1 – Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars
2 – Host – IX
3 – Dog Eat Dog – Free Radicals
4 – Dorthia Cottrell – Death Folk Country
5 – Bruce Soord –  Luminescence 
6 – Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks – Longing For Oblivion
7 – Within Temptation – Bleed Out
8 – Laid Back Country Picker - Go West
9 – Oxbow – Love’s Holiday
10 – Kings Never Die – All the Rats

From the moment that I heard the first notes of Katatonia’s Sky Void of Stars, I knew it would be ranked very high in this list. I’ve written about their influence on me a few times. You can read more about it by clicking here if you’re so inclined. I purposely didn’t listen to much of anything from this album before it was released, other than the few songs that they had put out as singles in late 2022. I’ve often gotten emotional while hearing their songs, especially when I see them live. Yes, their music impacts me THAT MUCH. But, with Sky Void of Stars, it wasn’t their lyrics that first gave me goosebumps, it was when I heard THEIR familiar guitar sound at about the one minute mark of the second song of the album, “Colossal Shade.” I knew that I was listening to something special just from that moment. As for the rest of the album, it is classic Katatonia. And by classic, I mean it should be thought of as one of their better albums. It’s that good.

Other than the already mentioned “Colossal Shade,” I really think that “Atrium,” “Austerity,” “Birds,” and especially “Author” stand out as some of the better songs on this album, which for the record, marks the 3rd time that I’ve given Album of the Year to Katatonia in the 20 years that I’ve been doing these lists. No other band has more than two Albums of the Year from me, which ties directly to the 2nd Best Album of 2023.

In 1999, Paradise Lost put out an album that a lot of fans and critics weren’t too crazy about, Host. I’ve ALWAYS liked that album. It was by far more electronic and less metal than Paradise Lost had previously done, but it fit within the direction that they were going at the time and if you listen to their progression, Host made sense. And regardless of what anyone else thought of it, Paradise Lost’s founders Nick Holmes and Gregor Mackintosh surprised the world by putting out a new album under the band name Host. The debut from Host, called IX, picks up exactly where Paradise Lost’s Host left off and is nine of the best songs that I never knew I needed. Seriously. I had often joked that I would love to hear Paradise Lost do more Host stuff, but for the most part, they ignore it. But, the Host project has filled that void for me. I can’t say enough good things about it.

Songs that I recommend from IX include “Wretched Soul,” “Tomorrow’s Sky,” “Hiding from Tomorrow,” and “My Only Escape.” And also, if you get the deluxe edition of the album, their cover of “I Ran.”

This is the 20th time that I’ve done a list of the Top Albums of a Year. If at any point since I started this in 2004, you had told me that Dog Eat Dog would release an album that would have distribution in the United States I would say “well, I really hope so.” If you had told me that not only would Dog Eat Dog put out an album in 2023 with US distribution, but I would be on it, I would probably have a lot of doubt and profanity in my reply. But, both are true. Dog Eat Dog released Free Radicals, their first full-length album since 2006’s Walk with Me and the first one that has been readily available in the US since 1996’s Play Games. And, as I hinted at, I am on the album. Yes, I was invited to participate in the Gang Vocals recording session, so my voice (along with a few others) is included in the choruses of some of the songs on the album. While this album does have a deep personal connection for me, I also believe that it would still be ranked this high if I did not have a part in it. It’s a good album. I’m proud of my (small) contribution to the album and proud that it’s ranked so high.

Some of my favorites from Free Radicals include “Lit Up,” “Never Give In,” “Time Won’t Wait,” ” @Joe’s,” and “Man’s Best Friend.”

The fourth Best Album of the Year is from an artist that I had never heard of until she was suggested by YouTube. Dorthia Cottrell is the singer for American Doom Metal band Windhand. And while I’m aware of them now, Cottrell’s solo album Death Folk Country is the one that was suggested to me and I immediately took a liking to it. This is really one of those albums that was designed to be listened to from beginning to end. I’ve enjoyed having it on in the background while I’m doing work and even while I’m driving. It’s solid from beginning to end and has a somewhat unique sound to it.

Even though I said that the album should be listened to from beginning to end, “Harvester” and “Family Annihilator” are probably my favorite songs.

Bruce Soord has appeared in my Top 10 lists before. His 2013 collaboration with Katatonia’s Jonas Renske, Wisdom of Crowds, was that year’s Album of the Year. He’s also appeared with his group, the Pineapple Thief. But, this is the first time that he’s on here with his solo stuff. Luminescence is such a solid album from beginning to end. If you’re not aware of Soord, but you like Porcupine Tree or Katatonia’s more recent albums, you should check out his work.

