Listmania: Metal Noise Top #5 Albums of 2023!

Waking up from a dream like sugar induced coma in which the lyric “Just one Cornetto, give it to me, delicious ice cream, of Italy, creamy vanilla and chocolate dream, Give me Cornetto, from Walls ice cream” was sung by Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbia isn’t a good look when you’ve got to write an article about the top #5 albums of 2023. But it could have been worse. It could have been pig-snorting from Gutalax frontman Martin Matoušek. Thank God it wasn’t Andrea Bocelli. Anyway. To business. The long play format of the album is one we all know and love with 2023 being a year rammed full of new releases. They say it won’t last and the World will move to EPs and singles in years to come but then they’re still selling vinyl and cassettes have made a come back so WTF do they know? The rules for this one are simple; five albums that we’ve reviewed in the calendar year of 2023 by five different bands, none of whom will appear (or have appeared) in any other category. Let’s f***ing GO!

“Snake Oil” by King Abyss. A highly anticipated February release from an Aggressive Crossover Thrash quintet recorded, mixed and mastered by Myroslav Borys (From Her Ashes, Confessions Of A Traitor, Monasteries) at Jigsaw Audio and five years in the making, this one flirts with Death Metal and absolutely crushes. The first record of the year to receive a 9/10 review, it builds on the bands fierce reputation and live energy in style but also has plenty of substance with a classy acoustic interlude and almost cinematic instrumental conclusion. If you haven’t heard this one already in the 10 months since it was released then there is no better time than now.

“Elements” by Mind Control. Originally slated for a 2020 release and then delayed for obvious reasons, the Italian Progressive Death Metal outfit made their presence felt with a sonic creation that registered on the Richter scale. A huge moment for the band with new vocalist Stefania “Natisfea” Salladini and new bassist Stefano Tatasciore delivering their first recorded material to the World despite having been part of the outfit since 2018, this one sounds HUGE. Urgent and rich with emotive qualities, intricate instrumental passages, electronics and incredible vocals, this one is an album that has everything and the Kitchen sink, not to mention a guest vocal appearance from their original screamer Simone Evangelista…

“Betrayer” by Catalysis. Seamlessly blending together elements of Melodic Death Metal with Thrash, the Scottish quintet spent 18 months crafting their sophomore album building on the foundations of a pair of well received EPs delivered us to evil with something of supreme quality. The solos and leads are incredible, the rhythmic backbone immense and the wealth of memorable vocal lines the absolute Chef’s Kiss. If this doesn’t take them from their homeland in search of shows in far flung lands then there is absolutely no justice in this World because that should be the fruit of the labour that went into this belter of a record.

“False Idols” by Electrocutioner. Inspired by 80’s dystopian films the Long Island New York Thrash trio go back to the roots of the genre with the combination of speed, aggression, ripping solos and frenetic energy as they ruminate on themes of societal collapse and nuclear war with their debut full length. A DIY or DIE album with oceans of nostalgic charm, flamboyance and freedom, this one finds guitarist, vocalist and synth interlude creator Mark Pursino becoming the protagonist of many a crime during this collection of dark tales…

“The Propaganda Machine” by Demonstealer. An album with a stellar cast of co-conspirators including 4 drummers, 4 bassists, 3 lead guitarists across 8 crushing tracks as well as keys from Anabelle Iratni (Veile, ex-Cradle of Filth) throughout, this one takes the solo output of Demonic Resurrection frontman and guitarist Sahil Makhija to a whole new level. That army of musicians from all corners of the World, renowned for their abilities in different subgenres of Death Metal including the technical, blackened, symphonic and groove orientations created a record greater than the sum of its parts and much to our surprise there are even some clean vocals…

Honourable mentions? There are arguably too many to mention but here are five which were the width of a cigarette paper away from being in the top #5: “Anthropogenic Ruin” by Boston Technical Death Metal act Bacterial Husk, “Midnight Assassin” by Austin Texas based Blackened Speed Metal outfit Sadistic Force, “Tulpa” by former Obscura, Alkaloid and current Obsidious six string fretless bassist Linus Klausenitzer and his co-conspirators, “To Gaze Longer at the Earth” by Gothic tinged Doom Folk Horror Metal pioneers Edenfall and “Trial By Chaos” by Ontario Canadian Death Thrash masters Raider…

Tomorrow will be time for the next chapter… what will it be?