Hi Pal,
Genre classification these days is usually a fairly tedious affair as more artists work their creative muscles to create music that draws inspiration from various soundscapes. For this list, Metal covers albums with extremely heavy guitar-driven songs that are outside of the Core music classifications. Metalcore, Deathcore, Hardcore and other derivates of this music will get their list. Streaming links are embedded in the titles.
#10
INRI Immortal
Postmodernism (Death Metal, Thrash Metal)
I genuinely hope that more people discover INRI Immortal because they are putting in the work. Postmodernism is a concept album that addresses the age in which we live as we expect the return of Christ. There is a dystopian approach to it that seems bleak on the surface but ultimately reminds us of the coming Kingdom amidst all our present suffering.
Personal Recommendation: The Kingdom Is Coming
#9
Jernlov
Resurrection (unBlack Metal)
I was genuinely surprised by the quality of this album. I’m not sure what I expected from this debut by Jernlov but it is quite impressive. It’s an album that is elevated by the featured artists and guest vocals and I can proudly say that Resurrection will not be forgotten in a hurry by fans of this genre.
Personal Recommendation: Disciples in the North
#8
Burial Extraction
A Shadow Of Things To Come (Death Metal)
This one dropped in the first half of the year and I remember listening once and dropping it for a few months because I was not ready yet. A Shadow Of Things To Come is visceral and it does not shy away from the palpable horrors of our Saviour’s passion. Still, it is quite plain to see that the album exists to speak about what the sacrifice of Christ on the cross means for us.
Personal Recommendation: Victory Over Death
#7
Afterwinter
Paramnesia (Progressive Metal)
I’m a sucker for progressive metal so I knew I was going to like this one. Beyond my obvious bias, what surprised me about Paramnesia is how cinematic it feels. It’s an album that takes its time to build with each track and requires a lot of patience — with a total runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It’s certainly not for everyone, but if it is your type of sound, you are in for a treat.
Personal Recommendation: Connections
#6
Within Thy Wounds
Ringing the Bell of Gleaming Martyrdom (Atmospheric unBlack Metal, Post Metal)
When many Christian folks hear “black metal” they shy away because it comes with a lot of demonic connotations and imagery. Given the history of the genre, it is a fair assessment but I do not think any sound is inherently evil, it can only become corrupted because that is what the devil does. Within Thy Wounds released an album that is dear to my heart back in 2020 as a debut and I had been waiting for a follow-up for three years. This one did not disappoint.
Personal Recommendation: Upon the Hand of the Accuser
#5
Broken Chains
Light of the World (Progressive Heavy Metal)
This band casually walked into my life in 2023 and my playlist has not been the same. As folks who are here often might already know, I have a special place in my heart for debut albums and with progressive metal being one of my top genres in the metal soundscape, this one is very dear to me. The best thing about Light of the World is that there is clear room for improvement for this project and there’s no denying the quality of their potential.
Personal Recommendation: Promise
#4
Signum Regis
Undivided (Melodic Power Metal)
As the first of three power metal albums in my top 5, I am genuinely impressed by how much the Christian power metal landscape has grown over the years. Undivided is a concept album that draws influences from some Old Testament events placed side-by-side with New Testament truths. In all of this, Christ remains the focal point and that’s what made this listening experience special.
Personal Recommendation: Interpreter of Dreams
#3
Testimony of Apocalypse
The Offering (Groove Metal, Thrash Metal)
A friend of mine (
) — who is a regular contributor to this newsletter recommended this album to me and it’s the best gift he has given me all year. The Offering is a difficult album to pin down genre-wise as it draws from many pools of influence. It has a consistent grooviness about it and has a lot of the chaotic elements of thrash metal in its guitar work. Overall, what sold this album to me is its lyrical content and its clear dedication to worshipping Christ.Personal Recommendation: The Rescue
#2
Narnia
Ghost Town (Power Metal, Glam Metal)
Narnia has been around for a long time now and it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where they release a bad album. At this point in their career, what I’m looking for is an album that draws from their wealth of experience and creates something truly unique. Ghost Town is an album that delivers on this expectation and much more.
Personal Recommendation: Modern Day Pharisees
#1
Theocracy
Mosaic (Progressive Power Metal)
If this is the standard for what to expect when bands take a break, then I wouldn’t mind seven years of silence from some of my other favourites. Even in a year that is saturated with power metal albums — some of which did not make it to this list — Mosaic still stands out in terms of production quality, musicianship and lyrical content. Theocracy remains one of those bands that proves that Christian metal truly exists and does not need to make any compromises to stand out.
Personal Recommendation: Liar, Fool, Or Messiah
Coming Next: Top 10 R&B + Soul Projects
That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
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Feel free to leave a comment. Also, I am always open to hearing from you so feel free to send an email to me at
stismavo@gmail.com