Another part of our top albums of 2023 list, and things are starting to really heat up now!

60: Prong – State of Emergency

Starting off this section of the list strong with the US groovy thrash band. Considering I’d never even heard of the band before doing our review of the album, I’ve become a little bit obsessed. It’s such an interesting blend of styles, too. It effortlessly transitions between 80s thrash to crossover to a Pantera/Black Label Society-like groove metal. It’s a real testament to the band’s phenomenal songwriting.

I gave it a 9.5/10 in my review and it’s hard to argue that fact when I’m sat here on yet another listen through while I write this. There isn’t a bad track on it and every song has such a different feel that it never once gets boring. Yet again, they need to finally come back over to the UK soon!

Listen to: State of Emergency, Light Turns Black and Disconnected

59: Hyro the Hero – Bound for Glory

This album, like his last one, was a long time coming. While the gap between his first and second album was bigger, the first single from this album came out a whopping three years before it’s full release. I think that is the reason that it is a little lower than I thought it would be. Much like Electric Callboy last year, it’s an amazing album, but A LOT of it had come out prior to its release, and it was almost all the best stuff.

However, if you’re a fan of hip-hop infused rock and metal, this is definitely the album for you. The vocals and lyrics are phenomenal and the music behind it is basic but fits it perfectly. And all the (many) guests do a fantastic job on their tracks, too. I love that this sort of music is making it bigger than ever with the likes of Hyro, Fever333 and Stray from the Path, and this album is up there with some of the best in the genre. We gave it an 8/10, but after a few more listens I’d easily put it up to an 8.5 or 9!

Listen to: FU2, Retaliation Generation and Sho Nuff

58: Crown the Empire – DOGMA

Time for some more metalcore, because there is never enough. The Texan natives still feel like relative newcomers in the genre even though they’ve been going for nearly a decade and a half now and this was their fifth album. That may be because I only got into them with this release, though. Heck, I wasn’t even the one who reviewed it, Max did. He gave it a massive 10/10. While I maybe don’t agree with that, it certainly justifies it’s placement on this list alone!

Still, it’s a very good modern metalcore album. There are multiple awesome tracks throughout, and it really feels like the band have reached a new height with the release. It’s polished, refined and feels like they’ve really reached their stride creatively and sonically. I’d happily give it a 9! Plus, ‘In Another Life’ with Courtney LaPlante goes hard.

Listen to: In Another Life, Labyrinth and Black Sheep

57: Shania Twain – Queen of Me

One of the undisputed queens of country is in the middle of a career renascence currently, and this album has done wonders for that. It’s been everywhere on social media ever since it’s release back in February. Even despite the huge pop hype, though, it’s a damn good country album. Shania sounds just as good as ever, and has written some great modern country tracks for the album. Don’t get me wrong, she has very much capitalised on a lot of modern sounds of other artists. However, she has definitely put her own Twain-g (lol) on it.

I gave it a very deserved 9/10 back when it came out, and it’s hard to dispute that at this point. It’s a solid pop-country album that’s just a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Check this out if you like poppier stuff.

Listen to: Giddy Up!, Waking Up Dreaming and Got it Good

56: VEXED – Negative Energy

I mean, just listen to THAT riff in ‘Anti-Fetish’. Do I really need to say anything more? Ugh, fine.

This is how I wish Spiritbox sounded. I’d choose these over Courtney and co. any day. It’s heavy, packed full of ch0nky, djenty riffs and some of the best growls and screams you’ll hear this year. And the electric element that has become so prevalent in modern metal is done to perfection here. And the breakdowns… *chef’s kiss*.

My only slight criticism would be that the albums is arranged a little odd. If you first put this album on, you’d be forgiven for assuming there weren’t any clean vocals on it, that it was all brutal and crushing. But no, there are a couple tucked away towards the back. I’d have personally spread them out a bit more through the album, but I’m sure it was intentional.

If you’re into heavy music, you need to check this album out immediately. It’s a modern metal masterpiece and deserves to be so much bigger than it is currently. We gave it a very deserving 9.5/10 in our review. After numerous other listens, I still agree!

