Stereogum's 10 Best Metal Albums of 2023

Huzzah, the listpocalypse is upon us. Behold, the Black Market is here to confuse and annoy you with the annual list of our favorite metal albums. Column writers, past and present, once again voted for their most-loved releases of 2023. This top 10 is the result. Is your most-loved album here? It is not. Did we list any albums that normal people listen to? Again, probably not. Is this a list so frustratingly niche and packed with impenetrable metal that it asks why we’re even allowed to do this? Yes, of course. In fact, this might be one of our most infuriating countdowns, so much so that the metal powers that be have taken notice. As soon as I sent this list to the Stereogum mothership, I was indicted on 666 counts of poser fraud and must surrender myself to Metal Law authorities immediately. This is what we get for not listening to Tomb Mold.

Published: December 14, 2023 15:51 Source

Rank Album Artist Info
#1 ​Disharmonium - Nahab Blut aus Nord Aug-25-2023, Atmospheric Black Metal
#2 Into Sorrow Evermore Imperium Dekadenz Jan-20-2023, Atmospheric Black Metal
#3 Objects Without Pain Great Falls Sep-15-2023, Sludge Metal
#4 Agonal Hymns Nithing Jun-13-2023, Brutal Death Metal
#5 Inevitable Summer Haze '99 Apr-14-2023, Blackgaze
#6 Unus Mundus Patet Jute Gyte Sep-05-2023, Black Metal
#7 Makeshift Crematoria Trichomoniasis Jun-13-2023, Brutal Death Metal
#8 Úpal Kostnatění May-26-2023, Black Metal
#9 Out for Blood Shadows May-19-2023, Heavy Metal
#10 Meanders Anachronism Jan-27-2023, Dissonant Death Metal
Markdown

| Rank | Album | Artist | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ​Disharmonium - Nahab | Blut aus Nord | Album, Aug-25-2023, Atmospheric Black Metal |
| #2 | Into Sorrow Evermore | Imperium Dekadenz | Album, Jan-20-2023, Atmospheric Black Metal |
| #3 | Objects Without Pain | Great Falls | Album, Sep-15-2023, Sludge Metal |
| #4 | Agonal Hymns | Nithing | Album, Jun-13-2023, Brutal Death Metal |
| #5 | Inevitable | Summer Haze '99 | Album, Apr-14-2023, Blackgaze |
| #6 | Unus Mundus Patet | Jute Gyte | Album, Sep-05-2023, Black Metal |
| #7 | Makeshift Crematoria | Trichomoniasis | Album, Jun-13-2023, Brutal Death Metal |
| #8 | Úpal | Kostnatění | Album, May-26-2023, Black Metal |
| #9 | Out for Blood | Shadows | Album, May-19-2023, Heavy Metal |
| #10 | Meanders | Anachronism | Album, Jan-27-2023, Dissonant Death Metal |