Best Metal Riffs 2023

[@PaulaCarregosa]

My guitar partner ❤

[@matt_Guitar0734]

You guys are too wholesome

[@jasonpoland5507]

We love you both - this was the best year ever

[@EEe-zd2rt]

aww

[@AlienKissy]

The Simpsons part you guys did for Jared's video was the best 💜

[@TristanL585]

No

[@raz3488]

as a guy who is approaching 40, i love that i found nik coz i'm getting introduced to all the new sickest bands out there that i would never have found on my own. rock on brother

[@brandon1157]

31 here and I feel the same sentiment

[@darknebulae7470]

Im 35, but I typically go download like 60-70 torrents of deathcore/tech death from metaltracker, at a time, and then listen through em, delete whats not good, then repeat. Tbh, kinda sick of doing it, and don't even really listen to music much anymorel This guy is the only reason i even still play guitar.

[@PRESTIGEworldwide32]

same here. im 38, and i stopped listening to metal for about 10ish years or so. started listening again over that last couple. nik helped me get back into the more current metal scene.

[@thomasbaldiscola4671]

WORD! I'm 39 gonna be 40 June 1st!

[@lost9050]

35 and I feel the same. I felt in love with Survive Said The Prophet this year cause the came to anime friends, saw the interview with Ryo and Yosh (amazing, btw), liked the channel cause we are "having fun here", and now totally addicted with Sleep Token and Spiritbox because of Nik. I even got back the love for Lorna Shore that I wasn't hearing since all the trash that came with McCreery cause Will rules. So thank u, Nik

[@CompulsiveOrigami]

0:28 Dying Wish - Prey for Me 0:39 Avenged Sevenfold - We Love You 0:48 Metallica - 72 Seconds 0:59 Vildhjarta - + den spanska känslan + 1:15 Spiritbox - Jaded 1:27 Entheos - The Sinking Sun 1:42 Cattle Decapitation - Scourge of the Offspring 1:56 Better Lovers - 30 Under 13 2:11 Monuments - Nefarious 2:28 Invent Animate - Immolation of Night 2:45 Silent Planet - Dreamwalker 2:56 Sylosis - Pariahs 3:09 The Zenith Passage - Lexicontagion 3:21 Architects - Seeing Red 3:33 Nothing, Nowhere - Psycho_Psychiatry 3:43 Bleed from Within - The Will to Resist 3:56 Periphery - Zagreus 4:10 In Flames - Meet Your Maker 4:20 Currents - Unfamiliar 4:29 Unearth - The Wretched; The Ruinous 4:41 TesseracT - The Grey 4:55 Polaris - Nightmare 5:05 Slaughter to Prevail - Viking 5:15 Texas in July - False Divinity 5:27 August Burns Red - Backfire 5:41 Cannibal Corpse - Blood Blind 5:49 Alpha Wolf - Bring Back the Noise 5:59 Make Them Suffer - Ghost of Me 6:13 Alluvial - Fogbelt 6:32 Sleep Token - The Summoning 6:44 Smash Into Pieces - Flow 7:01 Chelsea Grin - Sing to the Grave You hit all my faves, so thanks for the year of metal music Nik, and here's to years more :)

[@muhammadamien4536]

It's a crime bcs he didn't put VoM - Red Fur...

[@Chimera420]

I can't help but notice the absence of HLB in all these 2023 videos. I fucking love Ashen.

[@terunagagah]

Does anyone has Spotify playlist of this

[@robertrayner4004]

Polaris, Alpha Wolf and Make Them Suffer. Aussies represent 👊🇦🇺

[@dylanmassengill120]

That sleep token riff was pretty 🐕 💩

[@joshuabarber5104]

Unfamiliar-currents had to be one of the most unique and distinguishable riffs from this year and it still remains catchy I love it , what a great year for metal though 🖤

[@imilegofreak]

The whole album is such a banger!

[@davidmassey4572]

Yeah song of the year in my book

[@rockthedwaynejohnson8188]

It's so funny comparing it to Make Them Suffer which is just 1 string haha

[@artistrankings6794]

didnt care for that album but that riff did make my top 10 riffs of the year list

[@OffscreenkillVA]

Thats the one that also stood out to me.

[@alessandrocastronovo9275]

Dang, those riffs are pretty riffy, I like the way the riffage is riffing

[@tpl2000]

No joke, you are the reason I got interested in Spiritbox. And then went to see them live in September. They are KILLER live.