Listen to: Anti-Fetish, Panic Attack and Extremist

55: XO Armor – Nublar

These German lads wrote a metal album about dinosaurs… and it goes fucking HARD. It’s like Electric Callboy meets deathcore but dirtier, and it’s hard not to love it if you’re into heavy music. I remember LOVING it when it came out, so much so that I gave it 10/10. However, I really haven’t listened to it much since it’s release back in July, aside for a track or two, hence it’s slightly lower placement on this list. Still, if you like house music meats Danko, this will very much be an album for you. As an album as a whole it fits together perfectly, even if listening back some of it isn’t 100% my thing. Still, I NEED to see this stuff live, I feel like it’d be one hell of a gig. And a good nearly half of it is on my playlist.

Listen to: Dilopho, Rex and Raptoren

54: Burning Witches – The Dark Tower

The Swiss heavy/power ladies returned with a vengeance earlier this year with their fifth album. It’s an hour of awesome, chuggy riffs, soring vocals and plenty of catchiness. And yet, it still has room for incredible metal ballads and even a fantastic cover of a W.A.S.P classic. If you’re into Judas Priest, Powerwolf or Manowar, this band and this album are both very much for you!

I gave it a massively deserved 9.5/10 when I reviewed it upon its release. They are one of the best bands to be still doing that old-school 70s/80s metal sound, and honestly do it better than a fair few of them back at that time, too! I cannot recommend this album enough, and I wish I could have put it higher. The competition is just crazy stiff this year!

Listen to: Unleash the Beast, The Dark Tower and Tomorrow

53: Anima Tempo – Chaos Paradox

Another criminally underrated band make our list with their album, this time the prog-tech-death band and their video game-inspired release. As a musician (mainly of the string variety) I can’t help but gush over the insane playing throughout the whole album. The sheer talent of writing and playing riffs like this is off the charts, and that’s not even mentioning the amazing drumming, beautiful cleans and crushing growls throughout. And honestly it’s a solid album to listen to from cover-to-cover; there isn’t a bad song throughout.

It’s another album that I hate putting so low. I fully understand if this is in a djent fan’s top 10, it’s one of the best albums I’ve heard in the genre, honestly. It’s like a combination of Periphery, Trivium and a Nintendo game soundtrack, and it’s fucking awesome. We gave it 9.5/10, and my god does it deserve it!

Listen to: Deceitful Idols, Digital Heart and Robo-Lution

52: Almost Honest – The Hex of Penn’s Woods

Some sludgy, stoner-doom metal up next, and a really awesome release from the Pennsylvania band. Very much a heavier combination of The Sword and Queens of the Stone Age, they are easily one of the best bands in the genre currently. If you are into this type of music and haven’t yet checked out this album, you are doing yourself a massive disservice. I gave it a 9/10 when I did my full review, and it definitely lives up to that on another listen! The musicianship throughout is off the charts, but it also goes hand in hand with some genuinely great writing. A no-brainer for a slot this high on our list!

Listen to: Mortician Magician, Amish Hex and Ballad of the Mayfly

51: Old Dominion – Memory Lane

What a fantastic country album. While the band have always been a pretty big name, it feels like they have broken new ground and become absolutely massive with this release. Whether it’s massive songs on their own or with awesome guests like Blake Shelton or Megan Moroney (more on her later), it’s got some of the biggest country hits of the year on it.

However, it is lower down on this list than you’d expect for pretty simple reasons. It’s way damn long. And it’s very front-heavy. The first six tracks or so are incredible. And there are a couple of songs later on in the album that I love, too. And that’s not to say the other tracks are bad by any stretch, but there is a lot of slower stuff all together that doesn’t catch my ear as much. Honestly, if this had been 10 killer tracks instead of 18, it could have easily broken the top 20.

Having said all of that, it is still an amazing country album, and just an amazing album all round. I gave it an 8.5/10, but after another couple of listens it’s easily a 9!

