BEST OF 2023 – Ivan Galesic (Radio Host/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)
Well, it’s that time of year again when I cram all the albums that came out during the year trying to pick my favourite 10. This year there were so many new releases, Rich was saying that he had over 500 to go through. Some “big” bands released music and it’s been a long time since they have put anything out. Bands like Metallica, Dokken, Winger and Extreme to name a few. They all had really strong records. One of my favourites last year Kardang released another killer album this year but it just fell short due to the amount of great new music. If I had picked a top 15 they would have made it.
Let’s get on to the picks.
#10 🇺🇲
ELEGANT WEAPONS – Horns for a Halo
What do you get when you put Richie Faulkner, Ronnie Romero, Rex Brown and Scott Travis together in a band? You get a masterpiece of an album. I usually don’t care too much for Ronnie Romero’s vocals but he does an amazing job on this release. Richie just shreds all over this. He also shows he can get bluesy as well. Rex and Scott were only part of the recording they were replaced with Christopher Williams from Accept and bassist Dave Rimmer from Uriah Heep.
I’m hoping that this isn’t just a one-off and that after Judas Priest are done Richie continues with this project. I found myself going back to this album over and over throughout the year. I actually don’t skip any songs when I listen to this album. Here are some highlights that I recommend from this release. “Do or Die”, the cover of UFO’s “Lights Out” and the title track “Horns for a Halo”.
#9 🇳🇱
DEWOLFF – Love, Death and In Between
DeWolff are a psychedelic rock band from the Netherlands, formed in 2007 by brothers Pablo and Luka van de Poel and Robin Piso. The idea for Love, Death & In Between came when singer/guitarist Pablo van de Poel attended a sermon in Al Green‘s church in Memphis, Tennessee. He was profoundly moved by the musical experience and wanted to create new songs that fit that vibe, almost like a religious experience.
Recording live to tape, with no overdubs, brothers Pablo (guitar/vocals) and Luka van de Poel (drums/vocals) alongside Robin Piso (Hammond/Wurlitzer) were joined by a host of friends for the recordings.
I first heard this a few months ago and played “Night Train” on my show. I kept going back to that song and then decided to give the whole album a listen. With a long commute to work, it’s about two hours each way so I popped this in one morning and I didn’t skip a track. Blown away by how diverse it was, I was transported back to the 60’s.
Listening to this album there is a lot going on. There are so many different styles and bands that come to mind while listening to it. It’s quite the musical journey. There is some Gospel, Jazz and Blues to name a few genres. Some highlights are “Night Train”, “Heart Stopping Kinda Show” and the epic 16-minute “Rosita” that’s my favourite right now. It’s not your usual long song where it has a bit of vocals and then the rest is music. This is the reverse of that.
#8 🇸🇪
SIX FOOT SIX – Beggars Hill
Hailing from Gothenburg Sweden is the next pick in my top ten. It’s a band that was formed back in 2017 and this is their third release. It’s Six Foot Six. I have never heard of them up until the second week of December. Yup, it was a late release but it really stuck with me and I found myself really enjoying it.
Snowy Shaw plays the drums on this album, that’s how I found out about it. I saw a post of his on Instagram that had a link to one of the songs. It was a killer song so I made a note of it and had to check out the album.
Influenced by classic bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Metallica, it’s a guitar and vocal melody-driven album, but still with a powerful up-to-date sound. Highlights on the album are “Raise the Dead”, “Tears” and “Voices Inside”.
#7 🇳🇴
INVASION – Invasion
Invasion are from Norway and this is an independent release. There is not much out there on this band on the web. I tried to find a bit of background but all I could find was that they were from Norway and they play Heavy Metal. Well, that’s all I really need because this is a killer of a debut and I’m betting that they get signed to a record label in the near future.
Just like my friends in Kardang (another great band from Norway), this is a killer debut. Great riffs from start to finish, melodic yet edgy and a decent sent of songs. Highlights are “Turning The Tide”, “Streets Are Burning”, “Wings Of Steel” and “Allies”.
