I recently re-discovered metalcore, deathcore and some death metal. I used to not like those styles, but now I've become more tolerant, and I've learned to love some bands, that's why I chose some of those albums. The rest of my selections are made up of the classic sounds I like, glam, hard rock and classic heavy metal.
These are my top 10 albums for This Day In Metal, in no particular order.
Insomnium - Anno 1696
The Finnish melodic death metal band released their ninth studio album, Anno 1696, on February 24, 2023. This work is based on a story that their singer and bassist Niilo Sevänen wrote about witches. Heavy, but melodic at times. Nordic inspired, with acoustic guitars and some female choirs. Growls, good riffs and guitar solos. Atmospheric, with doom elements that help in the narration of these songs while forming a concept album.
Chelsea Grin - Suffer in Heaven
Chelsea Grin is an American deathcore band. Suffer in Heaven is their seventh studio album. Released on March 17, 2023, as a sequel to their previous album, Suffer In Hell. Aggressive and heavy album, with growls and symphonic elements that add a blackened death metal vibe in places.
August Burns Red - Death Below
August Burns Red is an American metalcore band. Death Below is their tenth studio album. It was released on March 24, 2023. Heavy music and growls intertwined with moments of clean vocals, calm melodic parts, and even some progressive components.
Måneskin - Rush!
Måneskin is an Italian rock band. This is their third album, Rush!, released on January 20, 2023. They mix alternative rock. Glam and even a little punk. Super energetic album, with fun visuals and videos.
L.A. Guns - Black Diamonds
The kings of sleazy '80s glam metal are back with this album, released April 14, 2023.
Their new work comes after many lineup changes, legal battles and different versions of the band. But a couple of years ago, singer Phil Lewis and guitarist Tracii Guns got their magic back together and continue making good music.
They are one of my favorite bands, from the glam years. Super underrated. This new album is pure rock & roll, with some strong Led Zeppelin influences on some songs and great solos from Tracii Guns, proving that they can still deliver.
The 69 Eyes - Death Of Darkness
The 69 Eyes is a Finnish gothic rock and roll band. They have existed since 1989 and this work is their 14th studio album, which was released on April 21, 2023.
Dark, gothic rock & roll with the deep vocals of Jyrki 69. I love this type of music, so I really enjoyed the album.
Atreyu - The Beautiful Dark Of Life
American metalcore band. The Beautiful Dark Of Life is their ninth studio album, released on December 8, 2023. This work developed over the year into three EPs.
I know they were heavier before, but I liked this new sound, with clean vocals, good guitar solos and riffs. A couple of growls, but overall a softer sound, almost hard rock with even some electronic sounds.
Winger - Seven
Winger is an American rock band formed in the late 1980s, a decade in which they achieved enormous popularity with hits like “Seventeen.”
Seven is their seventh studio album, released on May 5, 2023.
Although they were made fun of for a long time on the show Beavis and Butthead, because Stewart, the nerdy kid, wore all the time a Winger t-shirt. They deserve their good popularity, for writing bangers and having amazing musicians.
I have been a fan of the band for a long time and this album brings a more hard rock sound. With the return of their former guitarist and keyboardist, Paul Taylor, they are now a band of three guitarists, with John Roth and Reb Beach.
Reb Beach, on the guitar solos, brings a lot of soul and emotion to the songs, as he always does. The only thing different on this album, I would say, is that Kip Winger's voice has aged a bit and has gotten a little hoarse now. But at least for me that is not a problem, since it gives a more mature air to the songs, with a blues feeling.
Periphery - Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre
Periphery is an American progressive metal band. They released their seventh studio album, Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre on March 10, 2023. It is a full-length album, with long tracks, but entertaining because they add many rhythms and ingredients to the formula.
The main style is progressive metal, with clean and harsh vocals, which also has elements of jazz, including a saxophone in “Wildfire” and classical interludes in other songs.
The album is super complete and complex, with a video game feel and visuals in some songs and videos, like in “Atropos”.
Doro - Conqueress - Forever Strong & Proud
The Queen of Metal Doro Pesch is back with Conqueress - Forever Strong & Proud, Doro's 14th solo studio album. It was released on October 27, 2023.
The German singer was the leader of the heavy metal band Warlock in the 80s, and since then she began a very prolific solo career with many good albums and constant tours, continuing to make classic heavy metal music.
This album consists of original songs, a couple of covers and some featuring musicians such as Rob Halford of the English heavy metal band Judas Priest and Sammy Amara of the German punk rock band Broilers.
