Best hard rock/metal albums of 2023

It's time again for my album of the year picks.  I rank song quality and album consistency heavily, so if there's only a couple of good tracks, the rating suffers.  This year my list is not as stylistically diverse as last year's, but I always surprise myself with who makes the top 10 and in what order.  Once again I listened to a lot of music to make my final decisions, so I encourage you to check out my top picks as well as those from the list below if you need holiday gifts or to catch up on rock from 2023.

1. Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II

Wolfgang Van Halen (son of guitar god Eddie Van Halen) wanted to avoid the sophomore slump with his second solo release, and in my opinion he did a lot better than that.  Mammoth II bests his debut with better versatility and improved musicianship drawing on a variety of influences from classic rock to alternative metal (Tool) and even djent/modern progressive metal (Intervals; Meshuggah).  Wolfie even coined the term Meshuggah-Beatles to describe some of his new music like album closer "Better Than You."  "Waiting" is the lyrically-themed sequel to "Distance" about his father from the first album.

Best tracks: Another Celebration at the End of the World, Optimist, Waiting

Image taken by me @Starland Ballroom 11/17/23

2. Metallica - 72 Seasons

Metallica's 11th studio album is the first since 2016's Hardwired... and while I liked that one a lot, this one is even better.  Although it is not quite thrash, there are more driving rock songs than their more melodic opuses and ballads.  Critics have also noticed a deeper meaning to James' lyrics on songs like "Screaming Suicide" and "Room of Mirrors."  James says the concept of 72 seasons is about a person's growth and maturity over 18 years of life.  18 x 4 = 72, so the math adds up!

Best tracks: Lux Eterna; Room of Mirrors; 72 Seasons 

3. Filter - The Algorithm

Filter's first studio album in seven years started to form in 2018 when lead singer Richard Patrick rekindled with original guitarist Brian Liesegang.  A few songs got released in 2020 that we thought were going to be on the record that then became standalone singles.  Honestly the project that was billed as the "official follow-up to Short Bus" took so long to come to fruition it had fallen off my radar.  However, the Algorithm sounds like a true return to form with industrial roots and modern rock influences.  As one fan commented, "this album is pure time travel." Patrick has rarely been at a loss of things to write about, and he can still sing his ass off.  The album is leaning heavy with some of the lighter ballads they have also become known for.  Even if you haven't listened to Filter since the turn of the century, give this one a spin (hey, vinyl is back, this still makes sense).

Best tracks: Obliteration; Summer Child; Up Against the Wall

4. Beartooth - The Surface

Thematically this album is the antithesis of their last album, Below.  In some ways it is their most poppy.  There's even a song called "Might Love Myself" about self love and empowerment.  However, there are also some bangers, screams, and sick breakdowns as well.  While some metal fans say they've gotten too soft, other fans are embracing the positive mental health journey of lead singer Caleb Shomo and his uplifting songs.  I own other Beartooth albums and this is the first one I can play all the way through so take that for what it's worth.

Best tracks: The Surface; Riptide; What's Killing You

5. Staind - Confessions of the Fallen

First release since 2011.  I've already written about it here.  Aaron's voice is still strong and Mike Mushok keeps them rocking hard.

Best tracks: Lowest in Me; Here and Now; Cycle of Hurting

6. Blink 182 - One More Time

Another comeback album as it is their first since 2019 and their first with Tom DeLonge since 2011.  Tom's voice and songwriting are certainly welcomed, but these are not the same people as they used to be.  There are still some humorous moments, but largely the writing is mature and reflective.  I've listened to this album a lot since its release and I interpret it as Mark and Tom's love note to each other.  For example, the nostalgic "When We Were Young" has them trade off on verses about early years, rather than the usual formula of having one or the other be the lead singer.  Then there are lyrics from the title track that obviously refer to their relationship with each other.  "I wish they told us, it shouldn't take a sickness, Or airplanes falling out the sky" clearly are referencing illnesses such as Mark's recent battle with cancer and Travis's 2008 plane crash.  The chorus of "One More Time" I believe is about them regretting not speaking for several years during their two hiatus periods.  This album is more emo than punk rock, but still a fun return overall.

