Written by: The Administrator
If you are a purveyor of music review sites, you've undoubtedly learned to skip over the fluff that constitutes AOTY intros. The pointlessness of writing this isn't lost on me, let alone the fact that this is a list for, erm, the wrong year. In the music industry churn, an album released last year might as well be a million years old. Obsolete. Irrelevant. Forgotten. So: why 2023? Why not 2024, like unto a proper music review website? What's the rationale behind publishing this list a whole damn year late? There are two reasons. The first is that I think demonstrable longevity is an important aspect of music appreciation, and the ability of an album to outlast a narrow moment in time is a testament to its particular excellence. The second (and real) reason is that I am a profoundly lazy and frequently overwhelmed person, and compiling this list last December was a very large task that seemed, frankly, insurmountable. So here we are. These are 23 albums from 2023 that are, in significant hindsight, still very much my favorite albums of 2023. In terms of format, this list is alphabetical and purely unranked. The generally arbitrary structure of counting down to #1 simply doesn't demonstrate the way I enjoy music, nor is it an effective or accurate way to make recommendations. I'm also completely unconcerned about genre, as I listen to a lot of different stuff. If I'm writing a list, it should probably reflect the reality of listening habits instead of projecting a false image of metal exclusivity. Be prepared for eclecticism. I hope there's something lurking herein that catches your ear. A massive thank you to every artist who contributed to the releases below. And, dear reader, thank you for your readership and support of artists! You're the best. Yes, you.
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Written by: Blackie Skulless
Bütcher are a Belgian act that has been around for decades, despite the first full-length record not hitting until 2017. They may not have sold me right away, but their second album titled 666 Goats Carry My Chariot absolutely blew me away (I mean really, how can a title like that not?) Considering their borderline parody-meets-evil speed metal with a blackened hue, I figured there was enough room for strong continuity. Enter the latest release, On Fowl Of Tyrant Wing, which does exactly that. From a foundational standpoint, Bütcher retained the exact same attitude that cemented their identity before this time around. Obvious odes to classic metal bands with tongue-in-cheek themes that you can still take a little seriously are very present. The frontman’s notable shriek-singing is still here, kicking out harsh passages that have a burning atmosphere without getting too raspy, and an emphasis on strong leads still takes precedence. Interestingly, what’s different now is that the band lays off the blackened tropes a bit. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
God do I ever love a good grower; take that as a double meaning if you must. Germany’s Victims Of Classwar drew me in not only because of the intriguing band name, but also the album artwork. Never mind the fact that black/thrash with a crust/hardcore edge tends to boast some of the nastiest music you’ll get ahold of, but it leaves even more room for interpretation than your regular black/thrash formula (one that I love dearly). This influence is definitely the lesser focus, but considering the band has been active for nearly fifteen years prior to their debut, you can be pretty certain that Invitation To A Funeral is full of long-time rage. Victims Of Classwar runs with a rather unorthodox presentation that admittedly took more than a listen to grow on me, however getting through that initial phase lets in one of the most interesting and meanest records I’ve heard this year. This isn’t necessarily to say that there aren’t plenty of bands that take this path, but the frontwoman’s vocal approach absolutely pummels you with discomfort and proverbial assault, being the most standout feat. A variation of fairly straightforward blackened shrieks to pain-stricken croaks and degraded howls offer a variety of unsettling feelings that reflect the very perturbing album art. Obviously, the rough production helps this feeling remain, but musically you can definitely tell that there’s a history of dabbling in the hardcore/crust realm. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Cruel Force has touched my radar a few times over the past couple of years. The German black/thrashers dropped two albums nearly fifteen years ago before splitting up, and while they made a serviceable enough take on the genre, it really never stuck to me. Fast-forward to over a decade later, and they came back with a vengeance, dropping Dawn Of The Axe, changing my mind about everything I just said. What was a nice soil that grew few worthwhile fruits now harvests an entire garden. Stylistically, they wouldn’t veer too far away from this initial idea, but any sharp edges get deburred and the thrashy attitude feels refined into something reminiscent of an ‘80 speed metal foundation. Similarly, vocals with a deeper snarl but a far more concise delivery are tacked on, almost feeling similar to Zetro from Exodus. Echoed production helps everything, giving a reverberated tone to the drum kicks pairing wonderfully with the vocals. Meanwhile, the bass licks are rather bouncy, providing extra kick beside the sharp riffing. Oftentimes, overdoing this can ruin a solid record, but that’s not the case here. The end product is a far more mature outing that almost lifts the “blackened” element away as well, leaving only remnants, but still holding onto their aggressive oomph. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Indiana’s Wraith touched my radar back in 2018 with their simple and straightforward but hard-hitting debut album Heed The Warning. Since then, it’s been a mixed bag, as I felt their follow-up Absolute Power didn’t do much to inspire despite a slight reworking, but then Undo The Chains swung in and blew my mind a few years following, outdoing themselves. It was anybody’s guess as to how the band would fare moving forward with such a background. This brings us to Fueled By Fear, working in the same vein as the prior record. Working on a good foundation, the fourth outing sees similar songwriting tactics that made the previous record super strong. The blackened, harsher vocals remain while the cleaner, precise guitar sweeps and strong leads still take the forefront for much of this. Hooky tactics that build for nice choruses can stick in one’s head, and I’d go as far as saying a lot of these fall in the fun category (with a mean tint). Tunes like “Ice Cold Bitch,” “Code Red,” and “Merchant Of Death” are packed with pummeling drum kicks, breakneck riffs for days, and energy that’s easy to dig. 
