The final part of our top albums list. Who makes it and where? Check out below!
20: Chris Stapleton – Higher
The king of modern country music just had to make this list. One of the most beautiful, powerful and haunting voices in all of music currently, Chris wrote another incredible album with Higher. It’s chilled out, traditional-style country/blues album packed full of emotion, catchy moments and mesmerising vocals. It’s going to become a running theme from here on out, but there really isn’t a bad track on the album! If you’re into country, lighter rock or just music in general, this is well worth checking out. There was a very clear reason we gave it 10/10! Heck, the only reason it didn’t make it slightly higher on this list is only because it’s so similar to his other stuff. However, that really isn’t a complaint!
Listen to: White Horse, It Takes a Woman and Crosswind
19: Black Stone Cherry – Screamin’ at the Sky
This band have been so confusingly up and down in recent years. Don’t get me wrong, none of it has exactly been bad. I still very much enjoyed The Human Condition upon its release. However, I haven’t found myself going back to it nearly as much as their older work. That coupled with the fact that they have been playing smaller and smaller venues in the UK (purposefully but still) and it feels like the buzz around the band had died off somewhat.
This album stopped that death in its tracks. It’s everything I love about the band wrapped up into a concise 40-minute package. Big, heavy riffs, MASSIVE, catchy vocal parts and an overall swaggering, cool, country rock energy throughout. And, what’s more, it’s packed to the brim with awesome tracks, a lot of which that I’d honestly put up against the bands greatest hits. It feels like the perfect combination of their debut and Magic Mountain, my two favourite albums from the band. I gave it an 8.5 when I reviewed it, but honestly it’s grown on me a lot since then with subsequent listens. It’s easily a 9.5/10! Go check this out!
Listen to: Nervous, Out of Pocket and Not Afraid
18: Dead Man’s Whiskey – In the Storm
This album arrived the same week as the BSC one above and is arguably fairly similar in style and sound. So, you may be asking yourself why this is higher. Well, on top of the songs being just a tad more enjoyable for me and it being a dynamically more enjoyable album, the band have achieved this level quality on their sophomore album. That’s insanely admirable, and easily earned its spot on this list. There isn’t a bad track on the album, and it combines elements of grunge and early 2000s radio-rock into the NWOCR/southern rock sound, which is awesome. It got a very easy 9.5/10 from us in my review, and I cannot wait to see these guys live again soon, as I have to hear these tracks!
Listen to: Masquerade, Who I Am and Time
17: Redshift – Laws of Entropy
This album BLEW MY MIND back in May when I reviewed it. Seven months later it is still blowing my mind as I’m writing this. As broad a term as prog is, it even doesn’t feel like does this masterpiece enough justice. There’s heavy, Dream Theater-like riffing and parts, slower, more open, ethereal bits. There is crushing screams. There’s a 20+ minute track, insanely technical guitar solos and fucking JAZZ in the below track. It’s an incredible albums from start to finish, and somehow all of the parts click together perfectly when they have no right to. The band have not gotten anywhere near enough recognition for this, and I honestly cannot recommend it enough. They are some of the most creative writers I’ve ever heard and they should be massive. I was far too harsh with a 9, this is easily a 10/10 album and more than deserves this spot on our list!
Listen to: Birth, Entropy and Blueshift (it’s worth it, I promise!)
16: Zach Bryan – Self-Titled
What can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? It’s been one of the biggest releases of the year, and I see his name everywhere now when before he didn’t seem quite as big. It’s very, very warranted, too. The album is incredible. It’s a stripped-back, modern country album for sure, all the poems and interludes even taking inspiration from the hip-hop world, it seems. It’s also packed full of emotion and multiple amazing guests, including Sierra Ferrell, The Lumineers and previous list-makers The War and Treaty. The instrumentation throughout is incredible, the inclusion the likes of horns and strings in the arrangement being masterful. And, of course, every song is great. It really flows perfectly throughout the album, too, making it a must-listen in full.
