What a year for music. So many incredible bands putting out such incredible music, made it very hard to narrow down a top 5. Last year for both Decker and I, it seemed pretty cut and dry to us who our favorites were gonna be. This year we were struggling well into December trying to make our picks, and we think we’ve done it. As with last year, these are our opinions, and they have nothing to do with popularity or commercial success. Let us know what your favorite albums were!
- Sleep Token – Take Me Back To Eden
- Invent Animate – Heavener
- Beartooth – The Surface
- Spiritbox – The Fear Of Fear
- Stitched Up Heart – To The Wolves
For me, to meet the requirements of being a top album there have to be at least three songs from the album that get added to playlists that I listen to throughout the year. Many more than five met these requirements so I had to just make choices. Stitched Up Heart’s To The Wolves blew me away and made me a serious fan, while Spiritbox’s The Fear Of Fear reminded me of why I started listening to Spiritbox in the first place. Beartooth’s The Surface made a genuine personal connection with me through the lyrical nature of the songs, and rocks as hard as any Beartooth record as well.
I had never heard of Invent Animate, so when I heard Heavener I immediately became a fan. From the soaring vocals and heavy breakdowns, to the production choices, everything about this album is amazing. Then there’s Sleep Token. I had zero idea who they were at the beginning of the year, but quickly became a fan after hearing the first three singles from Take Me Back To Eden in January. The full album would prove to be a masterpiece in my eyes, with heavy lyrics and masterful instrumentals creating a unique experience you can only get with Sleep Token. Worship.
- Avenged Sevenfold – Life Is But A Dream
- Beartooth – The Surface
- Silent Planet – SUPERBLOOM
- Invent Animate – Heavener
- Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
Decker is currently away on vacation, so he can expand on his choices when he returns in the new year. Avenged Sevenfold’s Life Is But A Dream takes Decker’s top spot, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting for it to drop. The record features a 96-piece orchestra, and some of the most experimental tracks A7X fans have heard to date. A7X mounted a massive comeback in 2023, hitting the road with support from Falling In Reverse playing arenas all over the country. Listen to all of the albums that appear in Decker’s Top 5 list below!
