Usually, January is a throwaway year when it comes to new releases in any genre of music for that matter. I think the sweet spot for releasing new albums are usually see the heavy hitters start releasing during late spring, summer, or early Autumn. 2023 didn’t get that memo. Guns were coming in hot especially some of these top notch excellent releases were unleashed into our world in New Year’s day!
I also wanted to remind people that while I didn’t have a blog for December releases, those albums will be considered for 2023 album rankings at the end of the year. I published my favorites over on the Sounds of the Void Instagram page earlier in the month, here.
Without further ado, here are the best releases of January 2023.
Reflet Crépusculaire – The Tormented Wanderer, Pt. 3: Spes
Raw Black Metal from France
Independent
From the eerie moments that introduce this EP, the atmosphere almost tricks you into thinking that the music is more extensive and more sweeping than it actually is. Before you know it, you are caught in a hazy drone of lo-fi black metal production with a mid-paced beat and whirling guitars. Then, like a faint echo of lost humanity, the vocals kick in and we are awakened to a decaying nightmare, the Tormented Wanderer.
This release is the 3rd and last part of a trilogy of EPs which began its release last year. Definitely more synth heavy and atmospheric than the first two, but that’s what makes it my favorite of the three. If you like lo-fi black metal with sardonic riffs and a chilling atmosphere pick this up!
Pressured Remains – Death Before Dismount
Raw Black/Death Metal/Grindcore from the United States
Independent
OK, I am cheating a little bit… This technically came out on December 31st, 2022. But some people in this world were already in 2023 when it was released so I don’t care, start your own blog, and fight me… I don’t mean to get so aggressive but this short EP self-described as Armored Calvary Metal just hypes me up. It is non-stop unrelenting in your face war metal. This EP is made double awesome by the fact that the two entities behind this work are none other than Coniferous Myst, and Celestial Sword! Two absolutely incredibly hard working musicians that are constantly releasing quality dungeon synth. This EP is what Hell must sound like, and I mean that in the utmost positive way.
Daedric Chamber – Dragon Cult Rising
Black Metal from Tennessee
Independent
I’ve said it before, but the one positive of the pandemic was we had so many people deciding to make music, especially solo black metal and dungeon synth projects. You may think that has made it over-saturated with music, but I disagree. Well, I disagree if you’re a music nerd like me. We have so many killer acts to listen to now. And the subject matter ranges from your typical anti-religious messaging to themes from Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, and the Souls games, and I absolutely adore that! As a nerd who loves black metal and video games, and a huge fan of doing things outside the realm of what is considered normal, this has given us so much.
One such act is Daedric Chamber. Snitz, the mastermind behind DC has their hands dipped into a little bit of everything, from black metal to dungeon synth. As far as Dragon Cult Rising I love the theming of this release, production is sloppy but in all the right ways. It’s short and sweet and has one of the coolest endings to a black metal song on, Awaiting Alduin’s Grand Return It’s just an enjoyable listen for the month of January. Also, I can’t wait for the full-length release; Vampyrum Order, coming out on February 18th.
Faithxtractor – Contempt for a Failed Dimension
Death Metal from Ohio
Redefining Darkness Records
Out of all my posts from this past month on the Sounds of the Void Instagram page, this was the only album I dedicated an entire post to. I love death metal bands that incorporate the absolute horrors of space into their music. Obviously Blood Incantation, and Tomb Mold come to mind, but Faithxtractor should as well. This duo from Cincinatti, OH released one of the most entertaining albums last month with just the right amount of “old school” flare but with a twist that is unique to their own. Going into this release I was unfamiliar with this duo or any of the work they are doing or have done prior with the band Estuary. This release is fresh and full of that excitement bands often have in their first major release, but this is the bands fourth full length album. Taking their time between releases for sure seems to work for them as well, because everything on this release sounds as if it was methodically calculated, as if they were turning brutality into a science… Fiction!
Ὁπλίτης (Soldier) – Ψευδομένη (I Lied)
Progressive Death/Black Metal from China
Independent
I know virtually nothing about this band. Seriously, it flew under my radar when it was released on the first of January this year, and I was unaware of their 2021 EP, Ἡ εἰκών that is also very good. But thanks to a follower over on the Instagram page, I was drawn into the album art. It is a painting by a man named Georges Merle (1851-1886) called, L’Envoûteuse (The Sorceress)(1883). Much like the band, I can’t find a lot of info for Merle, such as how he passed away. He was seemingly young and painted this masterfully rendered female form just three years before he had died. Sorry I fall down these rabbit holes sometimes and I get lost, and bands keep releasing these enthralling works of art with their music. I’m talking about you; Afsky, Departure Chandelier!
