Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023

Welcome to my annual attempt to make sense of the ridiculous amount of good metal albums out there, awaiting discovery by intrepid metal explorers.

2023’s best of list has been one of the more difficult ones to put together, placing-wise, which is one of the reasons that I’m posting it later than I usually do. Even more so than normal many of the slots are interchangeable, and I especially struggled with positions two-nine – if such a thing were possible, they all deserve to be higher! In the end I decided to stop overthinking it and go with my gut, but the usual caveat of these lists being very subjective and subject to change depending on mood, feelings, etc. is larger than normal here.

There are some notable acts missing form the below. Not because they’re not worthy of inclusion, but because there are only so many spaces to be had. In fact, I almost ended up limiting this list to 20, rather than the now-customary 30, as I found it really difficult to know who to include and who not to. In the end I went with the standard 30 so that I could promote a few extra bands, as they absolutely all deserve it.

As for the top position, I wasn’t expecting it to be filled by a band I’d never heard before, playing a style that I don’t listen to as much as I used to. However, I suppose after last year, I shouldn’t have been too surprised.

I do hope you enjoy this list and find some new music to obsess over. Like always, thanks for your support if you have ever visited this site before, and here’s to a great 2024 for as many of us as possible. Continue reading “Wonderbox Metal End of Year List – Best Metal of 2023”

Underdark – Managed Decline (Review)

Underdark - Managed DeclineUnderdark are a post-black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

Following on from 2021’s Our Bodies Burned Bright on Re-Entry, Underdark have now returned with the 41-minute Managed Decline. Continue reading “Underdark – Managed Decline (Review)”

Heretoir – Nightsphere (Review)

Heretoir - NightsphereHeretoir are a post-black metal band from Germany and this is their third album.

Nightsphere contains 42 minutes of atmospheric post-black metal. Heretoir have an emotive, textured delivery, and across this album they seriously impress. Continue reading “Heretoir – Nightsphere (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)

Damnation Festiva 2023 - PosterIt’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”

Ashbringer – We Came Here to Grieve (Review)

Ashbringer - We Came Here to GrieveThis is the fourth album from US post-black metal band Ashbringer.

This is the follow up to 2019’s well-received Absolution, We Came Here to Grieve brings us 44 minutes of new music. On this new record Ashbringer continue to evolve their sound, pushing the envelope further, with a multifaceted mix of experimental black metal sounds. Although having said that, there’s less direct black metal on this album, for sure. Continue reading “Ashbringer – We Came Here to Grieve (Review)”

Din of Celestial Birds – The Night Is for Dreamers (Review)

Din of Celestial Birds - The Night Is for DreamersThis is the debut album from UK post-rock band Din of Celestial Birds.

The Night Is for Dreamers is a 45-minute instrumental post-rock album. While this would typically be something I’m not drawn to, I do like the style when done well, which is why Din of Celestial Birds make the cut. Continue reading “Din of Celestial Birds – The Night Is for Dreamers (Review)”