BEST OF 2023 – THE BEST RELEASES OF THE YEAR
Here’s the result of our BEST OF 2023 readers poll (thanks to everyone who sent in their lists).










1. CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
2. AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
3. MARDUK – Memento Mori
4. INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
5. SADUS – The Shadow Inside
6. CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
7. HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
8. DEMONCY – Black Star Gnosis
9. MALOKARPATAN – Vertumnus Caesar
10. SULPHUR AEON – Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
And, as usual, here’s what the VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE staff, a couple of musicians, label owners and fanzine editors enjoyed the most in 2023 (in alphabetical order)…
Alfonso Perez
- CASTLEUMBRA – Nammu Tammtu
- CELESTIAL SANCTUARY – Insatiable Thirst For Torment
- FABRICANT – Drudge To The Thicket
- GRAVESEND – Gowanus Death Stomp
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- ROTTEN SOUND – Apocalypse
- SONIC POISON – Eruption
- SULPHUR AEON – Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
- TRIBE OF PAZUZU – Blasphemous Prophecies
Anders Peter Jørgensen
- AETHYRICK – Kolme Veljestä
- BAXAXAXA – Di Vermis Mysteriis
- CLANDESTINE BLAZE – Resacralize The Unknown
- DEMONCY – Black Star Gnosis / Diabolica Blasphemiae
- DØDHEIMSGARD – Black Medium Current
- MANII – Innerst I Mørket
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- MORTUARY DRAPE – Black Mirror
- THE RITE – The Astral Gloom
- UNDERGANG – De Syv Stadier Af Fordærv
Andrew Krause
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- CEMETERY URN – Suffer The Fallen
- DEATH WORSHIP – Reaping Majesty
- DEMONCY – Black Star Gnosis
- GOATKRAFT – Prophet Of Eternal Damnation
- GOTTHAMMER – Godslaying Sonic Barbarism
- ILDGANGER – Wanderer Of Fiery Planes
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- PROFANATICA – Crux Simplex
- TETRAGRAMMACIDE – Typho-Tantric Aphorisms From The Arachneophidian Qur’an
Carlo Masoni
- ASCENDED DEAD – Evenfall Of The Apocalypse
- BLOOD INCANTATION – Luminescent Bridge
- CONVOCATION – No Dawn For The Caliginous Night
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- HORRENDOUS – Ontological Mysterium
- PHLEBOTOMIZED – Clouds Of Confusion
- SUFFOCATION – Hymns From The Apocrypha
- TENEBRO – Ultime Grida Dalla Giungla
- TOMB MOLD – The Enduring Spirit
- WORM / DREAM UNENDING – Sarpath
David Simonton
- AEGRUS – Invoking The Abysmal Night
- ASAGRAUM – Veil Of Death, Ruptured
- AZAGHAL – Alttarimme On Luista Tehtu
- FIRES IN THE DISTANCE – Air Not Meant For Us
- KORGONTHURUS – Jumalhaaska
- KRIEG – Ruiner
- RUIN LUST – Dissimulant
- SACRILEGIOUS INPALEMENT – Infinite Victor
- SATHANAS – Psalm Satani
- UADA – Crepuscule Natura
Frank Stöver
- ABOLISH – …From The Depths
- ASAGRAUM – Veil Of Death, Ruptured
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- MEMORIAM – Rise To Power
- PROFANATICA – Crux Simplex
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Prelude To Blasphemy
- UNDERGANG – De Syv Stadier Af Fordærv
- WARHAWK – Dambuster
Giulio Minto
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- CARNAL TOMB – Embalmed In Decay
- CREEPING DEATH – Boundless Domain
- DAWN RAY’D – To Know The Light
- DRAIN – Living Proof
