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
Ever since its inception, Norway’s Dødskvad have held my interest due to their rough and primal doses of death metal that has yet to surpass the EP format. Every other year tends to see another release now, and their latest, Krønike III, rages forward with the naming structure of simply “Krønike” followed by which “chronicle” number it is. Once more going through Caligari Records, this delivers a very familiar approach. Cavernous howls, a degraded overcast, and pummeling rhythms that have a sharp edge are once more the name of the game. And if I’m being honest, the first two tracks “Dodens Sverd” and “Lenket Til Bunnen” work in exactly the same way as what we’ve seen before. Neither track distinguishes itself very far from the powerhouse that was the first two EPs, and while they’re both executed with a murky gradient that’s fun to submerge in, I struggle to conclude that the songwriting on either is as good at capturing me as before. Both do work in their dungeon-like tricks and unsettling bottom, however, which fit nicely with the massive closer “Ved Manas Bredd.” Opting for a long closer like in the first EP, this ten minute rumbler sneaks in higher lead guitar wails to contrast the harsh and unforgiving ground. Extra bounciness with such a raw reflection bounces off of the percussion, and it’s this track that makes the third EP worth visiting. In my humblest of opinions, I think it’s time Dødskvad reaches for an album. They’ve got a healthy blend of doom and death metal that very much has a unique identity, and I think that Krønike III would have worked better with a few more songs turned into a full-length. Everything the band has done thus far has been great in terms of conjuring up striking ideas, but I think we’re ready for a full ride. Basking in and cleaning up the general direction of the third track should set some masterful groundwork. Dødskvad - Krønike III was released July 26th via Caligari Records. Find it here!
Editor’s note: this review was originally published in 2020 at a now-defunct site for a collaborative Best Albums of the 2010’s Retrospective. As the internet has since swallowed said site, my retrospective review now appears here in lightly edited form.
Written by: The Administrator
When initially considering what album I wanted to draw into the light for an End of Decade retrospective, the sheer volume of possibilities sent me into a bit of a frenetic journey through a decade of heavy music. Let’s face it: in ten years, the metalverse spawned an unbelievable bounty. But, eventually, the only true option became clear. For such an event I needed to focus on an album that, beyond being excellent in its own right, somehow personally set the stage for the decade as a whole. That, for me, is Agrimonia’s Rites of Separation. This album singlehandedly determined the course of my music listening experience from 2013 to the present. “Talion,” the album’s first track, begins with a piercing riff, a crystal-clear clarion call. It serves as an assertive hook, cutting through the noise before the noise even begins. This is the track that pulled me into a world of harsh vocals and aggressive atmosphere, a world of deliberate and progressive songcraft. Because Agrimonia are so genre fluid, existing betwixt black metal, sludge, post-metal, post-hardcore, crust punk, death metal, and doom, it is remarkably easy to approach their sound without any particular expectations. As such, a young acolyte to heavy music gained perspective without necessarily committing to the trappings of a particular niche. 
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!
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of a crocodilian EP
Written by: The Administrator
Despite a respectable roster of dangerous critters dwelling 'round these parts, this particular scribe is fortunate to live in a place where crocodiles, um, don't. In my understanding--which is to say, quite probably in reality--these beasts frequently pluck unsuspecting adult human victims and drag them into the murky depths to drown in a scaly embrace. They represent the worst way to die, and only rank slightly below moose and hippos in the hierarchy of animals that I never want to encounter in the wild. Anyways. Listening to Edinburgh's own Cult Of Sobek is like unto the aftermath of a wrestling match with a killer croc: there's nothing left to do but succumb. Driven by a hypnotic trancelike churn and the threatening presence of bestial howls, the three tracks Cult Of Sobek deliver on debut EP Petsuchos represent the kind of damply organic and borderline psychedelic sound that I crave when it comes to crushing doom. Their sound is dredged from the mire, just the way I like it. There's a vicious aggression cleverly hidden underneath the trippier elements, and the constant sense of something lurking elevates each track in a way that I wasn't expecting. As a result, I've returned to this EP many, many times over the summer whenever the playlist requires some subtle menace. Despite feeling appropriately heavy and suffocating and bituminous, there's a sharpness that punctuates the tracks, both in terms of the cymbals throughout and sidewinding leads. In regards to the latter, look to both the title track and the tail end of "Maneater" where high-pitched leads squeal, providing excellent contrast. From a thematic perspective, the crocodilian elements shine through across the breadth of the EP. From a musical perspective, it is a very rewarding experience. Give a well-deserved listen to the mighty title track below, and check out the full EP here. Cult of Sobek - Petsuchos was released July 22nd, 2023 via Trepanation Recordings
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of a delightfully slimy death metal EP.
