(Today we present the fifth and final installment of Neill Jameson‘s 2023 year-end list. You can find the first four Parts by hitting this link and scrolling down.)

See the subtle change in the title? I’m building a narrative, I’m told that’s a good idea in writing. As far as I can tell (from constantly Googling myself), I’ve been doing year-end lists here since 2014. Initially I would only pick a few records each year, mostly because I was trying to shed light on things that other people may not have noticed throughout the year, which would grow somewhat each year until we made it to 2018, one of the most miserable years I’d had in a moment, and it showed in the lack of anything approaching enthusiasm in my writing. But once 2019 hit, it was like something opened up in me and I was actually interested in seeking out new music, the closest to approaching being passionate about anything I’d been in years. And from there I haven’t slowed down. 

I understand that these lists are read for a variety of reasons, to see if your band was in it, to disagree with it, to tell me I’m either an SJW cuck or a nazi, or (and this is the lowest number) to actually seek out new music that might interest you. Regardless of your reason, I hope you’ve found something you’re looking for out of this. I don’t really want to hear about it either way.

These were my favorite releases of the year not covered by my Invisible Oranges list, which was all album based. There’s a few here too, sure, but this is mostly EPs, demos etc. Not a lot of surprises if you’ve read any previous years. This will probably be wordy, even for me (“long winded” is another description I’ve read about myself) Enough from me, here’s the list:

 

Крюкокрест “Ауфидерзейн” (Horrible Room)

Крюкокрест (Russia) — Ауфидерзейн — 2022 full length

Крюкокрест’s previous full length was one of my favorite releases of 2021. A nasty record of bombed out Ildjarn worship, a rustier Nyredolk. When I saw this one announced I expected more of the same, and that aspect is present, but Ауфидерзейн is much more than that. From the starkly striking cover photograph to the hour and twenty minute run time, there’s an emotional complexity to this record that you wouldn’t necessarily expect from them. The songs are hypnotic, utilizing repetition in an almost ritualistic manner and striking with as much vitriol as they’ve become known for, there’s something much deeper at play here. Could you call this record beautiful? In some twisted manner, absolutely. Simplicity without a single boring moment. 

 

Eerified Catacomb/Void of Autumn “Split” (Death Hymns)

Eerified Catacomb / Void Of Autumn – Split (2023)

This was actually my introduction to Eerified Catacomb as I picked up this split solely on the fact of Void of Autumn being another project of Antti Klemi (Circle of Ouroborus, Absolute Key) so that was the side I listened to first. Rotting, simplistic black metal, not unlike CoO’s harsher moments, possibly his most digestible recording to those black metal devotees unfamiliar to his immense body of work. Infinitely satisfying. Getting to the EC side of the split, you’re greeted with yet another of UE’s faces, this time a more torturous, doomier visage. But what really elevated this split into my favorite of the year is the second song, “Theresa Ignace Beam,” which is a distant and cold synth track that reminds me of the Runes Order record The Land of Silence, which was a huge one for me in 1995. UE’s synth work (like the intro to the Nächtlich split with Grunhyrde) really carries an old vibe and is a major factor in my enjoyment of his work. Overall excellent split from two filthcarriers of the underground. 

 

Crymych “Songs of Sistrum” (Deathprayer)

Songs of Sistrum | Crymych | Pembrokeshire Black Circle (bandcamp.com)

While Endless Fucking Winter felt like a Victorian black metal Phobos, Songs of Sistrum plays out more like a medieval ritual mass. There’s a defined maturation of their sound, a pretty significant one, actually. Still staying within the realms of the Pembrokeshire Black Circle’s established sound aesthetic, Crymych have crafted an exquisite listening experience with Songs of Sistrum and I’m curious to see where they go next. 

 

Dai-Ichi “Dai-Ichi” (Crown and Throne)

Dai-Ichi | Dai-Ichi | Crown and Throne Ltd. (bandcamp.com)

Dai-Ichi’s 2019 Dai-Ichi came across feeling like a mixture of Ildjarn and the Leviathan demos, a caustic but satisfying affair. Now on 2023’s Dai-Ichi (I’m sensing a theme) they’ve taken that formula and have given it room to breathe. Dai-Ichi(2023) shows layers of complexity with each song that Dai-Ichi(2019, this is getting fucking confusing) only really hinted at. An exciting leap for one of the best modern USBM bands. 

 

Old Tower “Draconic Synthesis” (Hospital Productions)

Draconic Synthesis | Old Tower (bandcamp.com)

It’s not often an album title perfectly describes a record, but in the case of Draconic Synthesis it fits perfectly. This is every era of Old Tower converging and moving as one, between morbid dungeon synth and late ‘90s Cold Meat Industry styled dark ambient. Where The Old King of Witches was mostly meditative dark ambient soundscapes, Draconic Synthesis shifts the focus back to a more, I hesitate to use the word, musical listening experience. It feels as though The Specter is at a creative crossroads after finishing his first two journeys  and I’m interested to see which path he takes next.

