Top 10 Albums of June 2023

Hello everyone and welcome to the 6th edition of 2023 for the top 10 albums of the month. This time is, of course, covering the top 10 albums of June 2023. This was a particularly hard month to narrow down to 10 as I had 30 albums as potential candidates and I had to cut 2/3rds to make this all happen. I did leave off some great albums that may/will appear in the top 100 at the end of the year, but until then, let’s get into the rules and then get down to business with the Top 10 Albums of the Month for June 2023.
 
1.) This 10-part saga covers albums from January 2023-October 2023. November 2023 will have My Top 100 Albums of 2023 and I won’t be covering any December 2023 releases unless they make the Top 100 list in November. This will come out on the last Friday of every month to cover all of that month.
2.) These are all brand new, original studio LPs that I’ll be talking about. So now EPs, cover albums, rarity albums, live albums, re-releases, or remake albums. Easy enough right?
3.) These are all in ALPHABETICAL ORDER. Not in order of what I think was the best of the 10 albums talked about. That comes at the end of the year.
4.) Yes, I get promos in advance, but I am not asked to put an album on my list from any label or PR. All thoughts are my own. If I don’t get a promo in advance, I wait till release day to check it out. Everything is nice and legal.
5.) What ends up on a Top 10 of the Month list or doesn’t make it on the list is no indication that it will be or not be on the Top 100 list at the end of the year. I miss out on albums throughout the year and my thoughts may change on ones I’ve already heard.
6.) Check out what you may enjoy. That’s 100% the purpose of all of this. Have Fun & Enjoy!

So Let's Begin!
 
AmongRuins- Land of the Black Sun
FFO- Melodeath

One of the best melodeath albums you will hear this year, bar none. From incredible production, fantastic songwriting, and killer vocals to match the music and the overall atmosphere that you would hear in a lot of Finnish melodeath, but it’s actually Greek melodeath, which is a cool change of pace. The album just came out back on Wednesday, so it may go under the radar, but I implore you to give this one a chance if you dig melodeath. You are going to love what you hear.
 
The Anchoret- It All Began with Loneliness
FFO- Avant-Garde Progressive Metal
 
Some of the finest prog you will hear in 2023 is a debut album from a Canadian prog band that turns from King Crimson to Fair to Midland to BTBAM to their own unique sounds on the turn of a dime. All of it makes for a very cohesive listen that makes more and more sense the more you let the music sink in and consume you. It can be dark, it can be quirky, but it’s all for the benefit of the music at hand. This is how you challenge the boundaries of prog music in 2023 when things feel like it has become plateaued. The Anchoret is breathing new life into prog, give them a chance and see why.
 
Fifth Angel- Resist the Tyrant
FFO- Power Metal, Heavy Metal
 
The 4th album from this decades-long band might be the best album from the band yet. Layered in a dystopian/apocalyptic concept, When Angels Kill combines some of the heaviest moments of the band with killer musicianship and songwriting. The album truly feels like it’s the soundtrack to an apocalyptic film or even a sign of things to come? But in all seriousness, this album is filled with heavy power metal that should satisfy anyone who loves their power metal and heavy metal on the heavier edge but still super melodic. Give this one a shot if it sounds intriguing to you; it may just be for you.
 
Max Enix- Far From Home
FFO- Albums Every Style of Rock, Metal, Prog
 
From jazz to rap to new age to near-symphonic death metal, there is a little bit of everything you could want in an album like this. That should also be noted as saying this is a double disc concept album from Max Enix who has made one of the most eclectic albums of the year, without question. Featuring guest starts that are too many to mention, additional arrangements by Vikram Shankar, and that sense of a whirlwind flying across you. It can be a hodgepodge of sound, it could be a smorgasbord of sound, and it could be exactly what you are looking for; regardless, this album has everything but the kitchen sink attached to it. It is a daunting album at nearly 2 hours and 40 minutes. Will you take the plunge?

Obsolete Theory- Doomlight
FFO- Blackened Death Metal
 
This is a brand new discovery to me and I love what I hear. Starting off more as a death ‘n’ roll band, the band is now fully immersed in the blackened death metal sound and it suits them perfectly. The songs are so polished with incredible production, the vocals fit so well with the music and it’s great to hear a new approach to the style while mainstays like Belphegor and Behemoth have dominated the genre forever. If you want a fresh take on blackened death metal, this one is more than worthy of your attention.
 
Ray Alder- II
FFO- Progressive Metal
 
This one actually pains me to put it on here. Let me explain. Back when the first solo album from Ray Alder came out, he mentioned that he didn’t want to have to put out another solo album and wanted to keep making music under Fates Warning. As that is no longer a viable option, Alder is under the solo moniker again, but he truly makes the best of it with some of his most inspired music to date. The songs feel fresher, his vocals are just top-notch here, and the backing band really knows what to play and what not to play. It’s a proper prog album that doesn’t feel too out of reach for the casual prog fan. It feels as catchy as it is heavy, which can be a hard feat in the genre. This album rules and if you are going to miss hearing new Fates Warning albums like I surely will be; this is as close as we’ll get and it will make you just as happy.
 
Saturnus- The Storm Within
FFO- Melodic Death Doom
 
The masters of melodic death doom have returned after 11 years proving that it’s all about quality, not quantity. Easily one of the best doom albums of the year combining the elements of death, doom, and their own spices to create an atmosphere that others try to replicate, but can never duplicate. This is one of the most inspired doom metal albums of the year and it’s not even close. Give this one a shot if you need some doom for the hot summer days, it just may cool you off before wrecking you emotionally.
 
Scar Symmetry- The Singularity (Phase II: Xenotaph)
FFO- Progressive Melodeath
 
Scar Symmetry returns 9 years after Phase I was released and it's everything I was hoping it would be. Where Phase 1 was much more melodic and progressive; Phase II is much heavier and brutal. It’s filled with down-tuned guitars, blast beats, and beautiful chaos. While the songs were written not long after Phase I, they feel just as fresh in 2023. The band has mentioned that they are either writing Phase III or an unrelated album next as the band is back to being in full force. I simply can’t wait to see what is next no matter what happens. While this may be the end of the 2nd chapter of the band, the 3rd chapter is sure to destroy all in its path.
 
Subterranean Disposition- Individualism
FFO- Avant Garde Death Doom
 
Another band that took me by complete surprise this month. Taking death doom into strange new places, but done with such expertise that it’s awe-inspiring. With impeccable production, songwriting, and musicianship; this is an album that takes so many left turns from what you expect, but it’s such a welcomed change as well. It’s one of those albums that is so hard to explain without just hearing the music, so that is what I advise you to do. Give this album an honest chance and if you like things left of center, this may be a new favorite discovery for you. I know it is for me.
 
Vulture Industries- Ghost from the past
FFO- Avant-Garde Progressive Metal, Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
 
This longstanding Norwegian band’s latest album has some of the catchiest, but different moments the band has ever released. While every song has catchy moments for those who enjoy the more goth and post-punk stylings the band has always hinted at; the band pulls out some of the more quirky moments with brass and woodwind instrumentation mixed into their devil-may-care attitude. I heard this album described as “It’s like a punk band was drawn to record an album at Dracula’s castle before they all become undead.” and what a great way to describe this album. Seriously, if you like your dark music with unexpected twists, give Vulture Industries your attention immediately.
 
 
And there you go folks, halfway done with the year, more than halfway done with my lists for the year and the Top 10 Albums of June 2023. Tune in next time for The Top 10 Albums of July 2023.
 
 Until next time, this is Josh Rundquist saying, See Ya!
 
 - Josh Rundquist (Heavy Debriefings)