Top Ten Albums of 2023 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

As 2023 comes to an end, looks like it's time once again to reflect back on all the killer releases that helped me get through this crazy year. Overall, I would say that the world of hard rock, punk and metal continues to thrive, unlike the state of Hollywood which cannot seem to put out anything worth seeing right now. Disney is so bad right now that the only thing they did this year was give South Park a great idea for new content. In terms of music labels, I would say that the underground/independent labels once again proved to be an inspiring force by working extremely hard to promote some great artists this year. Sentient Ruin for example really made an impact throughout the year and I would trust them to lead the country right now more than the knuckleheads we currently have in charge. Yes, competent leadership is hard to come by these days and sometimes I wonder if I should run for office, because I know I cannot do any worse (Rob "The Metal Guy" 2024!).  In the end, I was rather pleased with the amount of solid albums that came out in 2023 and I really look forward to hopefully another year of great music...unless our president presses the wrong button thinking he is hitting the button to have his diaper changed. Anyway, here it is people, my top ten albums of 2023!

10. Shadows "Out for Blood"

This Chilean heavy metal act really draws from classic 80's metal elements, while coming up with some sinister lyrical themes. I definitely hear a lot Mercyful Fate influence on this record, but that is what I believe made it such a solid sounding release. The riffs are unbelievably catchy and hook you right away. Also, the vocals provide that utterly haunting touch to create this dark horror movie like atmosphere where evil is lurking around every corner. This album is one of many albums that came out from Sentient Ruin this year which really stood out and ended up being in my top ten. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/05/shadows-out-for-blood.html

9. Uranium “Pure Nuclear Death”

Uranium is an utterly devastating act and when I listened to this new release, "Pure Nuclear Death," I was blown away by the abhorrent compositions that combine industrial elements and black/death metal. Talk about a surrealistic extreme metal exploration! Uranium does not disappoint when pertaining to the pure Armageddon like atmospheres that leave you feeling suffocated by this massive wall of decimating distortion. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/uranium-pure-nuclear-death.html

8.  Marduk “Memento Mori”

One of the most vicious and raw black metal acts around that has influenced so many young black metal bands over the years, really came out and offered up some utterly blasphemous cuts of savage black metal. I thought Marduk put together a solid album featuring some truly raw sounding black metal compositions, while not settling for overproduced substandard black metal riffs. I was rather pleased with this album and I hope to see Marduk continue to charge forward waiving the flag for intense and insidious black metal music. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/marduk-memento-mori.html

7. Decoherence "Order"

For Decoherence's third full-length album, "Order" the band went all out with more insane industrial noises mixed in with some harsh black metal elements to construct one mind altering release. The album is a dark exploration through these very unorthodox sounding riff structures, which creates some utterly entropic soundscapes. The experimentation and willingness to push the boundaries of extreme music is why I have always respected Decoherence, and I look forward to what they have in the works on future releases. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/07/decoherence-order.html

6.  Old Tower “Draconic Synthesis”

Following up Old Tower's 2021 release, "The Old King of Witches," an album that I greatly enjoyed, The Specter has returned with yet another sinister dungeon synth tale to lead minds astray and travel into the dark mysterious depth. The Specter is a genius when it comes to composing ambient dungeon synth arrangements, and I must say that the albums he has been come out with over the last few years have really stood out. Even though there are no lyrics, the sounds and synth arrangements create a profoundly dark synergy which slowly builds these vivid atmospheric tales. I cannot wait to get this on vinyl, as Old Tower's releases are a must have if you enjoy ambient/dungeon synth music. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/old-tower-draconic-synthesis.html

5.  Ch’Ahom “Knots of Abhorrence”

This album is a surrealistic venture into Mayan lore that draws you in like a malevolent jungle spirit possessing your mind as you slowly go insane from the pure blackened death bludgeoning. Ch’Ahom's ritualistic sound is perfectly captured on their debut album, “Knots of Abhorrence," and I would definitely consider this to be one the strongest conceptual releases to come out this year. Sentient Ruin was responsible from putting this out, and I think Ch’Ahom's sound and style perfectly fits in with the other bands in the Sentient Ruin roster. 

