decap cover art. Just seeing those makes you want to buy them. Great video mate 🤘
This is why I love your channel!! Love the top ten. In regards to comparison, one of your honorable mentions would replace one choice, but it’s your list not mine lol. While it’s not my number one, but close, love!!! Horrendous album. Only other lp I may flirt with is the Knife lp that I didn’t notice growth above the debut, but a very solid record!
two of my top 4 were missing here so thought I'd mention: Cruel Force (Dawn of the Axe) and Enforcer (Nostalgia). Both made my all time favorites lists and are must listens for heavy metal fans.
Awesome list, & the best one I’ve seen yet. I love how you’re not just trying to be Mr Cool Underground guy, like everyone else does these days. Those lists are the most cringiest of all lists!!! Great work. Badass shirt, btw. 🤘🏼
Glacial Domination was a favorite for me in 2023. Just a really incredible album and it is far above their previous efforts. Dying Fetus's Make Them Beg For Death was my favorite metal album of 2023. Brutality from start to finish and great production, it is a good one!
Lovely channel dude, I am watching all your videos from start to finish! Did you check out the Medieval Death LP + DVD and the Mordicus “Rights ‘n Trials” LP! What is your opinion on these two 2023 releases?
That was a helluva top ten and other mentions for 2023. I guessed 9 out of 10 before you mentioned them. The one I didn't guess was Dying Fetas. I would add to the list the newest SYLOSIS album. It was a awesome! Release in 2023. Also the 2nd. Album from SERMON and the newest album from PRONG.🤘
All the music I use is licensed from a music licensing company, so I’d have to really dig to get the performance credits. But, it is pretty decent stuff.
5. 'Infinite Psychic Depths' by Outer Heaven 4. 'Horned Lord for the Thorned Castle' by Moonlight Sorcery 3. 'The Last Laugh' by Exhibition 2. 'AGONIZER' by ACID MASS 1. 'Seasons Dreaming Death' by GraveRipper
I read a lot of hype on Krypta. Might check them out after the Holidays. Great list! Here's my personal Top 25 albums of the year: 25. Tsjuder - Helvegr 24. Godflesh - Purge 23. Krigsgrav - Fires in the Fall 22. Neo Inferno 262 - Pleonectic 21. Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit 20. Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific 19. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg for Death 18. Cryptopsy - As Gomorrah Burns 17. Sulphur Aeon - Seven Crowns and Seven Seals 16. Model/Actriz - Dogsbody 15. Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows 14. In Flames - Foregone 13. Blut aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab 12. Ulthar - Anthronomicon/Helionomicon 11. Baroness - Stone 10. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium 9. Sermon - Of Golden Verse 8. Majesties - Vast Reaches Unclaimed 7. Enslaved - Heimdal 6. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags 5. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite 4. Thantifaxath - Hive Mind Narcosis 3. Blackbraid - Blackbraid II 2. Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2023: Wayfarer - American Gothic
So far, my top 3 favorites of the year are SCORCHED by Overkill, WARLOCKS GRIM… by Hellripper, and LIVING PROOF by Drain. There is still a lot of ground I need to cover before the year ends, but I am definitely interested in hearing Frozen Soul, Creeping Death, and Sorcerer. Oh, and WAR REMAINS by Enforced was pretty solid, too.
I forgot about EvilCult’s THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOULS. I’ve been spinning that a lot lately, and it’s quickly becoming my very favorite of 2023.
I love Sorcerer, and Reign of the Reaper is a beautiful record, it would make my Top 20, but I did a Top 10 list only: 01. Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current 02. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite 03. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg for Death 04. Enslaved - Heimdal 05. Green Lung - This Heathen Land 06. Cryptopsy - As Gomorrah Burns 07. Baroness - Stone 08. Cruel Force - Dawn of the Axe 09. Ahab - The Coral Tombs 10. Obituary - Dying of Everything
I tried to create my own Top 10 but it proved to be impossibly difficult for me. I did make a Top 15 list although I know that I am forgetting great albums (an example is Church of Misery mentioned in these comments). I am going to put my list in alphabetical order because ranking is too damn hard. Here they are - Alkaloid - Numen Anubis Gate - Interference Baroness - Stone Crypta - Shades of Sorrow Enslaved - Heimdal Green Lung - This Heathen Land Haken - Fauna Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars Lovebites - Judgement Day Ne Obliviscaris - Exul Riverside - ID Entity Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold Soen - Memorial TesseracT - War of Being Wayfarer - American Gothic I also want to make an Honorable Mention list for three bands that released amazing debut albums - The Anchoret - It All Began With Loneliness HELGA - Wrapped In Mist Lord Mountain - The Oath Last, I want to mention Leviathan III by Therion which was released 10 days ago. I have only listened to it twice, but I know it would make a Top 20 list for me and probably would knock a band out of this list (I just don't know who).
