16 STEVEN WILSON THE HARMONY CODEX
(Virgin)
This year’s seventh solo release showed the progressive mastermind at his most eclectic, with some jaw-dropping leads from guest guitarist Niko Tsonev.
15 COVET CATHARSIS
(Triple Crown Records)
Spangly math rock gets ethereal as Yvette Young’s experimental playing exudes heavy emotions without saturating the band’s colourfully wonky grooves.
14 TESSERACT WAR OF BEING
(KScope Records)
Djent progenitors return with a darker sound as swathing cleans and abrasive riffs become plot devices on an ambitious concept record.
13 RIVAL SONS LIGHTBRINGER
(Low Country Sound/Atlantic)
Their second LP of the year served up six psych-rock adventures with plenty of reminders as to how Scott Holiday earned the nickname ‘Mr Fuzzlord’.
12 PERIPHERY V: DJENT IS NOT A GENRE
(3DOT Recordings)
A brutal progressive metal masterclass boasting incendiary chops, pick scrapes, whammy pedal screams, wild solos, dizzying rhythms and laser-focused songwriting.
11 EXTREME SIX
(eraMusic)
After 15 long years, the funk metallers returned with some of the finest songs of their career, as proven by lead single Risebecoming the talking point of 2023.
10 THE ROLLING STONES HACKNEY DIAMONDS
(Polydor)
In the Stones’ first album of original material in 18 years, and their best in 40, the neartelepathic guitar interplay between Keith and Ronnie is a thing of wonder.
09 AVENGED SEVENFOLD LIFE IS BUT A DREAM…
(Warner Music UK)
If 2016’s TheStagehinted at the Californian metallers getting experimental, this year’s follow-up was a mind-melting deep-dive into the progressive unknown.
08 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE IN TIMES NEW ROMAN…
(Matador)
After fighting off