I unfortunately didn’t review this album, but Owen did a fantastic job. I couldn’t have said it better myself, and it’s another easy 10/10!
Listen to: Overtime, East Side of Sorrow and Hey Driver
15: Shadow Smile – Signed in Blood
My god, I love this album. If that wasn’t obvious by the perfect score I gave this album, or the fact that we have multiple interviews with them on our site, I don’t know what is! The album itself is excellent too, of course. The concept of each track exploring each of the seven deadly sins is amazing, and executed to perfection. It really correlates to each of them well, as well as all being fantastic songs individually. It’s heavy, melodic and straddles the line between metal and hard rock perfectly. Whether it’s the big riffs, huge choruses or great screams, this album has a bit for everyone! There’s even a saxophone, so of course it’s great! It was a 10/10 from us and easily earned its spot on this list!
Listen to: Signed in Blood, Our Morality and Suck the World Dry
14: Doomsday Outlaw – Damaged Goods
More southern rock, but this time a little lighter and closer to Skynyrd than the previous entries earlier on. I have loved these guys ever seeing them for the first time at Call of the Wild last year, and I honestly think this is the best thing they’ve done yet. It’s nearly an hour of fantastic blues rock songs; great riffing and incredible, stadium-filling catchy vocals. I implore anyone reading this to listen to this album and it not bring a smile to your face. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible. We gave it a super easy 9.5/10, and it’s so very deserving of being this high on our list!
Listen to: In too Deep, If This is the End and Nowhere Left to Hide
13: Chris Janson – The Outlaw Side of Me
I was not expecting this to be this high, at all. I remembered loving it upon its release, hence why I was so positive in my review. However, admittedly, I then kinda forgot about it for a few months. But sitting down and listening to this back over to write about it again, it kept jumping higher and higher up this list. It’s a fantastic country rock album. There isn’t a bad track on the album, and it’s packed full of awesome, upbeat songs. I know it certainly isn’t for everyone and it’s very much the typical style of country that people like to hate on. However, I love this album and am more than happy to bump the score I gave it up to 9/9.5! It’s not the best country album of the year, but it’s certainly a lot of fun!
Listen to: Rowdy Gentle Man, Honkytonk Minute and Hank the Hell Out of a Honkytonk
12: Danko Jones – Electric Sounds
Speaking of fun, it’s so hard not to love Danko and his band. The infusion of punk and hard rock is electric (pun intended) and his personality and energy even on track is infectious. And the fact that the band just constantly go balls-to-the-wall, no messing around with intros or long, slower sections, just in and out in minutes of great, danceable riffs and HUGE choruses. It’s the very definition of ‘all killer, no filler’, and honestly the album reflects that just as much, too. Every song on it is awesome, and it’s easily my favourite release from the band. There are easily four or five tracks I’d put up there with their best songs. It was yet another very easy 10/10 from us! Hopefully this album continues to catapult them bigger and bigger, as they more than deserve it!
Listen to: Guess Who’s Back, Good Time and Get High?
11: The Sweetchunks Band – Glitunderbuss
Speaking of fun, goddamn is this a joy to listen to. Comedic music has always had a weird place in the industry and an odd reputation. Heck, I have a very off and on relationship with it thanks to the likes of Steel Panther and Weird Al. This, however, NAILS the comedy, as well as being a really good folk/rock album. It had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions, and has me singing along whenever it’s on, as well as appreciating the incredible string work throughout. It certainly isn’t for everyone, and the comedy is distinctly British. Still, being British, we had to give this 10/10!
Listen to: Everything is Fine, Is This The One? and Drinking on a Weekday
10: Dan + Shay – Bigger Houses
As a metalhead at heart, I really wanted to not like this album (well, not really, but you know what I mean). It’s essentially a pop album that least vaguely towards country. But fucking damn if those harmonies didn’t immediately win me round. And every single track is a certified bop, not gonna lie. I don’t know how this wasn’t bigger in the mainstream, be it here or over in the US, as it’s easily the best pop album this year. And, as much as I’d get flack for it, it’s one of the best country albums of the year, too. Every song legitimately feels like a HUGE radio hit single. It’s like a greatest hits album. 8.5/10 was far too harsh for this album. After many, many more listens, this is a 10/10 easily. It’s definitely not for everyone, but every single person should at least be able to appreciate the talent in the songwriting and performance on this album. It definitely deserves top 10!
