THE BUTTHOLE ALBUM ART AWARDS OF 2023

Welcome to the Butthole Album Art Awards! (BHAAAs)


Hello friends, and welcome to the 7th Annual BHAAAs! There were no fewer candidates than in previous years, but I’ve pared 2023 down to the following 20 holes.

NECROVATION cooking up a fish stew BH [Bandcamp]

THE ZENITH PASSAGE and there’s always one every year [Bandcamp]

BEASTWARS with that not-so-fast BH [Bandcamp]

ODZ MANOUK offering an up close and inside look [Bandcamp]

OUTER HEAVEN (say hello to) [Bandcamp]

AMONGRUINS got us saying again, “you don’t HAVE to draw a sun with tendrils” [Bandcamp]

WOJTEK this peacock has some STRUT [Bandcamp]

This WORN MANTLE release is entitled, “Hole” [Bandcamp]

ISPOSNIK: Run too fast, fly too high BH [Bandcamp]

ARDENT NOVA: “Does that look like a —-“
“Yes”
[Bandcamp]

Ring-A-Round The BH by CRYPTDWELLER (not the first time I’ve used this caption) [Bandcamp]

FRACTURUS: Now That’s What I Call A Close Encounter! [Bandcamp]

CREEPING DEATH (2nd BHAAA appearance) with their swamp of sadness BH [Bandcamp]

MiR: yoooooohoooooo [Bandcamp]

ORTHOSTAT wants to play a game of scatterjacks [Bandcamp]

THE MON with ‘Eye’ (caramba!) [Bandcamp]

SULPHUR AEON: Blaegh! [Bandcamp]

OAK: This tin roof is rusted baby [Bandcamp]

AVENADE: Ope forgot something! [Bandcamp]

2023 marks VOIDSPHERE’s 4th BHAAA appearance, our most decorated artist to date [Bandcamp]

Thanks for tuning in! And if that’s not enough and you want to see all 2019-2023 BHAAAs, click my category link.

JUSTIN’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023

My favorite albums of the year, celebrating the best way I know how!


#1) MNAJDRA self-titled (Fiadh Productions)
#2) ARIDUS Serpent Moon (Eisenwald)
#3) DESECRESY Deserted Realms (Xtreem Music)
#4) EXCARNATED ENTITY Mass Grave Horizon (Nuclear Winter)
#5) PYRKAGION The Katechon and the Unending Fire
(Cestrum Nocturnum Recordings)
#6) STARER Wind, Breeze, or Breath (Snow Wolf / Fiadh Productions / AdirondackBlackMass)
#7) STREET TOMBS Reclusive Decay (Carbonized Records)
#8) GATEWAY Galgendood (Transcending Obscurity)
#9) BLOOD ABSCISSION I (self)
#10) FOSSILIZATION Leprous Daylight (Everlasting Spew)

Cheers! See you in 2024!

CARNAL TOMB: DEATH DOOM DANCE REVIEW ‘Embalmed In Decay’

I am currently moving to the new CARNAL TOMB (Nov 3) whose death metal is as filthy as it is adventurous, with riffs galore interspersed with doom-laden passages. The real star is the mix, as every bass attack can be heard and felt, and things get especially juicy on “Cerebral Ingestion” with that disco hi-hat and irresistible groove.

Listen at Bandcamp (Testimony Records)

EXCARNATED ENTITY: DEATH DOOM DANCE REVIEW ‘Mass Grave Horizon’

I am currently moving to the new EXCARNATED ENTITY ‘Mass Grave Horizon’ (Sept 8) whose miserable death doom packs 43mins of thunderous riffs with a melodic nod to the classics. Complete package that will rank high on my year end list.

Listen at Bandcamp (Nuclear Winter Records)