- ENFORCED – War Remains
- HELLRIPPER – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
- IMMORTAL – War Against All
- MOONLIGHT SORCERY – Horned Lord Of The Thorned Castle
- RÜYYN – Chapter II: The Flames, The Fallen, The Fury
Henning Pieper
- CRUEL FORCE – Dawn Of The Axe
- DANKO JONES – Electric Sounds
- HIGH SPIRITS – Safe On The Other Side
- KVELERTAK – Endling
- MEMORIAM – Rise To Power
- NIGHT DEMON – Outsider
- OVERKILL – Scorched
- PRONG – State Of Emergency
- TEMPLE OF DREAD – Beyond Acheron
- WARHAWK – Dambuster
Jarne Brauns
- ATONEMENT – Sadistic Invaders
- BAXAXAXA – De Vermis Mysteriis
- BLODTAR – Det Förtegna Förflutnar
- HORRIFIER – Horrid Ressurection
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- SPIRIT ADRIFT – Ghost At The Gallows
- VIAGRA BOYS – Cave World
- WAYFARER – American Gothic
- WOLVES IN THE THRONEROOM – Crypt Of Ancestral Knowledge
Michael Kujawska
- BLACKBRAID – II
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- IN FLAMES – Foregone
- INHERITS THE VOID – The Impending Fall Of Stars
- MAJESTIES – Vast Reaches Unclaimed
- MOONLIGHT SORCERY – Horned Lord Of The Thorned Castle
- OUTLAW – Reaching Beyond Assiah
- PARADISE LOST – Icon 30
- THULCANDRA – Hail The Abyss
- UADA – Crepuscule Natura
Mindaugas “Plix” Lapinskas
- ATROCITY – Okkult III
- BRUJERIA – Esto Es Brujeria
- ENFORCED – War Remains
- FUGITVE – Blast Furnace
- GO AHEAD AND DIE – Unhealthy Mechanisms
- OVERKILL – Scorched
- SADISM – Obscurans
- STREET TOMBS – Reclusive Decay
- TILL THE DIRT – Outside The Spiral
- VENOMOUS CONCEPT – The Good Ship Lollipop
Mirco Szymyslik
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- CONJURETH – The Parasitic Chambers
- DEAD CHASM – Sublimis Ignotum Omni
- FOSSILIZATION – Leprous Daylight
- OBITUARY – Dying Of Everything
- PARASITARIO – Everything Belongs To Death
- SONIC POISON – Eruption
- TEMPLE OF DREAD – Beyond Acheron
- THE NIGHT ETERNAL – Fatale
Olaf Brinkmann
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- HOLY MOSES – Invicible Queen
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- MARDUK – Memonto Mori
- OBITUARY – Dying Of Everything
- PHANTOM CORPORATION – Fall Out
- STATIC ABYSS – Aborted From Reality
- SULPHUR AEON – Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
- THE COFFINSHAKERS – Graves Release Your Dead
Oscar “evilcore666” Vazquez
- ABOLISH – …From The Depths
- CONGEALED PUTRESCENCE – Within The Ceaseless Murk
- DEMONIC INCARNATE – Abyssal Sermons Of Desolation
- MIZMOR – Prosaic
- MORBIFIC – Ominous Seep Of Putridity
- PA VESH EN – Martyrs
- PERILAXE OCCLUSION – Vapor Chamber
- PROFANATICA – Crux Simplex
- REVERENCE OF PAROXYSM – Lux Morte
- TETRAGRAMMACIDE – Typho-Tantric Aphorisms From The Arachneophidian Qur’an
Randolph Whateley
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- BLACK GOAT – Demogorgon – The Inmost Darkness Itself
- DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Extermination Revelry
- HEAVY LOAD – Riders Of The Ancient Storm
- INFERNAL CURSE – Revelations Beyond Insanity
- MDXX – MDXX
- RECKLESS – Sharp Magik Steel
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- SPACE HEADBANGERS – Black Garage Punks
- SYSTEMIK VIØLENCE – Negative Mangel Attitude
Rick Peart
- DEMONCY – Black Star Gnosis
- DIABOLICAL FULLMOON – Resurrection of the Ancient Faith (Unholy Reborn Polish Black Metal Art)
