Albums of the Year 2023

It’s always the case that this procedure tends to seem easier than what it eventually is. All the preparations throughout the year, all the careful archiving of listens and albums from the first day, does not reduce the perfectionist’s angst for a conclusive round-up of the 12 months that just passed by. Or smashed through. I have to admit that keeping up with this, at this speed and at all the different directions it takes, becomes harder and harder the same way it’s more and more of an effort to stay up all night when you get older. I’m probably slowly turning into the aged grumpy man, sticking to a few favorite classics, and shaming all the youngsters and their non-knowledge.

Top 15 Greek metal albums of 2023

15. Wothrosch: Odium | Hammerheart Records

14. Διχόνοια: Στη Γκρίζα Πολιτεία | Self-released

13. Thromvosis: Proclamation of the Smegmatic Warcult | Self-released

12. Heretic Cult Redeemer: Flagellum Universalis | III Damnation Productions

11. Apovrasma: Archid​é​mon | Self-released 

10. Deviser: Evil Summons Evil | Hammerheart Records

9. Head Cleaner: The Extreme Sound of Truth | Vinylstore.gr

8. Allochiria: Commotion | Venerate Industries

7. Thlipsis: Dawn of Defiance | Floga Records

6. Menace: Open Fire | Razorbleed Productions

5. Drakon Ho Megas: Έλευσις Αντίχριστου | Floga Records

4. Συντρίμμια: Repulsive Inexpression | Self-released

3. Varathron: The Crimson Temple | Agonia Records

2. Auriferous Flame: Ardor for Black Mastery | True Cult Records

1. Thy Darkened Shade: Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya | 

World Terror Committee Productions

Top 15 split releases of 2023

15. Arallu & The True Werwolf: Arallu / The True Werwolf | Israel / Germany, Narbentage Produktionen

14. Fistula & Contaminated: Apex C.H.U.D. / Nigromancer | United States / Australia, Blood Harvest

13. Dead and Dripping & Prophecy of Suffering: Dead and Dripping / Prophecy of Suffering | United States, Lord of the Sick Recordings

12. Mortuary Ghoul & Blood Rage: Horror Worshipping Death | United States / Wales, 

Frozen Screams Imprint

11. Disillumination & Temple of Nihil & Angr: Ex Mundi Ad Nihil - Gnosis of the Unbeing | Russia / Russia / International, Self-released

10. Feral & Crawl: Made as Those Who Are No Longer Alive | Sweden / Sweden, 

Transcending Obscurity Records

9. Grabunhold & Circle of Shadows: Lamentationen | Germany / Austria, Iron Bonehead Productions

8. Azaghal & Black Faith: Immortalized in Luciferian Blood | Finland / Italy, Nero Corvino

7. Galvanizer & Morbific: Galvanizer / Morbific | Finland / Finland, Iron Corpse

6. Gormanudr & Hergandrom: Morbid Sorcery Under the Battle Moon | International / International, Narbentage Produktionen

5. Ancestors Blood & Heimdalls Wacht: Ancestors Blood / Heimdalls Wacht | Finland / Germany, Heidens Hart

4. Worm & Dream Unending: Starpath | United States / International, 20 Buck Spin

3. Heretic Cult Redeemer / Svartulven: Path of the Undead Ichor | Greece / Greece, Self-released

2. Undergang & Spectral Voice: Undergang / Spectral Voice | Denmark / United States, Dark Descent Records

1. Nefarious Spirit & Herald: The Omniversal Pulse | Greece / Greece, Death’s Ovations

Top 15 compilations of 2023

15. Execration: Excreted Guts | United States, Doomed to Obscurity Records
14. Blinding Sun: A Parade of Horribles | United States, A Parade of Horribles
13. Celestial Bloodshed: Blood Stained Evocations | Norway, Death Revelations
12. Funebre: Demo Tapes 1989-1990 | Finland, Morbid Cellar Records
11. Pestilength: Paragon of Necrotic Origins | Spain, Self-released
10. Putridarium: An Exploration of Burial Perversions | Germany, Headsplit Records
9. Attack: Human Souls | Czech Republic, Darker than Darkness Records
8. Torture Rack: Pit of Mutilation | United States, Headsplit Records
7. Sorcier des Glaces: Sous La Lune Noire | Canada, Osmose Productions
6. Kêres: Black for Blood / On Virgin Wasteland / Traitor's Mask | Finland, Satanik Requiem
5. Carnal Dissection: Complete Discography | United States, CDN Records
4. Hacavitz: Jun K'aal Xiutin | Mexico, Anti-Human Productions
3. Wombbath: Brutal Mights / Several Shapes | Sweden, Old Skull Productions
2. Immortal: The Northern Upir's Death | Norway, Darkness Shall Rise Productions
1. Morta Skuld: Nascency of the Prolific | United States, Sewer Rot Records

Top 15 EPs of 2023

15. Anéanti: Poison - Les formules diaboliques | Belgium, Death Prayer Records
14. Luxmori: Luxmori | Finland, Self-released
13. Undegang: De syv stadier af ford​æ​rv | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
12. Cave Moth: Paralytic Love | United States, Self-released
11. Wolves in the Throne Room: Crypts of Ancestral Knowledge | United States, Relapse Records
10. Aeon Furnace: Providence Desends | Finland, Ancien Culte
9. Mortual: Evil Incarnation | Costa Rica, Nuclear Winter Records
8. Hate Forest: Sowing with Salt | Ukraine, Osmose Productions
7. Ascendency: A Manifest of Imperious Destiny | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
6. Xibalba Itzaes: Under the Pyramids | Mexico, Self-released
5. Carcinoid: Encomium to Extinction | Australia, Me Saco un Ojo Records
4. Fluisteraars: De kronieken van het verdwenen kasteel - II - Nergena | Netherlands, Eisenwald
3. Hyperdontia: Deranged | Denmark, Me Saco un Ojo Records
2. Melissa: II | United States, Self-released
1. Spectral Lore: 11 Days | Greece, Self-released