Favorite Noise of 2023

Top 15 Albums of 2023

15. Ram – Wheeler Walker Jr.

14. Regicide – The Behest of Serpents

13. Cursed Mortality – Carnation

12. Chaos Horrific – Cannibal Corpse

11. SURF OR DROWN, Vol. 2 – Hit-Boy

10. Invinita – Estiva

9. The Sinner Rides Again – KK’s Priest

8. Remedy – Gozu

7. Superskull – Black Rainbows

6. Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre – Periphery

5. Make Them Beg for Death – Dying Fetus

4. Dethalbum IV – Dethklok

3. EndEx – 3Teeth

2. Homicidal Ecstasy – Sanguisugabogg

1. The Perfume of Decay – Tigercub

Each year life seems to get busier and busier. When the clock stuck midnight on January 1st, 2024, I had yet to throw this post together. Hell, I hadn’t even decided on a top album yet. However, I was determined to keep tradition alive. So almost a full month later here are my top jams of 2023 and what a special year for music! A great mix of new death metal, stoner rock, edm, and the best year of hip-hop in recent memory. One of the toughest list I ever put together. A lot of good material didn’t make the cut, but that’s always a good problem to have. Like I say every year, there is never a bad year of music it’s just different from the next. One word to describe 2023: STACKED!!!!

I normally don’t put comedy music albums on my list. Nor do country albums ever make the cut, but Walker Wheeler’s Ram was an exception. Not only was it down right hysterical, it jammed hard!! If you are a fan of 1970’s or 80’s southern rock, you need to check out this disc. You’ll laugh, dance, and chug a beer. It’s like ZZ Top meets an X rated version of Weird Al. I have enjoyed his previous material, but musically he took it to a new level with Ram.

A few years ago, I raved and ranted about a band from Canton called The Behest of Serpents that landed #3 on my 2021 list. They released their sophomore album in October and did not disappoint. A bit of different direction with this release. A little more melodic material, showing their At The Gates influence. More solos almost as if they were showing off their ability to shred. And a touch of orchestrated synths but the perfect amount. Not too much like those repetitive deathcore bands are doing these days, but enough to bring a different element to their sound. I’m still debating if I like Regicide better than Disciple (2021). I will give them credit that Regicide is a different monster from their debut album and not a continuation of any kind. A consistent issue with independent bands is that they tend to have their releases sound almost identical from the last. Not Behest! Album three is already in the works.

Carnation’s Cursed Mortality was a pleasant surprise in 2023. This sounded like much of the underground death metal that came out of Europe in the 1990’s. Reminded me of the classics from bands such as Entombed, Carcass, and Dismember. Old school death with a blackend edge. The thing that stood out more than anything with this album was how well it was produced. There is a case to be made this might be the best produced album on the list. I was just absolutely blown away on how good it sounded. Goes to show just because something is a little more darker and not mainstream doesn’t mean it has to sound like shit. I will never understand the fans of poorly produced material. Yes, there are bands that do that on purpose.

It’s no secret that if you consistently read my yearly music awards that the new Cannibal Corpse always finds a place on it. However, while Chaos Horrific was a solid release, there is a reason why it fell short to making the top ten. As a Corpse fan, I really dig it! Pretty much what you expect from a Cannibal Corpse album. But compared to their past few albums it just didn’t stick out as much. Song writing was good but seemed to lack new energy. I took it as a continuation of Violence Unimagined (2021). If you are a death metal fan, definitely worth checking out. It did make the list for a reason. Every album will bring a new experience, and I hope the brutal legends keep it coming!

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed so many new hip-hop albums. It had to be when I was in high school. Long story short, I really did not enjoy the 2010’s decade of the genre. I could write a whole blog to why I felt that way. But the 2020’s decade is bringing a more promising start. Hit-Boy released two killer albums in 2023. It was tough debate to which one I felt was better, but at the end of the day Volume Two edged out the first. Big Hit was on almost every track bringing the heat! While Nas, GRIP, and AZ also put out great full length albums in 2023, Hit-Boy stole the show. The new year just started and he already has a banger EP with The Game. He could not have started 2024 on better note.

The first edm album to ever make my list goes to Estiva’s Invinita. The perfect balance of rhythm and tempo. Not too fast and aggressive. Not too slow and boring. Trippy, groovy, and every song brought something different to the table. If I were to try to write what I think would be the perfect edm album, Invinita would be a top influence. I personally don’t think it got enough love in the edm community. This an all around quality album. I look forward to more from Estiva in the near future. He has earned a new fan in me!