- EERIFIED CATACOMB – Spiritual Penetration
- FOETAL FLUIDS TO EXPURGATE – Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
- HEPATOMANCY – Satanae Et Deis Inferis Nigras Hostias Sacrificamus
- IFERNACH – Post Apocalyptic Apotheosis
- OBSKURITATEM – Nekroromantizam
- PATHOLOGIST – Morbidious History Of Necromantical Sonic Terrorization
- TETRAGRAMMACIDE – Typho-Tantric Aphorisms From The Arachneophidian Qur’an
- WITCHCRAFT – Bestial Vociferation
Steven Willems
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- DEATHFUCKER – God Devourer
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- MALOKARPATAN – Vertumnus Caesar
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- SATURNUS – The Storm Within
- SULPHUR AEON – Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
- TRIUMPH OF DEATH – Resurrection Of The Flesh
- VARATHRON – The Crimson Temple
- VOIVOD – Morgöth Tales
Vamsi Kanagovi
- AHAB – The Coral Tombs
- ANACHRONISM – Meanders
- BARING TEETH – The Path Narrows
- BLINDFOLDED AND LED TO THE WOODS – Rejecting Obliteration
- BLOOD INCANTATION – Luminescent Bridge
- GODFLESH – Purge
- GREAT FALLS – Objects Without Pain
- KHANATE – To Be Cruel
- MAJESTIES – Vast Reaches Unclaimed
- TOMB MOLD – The Enduring Spirit
Wedekind Gisbertson
- BODYFARM – Ultimate Abomination
- INCULTER – Morbid Origin
- LEGION OF THE DAMNED – The Poison Chalice
- LEPER COLONY – Leper Colony
- METAL CHURCH – Congregation Of Annihilation
- OBITUARY – Dying Of Everything
- OVERKILL – Scorched
- PHANTOM CORPORATION – Fallout
- TEMPLE OF DREAD – Beyond Acheron
- THE NIGHT ETERNAL – Fatale
Will Lee
- ANGELUS APATRIDA – Aftermath
- ASAGRAUM – Veil Of Death, Ruptured
- CRYPTA – Shades Of Sorrow
- FUNERAL WINDS – Stigmata Mali
- MAN MUST DIE – The Pain Behind It All
- MARDUK – Momento Mori
- OVERKILL – Scorched
- SONAMBULA – Estasis Interrumpida
- VOMITHEIST – Nekrofvneral
- VOMITORY – All Heads Are Gonna Roll
Yoga Ghotama
- ASCENDED DEAD – Evenfall Of The Apocalypse
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- MALOKARPATAN – Vertumnus Caesar
- PUTRID YELL – Consuming Aberration
- SPIRIT POSSESSION – Of The Sign
- STARGAZER – Bound By Spells
- THANAMAGUS – Lie In Wait
- UNPURE – Prophecies Ablaze
- URFAUST – Untergang
- VASTUM – Inward To Gethsemane
A. Morthaemer (ASAGRAUM)
- AFSKY – Om Hundrede År
- BLUT AUS NORD – Disharmonium – Nahab
- M:40 / ILLVILJA – Split
- MISERERE LUMINIS – Ordalie
- PRIMORDIAL – How It Ends
- SÓL ÁN VARMA – Sól Án Varma
- SÜHNOPFER – Nous Sommes D’Hier
- TAAKE – Et Hav Av Avstand
- TULUS – Fandens Kall
- WOLVENNEST – The Dark Path To The Light
Andy Tan (KONQUEROR RECORDS)
- BEYONDITION – Abysmal Night
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- CRYPTWORM – Oozing Radioactive Vomiting
- DECREPITORIUM – Foul Examination Of Putrefied Remains
- DEFENESTRATION – Mortal Cremation
- DEMONIZED – Abyss Vanguard
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- PARASITARIO – Everything Belongs To Death
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- TRANSGRESSOR – Beyond Oblivion
Darragh O’Laoghaire (VIRCOLAC / INVICTUS PRODUCTIONS)
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- CRUEL FORCE – At The Dawn Of The Axe
- GRAVE PLEASURES – Plague Boys
- HELLAVENGER – The Primordial Fire
- HEXESSEL – Polar Veil
