Written by Kirk
Alright, fellow music lovers, the final push is here. I gave you my favorite singles of 2023, and then I gave you my favorite EPs. Now it’s time for the list you’ve all (not really) been waiting for: MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023. But, before I get started, I just want to point out that I think I listened to more new albums in 2023 than I’ve ever listened to in a single year in my entire life. From the first two Gorgons Alter releases from January 1 through Espi Kvlt’s album on December 27, this year has been nothing but wall-to-wall music. And while not all of it was metal or metal-adjacent, a lot of it was, but a lot of it was, and all of it was good. ALL OF IT.
But I’m not going to write about all all 128 of these albums, guys. My editor would kill me (not that I’d blame him). So, like I’ve done with my favorite singles and EPs of 2023, I’m gonna talk about the albums I loved and the albums that I really liked. The list is long (a lot of great albums came out last year), but it’s nowhere near 128. We’ll start with the albums that I loved:
18 Slashes — Jawnnobyl (Jan. 13)
BROKE: Writing and releasing a concept album
WOKE: Writing and releasing a concept based on a movie that never existed
BESPOKE: Writing and releasing a concept album based on a video game that never existed
The debut album from 18 Slashes is an absolutely bonkers record that may not be packed with wall-to-wall bangers, but its concept is so ridiculous that every ounce of it works on every level imaginable. One of Syrup Moose Records’s first releases of the year, this is one I found myself coming back to numerous times throughout the year. But will a Jawnnobyl game be created to coincide with the “soundtrack”? That remains to be seen….
Clouds Taste Satanic — Tales of Demonic Possession (Feb. 3)
Dense, epic, and just south of grandiose, this might be Clouds Taste Satanic’s best work to date. I’d have to sit down with their entire catalog and do a full dive before I make that statement official, but I don’t think my eardrums could handle that kind of punishment. If nothing else, if you slept on this album, you need to reprioritize your life.
Hail the Void — Memento Mori (Feb. 17)
If you caught my interview on Syrup Moose’s radio show several months ago, everyone’s favorite cryptid asked me what I thought was the heaviest album of the year is. This was my answer, and while The Sticky One disagreed, I stand by my answer. This album is beyond heavy, with riffs that feel like they could rattle your soul loose from your body. If doom is your thing, Hail the Void is your king.
Gorod — The Orb (Mar. 7)
I wrote a review on this record, which you can find right here. After going through every 2023 release again throughout the month of December, everything I said about it stands true: this album FUCKS. I’m not a big death metal guy—I like it, but I don’t lose my mind over it—but I do enjoy me some good tech death, and Gorod make some damn fine tech death. Hopefully those of you out there who caught them on tour last year got to hear some of these tunes live.
Ephedra — Valley of the Shepherd (Mar. 17)
This was one of my favorite albums of the year. I wrote about it back in March—you can read my review here—but it’s just such a lush album. There’s not a lot of room to expand on or enhance stoner rock within its own trappings, so bravo to Ephedra for stepping outside of the box in such an astounding way. Whether or not you listen with the assistance of some (il)legal substances, this one is sure to take you out of your body and soaring through space. It’s one ride you won’t want to miss.
Mammon’s Throne — Mammon’s Throne (April 1)
2023 was an awesome year for doom metal fans. All those riffs from 2022 came back slower and nastier than ever before, and Mammon’s Throne was no exception. Not much more can be said about this record aside from what I wrote here; this one delivered every step of the way.
Plainride — Plainride (Apr. 28)
If Clutch-worship is its own genre, then Plainride is its king. Celebrating ten years as a band, these strapping young lads from Cologne are certainly worse for wear after so much time spent in the road. If you follow them on Instagram, their tour diaries are both epic and hilarious, meaning it’s well worth your time. But one thing Plainride have proved is that slow and steady wins the race; this album had been over two years in the making, the lead single “Shepherd” debuting on January 22, 2021. However, when that horn section hits you square in the jaw once “Fire in the Sky” gets going, you’ll know that perfection has been achieved.
Project: Roenwolfe — Project: Roenwolfe (June 2)
If you were looking for an album that was, from front to back, technical perfection, guess what. YOU FOUND IT. I reviewed this masterclass in power thrash back in June (you can find my review right here), and the only flaw in this record is that there will never be a follow-up. Project: Roenwolfe disbanded several month after its release; however, they have the truly rare ability to say they hung it up when they were at their peak. Syrup Moose Records put a lot of feathers in their cap last year, and this one might be the brightest.
Voidhaven — Lithic (June 9)
Heavy? Yup. Dark? You betcha. Gothic? Oh, yeah. For fans of epic doom with a splash of death metal thrown in for good measure, then Voidhaven is sure to hit the spot. Lithic checked all my boxes and scratched all my itches, and it’s sure to do the same for you. I wrote about it back in June, which you can read here, and it’s one of those records that unveils more treasures each time you play it.
Whettman Chelmets — Koppen (July 7)
What measure do you use to say what makes your favorite albums so special? Is it how they make you feel when you press play? Or is it how you find yourself wanting to listen to them again and again? For me, it’s probably the latter, and Whettman Chelmets’s Koppen is absolutely the album I found myself returning to the most. It’s truly a marvel, a shining gem amongst a year full of precious stones. I wrote about it back in July (you can read my review here), but Strategic Tape Reserve may have released the best album of 2023. Just remarkable.
