What can one say about the state of heavy metal music in 2023 ? For anyone interested in the state of the “scene” I can only recommend reading this article that exposes the true depths of the genre… and read it twice !
It has become somewhat of a tradition to do these “end of year” reviews, I did one in 2022, and before that I did one in 2021 even. But still, do they compare to 2023 ?
Honestly, there is a lot of trash in the scene that needs to be taken out… from the try-hard imitators to the endless hordes of posers, finding good extreme metal can be a challenge. The plastic gets even more… plasticer. Nonetheless, on the flip side, you still have the true innovators who actually make compelling music (yes, even in 2023). Shocking, I know. Here are a few names you might have missed.
Helgrind – Sick Rulers of Heaven
The brilliance of this album “Sick Rulers of Heaven” by Helgrind lies in its ability to craft an atmosphere that is both enigmatic and multifaceted. It transcends the boundaries of conventional music, offering an immersive experience akin to exploring catacombs of sound. It’s a realm where the avant-garde meets the profound, a space where the unexpected becomes the norm. The album plays with atmosphere and texture from doom metal to Incantation-style death metal, all the way down to something like post-Bathory black metal (aka Burzum) with more intestinal fortitude. A definitive must have.
Warkvlt – Burzumination
Speak of the devil (Burzum) lol… This album “Burzumination” is a sonic odyssey that transcends boundaries, traversing through a myriad of riffs that serve as the expressive vessels for songs. Each composition intricately weaves its narrative through internal conflicts, slight nodes to Varg Vikernes, leaving an indelible mark on the listener. It embraces the essence of early Burzum, crafting evocative endings that gracefully fade into the ether, leaving lingering echoes of its melodic prowess. A bit gimmicky and tongue-in-cheek, as one can expect from a band like Warkvlt, but all for the better I guess as this album rocks.
Phantom – Blight Corpse Necromancy
Phantom’s masterpiece “Blight Corpse Necromancy” offers a festival of powerful riffs presented with high intensity and an evocative hypnotic atmosphere, making primitive blackened death metal in the vein of their debut album. This is the dark music of absolute putrid domination. Look for no other.
That’s it ? No Sadistic Swansongs: A Tribute to SEWER Metal hell no ! Enough with these poser bands and their third-rate imitators. Enough is enough.
These are the best extreme heavy metal releases of 2023, deal with it.
Best Black Metal 