Monthly Archives: January 2024

Best Of 2023

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The ‘Best Of 2023’ On The Rock Solid Pressure Show

Happy New Year Everybody! Here’s the charting positions from our ‘Best Of 2023’ broadcast on The Rock Solid Pressure Show. We get hundreds of submissions per day, so obviously we don’t, and can’t chart all the submissions we receive. And to be honest, only 85% of submissions actually makes the cut on our playlist. For those that listen to the broadcast on a regular basis, you know we’re all about the ‘Trendsetters’ not the ‘Trend Followers’, and that’s what we look for. But huge congratulations to all the bands that made the cut and took honors this year. Today also marks our 22 YEAR ANNIVERSARY on the air. Last year in our haste to post these charts, we mistakenly said it was our 20 Year Anniversary. Obviously we’ve been crazy busy since we’ve been here in Reno, but we’ve always been crazy busy. Yeah, we’ve been through FM Syndication, a TV Show, 17 huge Industry Showcases, been directly involved with booking over 900 huge national acts, and at last count, we’ve booked way over 4500 local bands. The broadcast started in the Northeast (CT) when we worked for Sony Records (NYC) in 2002. Moved the show to Florida in 2004, and stayed there for 15 years. We’ve now been in Reno NV for almost 5 years, and we’re still going strong in our old age. But with all that history under our belts, we keep writing new chapters. As everybody knows by now, we’re currently on ‘Rock Rage Radio’ and The Rock Solid Pressure Show is now being broadcast in 115 countries.

2023 was another strong year for new music releases and it’s all documented below. Also, if you missed our ‘Best Of 2023’ Special broadcast last night, it will be posted shortly at our site http://www.RockSolidPressure.com . Again, congrats to all the bands that made the cut this year. And we thank each and every one of you for supporting the broadcast, and our concert events over the years. Without your support, we could have never come this far. So we raise a glass on this New Years Day to our faithful listeners. We love you all to death!

All the charting positions are submissions from our Record Label Media Partners, and the PR Firms we are associated with. We also chart independent releases. All submissions have to fit the format for The Rock Solid Pressure Show to be nominated. If you don’t see one of your favorite albums of 2023 on these charts, then the Record Label (or PR firm) didn’t send it to us. Or they did send it and it didn’t fit our Dungeon format. These charts are not quite like the mainstream. Some of it is, but all our submissions have to be otherworldly, dark, mysterious, sci-fi, horror related, medieval, twisted comedy, weird, and oh yeah, HEAVY! The music can be ultra badass, but if the lyrics don’t fit then we have to pass. We ‘do not’ spin stuff that’s lyrically uplifting, political, love oriented, fun party bands, ass chasing music, etc. You’ll see all that stuff on other charts but not here. And our charts have been nationally recognized since 2002. Also, if a band was submitted as ‘Independent’ and was signed later in the year, it will be charted as Independent. Many Record Labels who are ‘not’ our media partners have been trolling our broadcast since we started.. Here goes..

*NATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal and all sub-genres):  The Zenith Passage: Datalysium (Metal Blade Records)

*INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc.): Gorod: The Orb

*STONER/DOOM ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2023 (This also includes Desert, Psychedelic, Fuzz): Night Demon: Outsider (Century Media)

*SONG OF THE YEAR 2023: Max Boogie Overdrive: Suffer Sister (Independent)

*NATIONAL EP OF THE YEAR 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc.): Born In Blood: Can’t Save Us All (Shattered Earth Records)

*INDEPENDENT EP OF THE YEAR 2023 (Hard Rock, Metal, etc.) Cosmic Jaguar: The Order Of The Jaguar Knights

*STONER/DOOM EP OF THE YEAR 2023: Cruel Curses: We All Get Lost Along The Way (Independent)

*NATIONAL SINGLE OF THE YEAR 2023: Daath: No Rest No End (Metal Blade)

*INDEPENDENT SINGLE OF THE YEAR 2023: Twelve Gauge Facelift: As One

*HORROR MOVIE OF THE YEAR: Evil Dead Rise

*THE TOP 75 NATIONAL ALBUMS OF 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc.)