Link to my review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/chahom-knots-of-abhorrence.html

4. Ash Prison “Future Torn” 

This was yet another one of my favorite albums to be released on Sentient Ruin this year and it really took me by surprise. "Future Torn," is a killer debut album featuring some monstrous tracks that blend together industrial metal and black metal. If you are fan of early Ministry and abrasive black metal then this album will be that perfect combination of cold harsh sounding industrial rhythms and ear shattering heavily distorted guitar riffs. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/ash-prison-future-torn.html

3.  Night Demon "Outsider"

Night Demon's third full-length album took a turn into new territory by being band's first full blown concept album. Initially when I heard the first single,"Outsider," I did not think the band was going to be deviating too far from their core classic NWOBHM influenced sound, but when you listen to this album in its entirety you can really hear where the band took their time to make the album flow and tell a very fascinating story. From the musicianship to the songwriting, I truly believe Night Demon is one of the most talented acts around and deserves a lot of respect for the hard work they continue to pour into their recordings. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/03/night-demon-outsider.html

2.  Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

Ceremonial Bloodbath is without question one of the most brutal and unforgiving acts around. The band's debut album which was released through Sentient Ruin in 2020, "The Tides of Blood," is an inhumanly insidious blackened death album that I consider to be one of the greatest extreme metal releases to come out in the past few years. For their follow-up release, the band did not disappoint one bit and the new material continues the bestial onslaught with even more ferocious riffs and decimating blast beats. When you look at this albums cover you see pure unholy devastation, which is exactly what you imagine when listening to the barbaric riffs and savage blast beats on this album/ 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/ceremonial-bloodbath-genesis-of.html

1. Lathe of Heaven “Bound by Naked Skies” 

As someone who enjoys post-punk and new wave music, I was extremely impressed the first time I heard Lathe of Heaven's debut album, "Bound by Naked Skies." The songwriting is exceptional and the production on this album really captures that classic post-punk/new wave sound. Based out of NYC, Lathe of Heaven is a very talented act, and the band's sound reminded me a lot of Killing Joke, Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen, yet even though I heard a variety of influences I thought the band had very distinct and original sound. I have listened to this album almost everyday and I find that the music is written with such great substance to where you become profoundly drawn to the breathtaking chord progressions and captivating lyrics. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/lathe-of-heaven-bound-by-naked-skies.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin

Best Live Performance: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult at the Ritz in San Jose, CA

EP of the Year:  Eternal “Faceless Evil”

Most Brutal Album Cover of the Year: Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

Music Video of the Year: Night Demon "The Wrath" 

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Sin Offering (Check out their EP "Charnel House")  

Manga of the Year: Mao by Rumiko Takahashi 

Biggest Douche of the Year: Tony Khan the head of All Elite Wrestling (If he does not win Booker of the Year from that schmuck wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, then at least he wins something…) 

Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

    Sentient Ruin has already released a plethora of unfathomably brutal releases this year, however Ceremonial Bloodbath’s sophomore release “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” is the apex album when pertaining to raw inhuman brutality. Based out of Vancouver BC, Canada, Ceremonial Bloodbath’s savage scorched-earth blackened death metal style is on a completely different level, and the band's new material looks to take the underground metal community by overwhelmingly unapologetic force. 

    Ceremonial Bloodbath's debut full-length album which was also released through Sentient Ruin, “The Tides of Blood,” is a monstrous sounding release featuring some unbelievably pestilent sounding cuts of gruesome blackened death metal along with some extremely insidious lyrical themes. If you enjoy pulverizing sadistic music similar to that of Bestial Warlust, Blasphemy, Archgoat and Beherit, then you will be instantly hooked by Ceremonial Bloodbath’s music. On this new album, these ruthless Canadian extreme metal musicians come up with even more apocalyptically devastating tracks by continuing where they left off on, “The Tides of Blood,” and going further into the deafening chaotic sounding realms of unspeakable demonic horror. 

    From the instant you start listening to this album, you feel as though you have stepped into some unholy wasteland where there is still this inhumanly savage sounding massacre taking place. The opening track, “The Ritual of Unholy Descent,” establishes a haunting atmosphere of pure surrealistic sounding horror to paint this lifeless dominion which has been incinerated through mass slaughter. On the second track, “Exhumation of the Ominous,” the band aggressively launches into a destructive sounding arrangement featuring some feverish drumming and savage riffs. The drumming on this album is utterly ear shattering and adds to the album’s catastrophic vision by fueling the band’s abhorrent drive with gruesome bone crushing rhythms. 