When news broke that K.K. Downing formed KK’s Priest, my first thought was the band would be a more aggressive modern day version of Judas Priest. The debut album Sermons of the Sinner (2021) didn’t quite give me that vibe. But The Sinner Rides Again was a different story. This sounded like a 1990’s Judas Priest album. Heavy riffs, power metal solos, and catchy hooks. Old school metal heads drooled over how good this disc sounded. I hope the band can continue going in this direction. No doubt they would gain some serious momentum in the metal world and have solid career under the band name. Most of the members are on the tail end of their playing days and what better way to go out before they hang it up?

Gozu’s Remedy was one of my favorite summer releases of 2023. I have thoroughly enjoyed their past material, but I feel this album maybe their best one yet. This was a winner from the first play and it continues to grow on me. Marc Gaffney is one the most underrated singers in the stoner rock and doom metal world. Crushing all around material!

Plenty of great stoner rock albums came out in 2023, but none better than Black Rainbow’s Superskull. Dirty guitar tones with fast, groovy punk riffs. Sounded a little bit like The Sword meets Samsara Blues Experiment. This album had a more modern feel from their previous material that was more 1970’s fuzz rock. Less psychedelic and more jam based. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another three years for an album from them.

Periphery V was the band’s best album since Periphery III: Select Difficulty. While I liked Periphery IV, I felt they were getting too technical and it was taking away from some of their song writing ability. Don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy complicated instrumentation that challenges the musician’s ability to write. But I thought III as a whole was some of their best songs yet, and the follow up was an odd direction to go. Not bad just different. Periphery V is the band’s heaviest album. A great mix of grooves, melody, and technical riffage. Nothing over the top. Just a great all around metal album. This band continues to produced great material and is becoming a cornerstone for this generation of heavy metal.

Let’s be real, if you know me you know Dying Fetus is making the list. An absolute no brainer! The band is coming off two of their best albums of their career with Reign Supreme (2012) and Wrong One to Fuck With (2017). The expectations were high and overall I think they met them with Make Them Beg for Death. While I very much enjoyed this album I don’t think it will be a top five in their discography like the previous two. It is pretty much what you expect from a Dying Fetus album. Slamming riffs, blast beats, killer bass lines, sweeping arpeggios, and lyrics about murder. A few songs stood out but outside of those it was standard Dying Fetus. All in all, I’m glad just to get another album from them. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another five years for another. Their history says otherwise.

A few years ago I was convinced we would never see another Dethklok album. Glad I was wrong and the world’s favorite animated death metal band did not disappoint. Each album better from the previous release and the streak continued with Dethalbum IV. The first album from the band in eleven years and it didn’t miss a beat. Faster, more aggressive, and more political. Pretty much Dethklok took steroids and took it out on the producer. And if you have ever seen the show, you know it is never a good day to be their producer. Hypothetically speaking, if this is the last album we get from the band then they’ll go out with another classic.

3Teeth became the first industrial metal band to make my list since 2013 (Nine Inch Nails). The band continues to rise in the metal world and rightfully so. I don’t think I have heard an industrial band with the aggression and heaviness that they bring to the table. EndEx is an instant classic and should be heard by any metal fan. Even if you don’t care for industrial metal, give it a try because this band is a whole new experience. After hearing this album, this band is on my must see live list. Absolutely sold these guys have a bright career ahead of them.

Even with the world ending in 2020, the metal world starting recognizing how loaded Ohio was with heavy bands. The primary band that caught everyone’s attention was Columbus’ Sanguisugabogg. They took the world by storm with their debut album Tortured Whole (2021). The follow up, Homicidal Ecstasy, was a brutal step up. A crushing masterpiece that will be remembered for years to come. Music that will make you head bang and fight the person next to you. This new era of death metal has absolutely spoiled fans with several talented acts and Sanguisugabogg will stand out among them all. An underground classic in the making. I’m looking forward to hearing what else they’ll be releasing in the near future.

