Nita Strauss, Extreme, Overkill, Winger and Ad Infinitum are among the others who appear on Fred Phillips’ Best of 2023 hard rock and metal albums list.

I wanted to offer up some quick thoughts on my favorite records of the first half of 2023 because it has been a strong year.

It’s not until you actually start combing through the hundreds of records you’ve listened to over a decade that you realize how daunting the task really is.

As you go through my Best Hard Rock and Metal of 2016 list, you’ll see why I’m calling it the year of the classic thrash band.

Texas Hippie Coalition will always have difficulty topping ‘Peacemaker,’ but ‘Ride On’ still has its moments.