  1. THE ZENITH PASSAGE: Datalysium (Metal Blade)
  2. DISTANT: Heritage (Century Media)
  3. DAWN OF OUROBOROS: Velvet Incandescence (Prosthetic Records)
  4. INVICTA: Triumph And Torment (Sublevel Records)
  5. IN FLAMES: Foregone (Nuclear Blast)
  6. OV SULFUR: The Burden Of Faith (Century Media)
  7. WEREWOLVES: My Enemies Look And Sound Like Me (Prosthetic)
  8. CANNIBAL CORPSE: Chaos Horrific (Metal Blade)
  9. KRASHKARMA: Falling To Pieces (Rockshots Records)
  10. OVERKILL: Scorched (Nuclear Blast)
  11. OBITUARY: Dying Of Everything (Relapse)
  12. CATTLE DECAPITATION: Terrasite (Metal Blade)
  13. INSOMNIUM: Anno 1696 (Century Media)
  14. THE GORGE: Mechanical Fiction (Pelagic Records)
  15. CIRITH UNGOL: Dark Parade (Metal Blade)
  16. GENUS ORDINIS DEI: The Beginning (Eclipse Records)
  17. BURNING WITCHES: The Dark Tower (Napalm Records)
  18. WAYFARER: American Gothic (Profound Lore Records)
  19. GAMA BOMB: Bats (Prosthetic)
  20. WARMEN: Here For None (Reaper Ent.)
  21. ASINHELL: Impi Hora (Metal Blade)
  22. MOUTH FOR WAR: Bleed Yourself (MNRK Heavy)
  23. CARRION: Morbid Nailgun Necropsy (Wormhole Death Records)
  24. VOMITORY: All Heads Are Gonna Roll (Metal Blade)
  25. JAG PANZER: The Hallowed (Atomic Fire Records)
  26. SERMON: Of Golden Verse (Prosthetic)
  27. ANTHEM: Crimson And Jet Black (Reaper Ent.)
  28. IN THE ACT OF VIOLENCE: Parasitic Populace (CDN Records)
  29. ENTHEOS: Time Will Take Us All (Metal Blade)
  30. HARMS WAY: Common Suffering (Metal Blade)
  31. FROM NORTH: Raven Banner (At Dawn Records)
  32. ANGRA: Cycles Of Pain (Atomic Fire Records)
  33. HAMARA: Ivory Tower (Wormhole Death Records)
  34. SANDRIDER: Enveletration (Satanik Royalty Records)
  35. SORCERER: Reign Of The Reaper (Metal Blade)
  36. GUTTED ALIVE: Human Taxidermy (CDN Records)
  37. FROSTBITE ORCKINGS: The Orcish Eclipse (Metalverse)
  38. WAR CURSE: Confession (Blacklight Media)
  39. LIVEKILL: Evil Ecstacy (SWOL Records)
  40. ENFORCED: War Remain (Century Media)
  41. DEATH RAY VISION: No Mercy From Electric Eyes (Metal Blade
  42. FORETOKEN: Triumphs (Prosthetic)
  43. LORDI: Screem Writers Guild (Atomic Fire Records
  44. IDOLATROUS: Sorrow On Migard (Wormhole Death Records)
  45. BATTLE BORN: Blood Fire Magic And Steel (Prosthetic)
  46. MEMORIAM: Rise To Power (Reaper Ent.)
  47. PRIMAL FEAR: Code Red (Atomic Fire Records)
  48. SIGNS OF THE SWARM: Amongst The Low And Empty (Century Media)
  49. TRIBUNAL: The Weight Of Remembrance (20 Buck Spin)
  50. MANIGANCE: The Shadows Ball (Rockshots Records)
  51. EATEN BY SHARKS: Eradication (CDN Records)
  52. ENDSEEKER: Global Worming (Metal Blade)
  53. ASTRALBORNE: Across The Aeons (Prosthetic)
  54. SOMNURI: Desiderium (MNRK Heavy)
  55. DOWNFALL OF GAIA: Silhouettes Of Disgust (Metal Blade)
  56. XORSIST: At The Somber Steps To Eternity (Prosthetic)
  57. THIS MEANS WAR: Omnivore Doctrine (Gymnocal Industries)
  58. HEIMDALL: Hephaestus (Pride & Joy)
  59. CURSEBINDER: Drifting (Avante Garde Music)
  60. SIEGE OF POWER: This Is Tomorrow (Metal Blade)
  61. MADVICE: Under The Burning Sky (Nova Era Records)
  62. PREDATORY VOID: 7 Keys To The Discomfort Of Being (Century Media)
  63. INFERNALIZER: After Dark (Rockshots Records)
  64. UDO: Touchdown (Atomic Fire Records)
  65. GIRLSCHOOL: Wtf Forty Five (Silver Lining Music)
  66. LIV SIN: Kali Yuga (Target Records)
  67. Blindfolded And Led To The Woods: Rejecting Obliteration (Prosthetic)
  68. CALICO JACK: Isla De La Muerte (Rockshots Records)
  69. PALEHORSE: Hunting Grounds (Norwegian Indie Records)
  70. EVERNOIR: Stages Of Grief (DI Records)
  71. DRAGONHEART: The Dragonhearts Tale (Rockshots Records)
  72. ALCATRAZZ: Take No Prisoners (Silver Lining Music)
  73. LUCIFER SRAT MACHINE: Satanic Age (The Sign Records)
  74. INTREPID BLOOM: Missing Link (Wurm Group)
  75. BENEATH THE HOLLOW: Misery Loves You (Razor To Wrist Records)

