Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023
Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023
Welcome to the 19th edition of the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year!
To be honest, I have to say that 2023 started off with a whimper in terms of quality album releases but it did finish with a bang in the latter half. It wasn’t until late July 2023 that I actually heard an album that I thought was truly worthy of topping the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023. This year, there are seven newcomers to Sleaze Roxx‘s year end Top Ten Albums list including two debut records (All For Metal‘s Legends and Smoking Snakes‘ EP Restless & Wild).
Productivity wise, it’s been about the same this year as it was last year in terms of news articles for Sleaze Roxx with around 1,000 each of those years. Concert reviews were down this year, which is surprising since I expected an upswing in 2023 with things seemingly back to normal after the dreaded Covid pandemic. However, it’s not that’s surprising given that I only personally attended a meagre four concerts in 2023 and only saw 10 bands live in concert. When you consider that I saw 74 live performances in 2018 and 47 in 2019, I can only conclude that the Covid pandemic has had a very negative effect on my concert attending habits. It doesn’t help that it seems there are a lot less US bands coming across the border to Canada to play concerts during the last few years. Prices seemingly skyrocketing to attend concerts hasn’t helped matters either but I digress!
A big ‘thank you’ goes out as usual to all of the photographers that allowed Sleaze Roxx to use their professional photos with a particular shout out to the Big Three — Christopher Carroll ROCK Photography, Joe Schaeffer Photography and Christopher Lee Helton. I am always amazed at some of the shots that these guys have taken and it’s an honour for Sleaze Roxx to be able to use their photos. Another big ‘thank you’ goes to all of the people that have contributed content to the Sleaze Roxx website including Christopher Carroll (concert reviews), Chris Clark (year end posters), James Walsh aka wrestlingepicenter.com (CD reviews and concert reviews), Jeff Onorato (CD reviews and concert reviews), Jerzy Nykiel (concert reviews and interviews), Marcelo Vieira (CD reviews and interviews), Rockney Colin (CD reviews) and Terry Martinson (CD reviews). And finally, an even bigger ‘thank you’ goes to the man behind the scenes that created and keeps the ‘new’ website up and running — John Steele!
Olivier
p.s.: Don’t forget to cast your vote for the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2023.
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1. ALL FOR METAL – Legends
CD Review — Interview — Band Website
It only took hearing two songs (the ballad “Legends Never Die” and the anthem “All For Metal”) but I knew that I just had to purchase All For Metal‘s debut album Legends right away and I finally had found an album (assuming that the song quality remained the same for the rest of the tracks) that had a legitimate shot to finish at the top of the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023. As it turns out, all of the songs on Legends turned out to be very good. Granted, All For Metal ended up having a lot of competition for the top spot from Eclipse and Temple Balls but I had to give them the nod given it’s the album that I have listened to the most in 2023 and Antonio Calanna‘s voice is truly one of the best that I have ever heard. Granted, I was at first taken aback by the “other singer” Tim “Tetzel” Wagner‘s deep, deep voice but I got used to it fairly quickly. I know what some of you might think. This is a not a “sleaze” type record… I don’t like the fantasy theme… Who really cares when all the songs really rock? The songs are so good that even my youngest daughter — who is heavily into Eminem (don’t ask) — has been caught on multiple occasions singing along to All For Metal‘s songs (especially “Goddess of War” and “Born In Valhalla”). Long-time Sleaze Roxx writer Terry Martinson and I may not be on the same page for many records but we are definitely on the same one for All For Metal‘s debut album Legends. As Terry aptly put it at the conclusion of his album review, “To quote the newly named, by me “Wonder Twins”, Tetzel and Antonio, “You better run , run better run run, better run” right online and buy your copy of Legends immediately if not sooner.”
All For Metal‘s “Raise Your Hammer” video:
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2. ECLIPSE – Megalomanium
CD Review — Facebook
It’s hard to believe that a band can improve when its previous two albums finished at the top of the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Albums of the Year but Swedish rockers Eclipse seemingly keep getting better one record after another. Yes, this time around — and unlike in 2019 (with Paradigm) and 2021 (with Wired) — Eclipse did not take the top spot but they were awfully close! Megalomanium is so good that I think Eclipse could release any of the songs as a single. There is simply no filler material to be found on this record. It’s just one sing along anthem after another. From the aptly named “Anthem” to the epic closer “Forgiven”, Eclipse have come up with arguably the best album of their career. Perhaps taking a page from AC/DC, Eclipse have wisely not reinvented the wheel with their sound from one album to the next. They have kept their almost formula like songwriting and it really has paid off quite nicely. There are lots of bands that can play melodic rock but only seemingly one — Eclipse — seems to have mastered playing it with a harder edge and that is the reason why their latest album sits near the top of Sleaze Roxx‘s year end top albums list once again.
