Akhenaten’s Best Albums of 2023

The time has come to deliver my list of my personal favourite records of 2023. Please remember that this is not an objective list of albums considered the best. It's just my opinion that these are the best because I liked them more than anything else that came out this year. 10. Øbelisk - The …

Album Review: Staind – Confessions of the Fallen

"I know me better and I think I hate me too." Staind - Confessions of the FallenSeptember 22nd, 2023Nu Metal / Post Grunge / Alternative MetalBMGSpringfield, Massachusetts, USA I've never really been a huge Staind fan. I think they might have had a song or two on the Rock Band games that I was into …

EP Review: TX2 – Ghost of LA

"I may be numb to the core, devoid of innocence, but at least a dog still gets its bone." TX2 - Ghost of LANovember 10th, 2023Pop Punk / Emo / Hard RockHopeless RecordsFort Collins, Colorado, USA There's no greater a social media account than catatonicyouths for connoisseurs of terrible music. I absolutely adore spending some …

Album Review: Steve Vai – Vai / Gash

"Hey, it's a new generation, and we've got something to say, so come on." Steve Vai - Vai / GashJanuary 27th, 2023Hard Rock / Glam MetalFavored Nations EntertainmentLos Angeles, California, USA Steve Vai, the legendary guitar virtuoso, perhaps best knock for his incomparable and tasteful shredding ability as well as his Zappa-rooted progressive rock and …

Album Review: Godsmack – Lighting Up the Sky

"We breathe inside a world where no one can breathe." Godsmack - Lighting Up the SkyFebruary 24th, 2023Alternative Metal / Hard RockBMGLawrence, Massachusetts, USA I'm not going to hide from myself. I used to be a Godsmack fan. Back in the day when I was first getting into nu metal and alternative rock I found …

Album Review: Nuclear Power Trio – Wet Ass Plutonium

Nuclear Power Trio - Wet Ass PlutoniumJuly 28th, 2023Jazz Fusion / Progressive MetalMetal Blade RecordsDenver, Colorado, USA I first encountered Nuclear Power Trio much earlier this year when I stumbled across their first EP, A Clear and Present Rager, which I enjoyed immensely. This instrumental power trio, as their name so aptly describes, features Greg …

Album Review: Final Gasp – Mourning Moon

Final Gasp - Mourning MoonSeptember 22nd, 2023Gothic Metal / DeathrockRelapse RecordsBoston, Massachusetts, USA If you read my review of the Devil Master show which was posted here yesterday then you'll know that I only recently discovered Final Gasp through the tour they're currently embarked on with Devil Master. I'm super thankful I decided to check …

Live from the Pit: Mr. Bungle @ MTELUS – 09/12/2023

Mr. Bungle@ MTELUSw/ Battles I originally wasn't going to go see this show as the tickets had sold out before I was able to fully commit to the purchase. Thankfully for me, Lady Luck shone her light on me, and a friend of a friend of mine sold me their ticket to this coveted gig. …

Album Review: Avenged Sevenfold – Life is But a Dream…

Avenged Sevenfold - Life is But a Dream...June 2nd, 2023Avant-Garde Metal / Hard RockWarner Records Inc.Huntington Beach, California, USA I've had a rough history with Avenged Sevenfold. When I first was exposed to the band I thought they were shit because it seemed like no matter where I went I could not escape people talking …

Album Review: Paramore – This is Why

"Turns out I'm living in a horror film where I'm both the killer and the final girl." Paramore - This Is WhyFebruary 10th, 2023Dance Punk / Alternative RockAtlantic Recording CorporationFranklin, Tennessee, USA Paramore is a band who I've had minor flirtations with in the past. I always thought their big hit "Misery Business" was an …