Top 10 Albums of 2023

Every year's a good year for music in terms of new releases, and 2023 was no exception — between the studio returns of some of metal's biggest names like Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold to the mainstream emergence of new icons like Sleep Token, there was no shortage of impressive rock and metal releases throughout the past year.

When it comes to these annual compilations, it’s always difficult to narrow it down to just a handful of standout releases, let alone rank them, but as it stands at this very moment, these are my top 10 albums of 2023:

10. Honey Revenge - Retrovision (June 23)

The debut full-length album from the California-based pop-rock group Honey Revenge got the summer started on the right foot – the pre-released singles “Habitual” and “Airhead” made big splashes all over social media, for good reason, and the rest of the album is full of bangers. In the fashion of bands like Senses Fail and Alkaline Trio, there’s a fun juxtaposition between upbeat music and gloomy introspective lyrics that can be found in Honey Revenge’s work, with “Seeing Negative (Disappointment)” being a perfect example. With their accessible sound, up-front and relatable lyrics, and insanely catchy melodies, it’ll be very difficult to get most of this album’s songs out of your head.

Standout Tracks: “Seeing Negative (Disappointment),” “Favorite Song,” “Murphy’s Law”

To buy/stream the album, click here.

9. Dropout Kings - Riot Music (May 5)

The overall sound of Dropout Kings’ sophomore full-length effort is best described with its title – one listen will make you want to smash windows and take shots at everything that’s wrong with the current state of the world. There’s a perfect balance between social commentary and self-analyzing contemplation from a lyrical perspective that matches very well with the hard-hitting instrumentals that fans have come to love and expect from the Arizonan trap-metal crew. That’s not to say that this is just more of the same from the band, because that couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, it’s as if everything’s been taken to another level – bigger choruses, better production, harder beats and riffs, and just an overall solid release from the group.

Standout Tracks: “Dark Energy,” “Lights Out,” “No Notoriety”

To see my interview with Dropout Kings vocalist Adam Ramey and guitarist Rob Sebastian, click here. 

To buy/stream the album, click here.

8. Albert Bouchard - Imaginos III: Mutant Reformation (July 7)

The conclusion to the founding Blue Oyster Cult musician’s Imaginos trilogy ends the saga on the highest note possible, with a mix of reimagined Blue Öyster Cult tracks and new compositions. Bouchard is able to adopt several sonic inspirations in terms of genre across the 18 tracks on the album, from folk to punk, and the contributions from guest musicians like Richie Castellano and RJ Ronquillo (just to name a couple) do a great job at bringing the songs to life and adding some more musical variety. As a closing chapter, Mutant Reformation passes the test with flying colors, and now stands as the strongest of the three Imaginos chapters.

Standout Tracks: “Transmaniacon,” “Curse of the Hidden Mirrors,” “Aldebaran Take Me Away”

To read my first-impression thoughts on Imaginos III - Mutant Reformation, click here.

To buy/stream the album, click here.

7. Dark Divine - Deadly Fun (September 8)

Florida is straight-up rich with musical talent in the realm of rock and metal, so much so that it should probably be illegal, and the metalcore quintet Dark Divine is a fantastic recent example. The follow-up to their stellar 2022 EP Halloweentown came in the form of their debut full-length album, Deadly Fun, which is loaded with infectious melodies and head-pounding riffs. The band proves their diverse sonic capabilities throughout the album – as one listens through the ethereally melodic Dayseeker-esque “Cold,” the rock radio-ready “Paper Crown” (which also features vocal contributions from Fame on Fire’s Bryan Kuznitz), and the slamming screamfest “The Reaper,” it quickly becomes apparent that there’s not a lot that Dark Divine CAN’T do. From a vocal standpoint, Anthony Martinez has a wickedly impressive range with both screams and cleans, with the dynamically hard-hitting “Terrifier” putting it on full display. Long story short, Deadly Fun is a super strong debut that shows that the horror-inspired Floridians are already a force to be reckoned with.

Standout Tracks: “Drown,” “Hive Mind,” “Moving On”

To buy/stream the album, click here.

6. VRSTY - Levitate (October 27)

Always consistent in the studio with singles and EPs, NYC’s genre-bending band VRSTY pulled no punches with their latest full-length release, Levitate. VRSTY’s always had a unique sound due to the array of frontman and mastermind Joey Varela’s musical influences (the best example I can think of is a mix between Palisades and Rain City Drive, but even that doesn’t do it justice), and it’s only gotten more challenging with how sonically diverse their new album is. No two songs sound alike, and there are even moments where it sounds like some songs were written by completely different artists, which just goes to show how talented the band is. Working with producer extraordinaire Justin DeBlieck was also a great move, making the album sound absolutely huge when it’s supposed to – the addition of strings and orchestration in songs like the “Thriller”-inspired “Dangerous” is a nice touch as well, adding even more sonic layers to an already wide-ranging sound. Varela’s lyrics are also at a high point on this album, while being very specifically introspective yet relatable at the same time. While it may be cliche to say this, it’s true that there’s something for everyone on a VRSTY album, and Levitate is a magnificent addition to their discography.

Standout Tracks: “No Chill,” “Doomed,” “The Feeling”

To see my interview with VRSTY vocalist Joey Varela, click here.

To buy/stream the album, click here.