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- NAUT – Hunt
- TABULA RASA – …Und Ihre Fürchterlichen Gesänge
- THE COFFINSHAKERS – Graves, Release Your Dead
- VERMINOUS SERPENT – The Malign Covenant
David Mikkelsen (UNDERGANG / EXTREMELY ROTTEN PRODUCTIONS)
- BRODER – Skarpretterfossilet
- CRYPTWORM – Oozing Radioactive Vimition
- DEIQUISITOR – Apothesosis
- EXCARNATED ENTITY – Mass Grave Horizon
- MALFORMED – The Gathering Of Souls
- REVERENCE TO PAROXYSM – Lux Morte
- STENCHED – Gorging On Mephitic Rot
- TORTURE RACK – Primevil Onslaught
- TRANSGRESSOR – Beyond Oblivion
- VOMI NOIR – L’Innommable Remugle & La Mélopée Cavernuleuse Des Râles Agonique
Enrique Chavez (LURKING TERROR)
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- CAVALERA – Bestial Devastation
- CAVALERA – Morbid Visions
- DEMONICAL – Into Victory
- DISMEMBER – Historia Mortis
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- PESSIMIST – Keys To The Underworld
- VOMITORY – All Heads are Gonna Roll
Gabriel Gatica Kretschmer (COMPILATION OF DEATH ZINE)
- ASPHODELUS – Sculpting From Time
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- DESECRESY – Deserted Realms
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- HORRENDOUS – Ontological Mysterium
- MALOKARPATAN – Vertumnus Caesar
- MORTUARY DRAPE – Black Mirror
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
- SUPLHUR AEON – Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
- VARATHRON – The Crimson Temple
Gene Palubicki (PERDITION TEMPLE / MALEFIC THRONE / DEMONIZED / HEXORCIST)
- ASCENDED DEAD – Evenfall Of The Apocalypse
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- BLOOD OATH – Lost In An Eternal Silence
- CAUSTIC VOMIT – Eloquent Requiems Of Necrotic Decadence
- CIRITH UNGOL – Dark Parade
- DISIMPERIUM – Grand Insurgence Upon Despotic Altars
- MORTUARY DRAPE – Black Mirror
- MUTATION – Demo 2023
- PUTRID YELL – Consuming Aberration
- VENEFICES – Incubacy Demo
Greg Rosenstahl (GODZ OV WAR PRODUCTIONS)
- APHOTIC – Abyssgazer
- FUNERAL WINDS – Stigmata Mali
- GRAVESEND – Gowanus Death Stomp
- HELL’S CORONATION – Transgression Of A Necromantical Darkness
- KOMMAND – Death Age
- OLKOTH – At The Eye Of Chaos
- PHOBOCOSM – Foreordained
- SPIRIT POSSESSION – Of The Sign…
- WAYFARER – American Gothic
- TETRAGRAMMACIDE – Typho-Tantric Aphorisms From The Arachneophidian Qur’an
Guillaume Martin (ATAVISM RECORDS)
- ARGHOSLENT – Resuscitation Of The Revanchists
- BORDA’S ROPE – Parable Of A Drowned Fate
- CH’AHOM – Knots Of Abhorrence
- CLANDESTINE BLAZE – Resacralize The Unknown
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- FOSSILIZATION – Leprous Daylight
- IMPEST – Bone Pit
- OBSIDIAN GRAVE – Blood Of The Night
- PESTIS – Demo I
- THANATOMASS – Hades
Jeff Tandy (IMPRECATION / TRENCHANT)
- BAXAXAXA – De Vermis Mysteriis
- DEATHFUCKER – God Devourer
- DEMONCY – Black Star Gnosis
- EKROM – Uten Nådigst Formildelse
- GRAFVITNIR – Into The Outer Wilderness
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- RUIM – Black Royal Spiritism
- SAMMATH – Grebbeberg
- THE MAGUS – Vissodomontas
- VARGRAV – The Nighthold
Jon “Metalion” Kristiansen (SLAYER MAG)
- ASAGRAUM – Veil Of Death, Ruptured
- CADAVER – Age Of The Offended
- CAVALERA – Morbid Visions
- HEAVY LOAD – Riders Of The Ancient Storm
- HELLBUTCHER – Death’s Rider
- KORGÜLL THE EXTERMINATOR – Built To Kill
