the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2023

Rock music continues to be one of the last vestiges of picking up instruments and playing songs the artist has written.  With metal having a more loyal market, it feels like less straight-up rock music is coming out, but then again it's not something I always look for. There is a very specific feel of moodiness, melody, and underlying mental health issues I seek out from rock music, and these albums touch on varied corners of that sound.  After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2023. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Rock albums of 2023.

10-Vulture Industries- "Ghosts From the Past"

This Norwegian band strips away some of the darkness and most of the metal to reach a  middle road with their post-COVID comeback.  This allows them to create the space to establish melodies. There is a slight hint of the Northern European folk history of their homeland creeping into

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/vulture-industries-ghosts-from-past.html

 

9-Iggy Pop-"Every Loser"

At the ripe age of 75 Iggy Pop released his 20th album.  Duff Mckagan helps him out along with enlisting a who's who of rock royalty to collaborate with, featuring members of Jane's Addiction, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam. Pop described this album as geared to beat the shit out of the listener, but employs more of the cool and collected hints of his 80s new wave past. Which still works really well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/01/iggy-pop-every-loser.html

8-Buckcherry-"VOL 10"

They kick things off with more of a down-home bluesy swagger that they take in more of a party direction that retains the anthemic charm of their previous hits. They have stripped things down to the bare basics, closer to what they did on the first album, with none of the radio aspirations that fueled some albums. Lets fact it those aspirations worked pretty well as there were a couple of songs that did gain a great deal of radio play. Thus making me respect their self-awareness when it comes to where they stand in the bigger picture of the music industry. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/buckcherry-vol10.html

7- Twin Temple -"God is Dead"

This Duo from California returns with their "Satanic" doo-wop. The band claimed their debut album dropped back in 2019 was recorded in a day and a half, live with only two or three takes. If that is the case then this album only took half a day. There is a rawer sound to what unfolds here, though more orchestration, and arrangements that recall Phil Spector's "wall of sound". They are true to the era they are paying homage to, The way they nailed the sound this time with the lo-fi production that still allows the vocals to stand out, takes the sting out of the lyrics, as this could fit on a Sirrus radio oldies station and almost go unnoticed. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/gothtober-twin-temple-god-is-dead.html

6-Alice Cooper-"Road"

The 29th album from this legend finds the Coop keeping it real and recording this one live in the studio with his touring band. Done with minimal overdubs, Alice sounds great and the opening track  "I'm Alice" makes it clear at 75, his voice remains where he needs it to be. The songs wink heavily at his classic sound from the 70s, sometimes almost recycling the riffs.  Often lyrically self-indulgent abragging about how great his band is live.  If this was done by anyone else it would not work as well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/08/alice-cooper-road.html

 

5-Tigercub- "The Perfume of Decay"

This trio from England plays a glammed-out style of rock that feels like a darker, more androgynous take on what Muse does. This is displayed on the title track opens the album. A trickle of angle guitar cascades of the groove, as the vocals coo over it all. They work more of tense groove rather than feeling the need to glitter-bomb everything with grandiose choruses. The choruses are highly melodic and hooky enough to draw you in. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/tigercub-perfume-of-decay.html

4-LA Guns -"Black Diamonds"

As long as both Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns are on board then I am fine with LA Guns. This album finds them continuing to kick ass while their arena-packing peers are fat floundering fools. If these guys can still do it with dignity then we should be expecting the same from the Motley Crues of the world. They open this album with a more Zeppelin-like groove. At 66 Phil Lewis sounds incredible. They stay true to the era they are from, while not sounding dated. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/la-guns-black-diamonds.html

3-The Menzingers-"Some of it Was True"

They set the bar really high for themselves on "Hello Exile", its country leanings carried a convincing twang. This time the slick production has toned down some of the edges with these punk bar anthems. Lyrically it retains the charm of albums past.  They reach a new level of songwriting with tons of conviction poured into the voice of Greg Barnett, which has both the quiver of nervous vibrato and the more punk snarl to punch out the songs' accents.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-menzingers-some-of-it-was-true.html

2-Rolling Stones -"Hackney Diamonds"

This is the Stones's 26th album. They are arguably the greatest rock band ever.  However, this legacy gets threatened with every album they decide to drag their career out with. Keith is having to adapt his playing around his arthritis. Richards is 79, and Jagger is 80. Supplemented by producer Andrew Watt, who helped write three songs. The Jagger / Richards songwriting machine keeps rolling. Don Was who makes more sense for the band than the pop producer Watt, who has also worked with Iggy Pop and Ozzy. Jagger sounds more youthful than any other 80-year-old could ever dream. I guess that deal with the Devil he made worked out wonderfully. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-rolling-stones-hackney-diamonds.html

1-Queens of the Stoneage - "In New Times Roman..."

This album has a weird vibe that takes multiple listens to wrap your ears around. At casual listen all the key elements are in place, though perhaps due to the almost too pristine production.  Homme's vocals are in his normal cadence, but the highly compressed guitars have odd effects on them.  Though not a huge departure for the band, it perhaps does not rely on grooves as heavily as "Villains". The tripped-out jams are entertaining. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/queens-of-stone-age-in-new-times-roman.html

The Top 10 Rock Albums of 2023 so far

As the Doomsday Clock races, time speeds up, finding  2023 already at it's midpoint. These  lists serve as a decent snap shot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received  promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my in-box, so they are really going to need to bring it in order to compete with the top five albums on this list. Rock is being defined here as  basically anything that is not metal, pop, or goth. It might be a little darker or heavier than what you listen to , so we are going by my definition since yours's can't be trusted. 