Auralayer — Thousand Petals (July 14)
Stoner rock rules. You can disagree, but please know in your heart that you’ve chosen the wrong path. Yeah, sure, toilet bowl vocals are fun and all, but the vocal and guitar harmonies (guitarmonies?) of Auralayer are easily the best of 2023. I loved this album the first time I listened to it, and I’ve grown to love it more with each passing listen. King Volume Records put out some gems last year, but Thousand Petals is nothing if not the Arkenstone of their collection. I had the opportunity to write a review for it (click here to read it) and even got to interview Thomas Powell (vocals & guitar), which you can read here. Simply epic.
Chris Farren — Doom Singer (Aug. 4)
If finely-crafted indie power pop is your bag, baby, get ready to have your bag filled to the BRIM. This latest outing from Chris Farren is a sparkling diamond amongst an ocean of broken glass and shattered dreams. Every song is a breath of fresh air and an absolute blast. Don’t know how it can get any better than this.
KIND — Close Encounters (Aug. 11)
Ever listen to an album that didn’t blow you away, but something about the band kept bringing you back for more? Boston stoner rock supergroup KIND caught my attention with their debut, Rocket Science, piqued my interest with Mental Nudge, and then blew me away with Close Encounters. You can read my full review of this stoner rock slobberknocker here. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece, it will leave you with just one question: How will they top this on their next album?
Jeff Rosenstock — HELLMODE (Sept. 1)
In a world where it’s very easy (and usually pretty accurate) to say that punk rock is dead, Jeff Rosenstock is here to prove you wrong. This album is overflowing with both energy and charisma, so much so that you’ll find yourself at least humming if not singing along to each of these tracks. And no, you won’t know the lyrics right away, but you’ll feel yourself compelled to listen to it multiple times until you do. Ask me how I know….
Hermano — …Only a Suggestion (Nov. 3)
Proving yet again to be the king of the stoner rock scene, Ripple Music has unearthed yet another crowning achievement from the early days of this rifftastic sub-genre. One of several bands to take form in the wake of Kyuss’ awesome legacy, this remix/remaster of John Garcia’s old band was completed under the watchful eye of the band members themselves, allowing them to get the record to sound exactly how they wanted it to. Who said doing your homework had to be boring?
Everson Poe — The Tower (Nov. 23)
Considering the emotional weight of the average Everson Poe album, it’s staggering to consider that 2023 saw not one but two albums released. And while Servant was nothing if not intense, The Tower was absolutely breathtaking. Featuring guest contributions both old and new, if The Tower doesn’t take your breath away, I don’t know what will.
So yeah, that’s a lot of albums I absolutely loved in 2023. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other albums I really, really liked, so I’m gonna do that now. I hope you read this list and find something you either vibes with last year or missed and can dig into before 2024 picks up too much steam.
hhhhh (Saturnists) & Black Yen — Split (Jan. 6)
https://saturnists.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-black-yen
Corvus Corone — Abandoned in Spring (Jan. 27h)
https://sludgecrow.bandcamp.com/album/abandoned-in-spring
American Goner — What You Left Behind (Feb. 3)
https://americangoner.bandcamp.com/album/what-you-left-behind
Khan — Creatures (Feb. 22)
https://khanofficial.bandcamp.com/album/creatures
Everson Poe — Servant (March 3)
https://eversonpoe.bandcamp.com/album/servant
Hiverlucide — Satan Death Whale (March 3)
https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/album/satan-death-whale
Xiu Xiu — Ignore Grief (Mar. 3)
https://xiuxiu.bandcamp.com/album/ignore-grief
Trading Aces — Rock ‘n’ Roll Homicide (Apr. 10)
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-homicide
Cave Moth — Paralytic Love (Apr. 14)
https://cavemoth.bandcamp.com/album/paralytic-love
The Eating Cave — The Miscalculation (Apr. 21)
https://theeatingcave.bandcamp.com/album/the-miscalculation
Smoulder — Violent Creed of Vengeance (Apr. 21)
https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/album/violent-creed-of-vengeance
L’Homme Absurde — Stranger (May 9) [review]
https://lhommeabsurdebm.bandcamp.com/album/stranger
The Very Very Danger — Submarine Chase in Outer Space (May 19)
https://theveryverybandcamp.bandcamp.com/album/submarine-chase-in-outer-space
Inherus — Beholden (May 26) [review]
https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/beholden
MAN ON MAN — Provincetown (June 16)
https://manonman.bandcamp.com/album/provincetown
Calligram — Position | Momentum (July 14)
https://calligram.bandcamp.com/album/position-momentum
Radiant Knife — Pressure (July 14) [review]
https://radiantknife.bandcamp.com/album/pressure
Tō Yō — Stray Bird from the Far East (Aug. 18)
https://toyotoyo.bandcamp.com/album/stray-birds-from-the-far-east
AAWKS / Aiwass — The Eastern Scrolls (Aug. 25) [review]
https://aawks.bandcamp.com/album/the-eastern-scrolls-aiwass-aawks
Gendo Ikari — Rokubungi (Sept. 1)
https://gendoikari.bandcamp.com/album/rokubungi
Mind/Knot — Esigenza (Sept. 1)
https://mindknot.bandcamp.com/album/esigenza
La Chinga — Primal Forces (Oct. 6)
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/primal-forces
Aiwass — The Falling (Oct. 13) [review]
https://aiwassband.bandcamp.com/album/the-falling
Adzes — Inver (Oct. 27) [review]
https://adzes.bandcamp.com/album/inver
Howling Giant — Glass Future (Oct. 27) [review]
https://howlinggiant.bandcamp.com/album/glass-future
Ritual King — The Infinite Mirror (Nov. 17)
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-infinite-mirror
Dreadwood Prophecies — Legacies (Dec. 22)
https://dreadwoodprophecies.bandcamp.com/album/legacies
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