Mostly Metal's Favorites 2023

Since this year's coming to a close, I'd like to share a selection of 30 releases that got a lot of playing time at Mostly Metal's headquarter over the past months - for different reasons, but all brightened my days in an incredible way. Some artists impressed with their technical skills or mesmerized me with beautiful melodies, others offered a great time while rocking out to their music, and some of these albums caught me in this special way as only music can do.

How about some fun facts? ;-) Among these, you can find:

  • Three EPs
  • Four instrumental releases
  • Eight debut records 
  • Eight bands are from the USA, three from Sweden, two each live in Canada, Denmark, Italy, and Israel

Welcome to check them out, maybe you find something new for your listening pleasure you missed so far. There's always a link to Bandcamp or a Linktree, and in case I wrote a review or did an interview, you'll find a hint for it too.

Dive in, have fun \m/


THE ANCHORET (AOTY2023)

It All Began With Loneliness

June 23rd, 2023

Canada / International

An expressive masterpiece, unique in its sound, incredibly creative yet always flowing

Bandcamp / Interview / Review


NOSPUN

Opus

May 19th, 2023

USA

Outstanding Progmetal debut with an incredibly dynamic and varied kind of musical storytelling

Bandcamp / Interview


BLACKSCAPE

Suffocated by the Sun

July 7th, 2023

Sweden

A new trio on the Metal scenery, who unleashed this mighty, beautiful beast

Website / Review / Interview


OBSIDIAN TIDE

The Grand Crescendo

Israel

September 29th, 2023

With their 2nd album, the Progressive Melodeath trio evolved their sound in a wonderful way

Bandcamp / Review


DISSONA

Dreadfully Distinct

USA

November 10th, 2023

The Chicago based Progmetal band offer three splendid, Blade Runner related tracks

Bandcamp / Review


ENOCH ROOT

Delusion

February 19th, 2023

USA

A marvelous, touching record, telling about a man whose fate was decided for him at birth

Bandcamp / Interview


MASK OF PROSPERO

Hiraeth

January 27th, 2023

Greece

Modern Progmetal from Greece, intense, expressive, and highly emotional

Bandcamp / Review


NEVERUS

Burdens of the Earth

April 21st, 2023

Netherlands

This debut is some serious listening fun, offering Majestic Death Metal

Bandcamp / Interview / Review


A Flying Fish

El Pez Que Voló - ACT I

Mexico

November 3rd, 2023

A musical quest to unearth the divine gem hidden within oneself, and a special piece of art

Bandcamp


TURRIGENOUS

Vesper, The Evening Star

March 14th, 2023

USA

The Progmetal four-piece skillfully melt a wide range of styles to tell an epic story

Bandcamp / Interview


SCAR SYMMETRY

The Singularity (Phase II - Xenotaph)

June 9th, 2023

Sweden

Highly addictive melting pot of catchiness, guitar virtuosity, and mighty riffs

Linktree


THE ARCANE ORDER

Distortions From Cosmogony

June 9th, 2023

Denmark

The Danish Extreme Metal act transfers Greek myths into our current times - Brutal and relentless

Bandcamp / Review


OMNEROD

The Amensal Rise

May 12th, 2023

Belgium

Omnerod deliver the full spectrum from mind blowing craziness to melodious beauty

Bandcamp / Interview


MOON SAFARI

Himlabacken Vol.2

December 8th, 2023

Sweden

If there would be a blueprint for "Happy Progrock", it had to be this album 

Bandcamp


THE RESONANCE PROJECT

Ad Astra

February 24th, 2023

USA

A gorgeous, diverse masterpiece of Orchestral Fusion Metal

Bandcamp


DGM

Life

Italy

November 17th, 2023

With "Life", the Italian quintet share their most mature album to date

Website / Review


CHARLES SOULZ PROJECT

Trilogy of Mankind

Brazil

November 24th, 2023

The keyboard wizard takes us from humanity's beginning to a dystopian future

Bandcamp / Interview / Review


ATRIA

Ground Zero

Canada

August 18th, 2023

Mind blowing, modern Progmetal, expressing the anger about the world we live in

Bandcamp / Review


ROGER STAFFELBACH

The Quest

May 12th, 2023

Switzerland / International

On his first solo album, the Swiss guitar wizard offers finest Instrumental, Neoclassical Prog

Bandcamp / Review


TEMIC

Terror Management Theory

Norway / International

November 17th, 2023

An impressive debut featuring some in the Progressive scene well-known faces

Bandcamp


EARTHSIDE

Let the Truth Speak

USA

November 17th, 2023

The Cinematic proggers paint marvelous sound pictures for our ears

Bandcamp / Review


STRUCTURAL

Decrowned

June 23rd, 2023

Israel

An album with well-balanced sound textures by a band that skillfully melt brutality and melody

Bandcamp / Review


NOVERIA

The Gates of the Underworld

August 25th, 2023

Italy

With their 4th album, the Italian Powermetal quintet deliver another genre highlight

Bandcamp / Review


IGNEA

Dreams of Lands Unseen

April 28th, 2023

Ukraine

Mighty third record by the Ukrainian masters of musical story-telling

Bandcamp


MARTIN MILLER

Maze of My Mind

March 31st, 2023

Germany

A wonderful, melodious piece about the challenging journey to become a better self

Bandcamp / Review


ABEL SEQUERA

Soundscapes

March 3rd, 2023

Spain / International

Together with 50! guests, the Spanish drummer & composer takes us on a mesmerizing journey

Website / Review


SYLVATICA

Cadaver Synod

Denmark

October 20th, 2023

On their third album, the Progressive Melodeath band take us to the dark Middle Ages

Bandcamp / Review / Interview


THE WISDOM TREE

A Day Without a Yesterday

USA

November 15th, 2023

A beautiful debut offering Instrumental Prog with some jazzy and classical influences

Bandcamp / Review


ÆOLIAN

Echoes of the Future

Spain

November 10th, 2023

The Mallorcan Melodic Death Metal band close their great, thought-provoking trilogy

Bandcamp / Review


WITCH RIPPER

The Flight After the Fall

March 3rd, 2023

USA

A crazy, space-themed story, great musicianship, and a proggy approach hidden under a sludge tag

Bandcamp / Review / Interview


Thanks for following my picks till the end :-) 

This eoty selection comes along with my great appreciation towards those who gave these musical treasures a chance to be discovered with their posts, recos, promos, reviews, and inspiring discussions.

A special shout-out to all who followed my journey here from the beginning, and a warm welcome to those who joined us along the way, hope you enjoyed the ride so far.  Your feedback and support means a lot!

And of course: horns up for the bands and artists! Thank you for the music from the bottom of my heart \m/