- MARDUK – Memento Mori
- NERVOSA – Jailbreak
- TYRANN – Besatt
- WATAIN – Die In Fire Live In Hell
Laurent Merle (LISTENABLE RECORDS)
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- BERZERKER LEGION – Chaos Will Reign
- DEVASTATOR – Baptised In Blasphemy
- GRACELESS – Chants Of Purgatory
- HAWKWIND – Space Ritual
- HELLCRASH – Demonic Assassinatiön
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- RORY GALLAGHER – All Around Man (Live In London)
- THRON – Dust
- TRIUMPH OF DEATH – Resurrection Of The Flesh
Lucy Ferra (ABOLISH / INHUMAN DEPRAVITY)
- ANACHRONISM – Meanders
- CANNIBAL CORPSE – Chaos Horrific
- CRYPTOPSY – As Gomorrah Burns
- DEAD CHASM – Sublimis Ignotum Omni
- DYING FETUS – Make Them Beg For Death
- HASARD – Malivore
- MANBRYNE – Interregnum: O Probie Wiary I Jarzmie Zwatpiena
- MOLESTED DIVINITY – The Primordial
- SERPENT OF OLD – Ensemble Under The Dark Sun
- SUFFOCATION – Hymns From the Apocrypha
Malte Gericke (SIJJIN)
- BLOOD INCANTATION – Luminescent Bridge
- BLOOD OATH – Lost In An Eternal Silence
- CIRITH UNGOL – Dark Parade
- LUCIFUGE – Monoliths Of Wrath
- NUCTEMERON – Fuck Off!!! (In The Name Of Satan)
- RAZE – Demo 2023
- SEPULCRUM – Lamentation Of Immolated Souls
- SPIRIT POSSESSION – Of The Sign…
- THE EVIL – Seven Acts To Apocalypse
- TRASTORNED – Into The Void
Paul Zavaleta (DETERIOROT)
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- AVULSED – Extraterrestrial Carnage
- DETERIOROT – The Rebirth
- FOSSILIZATION – Leprous Daylight
- MALEDICTION – The Soil Throne
- OSSUARY – Forsaken Offerings
- PISSROT – Pissrot
- PURTENANCE – The Rot Within Us
- ROTPIT – Let There Be Rot
- UNDERGANG – De Syv Stadier Af Fordærv
Sérgio Baloff Borges (HEADHUNTER D.C.)
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- CRUCIAMENTUM – Obsidian Refractions
- DEATH REICH – Disharmony
- GRAVE DESECRATOR – Immundissime Spiritus
- HEADHUNTER D.C. – Pandemic Unredemption – Live At Dopesmoke Festival 2021
- INCANTATION – Unholy Deification
- ORTHOSTAT – The Heat Death
- PODRIDÃO – Cadaveric Impregnation
- SUFFOCATION – Hymns From The Apocrypha
- VOMITORY – All Heads Are Gonna Roll
Tomas Nyqvist (IRON FIST PRODUCTIONS)
- ATONEMENT – Sadistic Invaders
- AUTOPSY – Ashes, Organs, Blood And Crypts
- BAFOMET – Baptized In Goat Blood
- CIGARRETTES AFTER SEX – Bubblegum
- DAVID EUGENE EDWARDS – Hyacinth
- DEPECHE MODE – Memento Mori
- ETERNAL EVIL – The Gates Beyond Mortality
- MALOKARPATAN – Vertumnus Caesar
- NICOLE SABOUNE – Kismet
- WARHAWK – Dambuster
Thomas Westphal (NECROMANIAC ZINE)
- AGELESS SUMMONING – Corrupting The Entempled Plane
- CH’AHOM – Knots Of Abhorrence
- DIPYGUS – Wet Market
- HIBERNUS MORTIS – The Monolith Of Cursed Slumber
- INCENDIARY – Change The Way You Think About Pain
- INFAMOVS – Stench Of The Unholy Graves
- MINDWAR – Still At War
- PROFANE ORDER – One Nightmare Unto Another
- PROTRUSION – Demo 2023
- SADUS – The Shadow Inside
Wannes Gubbels (PENTACLE)
- APPARITION – Fear The Apparition
- CAVALERA – Morbid Visions
- CULT OF EIBON / CEREMONIAL TORTURE – Necronomical Mirror Divination
- HELLWITCH – Annihilational Intercention
- INTO DARKNESS – Cassini – Huygens
- JUMALATION – The Mouth Of Moloch
- OSSUARY – Forsaken Offerings
- SWORDWIELDER – Wielding Metal Massacre
- TRIUMPH OF DEATH – Resurrection Of The Flesh
- WARKRUSHER – Armistice