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 Michelle Rosales.

Dear readers, first of all, thank you for visiting Tuonela Magazine throughout this year, and also for taking the time to read my live reports (in case you did). This year has been, without a doubt, one of the most eventful ones musically as well as personally. One of my personal highlights has been joining the team at Tuonela Magazine, for which I have to thank our awesome editor-in-chief and great friend, Laureline Tilkin. As someone who always wondered what would become of me in a position like this, attending concerts to create something meaningful, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. I now get to share my passion for music with you and make something tangible out of this intense hobby.

Now, back to the point. Music-wise, this year has been eventful, to say the least. It will be difficult to top since many of my favorite artists decided to release new albums one right after the other. I have the same amount of love for all the albums I have listed here, but a couple happened to hit the right emotional chords at the best moments.

TESSERACT officially brought “War Of Being” into the world last September, and while this is no newcomer, and we are certainly used to expecting a minimum of great quality from this band, they still managed to make a quantum jump and exceed all expectations. It isn’t only the musicianship but also the concept and literary work behind this album that matches the intensity of all facets of the human experience, making this particular release special.

This is one of the most beautiful aspects of music; a song or a piece won’t only serve as momentary occupations, but they transcend their length and become part of our personal history and development. Songs like “Echoes” from TESSERACT, “Ultraviolet” from VOYAGER, “Let The Truth Speak” by EARTHSIDE, and “Wildfire” by PERIPHERY will accompany all the memories I have made this year for the rest of my life.

Top 10 International albums

10. The Night Eternal – Fatale

9. Bruce Soord – Luminescence

8. Voyager – Fearless in Love

7. Thulcandra – Hail The Abyss

6. Earthside – Let The Truth Speak

5. Katatonia – A Sky Void Of Stars

4. Riverside – ID:Entity

3. Haken – Fauna

2. Periphery – Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre

1. Tesseract – War Of Being

Read more: REVIEW: Tesseract – War of Being, REVIEW: Riverside – ID.entity, Interview with Haken — “We did just have a lot of fun with the writing.”, REVIEW: Voyager – Fearless in Love, REVIEW: Earthside – Let the Truth Speak, REVIEW: Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars

Top 10 Finnish albums

10. Polymoon – Chrysalis

9. Rootbrain – Breakwater

8. …And Oceans – As In Gardens, So in Tombs

7. Mariana’s Rest – Auer

6. Bjørkø – Heartrot

5. Insomnium – Anno 1696

4. Bloodred Hourglass – How’s The Heart

3. Warmen – Here For None

2. Hexvessel – Polar Veil

1. Grave Pleasures – Plagueboys

Read more: REVIEW: …And Oceans – As in Gardens, so in Tombs, 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: Bloodred Hourglass – How’s the Heart?, REVIEW: Warmen – Here For None, Interview with Hexvessel — “When you know your place within the universe, you get a wider appreciation for the universe.”, Interview with Grave Pleasures — “We just sound like us.”

Top 3 EPs

3. Slipknot – Adderall

2. Spiritbox – The Fear Of Fear

1. Maruja – Knocknarea

Read more: REVIEW: Spiritbox – EP: The Fear of Fear

Top 5 music videos

5. Thulcandra – Hail The Abyss

4. Voyager – Ultraviolet

3. TesseracT – Legion

2. Animals As Leaders – Red Miso

1. Earthside – Let The Truth Speak (feat. Daniel Tompkins & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh)

Top 5 international songs

5. TesseracT – Legion

4. Earthside – We Who Lament

3. Riverside – Self-aware

2. Periphery – Wildfire

1. Haken – Alphabet Of Me

Read more: Interview with TesseracT — “The space and time that we were afforded on this record, highlighted that this group of people are intensely creative.”, REVIEW: Earthside – Let the Truth Speak, REVIEW: Riverside – ID.entity, Interview with Haken — “We did just have a lot of fun with the writing.”

Top 5 Finnish songs

5. Bjørkø feat. Marko Hietala & Petronella Nettermalm – Whitebone Wind

4. Warmen – Hell On Four Wheels

3. Marianas Rest – Light Reveals Our Wounds

2. Hexvessel – A Cabin In Montana

1. Grave Pleasures – Society Of Spectres

Read more: Interview with Bjørkø — “When I play guitar, I think about the atmosphere and what kind of emotions it needs.”, REVIEW: Warmen – Here For None, REVIEW: Marianas Rest – Auer, Interview with Hexvessel — “When you know your place within the universe, you get a wider appreciation for the universe.”, REVIEW: Grave Pleasures – Plagueboys

Top 5 best last-minute songs

5. Alluvial – Death Is But A Door

4. Equilibrium – Cerulean Skies

3. Orbit Culture – While We Serve

2. Persefone – One Word

1. Caligula’s Horse – The World Breathes With Me

Top 5 Cover art

5. Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit

4. Dødheimsgard – Black Medium Current

3. Hypno5e – Sheol

2. Currents – The Death We Seek

1. Sulphur Aeon – Seven Crowns and Seven Seals

Best collaboration

Earthside featuring Daniel Tompkins & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh – Let The Truth Speak

Best concert

Between The Buried And Me, Haken & Cryptodira @ Aarhus, Denmark – Island In Limbo Tour

Most promising act

Vola

Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2024

5. Chapel Of Disease – Echoes Of Light

4. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield

3. The Pineapple Thief – It Leads To This

2. Ihsahn – Ihsahn

1. Vola – TBA

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!