Eclipse‘s “Anthem” video:
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3. TEMPLE BALLS – Avalanche
CD Review — Band Website
There were only three bands that were seriously vying for the top spot on Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023 and Temple Balls were one of those three bands in the running with their fourth full-length album Avalanche. Over the last few years, Temple Balls have upped their game and come up with three fantastic records — Untamed in 2019, Pyromide in 2021 and now Avalanche in 2023. Not surprisingly, this is Temple Balls‘ third consecutive album to reach the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year and I would not be surprised for them to eventually take that top spot in a future year. Temple Balls seemingly get better and better with each record making subtle but important improvements each time around. There are simply no weak or filler tracks on Avalanche. It’s just one scorching rocker after another. My favorite tracks on Avalanche are the opening track “All Night Long” and the song “Strike Like A Cobra”. As usual, the artwork for the cover of Temple Balls‘ latest record is sublime. It’s almost worth buying the Finnish rockers’ albums just for the cover artwork. If you’ve never checked out Temple Balls before, do yourself a favour and pick up Avalanche. You won’t regret it!
Temple Balls‘ “All Night Long” video:
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4. AB/CD – Back ‘N’ Attack
CD Review
Every couple of years, there is a band that makes Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year that has obviously been highly influenced by AC/DC. Back in 2019, it was Stripwired with their phenomenal album Another Shot which landed the #2 spot. Fast forward to 2021 and it was the Spanish rockers BlackØwl who took the #4 spot with their fantastic record Fly Away. This time around, it is Swedish rockers AB/CD who take the #4 spot with their very AC/DC sounding album Back ‘N’ Attack. Clearly, AB/CD are not shy about their AC/DC influences with both their band name and latest record cover (i.e., think Back In Black) paying homage to the Aussie rockers they idolize or at least look up to in a big way. For those who are not familiar with AB/CD, they released an EP titled Victim of Rock EP (1987) and two full-length records — The Rock n’ Roll Devil (1988) and Cut The Crap (1995) — before going on hiatus and eventually reforming in 2018. Interestingly, in the last month or so, I have noticed that AB/CD seem to have kind of evaporated from the internet with their videos on YouTube for various songs (notably “My Way To Hell” and “21 Gun Salute”) from Back ‘N’ Attack, their Facebook account and even their merch page seemingly nowhere to be found. Hopefully, they will be resurfacing soon but in the meantime, if you like AC/DC, odds are that you are going to dig AB/CD‘s latest record Back ‘N’ Attack.
AB/CD‘s “21 Gun Salute” single:
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5. SMOKING SNAKES – Restless & Wild EP
CD Review — Interview — Facebook
I have to confess not knowing anything about Swedish rockers Smoking Snakes until occasional Sleaze Roxx contributor Dennis submitted a review of their three-song EP Restless & Wild. I was blown away by what I heard. Smoking Snakes‘ brand of no frills, sleazy and old school rockers was exactly what I wanted to hear. I eventually set up an interview with the two band founders — bassist Andy Delarge and lead vocalist / guitarist Brett Martin — and was shocked to find out that although Smoking Snakes had recently signed with Italian record label Frontiers Music Srl, they only had two gigs under their belt (as of October 11th). In any case, the great news is that Smoking Snakes are slated to release their debut full-length album Danger Zone in less than one month and a half on February 9, 2024. Sadly, it appears that Smoking Snakes‘ debut EP Restless & Wild in CD format is out of print but all three songs from the EP have made their way onto Danger Zone. There is no need to say that Danger Zone is one of my most anticipated releases of 2024.
Smoking Snakes‘ “Run For Your Life” video:
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6. DOKKEN – Heaven Comes Down
CD Review — Band Website
Incredibly as this may sound, this is the first time that Dokken appear on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year list. Granted, Dokken have not released that many studio albums since Sleaze Roxx started its year end lists back in 2005 given that they only released Lightning Strikes Again (2008), Broken Bones (2012) and this year’s Heaven Comes Down. Along the way, Don Dokken‘s voice kind of disappeared or at least his vocal range became a lot more limited. While it’s a shame that this occurred, I think if anything, it makes you appreciate what an amazing singer that he used to be back in the ’80s and ’90s. Although his voice is not what it used to be, there is no denying that Heaven Comes Down has some amazing songs, splendid guitar work from Jon Levin and some of the trademark melodies that can be found on those early Dokken records. If this is the last Dokken record that we get from the now 70 year old Don Dokken, Heaven Comes Down should be remembered as an excellent album that likely would have challenged for first place on the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023 if Don Dokken‘s voice was like it was a couple of decades ago.
