Another sub-genre toplist that could have perhaps joined progressive metal to only form one, but the prog entries were already a-plenty with this past year and I like to be precise (and make things harder for myself clearly).
In 2023, when it came to the expansive, sludgy, forlorn cinematic soundscapes typically classified as "post-metal", these were my favourites :
1.) Hypno5e - "Sheol" :
Hypno5e continue to be one of the most unique (post)metal bands in my opinion due to how well they integrate cinema and literature within their music to weave compelling and gripping musical narratives.
"Sheol" acts as the perfect "sequel but prequel" companion album to 2019's "A Distant (Dark) Source" ; forming an endless Sisyphean cycle that perpetually completes itself perfectly.
2.) The Ocean - "Holocene" :
My reaction to the first singles was initially lukewarm since The Ocean I fell in love with was the cataclysmic "Phanerozoic I" and its musical interpretations of mass extinction events while retelling the geological history of our planet.
However, it only made sense that the conclusion of The Ocean's geological album cycle with our present epoch of Holocene would be more subdued and lean more into the electronic facet of the band's sound to convey the darkness and uncertainty witch which we are faced as a species seeing how our evolution is but a speck of dust in the time-line of our world's existence and how we have irreversibly changed and damaged that very world in a matter of seconds on the scale of its history.
3.) Herod - "Iconoclast" :
The swan song of one of the most heavy yet too often cruelly overlooked bands in the genre in my opinion.
Herod's "Iconoclast" sees the band go out with a bang and definitely not a whimper as they tap into colossal downtuned grooves that could make Meshuggah themselves jealous.
4.) healthyliving - "Songs of Abundance, Psalms of Grief" :
What healthyliving lack in massive sludgy riffs often associated with the genre, they more than make up for in bittersweet, haunting atmosphere while playing with different moods and styles to paint a varied and decidedly humane picture, portraying both the joys and pangs of the human experience.
Another fantastic 2023 debut from this brand new multi-national project which includes some familiar faces.
5.) Urne - "A Feast on Sorrow" :
Urne were probably the biggest new discovery for me on this list (aside from the novelty of healthyliving's existence) and could have perhaps ranked higher had I been able to spend more time with the album, who aptly combines throttling thrash with punishing sludge metal while peppering things with Gojira inspired riffs and some Mastodon flair.
"A Feast on Sorrow" is as thunderous as it is emotionally raw and intense, presenting a lot to unpack while having the ability to appeal to a broad range of heavy music enthusiasts.
6.) Sâver - "From Ember and Rust" :
If Cult Of Luna and LLNN had a son, odds are they might call him Sâver.
That isn't to say Sâver aren't able to stand on their own two feet, but rather that they manage to strike a satisfying balance between cinematic atmosphere and experimental sound design while also exploring crushing heaviness with reckless abandon.
I was anticipating their return and they certainly did not disappoint!
7.) Will Haven - "VII" :
Will Haven are veterans, made of the same stuff as bands like Deftones or Converge, and as such, they don't really need introducing, especially not from me since I only started tackling their discography quite recently.
Die-hard fans probably had an idea of what to expect but as for myself, the long, dark, murky corridor that is "VII" caught me slightly unprepared.
That corridor analogy comes with a double-edge since on one hand I really appreciated the suffocating and hypnotic quality of "VII", but I also found myself feeling claustrophobic at times and longing to see the light of day again.
And yet, I couldn't help but come back to walk through it's oppressive depths on multiple occasions.
8.) Lo! - "The Gleaners" :
Blackened, Pelagic-signed sludgy post-metal ?
Yessir, sign me the fuck up!
The main reason behind the lower ranking is purely personal preference when it comes to the more outlandish vocal performances on this record, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying what Lo! had to present with "The Gleaners".
9.) Dimwind - "The Futility of Breathing" :
Underground Swedish duo Dimwind use instrumental post-metal as a cathartic outlet to process grief on their sophomore album and successfully convey the genuine nature behind their intent without words.
10.) Kollaps\e - "Phantom Centre" :
The second underground Swedish act of this list and another debut full length; Kollaps\e follow in the footsteps of the genre's pioneers on "Phantom Centre" without straying too far from the quintessential building blocks of post-metal.
However, that is certainly not detrimental to the quality behind Kollaps\e's first full-length body of work, as "Phantom Centre" proves to be a very enjoyable listen that ticks all the genre's boxes and has its fair share of potent riffs and cinematic atmosphere.
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