Written by: The Administrator
The roster of underground death metal bands that deserve more attention is nigh-infinite, and while underappreciation is inevitable, everyone needs to stop sleeping on Cork's own Bodydrinkers. In an attempt to remedy this scenario, we slumbering scribes try our hand at rousing the masses. Wake up! Plug this into your earholes! A mere three tracks, Swamp Hammer is nonetheless a beast. The titular track kicks things off with glorious belligerence, a churning muscular barrage accompanied by an engaging range of vocal delivery. The riffage roils with pythonian strength, and while delivering an effective bludgeoning, the track does not overstay its welcome. My personal favorite track, the follow-up "Byzantine Blinding," opts for a slower yet no less pugilistic angle. The vocals here are truly monstrous, and play inordinately well off the massive surge of instrumentation. Closer "Bio Terroristic Occult Sermon" threads the needle between the two extremes, delivering a slightly more grindy and unhinged take on Bodydrinkers' apparent trademark aggression. The variety presented herein is quite enjoyable, and the short runtime simply isn't enough. I crave more. Given the EP title and slimy descriptor, I was admittedly expecting a little more sludgy lumbering and dripping riffage, but as a fan of the mire, that's on me. What we get instead is top-notch stuff, no bones about it. Swamp Hammer is delightfully aggressive and takes no prisoners in the sonic bombardment department. I highly recommend checking this one out! Listen here and snag a tape from (the illustrative) Fiadh Productionshere. Bodydrinkers - Swamp Hammer was released January 20th, 2023 (Digital) and June 2nd, 2023 (Cassette) via Fiadh Productions 
Written by: The Administrator
I undoubtably speak for everyone here: sometimes we all just need our craniums caved in with a boulder the size of a small boulder. When you require such necessary service, I highly recommend looking no further than Denver's Cronos Compulsion. Just take a gander at the appropriately burly and bloody album artwork for this (very good) five track EP and let me know what Malicious Regression sounds like. Your suspicions are undoubtably correct. Cronos Compulsion wield a truly neolithic approach to the model of simple but bluntly effective riffcraft, alongside a rumbling doomy density. The vocals are as bestial and cavernous as ye might expect. At times, ambient harsh noise serves to break up and/or intensify the abyssal soundscape. Bludgeoning atmosphere is the general rule, and when the riffs encounter peak sludge, a notable sense of despair prevails. Personally, I find these slower and gloomier moments to be some of the strongest. While there are certainly no weak songs, the lumbering "Consumed By Malignant Spirit" is an absolute crushing track, and, by extension, one absolute hell of a closer. 
Written by: The Administrator
Given that this particular scribe's familiarity with (the reputedly well-acclaimed) Bloodborne verges on nonexistent, the thematic content lurking behind Soulmass' stellar Let Us Pray has zero impact on my experience. That's certainly not a bad thing–the music speaks for itself without the implicit weight of a fan's expectations when it comes to faithful lore. And damn, does the music ever speak to me. This album has been in consistent rotation ever since I received the promo, effectively holding my January and February listening habits in a fiercely tight and omnipresent stranglehold. One dreams of such albums at the top of the year. 
Written by: The Administrator
Each year, I inevitably spend a whole lot o' time with EPs. Is this due to my bafflingly short attention span? Yes. Is it also because EPs often feel like the perfect vehicle for a band to flaunt their strengths in a concise and well-trimmed manner? Also yes. Listening to a well-constructed EP is perhaps my favorite way to spend time with music, and so here I am, an eclectic collection of favorites gripped in outstretched grubby fingers. But first, some housekeeping! There are, assuming I counted correctly, 30 entries. I was planning on 20, but have no real interest in trimming a list of untrimmable favorites. In that spirit, hopefully you find something here that worms its way into your favorites as well. This list is not sorted by genre despite featuring a lot of different genres. I apologize for the whiplash, but sorting feels antithetical to the overall notion that listening habits should not be confined for the sake of convenient lists. And lastly, this is utterly unranked--if something appears here, please know that it comes highly, highly recommended! Anyways. Let's get into it.  Greetings, dear reader. It is once again listmas 'round these humble halls. Time, then, to look back the music that has defined our collective year. The non-exhaustive AOTY smorgasbord hath begun.
My personal EP and album lists shall follow in (less-than) good time, but before we get to that, the community speaks. This list is a collaborative effort, with ten distinct music writers, musicians, and fans lending a few words. Hopefully the variety of perspectives results in a list containing at least one or two releases that speak to you! This, of course, is far from exhaustive--indeed, every single one of ye could undoubtedly highlight a vast number of deserving albums not appearing here. A massive thank you is in order to everyone who contributed words and energy to this lil' project. As always, we couldn't have done it without ye! Please check out the writer's respective projects and links. This list constitutes the first five entries, with another five to follow. Read on! |
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