Dokken‘s “Over The Mountain” video:
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7. STEEL PANTHER – On The Prowl
CD Review — Concert Review — Band Website
Perhaps Steel Panther have just been a victim of their own success but it seems that since their stellar debut record (Feel The Steel) in 2009 and amazing follow up (Balls Out) in 2011, they have been dealing with the same situation that many of the ’80s era hard rock and heavy metal bands have been faced with, namely it doesn’t matter what new music they release, their fans have grown attached to the material from their first two records. The reality is that while Steel Panther have released some great songs since 2011, they have never come up with a record as good as their first two. Steel Panther‘s latest effort On The Prowl does not reach the levels of Feel The Steel or Balls Out but it’s a strong effort nonetheless. It’s certainly a worthy comeback after the rather disappointing Heavy Metal Rules, which was the first Steel Panther record not to make Sleaze Roxx‘s year end Top Ten albums and which barely made the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums in 2019. In any case, with songs like the rocking “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)” which should be in the band’s setlist for years to come, the witty “1987” with the lyrics naming many of your favorite ’80s era groups and the killer ballad “Ain’t Dead Yet”, Steel Panther continue to prove that they have a lot of great songs left in them.
Steel Panther‘s “1987” video:
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8. LIVESAY – Scars
CD Review — Facebook
Back in October 2016, I attended concert promoter Justin Murr‘s (R.I.P.) brainchild Rock N Skull. It was a fantastic four days of live performances and I got to see many bands that I will likely never get the chance to see play live ever again unless I head over to Europe or trek a far distance into the United States of America. One of those bands were Connecticut state based Livesay. To be honest, Livesay really didn’t make much of an impression on me when I saw them perform at Rock N Skull. I ranked them #30 out of 31 live performances. At that time, Livesay‘s entire set was focused on their new album Frozen Hell, which I just couldn’t get into. If you would have told me at that time or even at anytime until I heard their latest EP Scars that Livesay would crack the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year, I would have never believed you! But that’s exactly what happened in 2023! Of note, the Livesay line-up that released Frozen Hell back in 2016 has changed considerably with only band founder and guitarist Gregg Livesay remaining. The Livesay line-up for the EP Scars also includes lead vocalist Mike Gill, keyboardist Mark Zito (who sadly passed away about a week ago), drummer Tim Huntington (who was let go or fired from the band apparently prior to the release of the EP) and bassist Rich Andrews. If you like classic Masterplan, odds are that you’ll really enjoy Livesay‘s four-song EP Scars. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait six or seven years for Livesay‘s follow up to Scars.
Livesay‘s “Walk Away” video:
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9. STATION – And Time Goes On
CD Review — Band Website
There has never been any question that the Station band members are all talented musicians and guitarist Chris Lane is a bonafide songwriting machine but I have always found their songs to be on the light end of things and a little too poppy / mellow for my taste. Earlier this year, Lane reached out to me asking if I would review Station‘s latest record And Time Goes On while indicating that it was “a little more hard rock leaning than previous albums“. I mistakingly interpreted that comment as meaning that it would be a much harder edged record but aside from the opening track “Over & Over”, most songs weren’t really leaning that much more into the hard rock realm than previous efforts. However, upon listening to And Time Goes On a couple of times, I was blown away by the melodies, Patrick Kearney‘s splendid singing and at times, the expertly crafted songs. Although Station are still on the light realm of the spectrum when it comes to the hard rock that I listen to, their songs are just too good not to give credit where credit is due so I welcome Station to the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of the Year. To be honest, I thought that Station would have been there sooner when I heard their self-titled album back in 2015 but better late than never. If you haven’t heard And Times Goes On yet, I highly recommend checking out the songs “Over & Over”, “If You Want Me Too”, “A Little Bit of Love” and the title track.
Station‘s “Over & Over” lyric video:
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10. METALLICA – 72 Seasons
CD Review — Band Website
Back in July when I reviewed Metallica‘s latest album 72 Seasons, I was shocked by how consistently good the record was. It was 75 minutes of solid heavy metal music from start to finish. I have to confess that I really struggled to choose which album should round out the Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023. There were a few records that had better songs than the ones that can be found on 72 Seasons but all those other records had one or more dud songs that kind of sunk them when it came to making Sleaze Roxx’s Top Ten Albums of 2023. 72 Seasons is most likely the best album that Metallica have come up with since their game changing self-titled “black” record that dates back now all the way to 1991. Some might wonder what such a heavy band is doing on the Sleaze Roxx‘s year end list but Sleaze Roxx has always been more than just a site that caters to “sleaze” type bands, and more one that caters to all the great hard rock and heavy metal artists and groups from the ’80s era and all those after them that keep the torch going. If you loved Metallica back in the ’80s and early ’90s, you can’t go wrong with picking up 72 Seasons.
Metallica‘s “Lux Æterna” video:
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