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By the time we were done waving 2022 goodbye with all its annual charts, reviews and festivities, 2023 was already upon us, delivering another crushing wave of killer singles, albums, EPs, reissues and everything inbetween for a truly magnificient new Quarter. This one felt even more difficult, but as usual, check out my personal top 20 singles that defined the past three months and set the tone for the whole period.
20. Frostbite Orckings - 'Guardians of Time'
You know I am all up for authenticity, originality, live performances, and all that, but simply couldn't ignore the potentially historic game-changer that is the first official AI-generated band Frostbite Orckings, kickstarting the Metalverse with this proper melodeath anthem.
19. Siamese - 'The Shape of Water' (ft. Aaron Matts)
Following their flawless 2021 record Home, Danish heroes Siamese just made a fantastic return with their latest single 'The Shape of Water', teaming up with Aaron Matts from ten56. and laying the groundwork for what will certainly be another stellar offering.
18. HARDY - 'RADIO SONG' (ft. Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember)
At first sight this might be the odd one out here, but HARDY's latest record The Mockingbird & the Crow caused quite the stir and gave us the glorious witty country-core banger 'RADIO SONG', unleasing the legend that is A Day To Remember's Jeremy McKinnon.
17. Gideon - 'MORE POWER. MORE PAIN'
Groovy, raw and uncompromising as ever, melodic hardcore giants Gideon finally dropped their fantastic latest record MORE POWER. MORE PAIN.
16. Invent Animate - 'Immolation Of Night'
Taken from Invent Animate's unmissable latest opus Heavener, 'Immolation Of Night' is just one of the countless unforgettable moments across their visionary journey.
15. Crown The Empire - 'DOGMA'
With their upcoming fifth LP Dogma coming this April, Texas powerhouse Crown The Empire really raised the bar with a series of killer promo singles, culminating in the album's title track and video.
14. Rising Insane - 'Drag Me Under'
Yet to get the reckognition they so deserve, German underground powerhouse Rising Insane reminded us just how good they really are with 'Drag Me Under' laying the groundwork for their upcoming album release later this year.
13. The Amity Afflication - 'It's Hell Down Here'
Almost fifteenth years since their thunderous debut, Aussie legends The Amity Affliction are already working on their upcoming eight LP Not Without My Ghost, teasing some outstanding bangers like their latest 'It's Hell Down Here'.
12. August Burns Red - 'Backfire'
Never one to slow down, August Burns Red continued their unstoppable charge to metalcore immortality with yet another unmissable album Death Below stacked with signature riff-led ragers like 'Backfire'.
11. Currents - 'Remember Me'
Gradually shaping their hugely anticipated third record The Death We Seek scheduled for May, Currents dropped yet another magnificent teaser showcasing everything we have learned to love about them in 'Remember Me'.
10. In Flames - 'Meet Your Maker'
In Flames never really went anywhere to make an actual comeback, but 'Meet Your Maker' is hands down the most complete melodeath single in over a decade, and a highest point in the otherwise great Foregone.
9. Bury Tomorrow - 'Heretic' (ft. Loz Taylor from While She Sleeps)
Heavily teased as one of this year's AOTY, Bury Tomorrow's latest offering The Seventh Sun more than delivered on the hype, boasting a stellar collection of standalone bangers like 'Heretic' featuring the beast that is While She Sleeps' very own Loz Taylor.
8. Earth Caller - 'Parasite' (ft. Jack Bergin from Void Of Vision)
Steadily marching forward and demolishing everything in their path, Earth Caller and Misstiq teamed up with fellow Aussie legionary Jack Bergin (Void of Vision) for the truly unmissable post-apocalyptic anthem 'Parasite'.
7. ten56. - 'Saiko'
Uncompromising as always, ten56. delivered the crushing Downer Part 2 EP, the perfect continuation of their 2021 debut and an effort perfectly summarised with the disarming swagger and sheer power of 'Saiko'.
6. Imminence - 'Jaded'
A previously discarded gem from the beautiful Heaven In Hiding (Deluxe Edition), 'Jaded' is a powerful reminder that Imminence easily make some of the most beautiful music across the entire metal scene right now.
5. The Devil Wears Prada - 'Reaching'
The straight-up impecable Color Decay was my personal Allbum of The Year for 2022 and the legends in The Devil Wears Prada are already dropping some bonus unreleased bangers, starting with 'Reaching' and teasing an exclusive deluxe album version on its way.
4. Brand Of Sacrifice - 'Dynasty'
Brand of Sacrifice unleased the Demon King Kyle Anderson and his infernal choir of creepy children yet again in the majestic indsutrialised core brilliance of 'DYNASTY', going for the deathcore title in 2023 and teasing their upcoming Between Death and Dreams EP.
3. Kingdom Of Giants - 'Wasted Space'
At long last, cult heroes Kingdom Of Giants made a phenomenal return to prime form with the outstanding single 'Wasted Space', their first new release since the criminally underrated masterpiece Passenger from 2020.
2. Falling In Reverse - 'Watch The World Burn'
Quickly becoming a viral worldwide sensation, 'Watch The World Burn' will certainly remain one of this entire year's unrivaled climaxes and a signature Ronnie Radke and Falling In Reverse modern audio-visual spectacle for the history books.
1. Sleep Token - 'The Summoning'
Without a shadow of a doubt and despite all the phenomenal releases listed above, Quarter 1 of 2023 easily belonged to Sleep Token; dropping five insane singles with 'The Summoning' arguably the cherry on the cake, and laying the path for their hugely anticipated Take Me Back To Eden in May.
As usual, check all these bands and tracks, alongside many others in the 'Modern Metal' and 'Alternative 2023' playlists on Spotify, both updated weekly with the freshest new releases across the entire metal scene and beyond.
The Most Anticipated Records For Quarter 2:
Rise Of The Northstar - Showdown (Atomic Fire), 7 Apr
From Fall To Spring - DRAW THE LINE (Arising Empire), 14 Apr
Enter Shikari - A Kiss for the Whole World (Self/Ambush Reality), 21 Apr
As Everything Unfolds - Ultraviolet (Long Branch), 21 Apr
Brand of Sacrifice - Between Death and Dreams EP (Self), 21 Apr
Crown The Empire - DOGMA (Rise Records), 28 Apr
Currents - The Death We Seek (Sharptone), 5 May
Dead Like Juliet - Stand Defient (Self), 5 May
The Amity Affliction - Not Without My Ghosts (Pure Noise), 12 May
Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden (Spinefarm), 19 May
Wildcard: Linkin Park - 'Fighting Myself' & 'Lost'
This one hardly needs an introduction, with both "new" old singles 'Fighting Myself' and 'Lost' really taking us 20 years ago in Linkin Park's glorious Meteora era. RIP Chester!
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