Marianas Rest - Auer Atlases - Between The Day & I Obituary - The Dying Of Everything Warmen - Here For None Insomnium - Anno 1696 ...And Oceans - As In Gardens So In Tombs Shade Empire - Sunholy Bloodred Hourglass - How's The Heart
As usual, whenever I create a "best of" annual year-end list I leave a bunch of good stuff off and 2023 was no exception at all. I probably could have made this list ten times longer and boring af to read, but that said, barring a complete miracle for 2023's last month, I have what would be the 25 albums that I enjoyed the most this year: 1. Lovebites -- Judgement Day 2. Delain -- Dark Waters 3. Hellripper -- Warlocks Grim and Withered Hags 4. Insomnium -- Anno 1696 5. Overkill -- Scorched 6. Redshift -- Laws of Entropy 7. Xandria -- The Wonders Still Awaiting 8. Perc3ption -- Art In Extreme Situations 9. Fierce Justice -- Fireborn 10. Acid King -- Beyond Vision 11. Enforced -- War Remains 12. Wytch Hazel -- IV: Sacrament 13. Restless Spirit -- Afterimage 14. Kalmah -- S/T 15. Ne Obliviscaris -- Exul 16. Echoes of Bronze -- Ilium 17. Night Legion -- Fight or Fall 18. Enchantya -- Cerberus 19. Majesties -- Vast Reaches Unclaimed 20. Midnight Vice -- S/T (the riffs on this are KILLER) 21. Excalion -- Once Upon A Time 22. Naitaka -- Emergence 23. Blood Ceremony -- The Old Ways Remain 24. Soen -- Memorial 25. Iron Savior -- Firestar Just missed: Dhaliax -- Doomed , Obituary -- Dying of Everything, Blackbraid -- Blackbraid II, Cruachan -- The Living and the Dead, Enslaved -- Heimdal, Blackbriar -- A Dark Euphony, Moonlight Sorcery -- Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle, Akilla -- The Gods Have Spoken, Omnium Gatherum -- Slasher, Powerwolf-- Interludium, Orbit Culture -- Descent, Green Lung -- This Heathen Land, Twilight Force -- At the Heart of Wintervale, Crypta -- Shades of Sorrow, Strike -- Break the Chains, Frozen Crown -- Call of the North and Exmortus -- Necrophony. Even with 25, I left off a LOT of good stuff.
I'm not even gonna try. There's just so many great albums that came out this year. Just some bands to mention, that did release an (awesome) album: Kaunis Kuolematon Sulphur Aeon Convocation Ocean Of Grief Ofnus Devangelic Servant Sermon Winterhorde Cattle Decap Woods Of Grief Slow One Of Nine RüYYn Ruïm Marthyrium Corpus Necromanthum Serpent Of Old Grand Cadaver Endseeker When Hearts Wither Disguised Malignance Fvnerals Godthrymm Dying Fetus Utilize The Remains And SO many others........
My albums of 2023 1 Cattle Decapitation Terrasite 2 The Lion's Daughter Bath House 3 Horrendous Ontological Mysterium 4 Xoth Exogalatic 5 Enslaved Heimdal 6Hellripper Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags 7 King Gizzard and Wizard Lizard PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation 8 Dying Fetus Make Them Beg For Death 9 Angelus Apatrida Aftermath 10 Necropanther Betrayal
Great list, though I rate Frozen Soul over the latest Cattle Decapitation album, but that's me being picky. Hard Cold Fire by Therapy? and the reworking of Beastial Devastation and Morbid Visions by Cavalria take top honours. Merry Christmas and all that 🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
So, what did you think of these Top 10 choices? Do you have your OWN Top 10 list, whether as a video, or just inside your head? Let me know all of that, as well as anything else that makes sense, in the comments below.
