This years music was wild. There was some absolute bangers being released and besides that I discovered a bunch of new music but couldn't put in this list because of the release date. My most listened to band this year was MOROKH and yet their 2023 album didn't really wow me. It is not a bad album but if I were to make a tier list of their music it would be at the bottom. Let's get started then eh?

THE BEST ALBUM OF 2023

NICKEL CREEK - CELEBRANTS

My preferred genre of music is typically black metal, which is really funny considering this pick. I grew up listening to Nickel Creek and as far as blue grass goes, i don't listen to any other band in the genre haha! When I picked up this album my eye bulged a bit as the sticker on the record says "their first album in the 9 years". This is wild because I still remember purchasing their previous album on vinyl, A Dotted Line. The "A Dotted Line" album to me is their more radio friendly album as the songs are much more poppy. So, I was very pleasantly surprised when I dropped my needle on side A of the new album. It feels like they are really flexing there musical chops on this album, it's complex. The key changes are wild, the structure is artful and so so....COMPLEX! There is a term used sometimes in the music world as "this is a bands band". As though the average listener would not understand how impressive a band can be if you are not dissecting everything entering your ears. This is the album that would associate them with that term. I can;t image how you can come out with so much music and still drop something that is so fresh and different than before. Truly masters of their instruments and I love to see it.

THE MOST DISAPPOINTING ALBUM OF 2023

ULTAR - AT THE GATES OF DUSK

If I were to make a top 10 greatest black metal albums of all time, Ultars album Pantheon MMXIX would be in there. So, it is with great disappointment to say that their new album titled At The Gates Of Dusk is not very good. The main problem with this labum is the recording is not anywhere near as good as the 2019 predecessor. there simply is not a song one here that remains in my memory as truly being incredible, and the recording I belive is a big reason why. I wanted to like this album SO BAD too!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• BRUTUS: UNISON LIFE - Amazing album where the drummer is the drummer and singer. A fast and thrashy sound where every song sticks the landing.
• PUPIL SLICER: BLOSSOM - One of the coolest metal albums out this year. This is an interesting blend of metal meets grind music. A screechy album that is really good with a really good recording and a cool band name!
• GRAILS: ANCHES EN MATT - I have a nice little review for this album that you can read, if you are interested. This is not there best album ever but I think it has some of their best songs ever. Besides that, It was released close to when my son was born and so that has become a related memory when I hear this album. My boy takes a nap every morning at 10am and this seems to be the album he can listen to and sleep through for as logn as I have it playing. I once tested this and let the album play through three times and he remained asleep. When I put on a different album I never got the same effect. For that reason this album hold a very special place in my heart.

That's all for music in 2023, until next year!