Listen to: Save Me the Trouble, We Should Get Married and What Took you So Long
9: Any Given Sin – War Within
This is old-school Shinedown in the very best way. It’s very clearly inspired by that early 2000s US hard-radio-rock style, and given that I grew up on it due to being a huge wrestling fan, I still can’t get enough of this album months after its release. Having said that, there is also a modern edge to it, and it does get kinda heavy at times! The band pull off the sound to perfection and it’s honestly one of the best debut albums I’ve ever heard. Dynamically it’s also incredibly well put together; the album has a great flow to it and is constantly interesting. Every track on it is incredible, and I’m so glad the band are starting to get the recognition they deserve. They are set to be a MASSIVE name in the scene after this release. I gave it a 9.5/10, so you have to go and check it out immediately!
Listen to: War Within, Calm Before the Storm and Ball And Chain
8: Nanowar of Steel – Dislike to False Metal
This album had to make it on here somewhere. A band that regular readers here should be pretty familiar with thanks to our various reviews and interviews of them, it helps that this album is also fucking fantastic. It very much brings a new meaning to both parody and power metal. Of course, there’s plenty of traditional, folk inspired metal, but there is also some Latin/Reggaeton stuff, as well as a boyband track that would give Backstreet Boys a run for their money. And, while it is also pretty damn funny throughout, they are also fantastic songwriters in their own right, comedic or otherwise. You’ll never be bored listening to this album I assure you! I first heard it back in February and haven’t stopped listening to it since! I gave it 9/10 but even that seems to harsh now! This is going to make them massive in the scene if they keep putting out music this good!
Listen to: Disco Metal, Pasadena 1994 and Protocols (of the Elders of Zion)
7: Shepherds Reign – Ali Mai
The New Zealand natives heard what Alien Weaponry have been doing and said ‘hold my beer’. They put out easily one of the best, heaviest, most emotional albums of the year. Whether it’s crushing, Sepultura style riffing and great screams or cleaner vocals and more slower, reflective instrumentation, it’s all done incredibly. Heck, to hear the brutal opener and the beautiful, piano-led ballad that is ‘Never Forgotten’ on the same album feels truly special. And the switching between languages, sometimes even mid-song, is crazy impressive. It got a perfect 10/10 from me. Honestly, it’s been a little while since I listened to the album in full and it’s just as impactful as it was the first time round. It’s definitely worth a listen, and is more than deserving of its spot on this list.
Listen to: Le Manu, Ua Masa’a and Never Forgotten
6: Brothers Osborne – Self-Titled
One of my favourite bands of the year, if Spotify has anything to say about it. And that may be true, as I love their old stuff and this latest album is up there with their best! It’s well written modern country music at its best, and has just enough rock, traditional country and incredible instrumentation to keep it interesting throughout. They are great songwriters and some of the tracks are just as good as any of their previous greatest hits. There are plenty of great riffs and the usual stellar vocal performances from both, and every track is massively enjoyable. It’s their best album since their debut, maybe ever, hence the 9/10 from us in the review. I know it struggled slightly commercially (country doesn’t do albums these days) but I truly feel like this is the album to push Brothers Osborne to the top of the country world!
Listen to: Might as Well Be Me, Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That and Who Says you Can’t have Everything
5: Anchor Lane – Call This a Reality?