I really enjoyed your video, I missed a lot of stuff and whenever you mention "trash" and or "doom" I go hunt for vinyl :)
Matt I was Surprised the Reissue of TURBO didn't make you're list
Without further ado, here's my best of 2023 list!
1. Air Raid - Fatal Encounter
NWOTHM, classic Malmsteen style.
2. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
Black N Roll from Scotland
3. Enforced - War Remains
Hardcore/Crossover. Similar to Power Trip.
4. Obituary - Dying of Everything
Old-school Death legends. Heavy riffs, haunting and in your face vocals.
5. Wytch Hazel - IV: Sacrament
Christian metal, with a trad flair. Very catchy and good riffs.
6. Powerwolf - Interlludium
Modern Power Metal giants. They're blowing up. Don't miss the boat on them.
7. Smoulder - Violent Creed of Vengeance
NWOTHM. For fans of Chastain. Fronted by Sarah of Banger TV.
8. Nervosa - Jailbreak
Modern Death with classic Thrash influences. All-female.
9. KNIFE - Heaven Into Dust
Modern Black N Roll/Thrash.
10. Legion of the Damned - The Poison Chalice
Very catchy and melodic modern Thrash.
Honorable mentions:
1. Cirith Ungol - The Dark Parade
Classic metal legends. Celebrating their farewell tour in 2024!
2. Crypta - Shades of Sorrow
Nervosa-esque (ex-members) with harsher vocals/screams.
3. Green Lung - This Heathen Land
Stoner/Doom Metal. Sabbath and Sleep influences
4. Helms Deep - Treacherous Ways
Modern band with a classic vibe. Halford-like vocals, which can be overwhelming at times.
5. GAMA BOMB - BATS
Modern Thrash, with tons of classic influences, headbanging riffs, funny lyrics and interesting jazzy arrangements which work very well!
Great list Matt. Quite a few albums here that I also picked up this year, and thanks for reminding me that I've not picked up the latest Horrendous album yet. Cheers
Awesome List Matt, few of these getting a mention on my list also..Happy New Year Mate 🤘
Nice list, mate! Very cool.
Fantastic top 10 albums ❤
Thanks for another great year of content.
I recently saw Crypta with Morbid Angel in Cincinnati. Fantastic show! I definitely like them. Looking forward to seeing them again next year in Louisville.
That was a very heavy list mate. A lot of death metal which was a little surprise. Your list is completely different to mine which is great for me as that's why i watch these. Love that DF and Cattle Decap cover art. Just seeing those makes you want to buy them. Great video mate 🤘
This is why I love your channel!! Love the top ten. In regards to comparison, one of your honorable mentions would replace one choice, but it’s your list not mine lol. While it’s not my number one, but close, love!!! Horrendous album. Only other lp I may flirt with is the Knife lp that I didn’t notice growth above the debut, but a very solid record!
SICK LIST MATT! THAT RAVEN RIPS!
Great list sir… quality across the board
UA-cam recommended this video and the algorithm nailed in the head. Great list!
Demoniac - Nube Negra is a great album released in 2023, nice top and great channel, new sub lml
two of my top 4 were missing here so thought I'd mention: Cruel Force (Dawn of the Axe) and Enforcer (Nostalgia). Both made my all time favorites lists and are must listens for heavy metal fans.
Awesome list, & the best one I’ve seen yet. I love how you’re not just trying to be Mr Cool Underground guy, like everyone else does these days. Those lists are the most cringiest of all lists!!! Great work. Badass shirt, btw. 🤘🏼
Glacial Domination was a favorite for me in 2023. Just a really incredible album and it is far above their previous efforts. Dying Fetus's Make Them Beg For Death was my favorite metal album of 2023. Brutality from start to finish and great production, it is a good one!
Shout out to Cattle Decap! Caught their homecoming show 2 Saturdays ago. LFG San Diego! 🤘
You forgot Church of Misery - Born Under A Mad Sign.
Hell yeah broski. Cattle Decapitation for the win!
Lovely channel dude, I am watching all your videos from start to finish! Did you check out the Medieval Death LP + DVD and the Mordicus “Rights ‘n Trials” LP! What is your opinion on these two 2023 releases?