    Along with the primordial rhythms and barbaric guitar playing, I thought the vocals on this album were really sinister sounding and perfectly complimented the compositions. During the third track, "Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance,” I really thought that the hateful sounding vocals damned your full attention as the band hacked away at these sickening riff progressions. Another area of this album that I thought the band excelled at was incorporating some of those Bolt Thrower like lead parts into the bludgeoning mix, especially the frantic guitar solo towards the end of, “Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance.” One of the my favorite songs off of the album, “The Boneless One,” is another entropic exploration into the blackened death metal void that paints a horrendously bestial landscape where all light has been devoured by dark ageless entities. 

    Throughout this entire album I do not believe that the band ever failed to deliver a profoundly brutal sounding piece of music. Tracks like “Caustic Invocation” and “Dissonance of Morbidity,” convey such ferociously festering emotions that you become hopelessly trapped in this distorted sounding bombardment. I would say, “Mutilation of Sacrifice” is another exceptional cut of morbid brutality that appeared on the band’s 2021 demo titled, “Mutilation of Sacrifice.” I think the song perfectly fits into this album’s abysmal theme by really putting an emphasis on those agonizing riff sections as well as the blistering lead parts. For the final track on the album, “The Invocation of the Tomb of Mankind,” the band concludes by creating these terrifying cinematic sounds that makes you feel as if you are standing all alone on a deserted dark plain after witness some tragic event unfold. This feeling of complete solitude and frightening isolation is a surprising way to end an album after hearing such crushing sounding arrangements, but in the end that is what I think makes this final track vividly standout. 

    Overall, “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” is an extremely sadistic offering and ventures into an even more hellacious direction musically, which is saying something given how much profoundly dark abhorrent energy can be heard on the band's first release. In my opinion, Ceremonial Bloodbath is one of the most destructively omniscient sounding blackened death metal acts around, and they have really worked hard to achieve a malevolent sound. I highly recommend that you check this album out as I do believe, “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” will be making its way on some top ten lists for this year, because when all is said and done there is no denying this band’s truly raw ritualistic blackened death metal talents. 

Check out the song "Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance" below:

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/genesis-of-malignant-entropy

Ceremonial Bloodbath Bandcamp:

https://ceremonialbloodbath.bandcamp.com/music

Top Ten Albums of 2020 / Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

 

As we come to the end of 2020, I believe it is important to reflect upon the albums that really stood out during the year and helped get us through all the chaos. Yes, 2020 has been a rough year in terms of unprecedented and unfortunate events ranging from a global pandemic to Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy in a mimosa wrestling match. Even though this has been a rough year, we should not overlook all the great music that came out during 2020. Looking back at all the albums that came out this year, I was surprised at how many tremendous rock and metal albums were released. I do believe that this year was one of the most challenging lists to come up with given the amount of great albums that I heard over the course of the year. Also, I must give a shoutout to all the hardworking labels that were responsible for putting out a lot of brilliant releases. Even in the face of a pandemic the dedication from the rock and metal community never faded and hopefully coming out of this we will be even stronger going forward. So in conclusion, here are my picks and don't forget to check out the winners of the Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards...

Top Ten Albums of 2020

10. Dearth “To Crown All Befoulment” 

For their debut full-length release, Dearth sure as hell did not disappoint! I really enjoyed what this blackened death metal from the Bay Area had to offer. The album features an endless amount of hellish sounding riffs that keep you hooked from beginning to end. Plus, the album's overall atmosphere is extremely horrifying, and sounds like something from another realm where monstrous entities slumber waiting to unleash eternal suffering upon the world of the living. Also, “To Crown All Befoulment,” was released through Sentient Ruin and you are going to see a couple other bands who worked with the label on this list. Overall, great debut album and one I highly recommend checking out.  

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/05/dearth-to-crown-all-befoulment.html

9. Shards of Humanity “Cold Logic”

Talk about a scorching storm of technical death thrash! The guitar playing on this album was exceptional and drumming was utterly deafening. I thought the musicianship on this album never disappointed and the songs contained a tremendous amount of fierce sounding attitude. Shards of Humanity did a great job writing impressive cuts of cranial splitting technical death thrash and the music never sounded repetitive or lackluster. Once you start listening to the first song I guarantee that you are not going to want to stop listening to this album. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/03/shards-of-humanity-cold-logic.html

8. Void Rot “Descending Pillars”

Void Rot's "Descending Pillars" was probably one of the most pulverizing albums to come out this year. Just a plethora of bone crushing riffs and abysmal sounding compositions. Another band that is associated with Sentient Ruin and another band that conjures up nightmarish sounding musical landscapes without any remorse. Void Rot's insidious style of death doom is without question not to be overlooked, because these dudes do not mess around when laying down some punishing tracks. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/08/void-rot-descending-pillars.html