Listen to: Stay Drunk, A Million Things and Love, Drunk and Happy

50: Wet Cactus – Magma Tres

This feels like more than your typical desert/stoner rock album. Of course, it has a lot of the tropes of the genre; the big riffs and sludgy tones. Heck, it even has a very Sabbath-like vocal delivery. However, it also has slower, proggy parts, instrumental tracks and reflective slower parts that really give the album a fantastic album. It’s one of many on this list that feel like they should be experienced as a whole, but there are also still plenty of awesome standalone tracks too.

It got a very easy 9.5 from me when I reviewed it! It shows so much growth from the band’s previous work and I can easily see (and hope) that it’s the album that pushes them towards the top of the genre where they deserve. Check this out if you are into the genres in any way!

Listen to: Million Tears, Mirage and Self Bitten Snake

49: Conquer Divide – Slow Burn

This album has been a long time coming. The band’s debut came out eight years ago, and after some line-up changes and a few singles, they finally returned with this release. Heck, they even got a lot of attention last year from their (controversial opinion incoming) terrible song with Electric Callboy. So, for them to come out with such a fantastic album this year is really great.

This is a fantastic, über-polished modern metalcore album. Between the catchy radio hooks and brutal, scream-filled breakdowns, the pieces fit all too well together. It’s also arranged perfectly, with each track following on pretty perfectly from each other. Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer a tad more of the heavy stuff, as ‘Afterthought.wav’ is by far the best track on the album. However, it’s a very balanced release that is going to push them so far. I gave it a very easy 9/10 when I reviewed it, and I’ve listened to it a lot since it’s release!

Listen to: Afterthought.wav, welcome2paradise and N E W H E A V E N

48: Angus McSix – Angus MicSix and the Sword of Power

There isn’t enough power metal on this list. However, surely that means that when there is some, it’s REAL good, right? That is certainly the case with this album.

The former Gloryhammer frontman left them amid a lot of controversy a couple of years back, and this is his first solo album. I think it’s rather telling that he has made it onto this list but his former band have not… Continuing on with the same (kinda) character, it’s an epic tale of dinosaurs and space. It’s insane, classic power metal and fucking awesome.

If you are a fan of the genre at all, or a fan of NWOBHM or heavy metal in general, checking this album out immediately. The song-crafting is awesome, and it’s all performed to perfection. We gave it a very deserved 9/10, and it’s only grown on me more since its release!

Listen to: Master of the Universe, Ride to Hell and Eternal Warrior

47: Sophie Lloyd – Imposter Syndrome

Sophie and the following entry are very similar in my book, in terms of style, sound and output, and it was very hard to separate them and pick between (hence why they are one after another). MGK’s guitarist released her debut album earlier this year, doing the Slash thing of having a bunch of guest vocalists, and it was fucking awesome. The album is packed full of incredible songs and amazing vocalists. From Chris Robertson to Tyler Connolly to Matt Heafy (I knew he’d somehow sneak onto a 4th straight yearly list despite not putting out an album!) they all work perfectly alongside Sophie. She seems to work well with anyone, which is a fantastic trait to have in a guitarist.

We gave her an easy 9/10 in our review. It’s hard to argue it, as even the instrumental tracks are top notch. She’s very much the future of the rock scene, and this album is one hell of a jumping off point for her!

Listen to: Let It Hurt, Fall of Man and Judge and Jury

46: Nita Strauss – The Call of the Void

So, why is this higher than the album before? As I said, both are guitarists putting out solo albums with a bunch of guest vocalists, and almost have a similar style and sound to them. Simply put, I think the singles edge out Imposter Syndrome just a tad, for me. The hype in waiting for this album was insane, as ‘Dead Inside’ was released way before the album itself. So for another three or four tracks to be incredible and some of the best songs of the year really says something. I also like the slightly heavier approach to the sound, getting vocalists like Alissa and Anders Friden.

