BEST OF 2023 – Brian Ronald (Photographer) 🇨🇦
You can find the Collective List as well as all our Best of 2023 content including contributors’ lists, podcasts and radio DJ shows here: CGCM’s Best of 2023 (Year in Review)
Having close to 500 albums to listen to this year, narrowing it down to just 10 was almost impossible. 2023 was yet again an amazing and overwhelming year with so many top-name bands and some relatively unknown ones releasing great CDs. I listened, relistened paused for days, weeks and months and then listened all over again as I do every year to really give you a true depiction of my year in review. So here goes my Top 10 CDs of 2023:
It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it so here is my final list, enjoy!
Check out some of my photography: Brian Ronald
#10 🇮🇹
HELL IN THE CLUB – F.U.B.A.R.
Rounding out my Top 10 is the first entry ever from an Italian band. No strangers here though. Hell in the Club comes in and makes a strong statement with a late November release knocking Primal Fear out of the Top 10 which says a lot. A mix of hard rock and sleaze glam just can’t be missed. Songs like “The Arrival“, “Best Way of Life” and “Tainted Sky” highlight the disc. Oh and no ballads!
#9 🇨🇦
FIRST SIGNAL – Face Your Fears
First Signal are back with their 5th album and man it’s another stellar one. Canadian Harry Hess again proves he is one of the best in the business both as a singer and as a producer/writer. If we can’t have new Harem Scarem material this is a pretty decent substitute! Melodic rock at its finest. “Unbreakable“, “Situation Critical” and another song of the year candidate “Not This Time” are the stand-out tracks.
#8 🇸🇪
ECLIPSE – Megalomanium
No surprise here. And if Sweden is represented in my Top 10 what other band should it be than Eclipse? One of the best tandems in rock in the last 20 years is Erik Martensson and Magnus Henriksson. Their albums continue to populate my yearly faves list and it seems every release is stronger than the last. Keep ’em coming guys. Oh, and by the way, “The Hardest Part is Losing You” may be my song of the year!
#7 🇺🇲
ROBIN MCAULEY – Alive
Robin McAuley is one of those performers who could sing the phonebook and I would buy it. This guy’s voice simply stands out above the rest. Whether it be fronting Michael Schenker or in this case, solo. This album is sneaky heavy and filled with great hooks and heavenly harmonies. The song “Bless Me Father” is another candidate for song of the year. Pure goosebump stuff! Let’s not forget Andrea Seveso and the busiest guy in music Alessandro Del Vecchio contributing.
#6 🇫🇮
TEMPLE BALLS – Avalanche
Another late release that jumped immediately into my top 10 was the 4th release of Finland’s Temple Balls. Great sleaze rock at its best. A killer album of 11 songs and not a bad one of the bunch with my favourite being “All Night Long” with a sing-out-loud chorus to die for! Definitely check it out.
#5 🇺🇲
GODSMACK – Lighting Up the Sky
Unintentionally, I always seem to have a sleeper in my Top 10, a guilty pleasure, one that doesn’t fit quite right. Last year it was Billy Talent and other years Seether, Three Days Grace and Dream Theater. Well, this year it is Godsmack. I mean, I like Godsmack but not really a huge fan. My kids got me into them years ago. But completely by accident I decided to listen to Lighting Up the Sky and wow, I couldn’t stop. These guys have put out a gem. Seeing them live in concert performing “Surrender“, “What About Me?” and “You and I” was a real treat as well.
#4 🇬🇧
TYGERS OF PAN TANG – Bloodlines
What more can I say about one of my favourite bands? Tygers continues to put out release after release of amazing material. Bloodlines continues that tradition, with this one climbing even higher than the last two. Rob Weir has carried the torch and kept them current while keeping the Tygers sound intact. Jacopo Meille is one of today’s best singers and songs like “Edge of the World“, “A New Heartbeat” and “Fire on the Horizon” prove that.
#3 🇺🇲
THE RESISTANCE – The Resistance
In the category of “Where did this come from?” The Resistance emerged in the summer and I could not stop playing it. I mean, I was looking forward to the new Bombay Black album (see below) but who knew members Ty Simms, Luke Williams and Erik Johnson had this in their back pocket too. Singer Phil Houston guides us through some beauties including “Girl is Dynamite“, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades” and my favourite “Puppet Show“. Heavy stuff!
#2 🇺🇲
PAUL LIDEL’S SCREAM THERAPY – Scream Therapy
Paul Lidel (Dirty Looks, Dangerous Toys) has come up with a masterpiece of an album. A hard-hitting old-school rock and roll CD with catchy hooks and fantastic choruses. This was a late arrival but jumped right into the 2nd spot knocking a lot of gems down a peg. Highlight songs include the title track, “Alibi“, “Rabbit Hole” and the fabulous “That Bullet“.
#1 🇳🇴
STARGAZER – Life Will Never Be the Same
Stargazer was released way back in February and instantly blew me away. I wondered if it could hang onto the number 1 spot, but low and behold, it did. Their 2019 album made it to number 14. I am a guitar-driven guy and what impressed me was the unbelievable guitar work on this CD by William Ernstsen. All 11 songs are brilliant with “Will I Come to Heaven” being a sure candidate for song of the year.
The Honourable Ten
- Primal Fear – Code Red
- Rockett Love – Galactic Circus
- The Defiants – Drive
- Grand Design – Rawk
- Kardang – Rizkey Biznezz
- Wings of Steel – Gates of Twilight
- Heroes and Monsters – Heroes and Monsters
- Vypera – Race of Time
- Bombay Black – iEn Fuego!
- Black Star Riders – Wrong Side of Paradise
Too Good Not to Be Missed!!
Brian Ronald 12/23/2023