5. From Ashes to New - Blackout (July 28)

Modern nu-metal royalty From Ashes to New have been on an insane trajectory since the release of their 2018 album The Future, and they deservedly seem to get bigger and bigger with each release. Their fourth studio album Blackout is a conceptual counterpart to the band’s 2016 debut LP Day One, with both lyrical and aesthetic parallels between the two. Musically, the band has never sounded bigger, with singles like “Nightmare” and “Until We Break” kicking the listener in the teeth in the best way possible – however, there’s still room for upbeat and accessible tracks like “Hate Me Too” and “Barely Breathing.” The vocal duo of rapper Matt Brandyberry and singer Danny Case is in top form as well, with Brandyberry effortlessly spitting bars in songs like “Monster in Me” while also experimenting with screams in “Nightmare,” not to mention Case’s range and technique shining on tracks like “Hope You’re Happy.” In their ten years of making music, there hasn’t been a single weak FATN release, and Blackout is a good indication that there still won’t be one anytime soon.

Standout Tracks: “Hate Me Too,” “Barely Breathing,” “Broken By Design”

To read my first-impression thoughts on Blackout, click here.

To buy/stream the album, click here.

4. ALPHAMEGA - Regeneration Machine (May 26)

The debut full-length effort from Los Angeles-based alternative hard rockers ALPHAMEGA was an insanely strong one, with fan-favorite singles like “No Longer Broken” and “Late to the Party” pairing very nicely with deep cuts like “To the Wolves” and “Good to Be Numb.” While they’ve cultivated a sound that’s primarily known as heavy and in-your-face with singles like “Snake in the Grass” and “Annihilator,” there are a fair amount of mid-tempo and softer tracks like “The War” that come as a bit of a surprise when compared to the high energy of the previously released singles. That being said, the guys in ALPHAMEGA have done a great job combining their collective inspirations and cultivating a sound that’s unique to them, and their first full-length effort leaves the listener wanting even more (yes, even after releasing a deluxe edition with three bonus tracks).

Standout Tracks: “To Be Human,” “Sound of Your Excuse,” “A World Afraid of Tomorrow”

To read my first-impression thoughts on Regeneration Machine, click here.

To see my interview with ALPHAMEGA, click here.

To buy/stream the album, click here.

3. Saliva - Revelation (September 8)

Released six months after the tragic loss of guitarist and founding member Wayne Swinny, the legendary hard rock act Saliva returned with their 12th studio album, Revelation, which proved to be one of their strongest efforts yet. Dedicated to the memory and legacy of Swinny, his style, presence, and influence is heard all over the album, especially on songs like “Come Back Stronger” and “Horizon.” Vocalist Bobby Amaru’s lyrics come from a very real and relatable place, with “Fractures” being a prime example, along with one of the best songs Saliva ever released. There’s a lot of sonic ground that’s covered while still feeling like a Saliva record, with the singles “Crows” and “High on Me” being right at home alongside tracks like “Toxic” and “How to Live,” while still having their own identities apart from each other. Truly, not enough words can be said for how well this album turned out and how well it captures the greatness and celebrates the legacy of the band’s late founder Wayne Swinny. 

Standout Tracks: “Crows,” “High on Me,” “Fractures”

To see my interview with Saliva vocalist Bobby Amaru, click here. 

To buy/stream the album, click here.

2. Alice Cooper - Road (August 25) 

Shock rock legend Alice Cooper is nothing if not prolific, and his 29th studio album Road proves that he’s still got more in the tank. Conceptually chronicling what life is like on the road for a touring musician, Cooper recruited his own touring band members to make this album together, essentially playing live in the studio and having little to no overdubs. While Cooper adopted this recording approach one other time for his 2003 masterpiece The Eyes of Alice Cooper, this marks the first time Cooper’s current backing band worked on a studio album together. Bringing the talent of his backing musicians to the forefront, the end result is a solid hard rock album from one of the genre’s longest-tenured contributors, with songs like “Welcome to the Show” and “I’m Alice” bound to become classic tracks as time goes on. With fun lyrical storytelling that only Cooper could pull off in addition to well-executed instrumentals that his band is known and loved for, Road is a must-listen for any rock fan.

Standout Tracks: “Welcome to the Show,” “All Over the World,” “The Big Goodbye”

To read my first-impression thoughts on Road, click here.

To buy/stream the album, click here.

1. Creeper - Sanguivore (October 13)

While it would’ve been VERY easy to put Road in the top spot because of my obvious and well-documented bias towards Alice Cooper, I can’t deny just how great the third album from England’s premier goth rock band turned out. Creeper’s become known for their complex and grandiose arrangements over their decade-long recording career, but their new album Sanguivore dials everything to the extreme in the best way imaginable – instantly setting the tone with the epic 9-minute opening track “Further Than Forever,” it’s immediately apparent to the listener that they’re in for a wild ride. Of course, this high-energy goth rock is in Creeper’s DNA through and through, but there are even moments on songs like “Chapel Gates” that appear to nod to vocalist Will Gould’s phenomenal side project Salem with their punkish attitude and high tempo. On top of the sonically sensational guitar harmonies and overall instrumentation, Creeper’s latest effort simply shows them at their best and brightest, with the band never sounding bigger or more cohesive. 

Standout Tracks: “Further Than Forever,” “Sacred Blasphemy,” “Chapel Gates”

To buy/stream the album, click here.

All in all, 2023 proved to be yet another stacked year for music, and this new year is already starting to look promising. If you haven’t listened to these albums yet, get to it and feel free to comment your favorite 2023 releases as well!

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