2023 has proven itself to be an amazing year for heavy metal, and we’re only halfway through!
While there have been a lot of incredible records – we wrote about the 25 best metal albums released so far this year – there have also been hundreds of incredible new singles to come out.
From doom to hardcore, death metal, and more experimental cuts, we combed through many of the tracks to come out this year and compiled a list highlighting the 10 best metal songs of 2023 thus far.
“The Clandestine Gate” – Bell Witch
In a way, “The Clandestine Gate” is both a song and an album. Much like the band’s 2016 record Mirror Reaper, Bell Witch has once again taken the route of crafting an album experience out of one song. “The Clandestine Gate” is an extraordinary work of doom, casting a tremendous atmosphere of droning distortion that oozes with sorrow.
“Cosmic” – Avenged Sevenfold
While much of what makes Avenged Sevenfold’s new album work so well is listening to the record as a whole, “Cosmic” is one hell of a stand-alone track. Stylistically and technically intriguing, “Cosmic” provides an enticing taste of the band’s experimental artistry, inviting listeners to embark on a sonic adventure.
“Grooming My Replacement” – Code Orange
While both of the band’s new songs are extremely crushing, we gotta give it up to “Grooming My Replacement.” From start to finish, Code Orange has crafted one of the year’s most exhilarating bangers, for the track provides metallic thrashing and savage aggression for every second of its runtime.
“Deep In The Willow” – Knocked Loose
Knocked Loose has proven itself to create some incredible metallic hardcore stompers, and “Deep In The Willow” is no exception to that. The instrumentation throughout the song is nothing short of feverish; from thundering drum beats to guitar shredding, “Deep In The Willow” is one of this year’s most raucous tracks, hands down.
“Blood Blind” – Cannibal Corpse
This song may have come out just the other day, but holy shit it is HEAVY. Cannibal Corpse is one of the best when it comes to crafting ferociously crushing death metal cuts, and “Blood Blind” is an amazing example of the band’s artistry. We are beyond excited about what else the band has to offer with their new album.
“Screaming Suicide” – Metallica
Of the catchy and exhilarating songs Metallica has to offer on 72 Seasons, “Screaming Suicide” has won us over big time. Not only does James Hetfield provide deeply emotional lyricism, but the instrumental performance is so damn electrifying. Both moving and exciting, “Screaming Suicide” is one hell of a Metallica thrasher.
“Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did)” – Zulu
Among the band’s incredible songs featured on their new album A New Tomorrow, “Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did)” is one of Zulu’s most hard-hitting cuts. With a small buildup in the beginning, it doesn’t take long for the band to go full force into hardcore-powerviolence extremity. Much like the rest of the band’s music, this track has an incredible power to stir up mosh pits big time.
“The Summoning” – Sleep Token
As one of the biggest songs to come out of metal this year, of course, we gotta shout out Sleep Token’s “The Summoning.” Let alone that this song is an impressive work of poppy droning metal, this track has also done a lot to introduce many non-metal listeners to the genre.
“Gates of Horn” – Jesus Piece
“Gates of Horn” is a metallic hardcore banger through and through. There is an incredible pace to this song that constantly builds and builds upon the momentum, serving to be the perfect mosh pit generator. On top of that, vocalist Aaron Heard brings amazing energy to the track and further elevates the remarkable air of aggression “Gates of Horn” has to offer.
“Scourge of the Offspring” – Cattle Decapitation
Cattle Decapitation is one of the few bands that bring a sincere emotional element into death metal. A prime example of this is “Scourge of the Offspring,” which not only makes for another heavy cut from the band but also provides a powerful melodic hook that is overwhelming in sorrow. While some folks may just headbang throughout “Scourge of the Offspring,” others might get a bit teary-eyed.