* THE TOP 21 INDEPENDENT ALBUMS OF 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc)

  1. GOROD: The Orb
  2. NECROPANTHER: Betrayal
  3. MEDEVIL: Mirror In The Darkness
  4. DARKFLOW: Insane Circus
  5. SKINNER: The Dark Design
  6. CARCARIASS: Afterworld
  7. MARTIKOR: Soliloquy
  8. VITTRA: Blasphemy Blues
  9. CTHULHU DREAMT: Precursor
  10. GORY BLISTER: Reborn From Hatred
  11. TARDIGRADE INFERNO: Burn The Circus
  12. RED CAIN: Nae Bliss
  13. CRIMSON RIVER: Here’s To An End Again
  14. TENSION RISING: The Last Judgement
  15. ANTANIA: Lividity
  16. WASTE DOWN REBELS: Mercies And Curses
  17. EVILON: A Warriors Way
  18. NEVER RIGHT: End Of days
  19. AUGURIUM: Unearthly Will
  20. FALLEN UTOPIA: Ruin
  21. HOLLENTER: Divergency

*THE TOP 21 STONER/DOOM ALBUMS OF 2023 (National and Independent)

  1. NIGHT DEMON: Outsider (Century Media))
  2. CARBELLION: Weapons Of Choice (Eclipse Records)
  3. WHAT STRANGE BEASTS: Starlights Castaways (Independent)
  4. TANITH: Voyage (Metal Blade)
  5. KANAWHA: Broken Branches (Tonemark Sounds)
  6. GOZU: Remedy (Metal Blade)
  7. SUNBEAM OVERDRIVE: Diama (Season Of Mist)
  8. WARP: Bound By Gravity (Nasoni Records)
  9. PETE BERWICK: The Damage Is Done (Shotgun Records)
  10. DREAMS OF VENUS: Songs From The Essex Street Market (Hellven Records)
  11. COLOSSAL STREET JAM: No Way To Live (Independent)
  12. SVARTANATT: Last Days On Earth (The Sign Records))
  13. STONE NOMADS: At The Gates Of Solitude (Gravitoyd Music)
  14. CLOUD CATCHER: Return From The Cauldron (Independent)
  15. 35 TAPES: Fabric Of Time (Apollon Records)
  16. BOURBON HOUSE: The 4th Album (Independent)
  17. OHMWORK: In Hindsight (Rob Mules Records)
  18. RADIANT KNIFE: Pressure (Independent)
  19. SPILLAGE: Phase 4 (Independent)
  20. SIGNS PREYER: III (Independent)
  21. PYRE FYRE: Pyre Fyre (Independent)

*SONG OF THE YEAR 2023: Max Boogie Overdrive w/ Suffer Sister (Independent)

*THE TOP 12 NATIONAL EP’s OF 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc)

  1. BORN IN BLOOD: Can’t Save Us All (Shattered Earth Records)
  2. INSOMNIUM: Songs Of The Dusk (Century Media)
  3. VOIDSCAPE: Odyssey Of Spite (Nefarious Industries))
  4. Infected Chaos: Conjuration Overture Vanity Is Dawning (Wormhole Death Records)
  5. INHUMAN CONDITION: Panic Prayer (Listenable Insanity Records)
  6. TRIBULATION: Hamartia (Century Media)
  7. AMON AMARTH: Heidrun (Metal Blade)
  8. OMNIUM GATHERUM: Slasher (Century Media)
  9. NOTHING SACRED: Leviathan (Rockshots Records)
  10. (UN)WORTHY: Where The Light Divides (Rottweiler Records)
  11. DEAD HEAT: Endless Torment (Tankcrimes)
  12. DRESS THE DEAD: Ether (Blood Blast Dist.)

*THE TOP 10 INDEPENDENT EP’s OF 2023 (Hard Rock/Metal, etc.))

  1. COSMIC JAGUAR: The Order Of The Jaguar Knights
  2. 72 LEGIONS: What A God Could Be
  3. SUN COLLIDER: Pathways
  4. BELTFED WEAPON: Darkened Demise
  5. ANOMALY (MKE): On The Cursed Wings Of Stolas
  6. ROCKIN ENGINE: Altered By Evil
  7. ANUBIS: Decreation Day
  8. SHORES OF ACHERON: The Existing One
  9. AGE OF RUIN: Thieves
  10. LYCANTHROPE: Hydra

*THE TOP 5 STONER/DOOM EP’S OF 2023 (National and Independent)

