There is so much heavy, extreme, and beautiful metal music being conjured all around the world that it can be overwhelming. Metal Has No Borders founder Riley Rowe has curated his personal favorites released this past year, from Indonesia and Ukraine to Mexico.
Enjoy the hand-picked favorite alternative, mathcore, and prog-punk albums for 2023 below.
Riley’s Metal Album of the Year (Gold Tier)
Voice of Baceprot
RETAS
Released via 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 Metal Has No Borders). While the mere sight of the young hijab-donning trio is strikingly boundary-breaking, Voice of Baceprot‘s exceptional and youthful aggression is what sells the show on their debut RETAS. The record pleads with sociopolitical funk metal, bringing a commanding rehash of that late 90’s sound.
RETAS by Voice of Baceprot is awarded Riley’s Favorite Metal Album of the Year (Gold Tier) for 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
Riley’s Metal Album of the Year (Silver Tier)
0%Mercury
We Should Definitely Do This!
Self-Released
Ukraine
0%Mercury is pure in heaviness, aggression exerted from the heart. The range of anger and apathy throughout the tracklisting on We Should Definitely Do This! is personal and persuasive, no differently than how The Dillinger Escape Plan’s late output reflected an emotional angle on mathcore. There is a void between the pop punk and metallic hardcore community, and this Vinnytsia-based female-fronted powerhouse quartet perfectly represents the middle ground.
We Should Definitely Do This! by 0%Mercury is awarded Riley’s Favorite Metal Album of the Year (Silver Tier) for 2023
Favorite Songs: “2000 Rockets” ft. Johnny Booth, “Aokigahara,” “Cat Lady“
FFO: Every Time I Die, Ithaca, Employed to Serve
Riley’s Metal Album of the Year (Gold Tier)
Descartes A Kant
After Destruction
Released via Cleopatra Records
Mexico
Led by vocalist / guitarist / programmer Sandrushka Petrova, this conceptual project exhibits an unheard style on their latest effort, After Destruction. Not only does the artsy prog / noise punk sound reveal Descartes A Kant‘s unique style, but the near-interactive concept (narrated by a blunt AI program named DAK) is abundantly incomparable, bizarre, fascinating, etc. To be honest, After Destruction doesn’t fully qualify as “metal music” on the surface, but when digging deeper, their layers of unhinged immersion and experimental riffs could certainly be shared on the same stage as Mr. Bungle or Leprous.
After Destruction by Descartes A Kant is awarded Riley’s Favorite Metal Album of the Year (Bronze Tier) for 2023
Favorite Songs: “After Destruction,” “Graceless,” “Raindrops of Poison“
FFO: Bent Knee, Poppy, Radiohead
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