As far as, Ψευδομένη is concerned though, it is a dissonant avantgarde pieces if blackened death metal. The opening track honestly gave me vibes from early Psyopus before blasting open the door, and never settling down for the next 37 minutes. This is chaos in the vein of artists such as Imperial Triumphant, Portal, or Serpent Column, but I dare say more interesting. People are already claiming album od the year, and I won’t argue. I was thinking the same thing.
Nothingness – Supraliminal
Death Metal from Minnesota
Everlasting Spew Records
I was impressed with Nothingness’ 2019 outing, The Hollow Gaze of Death. At the time we were beginning to see a new scene of absolutely incredible young death metal bands emerge and it was sometimes hard to standout. This year, they released their sophomore album, Supraliminal, and indeed turned it up to 11.
This album is machine built for one thing, and that is riffs. it’s just a non-stop onslaught of absolute disgusting devastation laden with a pinch of nostalgia for the old school. Don’t get me wrong though, while those are all pluses to the highest extent, you do get a bit of odd (odd in a good way) progression, or rather regression to a slowburn churn of doom and gloom, yet enough dissonance just to twitch your anxiety a little. It’s pacing isn’t always perfect, but that doesn’t take away from how good this album is. WHy in the world would you complain about a killer album being too long? Make it make sense.
Inherits the Void – The Impending Fall of the Stars
Atmospheric Black Metal from France
Avantgarde Music
I’m a huge fan of 90s black metal. Especially the more symphonic side of things. Bands like Odium, Limbonic Art, Vinterland, and Sacramentum (who I think are better than Dissection, fight me nerds) really do it for me. When I say symphonic I don’t mean huge and sweeping as if Tuomas from Nightwish orchestrated a big budget Hollywood film behind a black metal record, but it was symphonic in subtlety. We didn’t have what we have today to add orchestrations to an album, but what those artists were able to are untouchable. Artists doing that today like Moonlight Sorcery, Vassus, Moonlight Sword, and of course, Inherits the Void. But Inherits the Void turns down the symphonic aspect to a dull roar and really pushes the boundaries of the atmosphere.
The Impending Fall of the Stars is a sort of sequel to the 2021 release, Monolith of Light. This album feels lonely, isolated, as if our journey through existence just sits parallel to one another, but never actually intertwined. And again, I’m amazed that everything that this album brings, is delivered by one person. I swear the creativity in this world is incredible. The French are no rookies when it comes to making heartfelt lurid lullabies that are steeped with sadness, and this joins the ranks as an all time great in my opinion.
Leper Colony – Leper Colony
Death/Thrash Metal from Germany
Transcending Obscurity Records
You know that movie Speed with Keanu Reeves, and Sandra Bullock, where is the bus slows down it’ll blow up? I believe Rogga Johansson is the human embodiment of the movement. The dude is a death metal machine that is criminally underrated in the Swedish scene. Last year we were given an absolute killer epitome of what Swedish death metal is with Paganizer’s Beyond the Macabre which of course is fronted by… You guessed it, Rogga Johansson. He always is involved with like sixty other projects, and truly lives, eats, breathes, and most importantly, loves, heavy music.
With Leper Colony, the descriptors that often go along with certain regional death metal acts are stripped away. This isn’t a Swedish death metal album, or melodic death metal. No, this is pure death metal that hands out beatings of riffs like YOU owe the album money. I mentioned above my love for 90s black metal but I feel the same way about death metal, and this is a loveletter to the 90s Floriday death metal scene through and through, while still maintaining that unique Rogga Johannson since of what he believes death metal can be.
Far and away my favorite album of January.
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Wwhat do you think of this list? How close does this come to your favorite January releases? Please check out all of the Bandcamp links, and remember that today (2/3/2023) is Bandcamp Friday! You can support all of these fantastic artists, and so many more today on Bandcamp with 100% of the profits going directly to the artists. Also, if you haven;t, join the party over on Instagram, please do so!
And as always…
Stay Disgusting.
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