  1. CRUEL CURSES: We All Get Lost Along The Way (Independent)
  2. HOG MEETS FROG: HUMANIMALIZATION (Independent)
  3. UFOMAMMUT: Crookhead (Supernatural Cat Records)
  4. SWAN VALLEY HEIGHTS: Terminal Forest (Fuzzorama Records)
  5. MOTHMAN & THE THUNDERBIRDS: Gazer (Independent)

* THE TOP 16 NATIONAL SINGLES 2023 (All Genres)

  1. DAATH: No Rest No End (Metal Blade)
  2. ALLEGAEON: Inhumation (Metal Blade)
  3. SUMMONING THE LICH: The Forest Feasts (Prosthetic)
  4. RIVERS OF NIHIL: The Sub Orbital Blues (Metal Blade)
  5. KILL DEVIL HILL: Blood In The Water (Legend Recordings)
  6. PATRIARCHS IN BLACK: Dead Or Dying (MDD Records)
  7. COGNITIVE: Rot Eternal (Metal Blade)
  8. 66 CRUSHER: Descent (Apollon Records))
  9. 200 STAB WOUNDS: Master Of Morbidity (Metal Blade)
  10. STRATUZ: Back To The Sun (Wormhole Death Records)
  11. STORMO: Sorte (Prosthetic)
  12. ST. MADNESS: The Blood Is The Life (Nasty Prick Records)
  13. LIZZY BORDEN: Death Of Me (Metal Blade)
  14. MICAWBER: The Cremation Of Care (Prosthetic)
  15. UNBLESSED DIVINE: Book Of Lies (Massacre Records)
  16. MANTAR: Valhalla Hammering (Metal Blade)

*THE TOP 24 INDEPENDENT SINGLES 2023 (All Genres)

  1. TWELVE GAUGE FACELIFT: As One
  2. NEWTIERRA: Stay F(L)ucking Crazy *No mistake, that’s the title
  3. SUPER MONSTER PARTY: This Is Doom
  4. ANGERHEAD: Wake The Fuck Up
  5. BURIAL AT SEA: Observations Of Disdain
  6. CYANATE: Echo Chamber
  7. THE HEATHEN SCYTHE: Into The Fire
  8. LORDS OF SALEM: The Hills Have Eyes
  9. TOMORROWS OUTLOOK: Wait For The Sun
  10. THE UNEVEN: Don’t Blame Me
  11. ILL REASONING: Immolation
  12. DESTINI BEARD w/ Sam Haynes, Gary Bennet: The Haunting Is Over
  13. TRICK CASKET: Filth
  14. ON: I See Red
  15. THE MONUMENTAL: Enter The Gate
  16. CONCIL OF NIHIL: Echoes Of The Fallen
  17. RELENTLESS AGGRESSION: The Absolute Pointlessness Of Everything
  18. TURANIS: Dance Of Mists
  19. SHOVEL MONSTER: Bludgeoned
  20. TERMINA: Parasocial
  21. FATE DEFINED: Domination
  22. DEAD EARTH: Angels
  23. LYSIS: Handprints
  24. PHANTOM HORDE: Born Of The Void

*HORROR MOVIE OF THE YEAR 2023: Evil Dead Rise

Well! We actually saw 2 really good horror movies at the theater in 2023. Is the theater experience ‘finally’ coming back for Horror Movies? Well sorta. There’s still a lot of that ‘safe space’ PG-13 crap that is passing itself off as Horror. But some Directors are finally taking a stand and screaming ‘Fuck This Shit’! Even Eli Roth came out of his self induced coma, and at least attempted to regain his crown with THANKSGIVING. We kind of liked that but it was nowhere near his fake trailer that appeared in the Grindhouse movie, and honestly, we were expecting it to be like that trailer. It gave nods to the trailer, but was tame in comparison. The 2 movies that got us really excited and immersed us in a full on Horror experience at the theatre was EVIL DEAD RISE and TALK TO ME. We went with EVIL DEAD RISE because it was soaked in gore, gave nods to all the previous Evil Dead movies, and even introduced some new things to the franchise. It certainly wasn’t the best Evil Dead flick, but it gave us what we wanted. TALK TO ME came in a ‘very close’ 2nd though. The underground never stopped pumping out the ‘real’ brutal horror stuff though, especially the overseas releases, but we like the theater experience. Of course we watch all the underground stuff or we’d be in a mental institution by now haha. But this catagory has always been about theatrical releases, so we’ll die on that sword and wait for a full comeback of ‘real’ HORROR! Let’s keep protesting the crap and hopefully everything will be back to normal soon. Who knows?

And before we leave 2023 behind entirely, we’d like to raise a toast to all our Family, Friends, Musicians, and Actors we lost in 2023…We salute all our fallen family and brethren and will remember you forever.. Save us a place at ‘Stage Left’ at that great gig in the sky..