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 our editor-in-chief, Laureline Tilkin.
Life as an editor-in-chief of a metal webzine can be truly fascinating, the amount of digital promos that make it to my email inbox daily is immense, and yet, every year I have to condense an entire year of discovering new music and listening to many great gems to a list of 10. It is my own fault, however, I make the decisions here, yet it’s crucial to pause, reflect, and recognize the expansive musical landscape covered throughout the year.
In addition to curating our staff’s annual picks, we take pride in showcasing many other lists, aiming to include a diverse array of releases. For those eager to discover more music, I encourage you to browse through our webzine in the weeks to come or revisit some of the reviews we’ve published throughout the year. You’ll be surprised by the multitude of bands that have contributed new music for us to enjoy.
If I had to characterize 2023, I would most likely call it The Year of the Prog. The sheer volume of releases that captivated me, including juggernauts like HAKEN, SLEEP TOKEN, TESSERACT, RIVERSIDE, and hidden gems like THE ANCHORET or OMNEROD, made it an exceptional year. Some bands produced albums so remarkable that they would have secured spots if there were an 11th place—YES, EARTHSIDE, UNPROCESSED, NOSPŪN, TEMIC, DAMNATION PLAN, KATATONIA, SOEN, SILENT SKIES—the list is endless. If this year was anything, it definitely was the Sophie’s Choice of list-making in metal music and I almost sense a collective disappointment from the community in various aspects for not being able to include some kick-ass acts.
Despite the challenges within the prog sphere, there were outstanding melodeath releases, crowned by the return of WARMEN. Finland, in particular, showcased remarkable talent, with offerings like I AM YOUR GOD‘s sophomore album, INSOMNIUM, SUOTANA, MARIANAS REST, and BLOODRED HOURGLASS.
Professionally, 2023 brought a year filled with crossing items off my bucket list, while personally, it carried its own baggage. Music emerged as a healing force, helping me navigate through it all. Certain albums, such as VEXED‘s “Negative Energy,” played a therapeutic role. If 2024 unfolds with even half the musical richness of 2023, it promises to be an excellent year! Happy New Year, everyone!
Top 10 International albums
Read more: REVIEW: Vexed – Negative Energy, REVIEW: Tesseract – War of Being, REVIEW: Riverside – ID.entity, Interview with Haken — “We did just have a lot of fun with the writing.”, REVIEW: Orbit Culture – Descent
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. VV – Neon Noir
9. I Am Your God – SINister
8. Suotana – Ounas I
7. Marianas Rest – Auer
6. Rootbrain – Breakwater
5. Bjørkø – Heartrot
4. Insomnium – Anno 1696
3. Pressure Points – The Island
2. Bloodred Hourglass – How’s the Heart
1. Warmen – Here For None
Read more: REVIEW: VV – Neon Noir, REVIEW: I Am Your God – SINister, REVIEW: Suotana – Ounas I, REVIEW: Marianas Rest – Auer, Interview with Bjørkø — “When I play guitar, I think about the atmosphere and what kind of emotions it needs.”, REVIEW: Insomnium – Anno 1696, REVIEW: Pressure Points – The Island, REVIEW: Bloodred Hourglass – How’s the Heart?, REVIEW: Warmen – Here For None
Top 3 EPs
3. Orbit Culture – The Forgotten
2. Ihsahn – Fascination Street Sessions
1. Tribulation – Hamartia
Top 5 music videos
5. Avenged Sevenfold – Mattel
4. Luna Kills – super sick
3. Vexed – Anti-Fetish
2. Earthside – Let the Truth Speak
1. TesseracT – Legion
Top 5 international songs
5. Riverside – Friend or Foe
4. Orbit Culture – Black Mountain
3. Vexed – Anti-Fetish
2. TesseracT – Legion
1. Periphery – Wildfire
Read more: REVIEW: Riverside – ID.entity, REVIEW: Orbit Culture – Descent, REVIEW: Vexed – Negative Energy, REVIEW: Tesseract – War of Being
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Metal De Facto – Code of the Samurai
4. Luna Kills – super sick
3. Insomnium ft. Johanna Kurkela – Godforsaken
2. Bloodred Hourglass – Anomaly
1. Warmen – Warmen Are Here For None
Read more: FEATURED SINGLE: Luna Kills – super sick, REVIEW: Insomnium – Anno 1696, REVIEW: Bloodred Hourglass – How’s the Heart?, REVIEW: Warmen – Here For None
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Apocalyptica ft. Elize Ryd – What We’re Up Against
4. Where’s My Bible – Creator of Abyss
3. Caligula’s Horse – The World Breathes with Me
2. Porcupine Tree – Fear of a Blank Planet
1. Orbit Culture – While We Serve
Top 5 Cover Art
5. Vexed – Negative Energy
4. Head With Wings – Without Intervention
3. Haken – Fauna
2. Earthside – Let the Truth speak
1. The Ancoret – It All Began With Loneliness
Best collaboration
Earthside – Let the Truth Speak (ft. Daniel Tompkins & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh)
Best concert
Local: Gojira at Tuska and Warmen at On The Rocks
International: Ayreon: Live Beneath the Waves
Read more: 30.6.2023 Tuska Festival – Day 1 @ Suvilahti, Helsinki, GALLERY: 30.6.2023 Tuska Festival – Day 1 @ Suvilahti, Helsinki, GALLERY: 16.9.2023 Ayreon: Live Beneath the Waves @ Poppodium 013, Tilburg
Most promising act
Where’s My Bible
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2024
5. Metal De Facto – Land of the Rising Sun Part 1
4. Myrath – Karma
3. Persefone – Lingua Ignota: Part I
2. The Aristocrats – Duck
1. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield
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!
