Top 25 Metal and Rock Albums of 2023 [AOTY] Christian Metalcore, Death Metal, Black Metal, Hard Rock

This is my final Top 25 releases in 2023! The time has finally come to check back and reflect on the best of what the year had to offer (In my humble opinion of course!) I'm anticipating that some of you may be surprised with my placements. A lot of thought went into this list, as I tried to be honest with my judgments as well as leave room for flexibility. Thank you FTR Family for a wonderful year of opportunity and growth, I look forward to what 2024 has to offer! God bless!

SPOILER ALERT: There will be a list of honorable mentions down below that feature so many wonderful releases from 2022 that I was not able to fit in the video. If you are still hungry for more after watching the video, check out some of these awesome bands listed below!

HOW I DECIDE: These opinions are mine and mine alone. The order is reflected on how much I personally enjoyed the release while keeping in mind things like Quality of overall Production, Artwork, Lyrical Content, etc. This is NOT meant to be a competition between the artists represented, but rather a showcase of the wonderful work coming out in the scene at the moment. Presenting it in Top 25 format just makes the most sense, but sometimes those numbers don't entirely reflect how good the band is. Being on this list in any form should be considered a job well done!

DISCLAIMER: There are some artists that don't go under the "Christian" label. We could talk on this subject for days and I do intend to take a deep dive on the subject at some point in the near future, but there is no way everyone will ever agree on the arguments for and against using that label, especially when it comes to ministering to those outside of the faith. I do try my absolute best to help you make an informed decision about the artist you are listening to, and not lead you down a road of claiming if a certain band or artist is in fact a "Christian band" or not. I do not like to put that label on a band (IE August Burns Red) when they have explicitly gave their viewpoint on the subject. My main focus is to promote artists that are doing good for Christ in this world, and that may come out in different forms rather than just one view of how WE think it needs to be done.

All that being said, let's jam out to some sick music and enjoy what our brothers and sisters around the world are creating!
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Honorable Mentions:

Hospital - Thunderborn
Guardians of the Secret - The Gospel of Mammon (EP)
Burial Extraction - A Shadow Of Things To Come
Spiritwalker - Heretic
My Refuge - My God (EP)
CHANGETHEWXRLD - HEART OF FLESH
xSLTHRDx - YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED
To Die Elsewhere - under gods (EP)
UnWorthy - Where Light Divides (EP)
Alterations - Bound by Blood (EP)
Dire - Crush the Head (EP)
Eternal Gaze - Eternal Gaze
Debtor - Dead to the World (EP)
Context - Indwelling (EP)
Cries Hannah - Gloryseeker (EP)
Impending Doom - LAST DAYS (EP)
Ignescent - Fight In Me
Blatant/Unashamed - Lamenta
Action Wednesday - Seven Last Words
The Venus Effect - The Venus Effect (EP)
Absent Handed - Absent Handed (EP)
Twice a Year - Twice a Year
Hrada - Mirrorland
Glae - Deception
Fyrebrand - Vengeance Is Mine
Altarheart - Deny Thyself
Keyodis - The W
A Sight in Veractiy - Trivial Imagination, Pt. 1
Then It Ends - Chasm (EP)
Flames of Fire - Our Blessed Hope
Enduring Revery - Carrier
Sight Received - Descend (EP)
Omega Rage - You're All Gonna Die (20th Anniversary Re-Recording)
Alethium - Reanimate (EP)
Lion's Empire - Lion's Empire
Jernlov - Resurrection
Marilla - Act IV: Holy Ground
PheumaCoffer - As The Living Waters
PRVYR - Until the Smoke Clears (EP)
Searching Serenity - Retribution
Mangled Carpenter - Salvation Syndrome
Whom I Serve - Nexus (EP)
The Undertaking! - Superstitions (EP)
Fathomage - Autumn's Dawn, Winter's Darkness
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• All credits go to the artists mentioned and their labels.

Are you in a band that makes good, high quality music? Are you a band that puts Jesus in the message of your music? email me at fortherockministries@gmail.com and we can chat about a possible feature here on the channel!


#albumoftheyear #metal #aoty