2023

[Psychotic Symphony]

This year for me personally has been a complete roller coaster. Luckily things have turned out amazing for me in the past few months and I couldn't be happier.
So I swore off doing top 10s years ago because I just found I didn't understand them anymore. I liked different discs for different reasons and it just became like comparing which kids were my favourite. Some I love all through the year, some I only like at certain points, others are specific but when I want them - BOOM, mind blown. On top of this, I thought 2023 was a fairly slow year for new releases. My Youtube Recap never yields anything interesting anyways so I can't look at that.
Anyways, here are my favourite things I listened to over 2023. In no order at all.

Angus McSix - Angus McSix and the Sword Of Power
https://youtu.be/i3u_JGmq5Fs?si=J1yagS8OajQah_rB
Meme metal usually has this response from me. That's not different here. But Master of the Universe has permanently entered the gym playlist and has been my war cry for the last few months. I realize the singer is a douche nozzle but ultimately between this and Gloryhammer this has been the better disc for me.

Scar Symmetry - The Singularity Phase 2
https://youtu.be/HO_GlU5sC9k?si=TXDIp_ehuKUHFYou
9 years they are back and better than ever. Easily my favourite disc of theirs with the two singers.

Nospun - Opus
https://youtu.be/Tt8Ccwa_j9s?si=avROiuvI2OpbtF8W
I think this disc has been discussed plenty but it is old-school prog metal done well.

Anthem - Crimson and Jet Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjWOror5nws
World's best Japanese metal band releases a banger, as if anyone expected anything less. Riffs from hell. Danger Flight is on the gym playlist, but the rest of it could be too.

The Cryptex - Nimbus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsEWfOZuq6Q
"Here we fucking go!" Just amazing. Way better than their previous album which was no slouch.

Issun - Issun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-NfC5WfLw
Their previous album is melodic prog metal, this one is full 80s synth. Great disc, even if I do prefer their old sound. If you miss The Police go listen to this.

Those above were the certified bangers. Here are a few other ones that I haven't spent enough time with.


Hemina - Romancing The Ether
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxjO2u2g1Xo
One 35 minute song. Good god.

The Toehider EPs (2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnbNSR5ipoA
The madman released a full albums worth over 5 EPs for some reason. One of my favourite artists putting out music at an incredible clip. I would throw all the EPs from this year on a single playlist and hit shuffle.


That about does it for me this year.

[introclaus]

This year for me personally has been a complete roller coaster. Luckily things have turned out amazing for me in the past few months and I couldn't be happier.

Glad to hear that - nice to end off the year on a happy note for sure.

So I swore off doing top 10s years ago because I just found I didn't understand them anymore. I liked different discs for different reasons and it just became like comparing which kids were my favourite. Some I love all through the year, some I only like at certain points, others are specific but when I want them - BOOM, mind blown. On top of this, I thought 2023 was a fairly slow year for new releases. My Youtube Recap never yields anything interesting anyways so I can't look at that.
Anyways, here are my favourite things I listened to over 2023. In no order at all.

Haha, well, thank you for putting it together - whether it's an "official top 10" or not, it's great to see your thoughts.

Angus McSix - Angus McSix and the Sword Of Power
https://youtu.be/i3u_JGmq5Fs?si=J1yagS8OajQah_rB
Meme metal usually has this response from me. That's not different here. But Master of the Universe has permanently entered the gym playlist and has been my war cry for the last few months. I realize the singer is a douche nozzle but ultimately between this and Gloryhammer this has been the better disc for me.

Honestly, this album shocked me as well in how much I ended up liking it and I too found myself going back to it quite a few times. Not sure I understand that "douche nozzle" comment, as from what I believe, he is the one who chose to leave Gloryhammer after the other people had their racial slurs and got called out for it. I think (from what I've heard) that he is the "good one" and the rest of the band were the assholes?

Scar Symmetry - The Singularity Phase 2
https://youtu.be/HO_GlU5sC9k?si=TXDIp_ehuKUHFYou
9 years they are back and better than ever. Easily my favourite disc of theirs with the two singers.

Yup, agreed.

Nospun - Opus
https://youtu.be/Tt8Ccwa_j9s?si=avROiuvI2OpbtF8W
I think this disc has been discussed plenty but it is old-school prog metal done well.

I've commented enough on this one lol

Anthem - Crimson and Jet Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjWOror5nws
World's best Japanese metal band releases a banger, as if anyone expected anything less. Riffs from hell. Danger Flight is on the gym playlist, but the rest of it could be too.

I enjoyed it for what it is - Anthem was never my favorite Japanese band by a long shot, but for what they do it's nice.

The Cryptex - Nimbus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsEWfOZuq6Q
"Here we fucking go!" Just amazing. Way better than their previous album which was no slouch.

I kind of forgot about this one, and just never got around to check out the album. I guess it came out same time as a bunch of other stuff and just got buried in there... I'll have to give it a listen.

Issun - Issun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-NfC5WfLw
Their previous album is melodic prog metal, this one is full 80s synth. Great disc, even if I do prefer their old sound. If you miss The Police go listen to this.

Musically I enjoy this, but his voice is like a BAD mixture of Jon Anderson and Sting with a slight German accent (and I absolutely adore both Sting and Jon Anderson).

Those above were the certified bangers. Here are a few other ones that I haven't spent enough time with.
Hemina - Romancing The Ether
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxjO2u2g1Xo
One 35 minute song. Good god.

This one I didn't like.

The Toehider EPs (2023)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnbNSR5ipoA
The madman released a full albums worth over 5 EPs for some reason. One of my favourite artists putting out music at an incredible clip. I would throw all the EPs from this year on a single playlist and hit shuffle.

Not a fan of his at all - it's like chaotic and messy, and his always-over-the-top--singing has already begun to annoy me in Ayreon projects, so I really don't need to listen to full albums with him up front and center.

[AllMediaReviews]

Toehider actually released 12 EPs to the Patreon, so the other 7 are likely coming in 2024.

[Psychotic Symphony]

Angus McSix - Angus McSix and the Sword Of Power
https://youtu.be/i3u_JGmq5Fs?si=J1yagS8OajQah_rB
Meme metal usually has this response from me. That's not different here. But Master of the Universe has permanently entered the gym playlist and has been my war cry for the last few months. I realize the singer is a douche nozzle but ultimately between this and Gloryhammer this has been the better disc for me.

Honestly, this album shocked me as well in how much I ended up liking it and I too found myself going back to it quite a few times. Not sure I understand that "douche nozzle" comment, as from what I believe, he is the one who chose to leave Gloryhammer after the other people had their racial slurs and got called out for it. I think (from what I've heard) that he is the "good one" and the rest of the band were the assholes?

I heard almost the opposite. I heard that he was a bit of a sex pest, he wasn't particular good live, and that he wasn't practicing as much as they needed him to or something like that. But who knows. I don't really care but I do vastly prefer him over Sozos.