MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of March 2024
In March’s best metal, Coffins and Slimelord define death/doom glory, Misotheist find beauty in raw black metal ugliness, and Prisoner attack the senses.
In March’s best metal, Coffins and Slimelord define death/doom glory, Misotheist find beauty in raw black metal ugliness, and Prisoner attack the senses.
The 1984 rockumentary, or mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap is a prophetic parody where one can laugh about, laugh at, and be laughed at all at the same time.
Judas Priest are synonymous with classic metal, even if recent releases are less memorable, their music still pulverizes most of the competition.
Ben Frost, Australia’s premiere avant-garde composer, unleashes his first solo album in seven years by returning to the pitch-black metal he loves so dearly.
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson overcomes creative and personal struggles on his first solo album in 19 years, The Mandrake Project.
In best metal albums, Spectral Voice craft soul-wrenching death/doom, Borknagar’s unique blend remains relevant, and Darkspace dare us to stare into the abyss.
Sludge metal band Eye Flys take the low-down ‘n’ dirty, down-tuned sludge of the Melvins and heat weld it to massive, 21st-century post-hardcore riffs.
In best metal albums, Vemod elevate black metal to atmospheric heights, Beryllium innovate, and Dissimulator tap into a Voivod-ian vein with their death/thrash.
The era of hard rock and metal Van Halen ushered peaked and fell when the 1980s ended, but comes back again as classic rock for today’s 13-year-olds.
In best metal albums, Nothing and Full of Hell complete their unio oppositorum, Panopticon drive Appalachian folk through black metal and Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze decimate all.
Deafheaven’s Sunbather was the first time a black metal act broke through the clutter of heavy metal releases to be appreciated outside of the genre’s fans.
This has proved a fantastic year for heavy music and metal, with masters impressing and newer artists shining. These are the best metal albums of 2023.