#6 🇳🇴
ROZARIO – To the Gods We Swear
Another band from Norway. The album can be described as 80s metal with a modern production. Influenced by Dokken, Judas Priest and even Wig Wam. The production is really great on this, it sounds great.
Rozario‘s songs are best described as solid, hard-hitting, yet melodic and catchy with verses always leading up to choruses that make you want to throw your fists in the air and sing along. Great debut check out the songs “To the Gods We Swear”, “Nightmare in Flames” and “Burning Up”.
#5 🇩🇪
PRIMAL FEAR – Code Red
Primal Fear never lets you down and Code Red is another quality entry in the band’s catalog. Ralf‘s voice still sounds stellar, and the guitars and drums played here are all of the highest calibre. They’ve still never released a bad album, and Code Red is no exception to the rule.
The melodic framework of the album is very catchy and almost every song is a head-banger and a sing-along. Primal Fear have been consistent and this is just another great release. Highlights are “Another Hero”, “Deep In The Night” and “Bring That Noise”.
#4 🇬🇧
THE HOT ONE TWO – Superbia
The Hot One Two are a five-piece Hard Rock band from Cambridge, UK. Superbia is their debut album.
I’ll let the band describe their album. Superbia is a collection of 10 songs that we’re incredibly proud of. Containing overarching themes of all the true rock elements; thunderous bass lines, face-melting guitar solos, bombastic drums, soaring vocals, and pile-driving riffs, this album explores the theme of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.
Believe me, they nailed the description. I haven’t stopped listening to this since I first heard it from a recommendation by CGCM’s Trevor.
Standout tracks are: “The Fray”, “Tie Me Down” and “Rolling Stone”.
#3 🇩🇪
MYSTIC PROPHECY – Hellriot
Mystic Prophecy is a German band formed way back in 2000 but this was the first time I have heard anything by them. The album’s sound is a unique blend of power metal with plenty of thrash elements. The musicianship, arrangements, melody, and production…it’s all excellent! There is not one bad song on this entire release. Heavy riffs, melodic, anthemic grooves and tones, and just the right amount of aggression and power.
Highlight tacks “Hellriot”, “Rising With The Storm” and “Azrael”.
#2 🇮🇹
HELL IN THE CLUB – F.U.B.A.R.
Hell In The Club is an Italian hard rock/heavy metal band featuring members of Elvenking and Secret Sphere. F.U.B.A.R. is the band’s sixth full-length album, introducing its strongest material to date. Their sound on this album can be described as sleaze rock combined with more traditional heavy rock so what you have is a high-octane bump and grind, party metal with definite influences takes the likes of Motley Crüe, Skid Row, W.A.S.P. and Alice Cooper.
Highlights songs are “Sidonie“, “The Arrival” and “Total Disaster”
#1 🇺🇲
SPIRIT ADRIFT – Ghost at the Gallows
From the first listen-through of this album, I knew it would be my number one of the year. Every song just clicked with me. I have been a fan of Spirit Adrift since their Enlightened in Eternity album. That one almost made my top ten that year but I stumbled on to it pretty late in the year.
I love how their sound has evolved. It seems to get more refined with each release. The guitar work and songwriting on this album is outstanding. Every song on this is great.
Highlight tracks are: “Death Won’t Stop Me”, “Barn Burner” and “Ghost At The Gallows”.
Read my review here: SPIRIT ADRIFT – Ghost At The Gallows
There was so much good music this year that I could have easily put together a top 30 and each spot would be close. Bands that just missed out this year were Kardang with their second release, Jelusick with Follow the Blind Man, Bombay Black, Night Demon, Sorcerer, Haunt, Temple Balls, Crown Lands, Dead Man’s Whiskey and Avatar to name a few of the very close ones that kept creeping up into the top ten.
By the looks of some of the previews 2024 will be another great year for metal. Man, I love the state that the music scene is in right now. I wish there were this many choices available back when I was growing up in the ’80s. Check out my radio show and my CGCM reviews here: Ivan Galesic.
Awesome list Ivan. Some great diversity this year between all the CGCM crew!