The Scottish NWOCR trio have had one hell of a 2023, playing here there and everywhere and putting out one of the best albums of the year to start it all off. Their combination of hard rock and rather polished radio-indie (early Arctic Monkeys feel) is incredible, and really not something many bands are doing at the minute. Because of this, every track feels not just great, but new and fresh still, months later. I can see them going even further in 2024, and as soon as they start to put out new music again they could easily jump up a level or two in the scene. I’d happily recommend this album to anyone, be it a rock, metal or even a pop fan. I gave it an easy 9.5/10, but I think it might actually be a top marks album, it really is that good!
Listen to: Call This a Reality?, Sychophant Disorder, Nitroglycerin.
4: Avatar – Dance Devil Dance
For the longest time, this wasn’t anywhere near as high on this list has it has reached. I have no idea why, either. In my review I gave it an 8.5/10. I simply didn’t find myself listening to it again until after Graspop when they blew me away. Since then, I checked out the album again, and found myself loving it that much more.
I’ve been a big fan of the band for years now, but I feel like this album is a culmination of everything they have done so far. It’s got heaviness, screams, melody and plenty of variety throughout the album. I for some reason always find it a little hard to describe why I love the band so much, as they are rather odd. However, if you are into rock or metal this album is definitely worth checking out. The band are on a run of form recently and this may be my favourite release from them yet, it is that good. Every track on it is great, unique and insane in a way that only Avatar can seem to do. It’s easily a 9.5/10 from me now!
Listen to: Dance Devil Dance, Chimp Mosh Pit, Violence No Matter What.
3: Orbit Culture – Descent
What can I say about this that I haven’t already in my album or live review? It an INCREDIBLE melodic death metal album that comes across just as good live as it does on track. The band have gotten a surprisingly cult following behind them too. As in, their fans seem to adore them but surprisingly not many media outlets want to cover them too much. I, however, fucking LOVED it. From the first heavy notes of ‘Black Mountain’ to the more epic, acoustic outro of ‘Through Time’, this is metal perfection. It was maybe one of the easiest 10/10s I’ve ever given here at Overtone. If you are at all a fan of heavy music, you HAVE to go and check this out immediately!
Listen to: From the Inside, Vultures of North, Undercity.
2: HARDY – the mockingbird & THE CROW
Listening to the title track and midpoint of this album should not only explain the concept perfectly, but justify its spot this high on our list. HARDY had spent years writing stadium-country for some of the biggest bands and artists, so the first half of the album is castoffs from that. However, at this midpoint it changes, HARDY instead writing music for himself, and the result becomes what can only be described as country-punk-metal, for the most part. It’s a fantastic concept for an album and one that took me completely off guard on my first listen.
Both halves are filled with incredible songs, though I do find myself gravitating towards the back end more on repeat listens. However, this album really is as diverse as we try to cover here at Overtone, so anyone reading this will find something to fall in love with throughout its 17 songs. And it features some awesome collaborations with the likes of Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Jeremy McKinnon, to boot.
As you can see here, I had a full on experience reviewing this album, and still don’t feel like I have quite recovered yet months later. It’s not only something new and interesting, but put together perfectly and genuinely all are top quality songs. I rightfully gave it a 10/10, and it deserves this spot on this list and more!
Listen to: SOLD OUT, the mockingbird & THE CROW, RADIO SONG.
1: Those Damn Crows – Inhale/Exhale
There was no way it could have been any other album. Released back in February and holding the top spot in a tight grip ever since, It had to be Inhale/Exhale. This album is phenomenal. It’s been on heavy rotation with me since it first came out and I am yet to get bored. There isn’t a single bad track on it and there are more than a handful of incredible, highlight tracks. Honestly, if I didn’t know the band and someone told me it was a greatest hits album, I’d easily believe them!
The band’s blend of the UK breakout rock scene and US radio rock sounds has served them better and better with each subsequent release. This one has been their biggest yet, and has catapulted them onto huge UK and European tours, for very good reason. These guys have been firing on all cylinders for a while now, but this is their best release yet. There was no other choice for our album of the year, and there is no one more deserving of it than Those Damn Crows. We gave it a 10/10 in our review, and of course I stand by that still now.
Listen to: Fill the Void, Takedown, This Time I’m Ready.