That was a helluva top ten and other mentions for 2023. I guessed 9 out of 10 before you mentioned them. The one I didn't guess was Dying Fetas. I would add to the list the newest SYLOSIS album. It was a awesome! Release in 2023. Also the 2nd. Album from SERMON and the newest album from PRONG.🤘
Matt. What is that outro track you were spinning ?
All the music I use is licensed from a music licensing company, so I’d have to really dig to get the performance credits. But, it is pretty decent stuff.
u picked some good picks Sadus is really good album
5. 'Infinite Psychic Depths' by Outer Heaven
4. 'Horned Lord for the Thorned Castle' by Moonlight Sorcery
3. 'The Last Laugh' by Exhibition
2. 'AGONIZER' by ACID MASS
1. 'Seasons Dreaming Death' by GraveRipper
I read a lot of hype on Krypta. Might check them out after the Holidays.
Great list! Here's my personal Top 25 albums of the year:
25. Tsjuder - Helvegr
24. Godflesh - Purge
23. Krigsgrav - Fires in the Fall
22. Neo Inferno 262 - Pleonectic
21. Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
20. Cannibal Corpse - Chaos Horrific
19. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg for Death
18. Cryptopsy - As Gomorrah Burns
17. Sulphur Aeon - Seven Crowns and Seven Seals
16. Model/Actriz - Dogsbody
15. Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows
14. In Flames - Foregone
13. Blut aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
12. Ulthar - Anthronomicon/Helionomicon
11. Baroness - Stone
10. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium
9. Sermon - Of Golden Verse
8. Majesties - Vast Reaches Unclaimed
7. Enslaved - Heimdal
6. Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
5. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
4. Thantifaxath - Hive Mind Narcosis
3. Blackbraid - Blackbraid II
2. Downfall of Gaia - Silhouettes of Disgust
MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2023: Wayfarer - American Gothic
So far, my top 3 favorites of the year are SCORCHED by Overkill, WARLOCKS GRIM… by Hellripper, and LIVING PROOF by Drain. There is still a lot of ground I need to cover before the year ends, but I am definitely interested in hearing Frozen Soul, Creeping Death, and Sorcerer. Oh, and WAR REMAINS by Enforced was pretty solid, too.
I forgot about EvilCult’s THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOULS. I’ve been spinning that a lot lately, and it’s quickly becoming my very favorite of 2023.
You forgot Immortal. I'm waiting on that, one to get some respect.
1. Frozen Soul - Glacial Domination
2. Bell Witch - Future’s Shadow Pt. 1
3. Ulthar - Anthronomicon / Helionomicon
4. Metallica - 72 Seasons
5. Obituary - Dying Of Everything
6. Horrendous - Ontological Mysterium
7. Ringworm - Seeing Through Fire
8. Ahab - The Coral Tombs
9. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
10. Sanguisugabogg - Homicidal Ecstasy
MGP was on big death metal kick it seems
Right?
I love Sorcerer, and Reign of the Reaper is a beautiful record, it would make my Top 20, but I did a Top 10 list only:
01. Dødheimsgard - Black Medium Current
02. Cattle Decapitation - Terrasite
03. Dying Fetus - Make Them Beg for Death
04. Enslaved - Heimdal
05. Green Lung - This Heathen Land
06. Cryptopsy - As Gomorrah Burns
07. Baroness - Stone
08. Cruel Force - Dawn of the Axe
09. Ahab - The Coral Tombs
10. Obituary - Dying of Everything
I tried to create my own Top 10 but it proved to be impossibly difficult for me. I did make a Top 15 list although I know that I am forgetting great albums (an example is Church of Misery mentioned in these comments). I am going to put my list in alphabetical order because ranking is too damn hard. Here they are -
Alkaloid - Numen
Anubis Gate - Interference
Baroness - Stone
Crypta - Shades of Sorrow
Enslaved - Heimdal
Green Lung - This Heathen Land
Haken - Fauna
Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars
Lovebites - Judgement Day
Ne Obliviscaris - Exul
Riverside - ID Entity
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
Soen - Memorial
TesseracT - War of Being
Wayfarer - American Gothic
I also want to make an Honorable Mention list for three bands that released amazing debut albums -
The Anchoret - It All Began With Loneliness
HELGA - Wrapped In Mist
Lord Mountain - The Oath
Last, I want to mention Leviathan III by Therion which was released 10 days ago. I have only listened to it twice, but I know it would make a Top 20 list for me and probably would knock a band out of this list (I just don't know who).