I personally can’t stand radio rock acts these days. Very repetitive and they all sound alike. Rock radio is dead. The rock star is dying. The definition of what REAL rock ‘n roll is to the modern day American is disgusting. I mainly focus on stoner and noise rock for a reason. It is the only place where the real rock soul consistently survives. However, I was over joyed when I heard Tigercub’s The Perfume of Decay. It was a breathe of fresh air! A true rock record. From top to bottle it was one of the best rock albums I’ve heard in several years. Jamie Stephen Hall’s vocal style is like if Scott Weiland and Josh Homme had a baby. Every song on this bad boy is solid. No fillers whatsoever. I would love to see rock fans embrace this band and make them a centerpiece of the genre. As long as they keep doing what they’re doing and not adopt the poor style that is being sold as rock music, they’ll have a great career ahead of them.

Top 10 Songs of 2023

1. “More 4 Me” – Hit-Boy & Big Hit
2. “Face Ripped Off” – Sanguisugabogg featuring Aaron Heard (Jesus Piece)
3. “Merchant of the Void” – 3TEETH featuring Mick Gordon
4. “CLDZ” – GOZU
5. “Lux Aeterna” – Metallica
6. “Just Ask” – Hit-Boy & Spank Nitti James
7. “Song To Roll To” – femdot.
8. “Marrow” – Restless Spirit
9. “The 4 ov Spades” – The Cult Ov Crowley
10. “EDGING” – blink-182

Best Live Performance of 2023: Chimaira

Chimaira playing in Cleveland at The Agora Theatre on Saturday, May 13th, 2023

Another great year of seeing live music. I got to cross Mudvayne and GWAR off the bucket list. Also witnessed one of, if not the best, set from Breaking Benjamin. While those and a few more brought a very pleasant live music experience for me, there was a clear cut winner for 2023. To help celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Impossibility of Reason, Chimaira scheduled a weekend of shows at the Agora Theater in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. They played the album in it’s entirety on both shows and followed it with fan favorite songs and old material that they had not played in several years. Some of which they never played live before. Not only did everything sound spectacular, but they put on a live performance like they never had done before. They used massive electronic screens to project old studio footage, music videos, concert shot, and images of the beautiful city of Cleveland. It was almost like witnessing a documentary live. They had a special light set up for the occasion that worked to perfection. I have seen them a handful of times before, but never like this. They went all out to celebrate the milestone. The shows were filmed and a DVD release is rumored to happen sometime in 2024.

Thank you to the Empire Concert Club

You can plan out a year all you want, but unexpected things will happen. My biggest surprise of 2023 was the closing of Empire Concert Club last May, but it was for good reason. After several years of working his ass off, owner of the club, Eric, decided it was time to pursue retirement. For any sitcom fans out there, remember the story of Seinfeld calling it quits? The show was at it’s highest ratings during the 9th season. The crew decided that it was time to pull the plug despite the success they were having because there is never a right time to quit, so why not quit while you’re on top? That was Eric’s attitude. He pulled a Seinfeld and closed the doors to arguably one of the most successful concert clubs in Akron history.

I was not just a promoter at the club but an employee. All the bitch work went to me and I did it with the best attitude possible. Some days were better than others. All jokes aside, it was an honor to help carry many responsibilities to make the shows go as smooth as possible. But Empire wasn’t just a great club. It helped me get my start in the music business. This is a story I never went public before, but feel it is necessary to bring up here because there are lessons that anyone can learn from and apply to their current situations. The two things I want you take away from this is that the right people will help build you in more ways than you’ll ever know, and that environment is everything. And I mean EVERYTHING!

Back in 2017, I was working at an internet radio station in Kent, Ohio. The station was continuing to find ways to grow but needed some new ideas. I wanted to take on the project of hosting the station’s first ever concert. Nobody had interest or time to make it happen, so I knew it was my opportunity if I wanted it. I evaluated the concert clubs in the area to see what would be the best fit. I had been going to a lot of shows at The Empire at the time, and noticed the personnel was more nicer to deal with than anyone else in the area. I had a gut feeling if I reached out to them that they may give me a legitimate chance of making this concert idea a reality. My gut was right! Eric reached back out to me almost immediately. We had multiple conversations until we solidified a plan. On August 25th, 2017, the station hosted Michigan rockers Wayland with three local bands. The turnout was good and everyone had a fantastic time. It turned out better than planned.

Weeks before the show, Eric had a conversation with me about doing more shows through the station. Some good ideas were brought to the table and a business relationship was building. However, as those conversations were happening the station manager had struck an arrangement with the concert club down the street from the station. They asked me to handle the shows for the station there. I informed Eric of the news after the Wayland show, in which he told me to move forward with what the station had organized so no one was stepping on anyone’s toes. While I am very proud of my shows in Kent, I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if I put my foot down and demanded to keep the relationship with Empire going instead.