"But wait that is M....,"

Shut up... in 2023 if you are not bringing it at least as hard as Pantera , it's not metal .We are in a darker and heavier world so the soundtrack even when it is only rock n roll, should still fit the times.  I have included links to full review if you want to check these out and with all that said here are the top 10 Rock albums of 2023 so far. 

10- LA Guns - "Black Diamonds" 

 As long as both Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns are on board then I am fine with LA Guns. This album finds them  continuing to kick ass while their arena packing peers are fat floundering fools. If these guys can still do it with dignity then we should be expecting the same from the Motley Crues of the world. They open this album with a more Zeppelin like groove. At 66 Phil Lewis sounds incredible. They stay true to the era they are from, while not sounding dated .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/la-guns-black-diamonds.html

9-Riverside -"ID. Entity" 

This album is very impressive and not too prog for its own good. These guys remember that they  are songwriters first and foremost. They are also songwriters with something to say that goes a long way with me. More speculation than shredding is a lesson todays prog bands could learn from. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/01/riverside-id-entity.html

 8-Tigercub- "the Perfume of Decay" 

This trio from England plays a glammed out style of rock that feels like a darker , more androgynous take on what Muse does. This is displayed on the title track opens the album. A trickle of angle guitar cascades of the groove, as the vocals coo over it all. They work more of tense groove rather than feeling the need to glitter bomb everything with grandiose choruses

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/tigercub-perfume-of-decay.html

 

7-Narrowhead- "Moments of Clarity"

Now  this band coats their songs with the glaze of shoegaze . The vocals are more introspective. The title track has a harder syncopated jangle, as they remind you, they did not leave their distortion pedals at home. The vocal lines pack a hookier punch hookier, as their song writing has been sharpened this time around. They use a similar formula, but with more dynamic ebb and flow 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/narrow-head-moments-of-clarity.html

  6- Queens of the Stone Age - "In New Times Roman..." 

The band does what they to well, though upon a  casual listen all the key elements are in place , though  perhaps due to the almost too pristine production, they sit weird together. Homme's vocals are in his normal cadence, but the highly compressed guitars have odd effects on them.  Though not a huge departure for the band, it perhaps does not rely on grooves as heavily as "Villains" .  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/06/queens-of-stone-age-in-new-times-roman.html

  5-healthyliving- "Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief"

Bringing together musicians from Scotland , Germany and Spain, this trio kicks up an impressive melancholic brand of driving rock that borders on metal. This keen sense of dynamics is what I listen for in music from all genres. The stark alto of Amaya is expressive. While  she is not a Siouxsie clone, you can hear traces of that influence. She proves to be a powerful singer capable of belting it out as needed.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/healthyliving-songs-of-abundance-psalms.html

4-Deathvalley Girls- "Islands in the Sky" 

This album is darker than their previous once ,as the band firmly adheres to creating astounding layers of sounds, but still serving the songs with them. They combine the 60s pop ballad feel with their more psychedelic pondering  creates something closer to Siouxsie and the Banshees than you might expect. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/death-valley-girls-islands-in-sky.html

   

3-Royal Thunder- "Rebuilding the Table" 

It's been seven years since their last album and the band went through some personal shit before returning reconfigured with drummer Adam Diprima back in the fold.  They can not be accused of doing more of the same and the lengthy break brought a fresh coat of sonic musing to the table. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/05/royal-thunder-rebuilding-mountain.html
 

 

2- Metallica- "72 Seasons" 

Sure there is  is some recycling and clock punching, to keep it from being perfect, but if you are a Metallica fan and wish the "Black Album' was more metal and power ballad free then this album is for you. It's fun which has earned it repeat listens . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/04/metallica-72-seasons.html

1-Spotlights - "Alchemy for the Dead" 

 This trio's sound has continued to evolve, as it not places them some where between the shoe gazing side of post-hardcore and sludge. This album  gets better with each listen, and the shadows of it's mood seep into your head.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2023/03/spotlights-alchemy-for-dead.html

Tigercub : "the Perfume of Decay"

 

This trio from England plays a glammed out style of rock that feels like a darker , more androgynous take on what Muse does. This is displayed on the title track opens the album. A trickle of angle guitar cascades of the groove, as the vocals coo over it all. They work more of tense groove rather than feeling the need to glitter bomb everything with grandiose choruses. The chorus are highly melodic and hooky enough draw you in. The bass player favors off holding the songs down with a similar fuzzed out progression. The lyrics ponder broader abstractions . I would not call their playing aggressive but it does have drive. They occupy the forgotten middle ground of rock music. 

Led Zeppelin is a subtle influence in how they ride grooves, which is more effective than what a band like Greta Van Fleet does. You can also hear some Queens of the Stoneage in the way the vocals are uttered in a detached drugged out fashion. They switch things into a taunt syncopation for 'Swoon" that flirts with hard rock while being more atmospheric.  The arrangements are interesting as they are gradually built upon, while the guitar does weirdness over the collision of bass and drums. They clearly what a formula to what they are doing as even the variations begin to carry similar cadences that causes 'the Dark Below" to feel like, a continuation of the previous song. 

They work off of what bands in the late 90s did and dress it up in a shiny coat of OxyContin. "Your My Dopamine" is dynamic and well done, but finds the sonic colors they use to be much like ones we have heard earlier in the album. "We're A Long Time Gone" changes things up with more of an Elliot Smith vibe. The continue to add the colors on "It Hurts When Your Around" that goes from a Brit pop introspection to building into a heavier chorus. The vocals always stick to their croon and belt balls out to convey anger. When screaming does occur it is obscured in the mix behind a wall of overdriven patches. They end the album with a dreamy ballad. I will give this album a 9 because of the often uniform formula to their sound, but this is good stuff and occupies a space between Queens of the Stoneage and Muse, that fans of both will appreciate, while doing their own thing.