Best tracks: Dance With Me; Anthem Part 3; One More Time

7. Godsmack - Lighting Up the Sky

In what might be the last Godsmack album, they put together a fantastic eighth studio album showcasing their signature sound from power rockers to more emotional ballads.  It's only 10 tracks, but songs are a little bit longer than typical radio songs bringing the total time to almost 50 minutes.  55 year old Sully Erna says "Man I'm Growing Old" in the next to last song.  He says the band isn't breaking up and they will continue to tour, but right now he doesn't see them making another album.

Best tracks: Soul On Fire; Hell's Not Dead; Surrender

8. Dirty Honey - Can’t Find the Breaks
This band formed in 2017 in Los Angeles and attempted to follow the success of Guns N' Roses, even opening for Slash in 2018 and 2019 and the mighty GNR in 2022.  This is their second album and it has a fun mix of blues, country, and rock and roll.  They also sound a bit like the Black Crowes at times, and guess what, they opened for them too!  I also hear similarities with Greta Van Fleet, Red Sun Rising, and Crobot which means they are very good.  They have made some moves on the Mainstream Rock charts, but are largely still under the radar.  If you like your rock and roll with some swagger and swing, check these guys out.

Best tracks: Won't Take Me Alive; Can't Find the Breaks; Ride On

9. Drain - Living Proof

This is hardcore.  Literally.  If you're feeling angry, put this on and mosh or jam out.  Influenced by Suicidal Tendencies, and covering the Descendants, this is an interesting listen from a band that I think has huge potential.  Give them a listen.  Vocalist Sammy Ciaramataro says my favorite track "Watch You Burn" was written about a bad person.  "It's the meanest song I ever wrote, but I tried to make it into something good."

10. Sevendust - Truth Killer 

This is Sevendust's 14th album and they have been consistently good.  They are a band that is in the rare territory these days of being better live in person than on record.  That being said, this is one of their strongest, most consistent albums.  This year they've toured with Alter Bridge and Mammoth WVH.  They are currently touring with Static-X and Dope and will be through the winter into 2024.  If you get the chance, definitely watch a live performance.  There's dates in NJ, PA, and Long Island NY.  I've already got my tickets for Starland and might try to see them in Harrisburg as well.

Best track: Love and Hate

With streaming becoming the way most people consume music, some people think albums are becoming a thing of the past.  I still like a good album.  One way some bands are coping with the need to be productive and faster than an album cycle is putting out more EPs, or short collections of songs.

Here are my picks for best EPs (alphabetical order):

Ghost - Phantomime EP

Nonpoint - Heartless EP

Sleep Theory - Paper Hearts EP

Spiritbox - The Fear Of Fear EP

Other 2023 albums of note worth listening to:

Asking Alexandria - Where Do We Go From Here

Atreyu - The Beautiful Dark of Life

Avatar - Dance Devil Dance

Avenged Sevenfold - Life is But a Dream …

Babymetal - The Other One

Corey Taylor - CMF2

Creeper - Sanguivore (like a gothic Meat Loaf)

Danko Jones - Electric Sounds

Dethklok - Dethalbum IV

Dolly Parton - Rockstar (30 Songs)

Enter Shakiri - A Kiss For the Whole World

Fallout Boy - So Much (For) Stardust

Foo Fighters - But Here We Are

Greta Van Fleet - Starcatcher

(Hed)P.E. - Detox

Ice Nine Kills - Welcome to Horrorwood: Under Fire

Lacey Sturm - Kenotic Metanoia

Last in Line - Jericho

Joe Perry - Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII

Nita Strauss - The Call of the Void

Of Mice & Men - Tether

Overkill - Scorched

Paramore - This Is Why

Periphery - Periphery V: Djent is Not a Genre

Plain White T’s - Plain White T’s

Rival Sons - Darkfighter (8 Songs)

Royal Thunder - Rebuilding the Mountain

Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden

Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman…

Taproot - SC\SSRS

Till Lindemann - Zunge

Winery Dogs - III

Within Temptation - Bleed Out

Coming early next year (2024)

Green Day - Saviors (Jan 19)

Metalite - Expedition One (Jan 19)

Neck Deep - Neck Deep (Jan 19)

Saxon - Hell, Fire, and Damnation (Jan 19)

Alkaline Trio - Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs (Jan 26)

Static X - Project Regeneration Vol. 2 (Jan 26)


Infected Rain - Time (Feb 9)

Darkest Hour - Perpetual Terminal (Feb 23)

Mick Mars - The Other Side of Mars (Feb 23)


Firewind - Stand United (Mar 1)

Ministry - HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (Mar 1)

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (Mar 8)