I would spend the next few years in Kent putting on shows. The bad ones I brushed off and took what I learned to make things better in the future. The good ones still hold dear to my heart. We had some special nights. In late 2018, there was a complete staff change with a whole new identity for the venue. While many of the regulars were upset about the moves, I decided to stay for a few reasons. I had some shows already on the books so it was best just to make them happen. I also had reason to believe the owner would go back to the old staff a few months into 2019 after things didn’t pan out. I’ll admit, I was wrong for thinking that. The reputation of the place turned sour in no time and it reflected on the atmosphere of the place. One of my best shows was bringing Northeast Ohio icons Tropidelic back to Kent for the first time in five years. I kept that accomplishment on the down low due to all the lies and drama surrounding the building at the time. All I wanted was to give the good music fans a good time.

Fast forward to summer 2019, I had watched my friends at Buzzbin in Canton and The Empire continue to thrive on their success at the time. I absolutely loved what they were doing. After much thought, it was in my best interest to move my shows to these venues. The artists and crowds would just have a much better experience. Before I made the move, I was offered to manage the club in Kent as the owner wanted, yet again, to go another direction. I pretty much said screw it! I’ll take on the challenge. I had some experience and knowledge to make it work. I would also take the opportunity as a learning experience.

From fall 2019 to March 2020, I managed that venue to the best of my ability. Some things went very well while some things honestly needed serious work. It didn’t help that the owner resisted any good idea for success. I mean really, who doesn’t want to make a lot of money?! After sometime I started seeing some sketchy and illegal activity that was happening behind my back. Made me a little paranoid about the shows. I started to realize it was in my best interest to ditch the place for a safer location. I put on a very successful death metal show a few weeks before the global pandemic started. Good turnout and the venue ran out of all the food they were serving. The door money from the show was to be split between all the opening bands involved. When the show ended, the owner and a staff member swiped a chunk from the band fund. That’s when I decided enough was enough. Say what you want about me, but when you mess with hard working artists that’s where the line is drawn.

The COVID-19 pandemic was underway and everything was shut down. I took the time to plan out the future once things got back to normal, which if you remember was easier said than done. On April 1st, 2020, (no foolin!) I resigned from my position with club. Those seven months were a complete roller coaster ride but I was determined to bounce back from it. I wasn’t going to sulk on social media or mope that things didn’t go my way. The objective was simple. Take this shut down time to plan to improve my live music production company and give the people a good time again. Especially since the pandemic took live music away for a solid year and a half. I began to network with industry representatives and prepared some show budgeting. One day an agent hit me up with an interesting show offer. I reached out to Eric for the first time in a while and asked if I could bring the touring package to Empire. It ended up not happening due to the pandemic still being in full force which cancelled the tour and kept Empire closed. During that conversation Eric found out I was a free agent and asked me to come aboard. Of course, I happily accepted. With the exception of some phenomenal Buzzbin shows, I solely worked for Empire.

From June 2021 to May 2023, working at Empire was like a well oiled machine. From national acts, loaded local lineups, acoustic shows, and private parties. We had a tremendous staff the whole time. Even after a few members left and new ones came in, everyone was an absolute joy to work with. Once I officially joined Empire, I got my favorite sound guy, Pom, to join the staff. He worked for me in Kent and I needed him to make the bands sound LOUD like the good old days. He loved Empire and thanked me several times for bringing him along. It was his favorite club he ever ran sound for. When there was a problem, it was solved quickly and correctly. When a new idea was presented to improve the place, it was accomplished for the next weekend of shows. The fans were always a pleasure to host. I got to chill with some well known names while also catering to up and coming artists. Bands always left asking to return when they hit the road again. We gave them some of the best experience in the nation. Working for Empire eventually led me to become a booking agent. It would have never happened if it wasn’t for Eric taking me in and willing to work with me. In Kent I was just a number, at Buzzbin I was welcomed with open arms but was still just an outside promoter, but at Empire I was family. Currently, the club is still for sale for anyone who would like to keep it a concert venue.

The lesson here is that great opportunity will impact you for a very long time if not the rest of your life. While a poor atmosphere with terrible people will always hold you down. It goes for music too. You have a bad band mate, manager, promoter, agent, drug dealer, hooker, roadie, or tour manger it will never help you grow. Don’t settle for the bad environment in your life! Get yourself an Empire Concert Club and set yourself on the right path! I highly recommend it.