Written by: The Administrator
Another year, another batch of outstanding EPs! I personally have a strong affinity for releases of the short, concise, and otherwise succinct persuasion, and so my weekly listening is often informed by what new EPs have dropped. The following includes those that made a significant impact and stuck around in my rotation. This list--although perhaps a term such as "loose collection" or "heap" would be a better choice--has not been trimmed or edited to meet a specific quantity. I just kept adding stuff until I hit 23 entries, which felt like an appropriate number, and so here we are. Like last year's extravaganza, this list features a bunch of different genres but is not sorted by genre. My year is defined by eclectic listening habits, and while my albums lists will be divided into hip hop and metal for sake of reading convenience, no such editorial courtesy is reflected here. And lastly, this is utterly unranked. If something appears here, please know that it comes highly, highly recommended. Without further ado, let's dive in! 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Ever since The Affair Of The Poisons dropped in 2020, I’ve been saying Hellripper are due for an alteration in sound, as the black/thrash genre can run stale fairly quickly if action isn’t taken. Boy, did they ever deliver! Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags came in clutch, completely blowing away anything they'd done prior to this album. This isn’t to say that McBain’s brand was never good, it was great; but this was exactly what the latest recipe called for! First, it’s important to address the fact that the foundation isn’t lost at all. Longtime fans should still find the appeal; “Goat Vomit Nightmare” makes this quite obvious. However, now the blackened element is laid on in a fashion far more in line with the traditional tropes of the black metal genre. When it isn’t running in that vein, more melodic leads are clearer than they’ve ever been. Speed metal still exists, but it is no longer the backbone needed to carry the entire album. Instead, it’s a nice feature along with these other notable traits. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
While hardly ever anything overly new or standout, blackened thrash is something that manages to pull me in time and time again. South Carolina’s Demiser is a fresh act that once again reinforces my sentiment of being able to have identity without having originality. Taken formation a few years back, last year was when their first full offering hit the menu. Through The Gate Eternal is yet another record that looks the way it sounds, and I’m here for it. Forming an obvious sum of its ideas around fast riffing and fuming harsh vocals, the bottom level is business as usual. There’s a helping of classic sounding speed metal here, vulgar poetic flow there, and noodly solos that jump above an otherwise dry soundscape. What manages to sell Demiser is the ability to capture steady flow for a typically furious and fiery genre. “Deathstrike” moves into its outing leads so wonderfully from its galloping rhythm, and “Offering” manages to sneak in a bit of melodic catchiness resting in the chorus. The latter is probably the most memorable track. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Before tearing into this monster, I need to address something. Belgium’s black/speed metallers Bütcher are an enigma that took me a hot minute to dig, but the deeper I went, the more unique they became. This is mostly due to the fact that they’re so unapologetically ridiculous that I almost want to classify them as a parody band. This thinking is coming from the song titles themselves, the stage names, the intentionally nonsensical spelling of words, the crude sexuality crossed with Satan everywhere, and just the fact that Bütcher wears every influence on their sleeve, refusing to even try to cover it up. This breathes Judas Priest, Motörhead, Bathory, and Venom all in one sentence. Despite all of this being pretty damn common, the fact that the songwriting is so astronomically good, blending so much together so smoothly is what gives this its standout charm. 
Written by: The Administrator
There's a special irreplaceable fire and fury that exists only in the confines of a blistering proto-thrash demo tape. Reno's own Sorcerer's Sword enter this specific arena with Demo 2021, infusing the speedy thrash aesthetic with retro blackened punk. In short: goddamn. This five-track-and-an-intro barnburner is a very promising debut, as fun as it is frenetic. Sorcerer's Sword paint with a broad no-fucks-given brush, which is kind of implicit, given their chosen genre worship and hellraising aesthetic. There's little pretense lurking in their primitive yet proficient fare, and the sheer bloodletting violence they enact is a sight to behold. If you're looking for points of vague comparison, consider the filthy black/thrash likes of Sabbat and Vulcano by way of the speed of early Sodom and no-holds-barred maniacal approach of Deathhammer or Witchtrap. |
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