7. Putrid “Antichrist Above”

I have been a fan of Putrid for years now and I honestly believe that, “Antichrist Above,” is their strongest sounding release to date. The band’s blasphemous vision is perfectly executed throughout the album. There are no dull moments and the frantic guitar work injects such raw aggression into the musical onslaught. Putrid also put out a killer split this year with Grave Desecration that I recommending checking out as well. Arguably one of Peru's greatest exports in my opinion and a metal band that the global underground community has really started to take notice of after years of hard work. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/03/putrid-antichrist-above.html

6. Countless Skies “Glow”

These English metal musicians are true visionaries when pertaining to writing majestic sounding melodic death metal. When listening to this album at times I felt as though I were floating on a cloud through a dynamic atmospheric world containing mountain sized riffs and mesmerizing melodic arrangements. The song, "Zephyr," alone makes this a must listen, especially the fluid guitar work that constructs such breath taking sounds throughout the song. Definitely one of the strongest sounding albums in terms of musicianship and production in my opinion. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/09/countless-skies-glow.html

5. Pathetic “Cleansing the Land of the Infidel”

I enjoy history and I enjoy death metal, so an album that uses death metal to highlight the atrocities after the fall of the Ottoman Empire definitely peaked my interest. Pathetic proved last year with the release of their album, “Rat King,” that they are an unapologetic and brutal force in the extreme metal world. I thought this entire album had me engaged from start to finish by throwing in constant headbanging riffs and seismic drum parts. Pathetic showed how a death metal band can explore an interesting topic surrounding historical events, while still being able to deliver a tornado of ferocious sounding extreme chaos.  

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/08/pathetic-cleansing-land-of-infidel.html

4. Hemotoxin “Restructure the Molded Mind” 

I want to take a moment and say that I am extremely proud of Hemotoxin. Although this band has experience a handful of line-up changes over the years, but the band's hard work has really paid off as of recent. Hemotoxin is in my opinion one of the most talented up and coming Bay Area metal acts and the most driven band around Contra Costa County. "Restructure the Molded Mind," is not only a continuation of what they accomplished on their previous album, "Biological Enslavement," but dives even further into the world of mind bending technical death/trash. Guitarist/singer Michael Anthony Chavez is a dedicated artist who I have a tremendous amount of respect for as a guitarist and driving force within the local metal community. Please, go and get a copy of this album if you enjoy face melting riffs and tasty technical compositions. I promise that you will not be disappointed! 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/02/hemotoxin-restructure-molded-mind.html

3. Cemetery Filth “Dominion” 

Cemetery Filth’s debut full-length album was definitely worth the wait! I had been looking forward to this album for a while, so when they finally set a release date in the beginning of the year I was beyond excited. This band captures the true essence of old school death metal by writing vicious offerings of unfathomable brutality. From the haunting vocals to the catastrophic guitar riffs, the entire album is a return to late 80’s/early 90’s death metal. Also, compared to your typical generic old school death metal worship acts, Cemetery Filth writes songs that leave an impact on you and keep you wanting more gruesome sounding brutality. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/03/cemetery-filth-dominion.html

2. Old Tower “The Last Eidolon”

This was a tough choice, because Old Tower’s “The Last Eidolon” could have easily been my pick for the number one album of the year. The artist behind Old Tower known only as, The Specter,” is a true dungeon synth genius. There are so many exceptional releases from Old Tower, however, this album was a culmination of all those other epic dark sounding themes that you heard on the previous albums. I felt as if I was listening to a cinematic tale that unfolded like a story of unspeakable malevolence. Amazing production throughout the entire release and the Specter has a great mind for composing. I really listened to this album a lot over the course of the year, which helped ease my mind at times through some of the challenges that 2020 brought. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/05/old-tower-last-eidolon.html

1. Ceremonial Bloodbath “The Tides of Blood”

When Sentient Ruin sent me the promo for Ceremonial Bloodbath, I had never heard of this Canadian blackened death metal band before. I was instantly drawn to the album's cover art, but the music is what just took me by complete surprise. The rush of ferocious death metal mixed with tormenting blackened hatred made this album a tidal wave of sheer hellacious sounding brutality. Again, phenomenal production throughout the entire album and the songwriting from the first track to the last is what makes this my number album of the year. Once you start listening to this album there is no turning back, because you are going to be in for one unimaginable extreme metal ride into the gory depths of an inhuman void. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/10/ceremonial-bloodbath-tides-of-blood.html