 

Withdrawal “And Still You Long for More” (self released)

…And Still, You Long For More. | WITHDRAWAL (bandcamp.com)

I’m pretty sure I mentioned waiting for new Withdrawal material at the end of my list last year, so at least the wait wasn’t long. Absolutely fucking savage hardcore, very obviously informed by death and black metal (so much so there’s a Morbid Angel cover), this is easily the band’s most violent material yet and a very clear choice for my favorite hardcore recording released in 2023. Welcome back. 

 

Graves of Eden “Ante Meridiem” (Brilliant Emperor)

Ante Meridiem | Graves Of Eden (bandcamp.com)

Out of everything I’ve written about with these lists I’ve found I’ve struggled the most with Graves of Eden’s Ante Meridiem and I think I’ve figured out why. While the music belies a simplicity and repetition, repeated listens (much like his previous work) uncover layers. Dungeon synth with nontraditional instruments (for the genre, I guess, I’m probably full of shit) that make me think of intense, dark places, dimly lit with orange or blue glow. Since I’m doing so well with the comparisons to make my sex appeal hang slightly behind a grown up who pisses the bed, I’ll say it reminds me of “A Link to the Past” if the game took place entirely in hell. For a year that was really full of a lot of great dungeon synth, this was the best of them all. 

 

Púca “Of Rot and Rainfall” (Moonworshipper Records)

Of Rot and Rainfall | Púca | Moonworshipper Records (bandcamp.com)

With news of a full-length for 2024 via Poisonous Sorcery that will sell out before I can buy a copy, it seems like the proper time to talk about the second Púca demo that emerged a short time after the self-titled which I wrote about a few lists ago. Taking the VON with epic solos formula and expanding upon it even further, Of Rot and Rainfall shows the fulfilled promise the self-titled demo held. 

 

Rot in Hell/Cruelty “Split” (Sineater)

Split with Cruelty | Rot In Hell (bandcamp.com)

Rot in Hell are one of my favorite Holy Terror related bands (as well as hardcore in general) but you don’t really know which face of theirs you’ll get each release. There’s the Integrity styled assbeaters or the dark neofolk sides, with many expressions in between but for this split we get the former, with six minutes of intense, dark and violent hardcore, their first new material in quite some time, showing they’ve lost none of their teeth in their advancing age. Cruelty’s side is an excellent pairing, making this the best hardcore split I’ve heard in quite awhile. Crushing shit. 

 

Voids of Nirvana “Derogating Fallen Idols” (self released)

Derogating Fallen Idols | Voids of Nirvana | Inverse Solar Reqvriem (bandcamp.com)

I don’t know what else I’ve heard that sounds like Derogating Fallen Idols. Darklord’s demo maybe? Mortem’s original Slow Death? These and early Leviathan and that might give you an idea, but doesn’t scratch the surface.  Musically this is incredible, densely layered black metal, with incredible vocals and an excellent sense for atmosphere. Plus with a song titled “The Stars Will Never Shine for You…You Fucking Cunt” there was no way Voids of Nirvana wouldn’t resonate with me. Physical version soon, hopefully on vinyl. 

 

Krigstørn “Mod Guders Svig” (Nattetale)

Krigstjørn (Denmark) – Mod Guders Svig (Album 2023)

Somewhat quiet year from the Korpsånd Circle but we did see the return of what is quickly becoming my favorite project from this collective. Triumphant and ancient black metal with a thick, bass-heavy production and incredible composition. The 1990s traditions are alive with Krigstørn and the other Korpsånd bands. Hopefully this will see a vinyl release next year. 

 

Occult Blood “The Room in the Ground” (Forbidden Sonority) 

The Room in the Ground | Occult Blood (bandcamp.com)

Came across this demo via the excellent No Gleaming Light Youtube channel and decided to give it a shot based on the title alone. Within a few minutes I came to realize this was going to be the best demo I’d heard in 2023. Vicious punk infused black metal, the audial equivalent of broken and jagged teeth that just gets better as the demo progresses. 

***

And there we have 2023 wrapped up in a haphazard five pieces, loaded with run-on sentences and more information about myself than anyone cares about. If I’ve learned anything from this year it’s that I really am a delight, podcasters who’ve had me on are very polite when trying to get me to wrap up a point and shut the fuck up, and that there is still a vibrant underground rife with shit to explore. Anyone who says otherwise is a fucking dolt who’s too cool for the room and should either keep it to themselves or tell it to an oncoming bus. 

As far as what I’m looking forward to in 2024? Here’s a hint:

Meridians Of Sacrifice | Kommodus (bandcamp.com)

Should there still be a world in twelve months I hope to see you then. As for now, I’m fucking sick of writing about music. Happy New Year and fuck off.