There is so much heavy, extreme, and beautiful metal music being conjured all around the world that it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Metal Has No Borders has curated the best of the best released this past month, from Indonesia and Costa Rica to Russia and India, as well as everything in between.
Enjoy our hand-picked favorite albums, singles, and videos for July 2023 below. Enjoy and share which bands you were headbanging to this past month in the comment section!
Album of the Month (Gold Tier)
Voice of Baceprot
RETAS
12WIRED
Indonesia
Since the 70’s, metal music has been dominated by Christian white Western men (ok, maybe a handful of Satanists too). Although one’s skin color, religious beliefs, or gender does not inherently affect creativity and musical talent, the need for diversity in the spotlight is certainly abundant. Such variety brings forth new perspective and innovation for an overall greater metal music community (hence, the very creation behind the concept of Metal Has No Borders). Voice of Baceprot enters the arena, instantly breaking down boundaries upon first glance, but more importantly, with their exceptional youthful, valid aggression. The hijab-donning trio’s sociopolitical edge meshes phenomenally with their energetic funk / alt metal. While stylistically nostalgic to the heavy hitters of the late 90’s / early 2000’s, the group’s melodic approach is absolutely groundbreaking. This debut full-length, RETAS is pointed, commanding, and truly a fun listen.
RETAS by Voice of Baceprot is awarded Best Album of the Month (Gold Tier) for July 2023
Favorite Songs: “What’s the Holy (Nobel) Today?,” “God, Allow Me (Please) to Play Music,” “[Not] Public Property“
FFO: Kittie, System of a Down, Bloodywood
Album of the Month (Silver Tier)
Ape on the Rocket
Faith, Love, Hope, Death
Dark Side Records
Russia
Last year, we interviewed the Kaliningrad-based metalcore / deathcore act Ape on the Rocket where they revealed their plans for an upcoming record. Fast-forward to now, witnessing the final product is beyond fulfilling. As the album title suggests, the release spans across the spectrum of sentiments, with fists clenched around pessimistic angst the entire ride. With most metalcore and deathcore bands stay in their lane, the material here walks the line between both subgenres. Vocals drip in ferocity as the instrumentation pounds cement with inhuman strength, creating cracks and exposing a nuanced underearth of undeniable potential.
Faith, Love, Hope, Death by Ape on the Rocket is awarded Album of the Month (Silver Tier) for July 2023
Favorite Songs: “Death,” “Faith,” “Love“
FFO: Slaughter to Prevail, Darko, Carnifex
Album of the Month (Bronze Tier)
Gutslit
Carnal
Self-Released
India
“I decided I’m going to murder my mother. I knew a week before she died that I was going to kill her… I cut off her head and I humiliated her corpse.” For those who dare, Carnal is the best peepshow into the mind of a sociopath. Conceptually exploring the likes of serial killers David Berkowitz, Ed Kemper, and Dennis Rader, Gutslit provide equally extreme music for such vile subjects. Interview recordings spill out like warm blood across the modern combo of death metal and grindcore. Amidst the severely intense tracks, moments of well-crafted deathgrind riffs emerge, paving the way for Gutslit‘s rise in the extreme scene.
Carnal by Gutslit is awarded Album of the Month (Bronze Tier) for July 2023
Favorite Songs: “The Killing Joke,” “Bind Torture Kill,” “Matriarch“
FFO: Cattle Decapitation, Ingested, (early) Whitechapel
Album of the Month (Honorable Mentions)
Omnibeing – Recurrence
Belarus
Acknowledging the over-saturation in the instrumental metal market, Omnibeing use saxophone and shoegaze to impressively overcome the Animals as Leaders threshold.
Listen to “Sidpa“
Mammuthus – Imperator
New Zealand
If Houdini-era Melvins procreated with Kyuss, the result would be the sludge-doom stoner rock unit Mammuthus. Their latest offering boasts plenty of fuzz and rugged vocal hooks.
Listen to “Holy Goat“
Arav Krishnan – The Fallen System
India
At the young age of 17, budding musician Arav Krishnan caught our attention with this dystopian near Death-like stellar fusion of thrash, death, and prog.
Check out All Recent, Upcoming, and Past Notable Releases by Clicking Here
Single / Video of the Month
Dumah – “Holy Blade”
Costa Rica
A hostage is bound, ready for sacrifice, and the holy blade is drawn. Dumah presents an unheard energy, with a foundation in hardcore, yet decorated with deathly, blackened vigor. Comparisons could be made from Code Orange and Nails to Converge and Oathbreaker. This is the type of music you feel in your veins to your bones.
“Holy Blade” by Dumah is awarded Best Single / Video of the Month for July 2023
Single / Video of the Month (Honorable Mentions)
Karpathian Relict – “Bury in the Past”
Poland
There’s few bands that are as technically as tight as the likes of Beyond Creation, but this Polish tech-death cult brings seriously evil, proggy, and virtuosic chops to the stage; listen here
INCHAOS – “Dust in the Sea”
China
Gorgeous female vocals conjure melodies over this prog-tinged metalcore typhoon; listen here
Si Vis Pacem – “Homini“
Chile
Taking the modern grooves of Loathe and nu-metalcore influence from Falsegiver, this new banger is utterly dominating; listen here
landless – “Wild Hearts“
Slovakia
Beware Architects fans, landless will be the next big melodic metalcore act to be stuck in your head all week; listen here