Having said that, I do think the instrumentals aren’t quite as enjoyable as Sophie Lloyd’s. See, it’s a very hard decision I had to make, and I nearly just called it a draw. But ‘The Wolf You Feed’ is my favourite track on either album, so this inches ahead for me. It was another easy 9/10 from me! Any rock fans should check this out!

Listen to: The Wolf You Feed, Digital Bullets and Dead Inside

45: Margo Price – Strays I + II

King of a wildcard entry here as it is ‘technically’ two albums, but more of a double album released in stages. However, the combination of the nearly hour and a half collection of music is really something special and speaks volumes about Margo as a writer and performer. Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not for everyone. Heck, given the style and length I didn’t think it would be for me, but I love it. Again, it’s so well done that I can’t help but enjoy it.

It’s very much traditional/70s country with a modern twang to it. If that sounds appealing to you, you definitely won’t be disappointed if you check it out! We gave it an 8.5/10, and while I stand by that still, I also still standby its placement on this list. It’s the perfect album to chill out with, but also it’s filled with powerful emotion if you really listen. Sure, it’s a daunting length, and not every song is perfect, but I cannot help but love this double album.

Listen to: Strays, Light Me Up and Lydia

44: Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows

Time for some incredible heavy metal with just a splash of doom. I somehow hadn’t heard of this band before I reviewed them, insane as it’s right up my street. However, they have only been going since 2015 so I guess I’ll let myself off. I’m so glad I did check this album out though, as it’s phenomenal. Right from the epic intro to the opening track to the massive, even more epic closing title track, it had me hooked on multiple occasions. It’s like The Sword meets just a hint of Judas Priest and somehow some power metal. So, whether that sounds like your thing or not, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! The musicianship and writing is incredible, and the album really takes you on a journey. It was a very easy 9.5/10 from me back when I reviewed it, and I stand by that now too!

Listen to: Hanged Man’s Revenge,

43: Daedric – Mortal

This album is like the perfect combination of the Crown the Empire and Conquer Divide ones from earlier. It’s heavy, electronic-filled modern metalcore, with plenty of catchy hooks and radio sounds thrown in as well as fantastic growls. There isn’t a bad track on the album, and if you are in any way into this sort of music you have to check this out immediately. It’s another amazingly impressive debut album, too. We’ve had so many this year, and this is among the best for sure. I gush about it a lot more in my review of the album, and since listening to it a few more times over the last few months it’s easily another 9/10!

Listen to: Mortal, Alchemy and Nirn

42: Egokills – Self-Titled

This was a damn interesting release. I’d not heard of this band before I reviewed the album, and I’ve become a little obsessed since! The band seem to not even switch, but more flow through so many different sounds and sub-genres throughout the album that it’s a fascinating listen and never once gets boring. And no matter if it’s a slower, quieter sound, a heavier prog one or a quicker, bouncy, more upbeat sound, they pull it all off perfectly. And, what’s more, they manage to make it all sound unique and still like Egokills!

It’s dark, it’s brooding, and it all flows together perfectly well. There isn’t a bad track on this album, and I’d recommend everyone stop reading this stupidly long article and instead go and listen to this incredible release. Heck, the epic ballad ‘Grey Rainbows’ still gives me chills when I listen to it months later. We gave it a 9.5/10 and damn, it may even deserve top marks!

Listen to: Life’s a Party, Sweat and Grey Rainbows

41: 3TEETH – EndEx

This is really fantastic industrial metal album. I’d been a casual fan of the band for a while now, but when I reviewed this album, I definitely became a little more obsessed. As much as I love a lot of big industrial metal bands, aside for a couple none really gave me the heaviness or the drops I truly needed, until this album. The huge riffs and screams throughout are incredible, and add so much to an already captivating atmosphere. It’s a really interesting sound and honestly feels pretty unique. If TikTok got a hold of it it could get massive, as there’s enough pop influence in here to pop off.

I definitely understand it isn’t an album for everyone. However, in terms of modern heavy music, 3TEETH deserve to be right near the forefront of it with this release. It was another easy 9/10 from me!

Listen to: Slum Planet, Acme Death Machine and Paralyse