Now that 2023 is coming to a close, we at Tuonela Magazine want to share the releases that we have most enjoyed. Each of our staff members will share their own list, so here is the list of Bear Wiseman…
While many of the rest of the staff are rolling around in new releases like Scrooge McDuck in a tower of coins, I’ve admittedly been feeling myself less and less interested in new music since the pandemic got under control. It seems like most acts either got their material out before the pandemic or pushed it out during, leaving only a few bands in the fortunate position of being able to release music post-pandemic. As well, despite having branched out a lot, I find myself less and less impressed with heavy metal these days (unless it’s MERTA). All of the internationally famous bands that I know and love, I’ve mostly seen already (and probably more than a few times), and their new releases seem to be, for the most part, rehashes of things they’ve done before, so even my old favorites aren’t quite doing it for me these days. The Finnish scene, in particular, is heavily oversaturated, as the number of bands per capita seem to be creating a situation where there are too many quality bands and the capitalistic horrors of society make it so fewer and fewer people have enough money to go to shows. In a world where there is more music to enjoy and see live than ever, I find myself less and less inclined to use my time on it. So, it goes without saying, that whoever has made it onto these lists has impressed me deeply! Shall we delve into it?
Top 10 International Albums
10. Lombolo – Här och Där
9. Delain – Dark Waters
8. Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution – Golden Age of Music
7. Ozric Tentacles – Lotus Unfolding
6. Vexed – Negative Energy
5. Suasion – The Infinite
4. Within Temptation – Bleed Out
3. Eva Under Fire – Love, Drugs, Misery (deluxe edition)*
2. The Cog Is Dead – Incognito: Cog Covers, vol. 2
1. Asking Alexandria – Where Do We Go from Here?
*This album technically was released in 2022 but the deluxe edition came out in 2023 and I only discovered it this year, so…
Read more: REVIEW: Delain – Dark Waters, Interview with Delain, REVIEW: Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution – Golden Age of Music, REVIEW: Vexed – Negative Energy, Interview with Vexed, REVIEW: Suasion – The Infinite, Interview with Within Temptation, REVIEW: Within Temptation – Bleed Out, SONG OF THE DAY: The Cog Is Dead – The World Outside (Is Gonna Be the Death of Me), REVIEW: Asking Alexandria – Where Do We Go from Here?
Top 10 Finnish Albums
10. Silver Bullet – Shadowfall
9. Warmen – Here for None
8. Vorna – Aamunkoi
7. Psychework – Spark of Hope
6. Vansidian – Reflecting the Shadows
5. Dyecrest – Once I Had a Heart
4. From Grotto – Monuments of Our Time
3. GG Caravan – Instrumental
2. Game Music Collective – RESTART (Instrumental Game Music)
1. Pihka Is My Name – Caller Unknown
Read more: REVIEW: Silver Bullet – Shadowfall, Interview with Silver Bullet, REVIEW: Warmen – Here For None, Interview with Warmen, REVIEW: Psychework – Spark of Hope, REVIEW: Vansidian – Reflecting the Shadows, REVIEW: Dyecrest – Once I Had a Heart, REVIEW: From Grotto – Monuments of Our Time, REVIEW: GG Caravan – Instrumental, REVIEW: Game Music Collective – Restart, REVIEW: Pihka Is My Name – Caller Unknown, Interview with Pihka Is My Name
Top 3 EPs
Some of these might be considered extended singles, rather than EPs, but nevertheless…
3. Moldova – Wilderness
2. Ilmarinen – Gold
1. Classless Act – Classless Act Does Bowie
Read more: SONG OF THE DAY: Classless Act – Storm Before the Calm ft. DMC
Top 5 International Songs
5. The Cog Is Dead – The World Outside (Is Gonna Be the Dead of Me)
4. Ozric Tentacles – Lotus Unfolding
3. Asking Alexandria – Where Do We Go from Here?
2. Machinae Supremacy – WARRIORS pt. 1 (Final Stage)
1. Eva Under Fire – Unstoppable ft. Cory Marks
Read more: SONG OF THE DAY: The Cog Is Dead – The World Outside (Is Gonna Be the Death of Me), REVIEW: Asking Alexandria – Where Do We Go from Here?
Top 5 Finnish Songs
5. Let It All Burn – Closure Will Prevail
4. Pihka Is My Name – Exponential Potential
3. Ember Falls – Avalon
2. Game Music Collective – Let Me Save You ft. Helena Haaparanta
1. Kalle Laakso – Ember Waltz
Read more: REVIEW: Pihka Is My Name – Caller Unknown, PREMIERE: Ember Falls – Avalon; A Farewell to Ember Falls (2015-2023), REVIEW: Game Music Collective – Restart
Top 5 Cover Art
5. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – PetroDraconic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation
4. Classless Act – Classless Act Does Bowie
3. Game Music Collective – RESTART
2. Ozric Tentacles – Lotus Unfolding
1. Kalle Laakso – Abeona
Best Collaboration
Local: The Game Music Collective ft. Helena Haaparanta – Let Me Save You
International: Eva Under Fire ft. Cory Marks – Unstoppable
Best Concert
Local (metal): Frozen Factory @ Lepakkomies (July 16th)
Local (non-metal): Pihka Is My Name @ Koko Teatteri (October 24th)
International: Ayreon – Live Beneath the Waves @ 013 Poppodium (September 16th)
Festival (metal): Dark River Festival
Festival (non-metal): Kosmos Festival
Read more: 24.10.2023 Jekaterina X & Pihka Is My Name @ Koko Teatteri, Helsinki, 16.9.2023 Ayreon: Live Beneath the Waves @ Poppodium 013, Tilburg, GALLERY: 16.9.2023 Ayreon: Live Beneath the Waves @ Poppodium 013, Tilburg, 10.8.2023 Dark River Festival – Day 1 @ Honkalan Hiihtostadion, Kotka
Most Promising Act
2. Let It All Burn
1. Merta
Top 5 Best Last-Minute Songs
5. Bruce Dickinson – Afterglow of Ragnarok
4. Moldova – Treasury of the Sacred Metals
3. Everwave – Lo Res City
2. Johanna von Hertzen – Ihana lutka
1. Helena Haaparanta – Harmaahaikara
Read more: FEATURED SINGLE: Johanna von Hertzen – Ihana lutka
Top 5 Most Anticipated Releases of 2024
5. Nightwish
4. Blame Me!
3. The Cog Is Dead
2. Luna Kills
1. Merta
Want to share your lists with us? Comment below with your lists.
The whole Tuonela Magazine team wishes you an inspirational 2024 filled with a lot of new music to discover. We hope to see you back next year!
