In 2023, we saw the release of what seemed to be a gigajillion albums worldwide – a straight-up middle finger to the vast nothingness of the Covid-riddled years. Of course, it was impossible for me to screen them all, but I managed to get to listen to a boatload of stuff this year. If you know me by now, then you know my mainstays are Black/Death/Thrash/Atmospheric Metal, in that order. So, without further ado, here is my list of my top ten favorite metal albums of 2023 in the universe, according to Alex Kayne…
10) Fredlös, Fredlös (Threeman Records)
Fredlös came to us in the spring of 2021 from the ashes of previous member’s projects northeast of Stockholm. The eponymous debut contains nine dark, heavy, intense musical adventures centered around the Middle Ages from the perspective of the common folk. Weaving Metal, Rock, and Folk into a swirling, dynamic, rich, and varied tapestry, a sonic landscape that defies any single definition.
Track: “Våt varm jord”
09) Nervosa, Jailbreak (Napalm Records)
Nervosa’s updated lineup, which includes shredder Helena Kotina, Hel Pyre from Afterblood, and Michaela Naydenova from Ember & Dust, forms a coagulating firestorm of molten steel. Prika Amaral takes over the vocals and is more than perfectly capable of delivering the fury. This is the band’s best lineup to date, and I hope it stays that way. Thrash/Death done to perfection, Jailbreak is a fucking masterpiece of raw power, rage, and execution.
Track: “Seed of Death”
08) Cannibal Corpse, Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade Records)
I thought “Violence Unimagined” was a definitive CC album until Chaos Horrific came along. Just when you think a band like Cannibal Corpse, pioneers in the Death Metal game since 1988, shaping and defining its sonic parameters can’t possibly get any better at what they do–it happens–and it blows your mind. This is a full-on Death Metal frontal assault that, when it’s finished, makes you want to start it all over again. Track: “Overlords of Violence”
07) Obituary, Dying of Everything (Relapse Records)
The key factor for stalwarts like Obituary is to take their immersive auditory beatdown style and escalate it to new heights without wandering too far from whence they came. Dying of Everything does just that, bringing along the band’s patented buzzsaw destruction they have come to unleash upon us over the years. Ten tracks of pummeling pulchritude for your guaranteed delight. Trevor, Donald, John, Kenny, and of course Terry deliver the goods with a fresh off the lockdown wallop.
Track: “Dying of Everything”