“Lie Flat” is my favorite song from Luminescence, but “Dear Life,” “Never Ending Light,” and “Stranded Here” are also good ones.

Like Bruce Soord, Lonesome Wyatt has appeared in my lists before, but not with his solo act. His other band Those Poor Bastards has been in the list of a few times. I’ve found Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks’ albums to be missing something in the past. But, 2023’s Longing For Oblivion is not lacking. It’s got everything that I like from Wyatt’s voice and the style that’s similar enough to Those Poor Bastards, but still distinct.

The albums title track, “Counting,” Walking Shadow,” “Something Out There” and especially “Time Makes Monsters” are the songs that I recommend.

Within Temptation is pretty consistent with their albums. I don’t think that they haven’t been ranked since I’ve been doing these lists and their 2011 album, the Unforgiving, was the Album of the Year. Don’t think that because Bleed Out is ranked 7th that it’s a slacker. It’s a very good album, but it just had better ones ahead of it this year.

Check out “We Go to War,” “Worth Dying For,” and the title track, which I really like.

Another act that is making his debut on my list is Laid Back Country Picker with his album “Go West. Laid Back Country Picker is described as “devoid of genre, pure music with one foot in the truckstop, the other in 1970s guitar rawk. Playing country music and treating people right.” And, I think that’s pretty accurate. From his unique look, his drummer and her unique look, and their unique sound, this was another pleasant suggestion by YouTube.

I recommend the title track, “Cooper,” and “LB’s Truth/Civillian Vic” as songs to search for.

The 9th Best Album of 2023 is from another band making their debut in my list, Love’s Holiday by Oxbow. I’m not certain, but I’m guessing that they were suggested to me by YouTube because they’re on Mike Patton’s Ipecac records. But, regardless of how I discovered them, I’m glad that I did. They’ve been around since 1989 and I may need to go back to and listen to some of their experimental noise.

Some of my favorite songs from Love’s Holiday include the opening track “Dead Ahead,” “The Night the Room Started Burning,” and especially “Lovely Murk.”

The 10th and final spot in my Countdown is one more band that is making their debut in my list, Kings Never Die. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these guys perform live multiple times over the past few years and I’ve seen their evolution from when they started. Their debut full length album All the Rats is a solid hardcore record. But, what do you expect from a band that includes members of Mucky Pup/Dog Eat Dog, Murphy’s Law, Robots & Monsters, Wisdom in Chains, and Biohazard?

Songs that I think really stand out from All the Rats include “Were We Friends at All?,” “Side by Side,” “Stand for it All,” and my favorite song from them “Make Them Anymore.”

There were a lot of good albums in 2023. Some others could easily have been listed in my Top 10. Here is a listing of other albums that came out during the year (in alphabetical order by artist):

– Corey Taylor – CMF2 – I thought this was much better than CMFT. It had more focus and direction.
– The Dark Side of the Moon – Metamorphosis – It got my attention, but didn’t keep it.
– Dave Neabore – Star Feels – A very good EP, but it doesn’t qualify for Album of the Year.
– Depeche Mode – Momento Mori – This was solid, but not great.
– Duff McKagan – Lighthouse – I wasn’t familiar his solo work. I liked this album and will listen to more of his stuff.
– Gov’t Mule – Peace… Like a River – Warren Haynes and crew are always good, but I need more from them if they’re going to crack the Top 10.
– Incendiary Device – Incendiary Device – A decent hardcore album with short songs.
– Invent Animate – Heavener – A good album by a band that I didn’t know before but want to hear more of.
– King Dude – Nursery Rhymes – This was a very interesting and weird album.
– Metallica – 72 Seasons – By Metallica standards, this was good, but not great.
– Orbit Culture – Descent – see Invent Animate
– Steven Wilson – Harmony Codex – Wilson’s solo albums are often more experimental than I can deal with, and after reuniting with Porcupine Tree and releasing album album last year, I want more of the Porcupine Tree sound.
– Terrify – Side Effect – Another good hardcore album.
– Troller – Drain – A dance/electronic band with a goth hint. I’ve heard a few things from them that I’ve liked. I think they’re good to play in the background.

I don’t know who will be releasing albums in 2024 other than Scott H. Biram, IDLES, Ministry, Per Wiberg, and Gost. I also know that Dark Tranquillity and 2016’s Album of Year winner, Lacuna Coil are working on things now. I’m hoping to hear good things from all of acts that I’ve mentioned and I also hope to find a lot of new acts, like I did this year.

A note about eligibility for my 2023 Album of the Year:
– the album must have had a United States release date in 2023.
– the album must be new material (for the band or artist).
– live albums are only eligible if they’re new material.