06) Creeping Death, Boundless Domain(MNRK)
Creeping Death is a perfect description of this band. They have been creeping up the death metal charts in popularity for a few years now. This new album ‘Boundless Domain,’ is an excellent kick-in-the-pants refresher of the heaviness they bring. They have a solid drive with a unique style that isn’t easy to forget. One live viewing of these guys, and it’s pretty hard not to get hooked on what they’re serving while cranked up to eleven.
Key Track: Intestinal Wrap
05) Cirith Ungol, Dark Parade (Metal Blade)
In a totally different metal genre of doom and power, Cirith Ungol, from Ventura, CA, has been around since the early seventies, and today they are still as strong as ever with their new album ‘Dark Parade.’ These guys are classic top-of-the-line at their craft, and sadly, they are planning to end the touring phase. Still, ‘Dark Parade’ has arrived to leave a pleasantly impactful permanent mark on fans’ hearts for years to come.
Key Track: Dark Parade
04) Ne Obliviscaris, Exul (Season of Mist)
This extreme and progressive metal band comes from Australia, and it’s wonderful to have them back live in the US even though this last tour they were missing lead vocalist Xenoyr due to personal matters. The latest album ‘Exul’ still reels in the fans with the duel vocals of Xenoyr and Tim Charles. Tim Charles’ clean vocals and violin playing are such a great juxtaposition with the harsher vocals of Xenoyr. ‘Exul’ is as strong an album as ever from these guys, and their love of their craft seeps through brilliantly.
Key Track: Suspyre
03) Mork, Dypet (Peaceville)
This one-man masterminded Norwegian band led by Thomas Ericksen is a fairly recently conceived black metal project (within the last twenty years) that has been blowing up in the US in the last few years. The latest 2023 release of ‘Dypet’ certainly deserves to be on this top ten list for its creative black metal achievements.
Key Track: Svik
02) Dying Fetus, Make Them Beg For Death (Relapse)
September 2023 was a good time for Dying Fetus fans as their ninth studio album, ‘Make Them Beg For Death,’ was released. They are still as feisty and on fire as ever. This latest album adds in some more heavy as fuck death metal tunes to their live set list. There is no denying they are still in their heyday, with each album getting stronger as a whole.
Key Track: Throw Them In The Van