Marianas Rest - Auer
Atlases - Between The Day & I
Obituary - The Dying Of Everything
Warmen - Here For None
Insomnium - Anno 1696
...And Oceans - As In Gardens So In Tombs
Shade Empire - Sunholy
Bloodred Hourglass - How's The Heart
LOVEBITES with their album Judgment Day
Alkaloid - Numen!
As usual, whenever I create a "best of" annual year-end list I leave a bunch of good stuff off and 2023 was no exception at all. I probably could have made this list ten times longer and boring af to read, but that said, barring a complete miracle for 2023's last month, I have what would be the 25 albums that I enjoyed the most this year:
1. Lovebites -- Judgement Day
2. Delain -- Dark Waters
3. Hellripper -- Warlocks Grim and Withered Hags
4. Insomnium -- Anno 1696
5. Overkill -- Scorched
6. Redshift -- Laws of Entropy
7. Xandria -- The Wonders Still Awaiting
8. Perc3ption -- Art In Extreme Situations
9. Fierce Justice -- Fireborn
10. Acid King -- Beyond Vision
11. Enforced -- War Remains
12. Wytch Hazel -- IV: Sacrament
13. Restless Spirit -- Afterimage
14. Kalmah -- S/T
15. Ne Obliviscaris -- Exul
16. Echoes of Bronze -- Ilium
17. Night Legion -- Fight or Fall
18. Enchantya -- Cerberus
19. Majesties -- Vast Reaches Unclaimed
20. Midnight Vice -- S/T (the riffs on this are KILLER)
21. Excalion -- Once Upon A Time
22. Naitaka -- Emergence
23. Blood Ceremony -- The Old Ways Remain
24. Soen -- Memorial
25. Iron Savior -- Firestar
Just missed: Dhaliax -- Doomed , Obituary -- Dying of Everything, Blackbraid -- Blackbraid II, Cruachan -- The Living and the Dead, Enslaved -- Heimdal, Blackbriar -- A Dark Euphony, Moonlight Sorcery -- Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle, Akilla -- The Gods Have Spoken, Omnium Gatherum -- Slasher, Powerwolf-- Interludium, Orbit Culture -- Descent, Green Lung -- This Heathen Land, Twilight Force -- At the Heart of Wintervale, Crypta -- Shades of Sorrow, Strike -- Break the Chains, Frozen Crown -- Call of the North and Exmortus -- Necrophony.
Even with 25, I left off a LOT of good stuff.
Top 10 that are actually good?
EVIL INCARNATE- LUCIFERS CROWN
I'm not even gonna try. There's just so many great albums that came out this year.
Just some bands to mention, that did release an (awesome) album:
Kaunis Kuolematon
Sulphur Aeon
Convocation
Ocean Of Grief
Ofnus
Devangelic
Servant
Sermon
Winterhorde
Cattle Decap
Woods Of Grief
Slow
One Of Nine
RüYYn
Ruïm
Marthyrium
Corpus Necromanthum
Serpent Of Old
Grand Cadaver
Endseeker
When Hearts Wither
Disguised Malignance
Fvnerals
Godthrymm
Dying Fetus
Utilize The Remains
And SO many others........
My albums of 2023
1 Cattle Decapitation Terrasite
2 The Lion's Daughter Bath House
3 Horrendous Ontological Mysterium
4 Xoth Exogalatic
5 Enslaved Heimdal
6Hellripper Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
7 King Gizzard and Wizard Lizard PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
8 Dying Fetus Make Them Beg For Death
9 Angelus Apatrida Aftermath
10 Necropanther Betrayal
Great list, though I rate Frozen Soul over the latest Cattle Decapitation album, but that's me being picky. Hard Cold Fire by Therapy? and the reworking of Beastial Devastation and Morbid Visions by Cavalria take top honours. Merry Christmas and all that 🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻
CAVALERA?
Asinhell
Impii Hora
my aoty the volbeat guys side project playing death metal as it should be done
Overkill and metal church not in top 10. Tsk, tsk Matt