After another bumper year of quality music from across the rock spectrum, VELVET THUNDER is proud to present the best of the year. Thanks for reading in 2023 and see you all in 2024!
Terry Craven
- Hawkwind – The Future Never Waits (Cherry Red)
- Withering Scorn – Prophets Of Demise (Frontiers)
- The Flower Kings – Look At You Now (InsideOut)
- Jag Panzer – The Hallowed (Atomic Fire)
- DGM – Life (Frontiers)
- Pattern Seeking Animals – Spooky Action At A Distance (InsideOut)
- Pyramaze – Bloodlines (AFM)
- Kamelot – The Awakening (Napalm)
- High Pulp – Days In The Desert (Anti)
- Lalu – The Fish Who Wanted To Be King (Frontiers)
Lorne Murphy
- Lars Fredrik Frøislie – Fire Fortellinger (Karisma)
- Paskinel – Maraude Automnale (Vallis Lupi)
- Arabs in Aspic – The Magic of Sin (Karisma)
- Wegferend – En Autremonde – Chapitre Second (Mors Ultima Ratio)
- The Chronicles of Father Robin – The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book II: Ocean Traveller (Metamorphosis) (Karisma)
- Blood Ceremony – The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above)
- Zopp – Dominion (Flat Circle)
- Agusa – Prima Materia (Kommun 2)
- The Chronicles of Father Robin – The Songs & Tales of Airoea – Book I: The Tale of Father Robin (State of Nature) (Karisma)
- Crown Lands – Fearless (Universal Music Canada/Ontario Creates)
Steve Pilkington
- Hekz – Terra Nova (Independent)
- Uriah Heep – Chaos And Colour (Silver Lining)
- Karnataka – Requiem For A Dream (Immrama)
- Mystery – Redemption (Unicorn)
- Hayley Griffiths Band – Melanie (Posh And Rock)
- The Emerald Dawn – In Time (World’s End)
- IO Earth – Sanctuary (Independent)
- Ozric Tentacles – Lotus Unfolding (KScope)
- Carrie Martin – Evergreen (Psychotron)
- So Long Space Girl – Your Heroes Are All Dead (Independent)
Richard Proctor
- King Falcon – King Falcon (Mascot)
- D’Virgilio, Morse and Jennings – Sophomore (InsideOut)
- Blood Ceremony – The Old Ways Remain (Rise Above)
- Bruce Soord – Luminescence (Kscope)
- Masheena – West Coast Hard Rock (Descamisado)
- Ray Alder – II (InsideOut)
- Empyre – Relentless (Kscope)
- Klone – Meanwhile (Kscope)
- Svartanatt – Last Days on Earth (The Sign Records)
- Erei Cross – The Widow and the Others (Klonosphere)
Graeme Stroud
- Matteo Mancuso – The Journey (Mascot)
- Schwager-Oliver Quartet – Senza Resa (Cellar)
- Arjen Lucassen – Golden Age Of Music (Mascot/Music Theory)
- Robert Jon & The Wreck – Live At The Ancienne Belgique (Journeyman)
- Marc Broussard – S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul (Keeping The Blues Alive)
- Joe Bonamassa – Tales Of Time (J&R Adventures)
- DeWolff – Love, Death and In Between (Mascot)
- Haslem – Faith, Family, Friends & Flatmates (Independent)
- Ana Popovic – Power (artistsXclusive)
- Robin Trower (ft. Sari Schorr) – Joyful Sky (Mascot/Provogue)
Laurence Todd
- Solstice – Light Up (GEP)
- Riverside – I.D.Entity (Inside Out)
- Pattern Seeing Animals – Spooky Action At A Distance (InsideOut)
- D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings – Sophomore (Inside Out Music)
- Jethro Tull – Rokflote (InsideOut Music)
- Beatrix Players – Living and Alive (Independent)
- Cairo – Nemesis (Spirit Of Unicorn Music)
- Karnataka – Requiem For A Dream (Immrama)
- Mariusz Duda – Afr.a.id (Kscope)
- Yes – Mirror To The Sky (InsideOut Music)
STOYAN TSONEV
- Diviner – Avaton (Rock Of Angels)
- The Night Eternal – Fatale (Ván Records)
- Obituary – Dying Of Everything (Relapse)
- Overkill – Scorched (Nuclear Blast)
- High Spirits – Safe On The Other Side (High Roller)
- Destructor – Blood, Bone And Fire (Shadow Kingdom)
- Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll (Metal Blade)
- Kerrigan – Bloodmoon (High Roller)
- Century – The Conquest Of Time (Electric Assault/No Remorse)
- Thron – Dust (Listenable)
Lee Vickers
- Daedric – Mortal (FiXT)
- Conquer Divide – Slow Burn (Mascot)
- Servers – The Vertical Plane (Undergroove)
- The Ocean – Holocene (Pelagic)
- Obituary – Dying Of Everything (Relapse)
- Blood Command – World Domination (Hassle)
- Beyond The Black – Beyond The Black (Nuclear Blast)
- Phantom Elite – Blue Blood (Frontiers)
- Smackbound – Hostage (Frontiers)
- Avatar – Dance, Devil Dance (Black Waltz)
Paul Whimpenny
- Einar Solberg – 16 (InsideOut)
- Margarita Witch Cult – Margarita Witch Cult (Heavy Psych)
- The Emerald Dawn – In Time (World’s End)
- Soen – Memorial (Silver Lining)
- Ljungblut – Sauda (Karisma)
- Tenhi – Valkama (Prophecy)
- Hex A.D. – Delightful Sharp Edges (Apollon)
- Molybaron – Something Ominous (InsideOut)
- Coyle Girelli – Museum Day (Independent)
- Svartanatt – Last Days On Earth (The Sign Records)
SEBASTIAN VICKERS
- Sleep Token – Take Me Back to Eden (Spinefarm)
- Signs of the Swarm – Amongst the Low & Empty (Century Media)
- Invent Animate – Heavener (UNFD)
- Bury Tomorrow – The Seventh Sun (Music for Nations)
- Veil of Maya – (m)other (Sumerian)
- Blood Command – World Domination (Hassle/Loyal Blood)
- Vexed – Negative Energy (Napalm)
- Currents – The Death We Seek (SharpTone)
- As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet (Long Branch)
- Polaris – Fatalism (SharpTone)
Fantastic set of lists! And an awesome Featured Image at the top!
A very happy and healthy New Year to The Gang!
And cheers to Lee for that wonderful Featured Image – Ace!