Hey, there were a lot great albums that did not make the list but definitely deserve a shoutout, so here are some honorable mentions: Cobra Cobra "Life After Poison" , Empty Chalice "Spiritual Abuse" , Voreus "The Proclamation" , Cryptae "Nightmare Traversal" , Diabolic Oath "Profane Death Exodus" and Deadlight Sanctuary  "Thaumaturgical Rites of the Damned"

The Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

(Please be advised that there was no voting fraud involved in the selection of these recipients. All votes cast were correctly counted and reviewed by The Rob "The Metal Guy" selection committee)

Best EP of the Year: Unlucky Theta “Debut EP” 

Best Split Release: 4 Doors to Death Vol. II (Nucleus, Ectoplasma, Fetid Zombie and Temple of Void)

Best Label: Sentient Ruin Laboratories 

Best Music Video: Hemotoxin “Automation” 

Metal Ambassador of the Year: Jarvis Leatherby from Night Demon

 

Biggest Douche: Chris Jericho 

Most Metal Wrestler: Rhea Ripley 

Ceremonial Bloodbath "The Tides of Blood"

    Once you begin listening to Ceremonial Bloodbath there is simply no escaping the enormous tidal wave of bestial brutality that this band is capable of delivering. The Vancouver BC based death metal maniacs in Ceremonial Bloodbath unleash upon the metal world a devastating onslaught with the release of their debut album full-length album, “The Tides of Blood.” 

    The metal community has been gifted quite a few solid death metal releases so far and “The Tides of Blood” is right up there in terms of sheer extreme ferocity. Ceremonial Bloodbath’s raw aggressive approach to making monstrous sounding recordings is definitely something that stands out right away when listening to this album. I do not think there was one moment where I was disinterested, because the overall production and profound nature of this band’s creative mindset is executed extremely well through out the entire release. Again, some bands are able to produce a behemoth sounding death metal release, while some bands sound like they can’t record their way out of a paper bag. 

    I thought that the opening track on album, “Command Sacrifice,” does a great job establishing the ominous tone by incorporating these insidious sounding cinematic like sounds. As the haunting music slowly fades, the band instantly dives right into a tormenting death metal frenzy full of bone sawing riffs and merciless blast beats. The singer lays down some of the truly grotesque and unforgiving vocals to compliment the unholy atmosphere that is drenched in pure pestilent sounding death metal. On the next song, “Book of Black Blessings,” the band’s drummer kicks off the song by completely decimating listeners with a flurry of skull pounding drum parts. The entire band plays with fearsome precision thus allowing you to become completely consumed by the darkness spewing out of the speakers. 

    As the album moves relentless forward the band continues to desecrate all that is holy by hammering out more sinister arrangements. For example, “Hordes of Demons Feeding,” is a gruesome old school death metal feast full of sadistic sounding riffs. Also, I really enjoyed how right after the song finishes they offer up this very occult like sounding piece of music called, “The Void Staring Back.” The mesmerizing celestial sounds are almost inhuman and the sound of goats makes you feel as if you are entering into an infernal realm of unimaginable chaos. Right after this short piece of music ends the band maintains a raw and ravenous mentality on the next fews songs. 

    Tracks like, “Hammer Throne,” “Seven Wells” and “Ceremonial Bloodbath,” are dynamic cuts of music that showcase this band’s exceptional extreme music making prowess. I think, “Seven Wells,” is the highlight track off of the album and features some cataclysmic like compositions as well as more horrifying death growls. Arguably some of the most nightmare inducing riffs featured on the entire album.  

    I honestly do believe that Ceremonial Bloodbath’s, “The Tides of Blood,” is a tremendous debut full-length album, and even though there are countless bands that play this style of extreme music, not all of them are able to put together a crushing album from start to finish. Of course, the album is being released through Sentient Ruin Laboratories, so right away I am going to highly recommend that people check it out. Ceremonial Bloodbath is on a destructive conquest to bestow upon the metal world an album that shall leave a trail of carnage in their wake, so do not even think about passing this album up! 

Check out the song "Primitive" below (Album comes out October 23, 2020):

Sentient Ruin Website:

http://sentientruin.com/releases

Ceremonial Bloodbath Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ceremonialbloodbath