Stories and lessons aside, here are my favorite memories of the Empire Concert Club as a fan and worker:

• The Wayland show with Bones of Giants, Dynamo Love, and Body Thief
• Army of Athens show (first ever Empire experience)
• Paper Thin CD release show
• Jinjer’s first ever Ohio show
• Big Ugly parties
• Hanging out with Combichrist back stage
• Monuments show
• Wacken Metal Battle of Ohio 2022 & 2023
• Edward Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden tribute)
• Stupify (Disturbed tribute)
• Catering to Tim “Ripper” Owens and his nice family
• 96 Bitter Beings & Green Jelly show
• Logan Bruce first headliner
• Meeting Michale Graves
• Narcotic Wasteland shows
• The Angel show (aside from the women’s bathroom exploding)
• Meeting Chip and the rest of Enuff Z’Nuff
• Featherweight and Deadcassette shows
• Smoking with Tantric
• FRACTURE and their crazy ass fans (who are very generous for toys for tots shows I may add)
• While some of the covers are questionable, you got to love the guys in Band Kamp Rejects
• That one Trapt show where the turn out was solid and Chris behaved. He actually sounded good that night too. Much better experience than the first time around after his shenanigans.
• The Black Moods where Canton’s Urban Honey stole the show and all the fans just wanted to talk about them. Rightfully so.
• Hosting former Exodus singer Rob Dukes
• A special thank you to every drunk, alcoholic homeless person that ran up to me while I was doing the marquee outside to tell me I was doing a good job and that they supported my work. I hope you are all still alive somewhere.

Thank you to Annabelle’s

A quick shout out to the Highland Square legendary venue that closed last summer. The Fashion Week show in 2019 and the Ringworm show in 2021 will go down as my favorite shows there. I’m still a little salty you never let me throw a show there. Born and raised in Highland Square but was never allowed to throw a party at the local venue. In all seriousness, I hope we see a resurrection in someway or form. Until then, check out Buzzbin in Kenmore.

New Music Watch for 2024

Testament

A personal favorite and the #1 album for me in 2020. One of the most consistent bands we have out there today. I look forward to the follow up of Titans of Creation. Members claim the album is done and will be released this year.

Jinjer

A new album this year sounds like a for sure thing. I still think they need to open for the Pantera reunion. Loved seeing them open for Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin last year, but the majority of the fans seemed not to dig it. This is why Pantera makes sense here.

Anthrax

If they don’t put it out this year, I’m not putting them on the list next year. This is the seventh time I’ve added them here and still no new album. However, singer Joey Belladonna did recently record the vocals so it must be almost finished.

Gary Clark Jr.

The blues icon will release JPEG RAW on March 22nd. I’m eager to hear what direction musically he goes for this record. All his albums are different in their own way, but all of them are so damn good!

Kerry King

The SLAYER guitarist will unleash his new solo band and release new music since the last SLAYER album. The band supposedly sounds like SLAYER. BRING IT, KERRY!!!!

Whitechapel

I was very disappointed with Kin and feared they would continue to go that direction. But last summer Phil Bozeman said he was tired of metal being the meme and that it wasn’t scary anymore. He wants to make music that is menacing and evil. That being said, Whitechapel is back to their original form!

The Black Keys

Akron’s own will release Ohio Players on April 5th. These guys have been doing it right since their big come up. Pun intended.

The Black Dahlia Murder

The band’s first album without Trevor Strnad. It will be interesting but they are kicking ass live. I’m expecting things to continue to stay brutal here.

Judas Priest

Invincible Shield will be released on March 8th. Rob Halford is still kicking ass at age 72.

Kid Cudi

The Cleveland kid released Insano in early January. If you want to know my thoughts, it will be in My Favorite Noise of 2024.

Down

Probably more in 2025, but they are currently in the studio so you never know. Kirk Windstein side project EYE AM will have music this year.

Tool

Yes, I’m serious with this one. They have been touring a lot and plans for a new EP sound like they’re in the works. If not this year, than maybe thirteen years from now.

200 Stab Wounds

Cleveland metallers are expected to release their first album under Metal Blade this year. They’re on tour with Dying Fetus to kick off the year.

Amaranthe

The Catalyst will be out on February 23rd. Every new Amaranthe album has made my top albums of that year. Looking forward to another banger!