BEST OF 2023 – Eric Lussier (Doctor Tardis) (DJ/Writer) 🇨🇦
You can find the Collective List as well as all our Best of 2023 content including contributors’ individual lists, podcasts and radio DJ shows here: CGCM’s Best of 2023 (Year in Review)
Every year the staff of CGCM Rock Radio has the arduous task of selecting their top ten albums of the year. It is without a doubt the hardest thing we have to do at the end of the year. 2023 has been an exceptional year! So many new discoveries and so much talent produced phenomenal albums.
I went through about 250 albums this year, Some of the staff even more than me… So to pick out 10 albums out of all that is almost impossible. In the end, I had to make some cuts. Like cutting an onion tears in my eyes telling some artist sorry but you didn’t make the cut. Like counting beers, one fell down the wall one after another until there was only 10 left.
Ladies and Gentlemen, here are my Top Ten albums of 2023!
#10 🇨🇱
NIMROD – Legacy of the Dead
From Santiago Chile, this Power/Thrash Metal band, released their album on Dec. 1st 2023. I loved the music so much that it pushed its way through to number 10 on my list. I absolutely love the aggression and the sound they have. When you are having a shitty day and you are at the gym working out, Nimrod will make you forget all your problems and you will want to push more. Listen to “Kingdom of Corruption”.
#9 🇺🇲
PRONG – State of Emergency
From New York City this Thrash Metal trio consisting of Tommy Victor, Jason Christopher and Tyler Bogliole hammer down hard on their instruments and they are a force to be reckoned with. They put out high-voltage beats that just electrify the room. Their sound is so amazing it’s hard to believe that there are only 3 members in this band. They are simply fantastic. Check out “Breaking Point”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
#8 🇨🇦
LATE NIGHT TROUBLE – Candyland
From Montreal Canada LNT are a breakthrough band that will rock the house down, The high energy of Roxanne Paris alone is enough to charge 20 Tesla cars or more. The Powerful presence of Alex Canuel, the man with the ideas, hits that bass and it begs for mercy, Then you have Sebastien Marois on guitar and background vocals and the motivational speaker of the band you can bet at one point he will make you laugh. The guys of LNT worked extremely hard creating Candyland and it shows. They come out with a unique sound and all around fun to listen to. These guys are going somewhere. Listen to “Date Night”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
#7 🇨🇭
BROKEN FATE – Fighter and Dreamers
Of all the thrash metal/melodic death metal bands out there Broken Fate is my favorite. From Affoltern am Albis, Zurich Switzerland, Broken Fate explodes with aggression. Imagine an 18-wheeler with a massive shovel barreling down the highway and decimating everything in front of it, but with absolutely beautiful chaos. Fighters and Dreamers is the must-have thrash album for every metalhead. Check out “Fighters and Dreamers”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
#6 🇦🇺
ART OF DYSFUNCTION – Art of Dysfunction
Once in a while, a band comes along and makes you turn heads. When you bring out all the elements of what makes a great hard-rocking band and deliver on the goods you get Art of Dysfunction, considered heavy blues rock these guys from Perth, Australia. These guys came out of nowhere and blew my mind. They are absolutely incredible. Their powerful hard rock blues sound just dominates your speakers turning them into liquid sound. Art of Dysfunction is a solid debut album! Take a listen to “Bedford Blues”.
#5 🇬🇧
GIRLSCHOOL – WTForty Five?
Since 1978 these ladies have been kicking ass all over the world. From London, England they show you how it’s done! Kim McAuliffe, Denise Dufort, Tracey Lamb and Jackie Chambers have created the ultimate Party Album. WTForty Five is an incredible fun to listen to album! You wont be able to control yourself you will be banging your head and smile not giving a shit who is looking at you. This album is an absolute diamond. Listen to “Party”.
#4 🇬🇧
PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS – Kings of the Asylum
From Pontypridd, Wales this all in the family band is absolutely crazy entertaining and awesome. From the pages of Motorhead Phil Campbell knows his stuff. Kings of the Asylum is an epic hard rocking album. It is amazing from beginning to end. It’s a lion roaring in the jungle and everyone has to listen. It is too damn good. Check out “Too Much is Never Enough”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
#3 🇺🇲
BOMBAY BLACK – En Fuego!
From Little Rock, Arkansas Bombay Black just blew me away! These boys have been around since 2003 and I only discovered them this year. En Fuego! is an absolute gem of an album. This is Hard Rock at its best. This is one band that puts joy in my life when I listen to it. It carries the 80s style into the modern era of hard rock and blends it perfectly. I just love it when a band comes out with incredible fun songs. Check out “Best Night of Our Lives”
#2 🇩🇪
LORD OF THE LOST – Blood and Glitter
Out of Hamburg Germany Lord of the Lost were born in 2007. This industrial Gothic glam metal band is exceptional. Yet another discovery for me, Their music brings me to another realm. Every song on this album captivates me and I absolutely love it. It is either my fetish for German rock bands or they are simply that good. It is one band that I am dying to see live. Blood and Glitter is an absolute must if you are into this type of music. This album was actually released on December 31, 2022. But one day into the new year I had to count it as a 2023 album. What an amazing album… Listen to “Reset Preset”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
#1 🇺🇲
ALICE COOPER – Road
From Detroit, Michigan Alice Cooper has been around since 1964. He is known as the Hard Rock, The Master of Shock Rock. Born Vincent Damon Furnier or better known and Alice Cooper, at 75 years old this man still produces magic! He is a genius! Throughout his career he had his ups and downs, Road is a definite UP! WAY WAY UP! I love every single song on this album. I have seen him twice in concert and he is a delight to watch.
The reason I put him number 1 is simple. At 75 years old he is still schooling those young rock stars and showing them the ropes. He is an enigma! We are very fortunate that Alice still comes up with music today, I hope that this is not the end of the road and there will be more to come. Take a listen to “Dead Don’t Dance”.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
And there you have it ladies and gentlemen! My top ten of 2023.
See you all next year for my top 2024.
Check out my other articles and reviews here. Dr Tardis.