[@TheRealEricMitchell]

Same here but with Knocked Loose

[@yash9410503314]

Ayeeee fellow Opeth fan ❤

[@MB-gb6eo]

Same here. He mentioned how amazing holy roller was one day so I went to check it out. Absolutely obsessed with them and now flying to Denmark in January to see them with architects 🤘

[@deathbysonar]

I’m not sure if nik realizes how many people he enlightens to new bands and reignites their love for metal. Happy New Year my friend!

[@loganwright3347]

Fr he's the reason I got into Gojira, Slaughter to Prevail, As I Lay Dying and Spiritbox

[@authormichellefranklin]

That whole Spiritbox EP has been in my head since it released. Thanks for the introduction to Monuments, Invent Animate, and Silent Planet!

[@metroidmaniac67]

Awesome video! The album cover for the Sylosis riff Pariah at 2:55 is from their 2020 album Cycle of Suffering! Pariah is from the album a Sign of Things to Come!

[@Milehighssc5280]

Nerd

[@rhyswebster3614]

I was going to say this.

[@tpu2747]

The riff similar with the thrones of blood by suffocation

[@Typerhaze]

every riff on Den Spanska Kanslan is absolutely insane. who knew something so chaotic could be so catchy.

[@Ro99]

That one he played tho is just pirate but +den spanksa känslan+ edition

[@AlienKissy]

🤘That Alpha Wolf riff is SO CATCHY and Alluvial is one of my favs of the year. Thanks for the hard work, Nik!!

[@Thomatos200]

This video let me know that there was more alluvial stuff since sarcoma

[@timklafke4712]

Jaded is just such an iconic riff already imo. Mike makes some fuckin banging riffs

[@davidnissim589]

I love that he included Nothing, Nowhere on the list, that metal album he made was amazing.

[@BlizzardPwns]

Ok that Currents riff was definitely a good ass choice but my personal fave was probably "Algorithmic Salvation" from the Zenith Passage. That first riff on "basin of vows" by The Acacia Strain is absolutely crushing though.

[@echelonangel98]

I admittedly don't know a majority of these songs but these riffs mean I will be checking out a bunch of them now. I'm curious about that 30 under 13 one!!! Cheers to an amazing 2023 where I was introduced to Spiritbox and Sleep Token thanks to you!!!

[@thechickenman3698]

U should listen to TesseracT they are fantastic

[@thatzigdude7303]

That whole Currents album is gold. So glad you featured them. Remember Me will make you cry as a metal fan!

[@alejandrorojasortiz5768]

FACTS BRO, I discovered them this year and instantly became my favorite band.

[@iLikeCarsFPS]

agreed

[@ensco7]

​@@alejandrorojasortiz5768 Discovered them this year as well, and my favs from the last 3 albums are (chronologically) Forget Me, Kill The Ache and Beyond This Road :)

[@itwasntme300]

they ended up being my top 1 this year on spotify cuz of the new album

[@RyanL94]

Glad to see the love they’re getting. The guitarist gave me a guitar lesson once. Really cool guy. So happy they blew up

[@willowdoesmusic1484]

so glad currents - unfamiliar was in here, probably the most underrated song this year. also void surfacing is a better invent animate pick imo, but immolation of night is definitely a slapper

[@tableslam]

In Flames, Unearth, ABR, Cannibal Corpse all on this list is fucking wild. Like not only for the fact that they're all still making music, but the fact that they're making music good enough to included in a top 32 "best riffs" video

[@Froahk]

Being that long into your career and still being good is the biggest flex

[@Fullcollapse1]

Because they know how to compose actual riffs that fit the song not just trying to play the same chug pattern over a quick run every song.

[@Chouyren]

Missing Orbit Culture - While We Serve. I mean the whole song is just an onslaught of amazing riffs but specifically the riff from 5:08min to 5:35min is absolute god tier!

[@AgainstTheeWickedlyMusic]

Cattle Decapitation and Entheos absolutely killed it this year, very happy to see them included. Alluvial and The Zenith Passage were cool surprises, too

[@valenb2839]

Cattle Decapitation ages like whine

[@jorgebautista3412]

Awesome video as always Nik, so glad to see some Bleed From Within, very underrated band with a lot of tasty riffs

[@PeytonBass-wl3ld]

Cattle decap has one of my favorite riffs this year! There are SOOO riffs this year, it’s insane! Thanks for the upload!

[@h3ynate]

SMASH INTO PIECES MAKING THEIR WAY INTO METAL THIS YEAR ! anyway, such a great year in music and content creation and all. Thanks Nick for these mesmerizing chunky riffs!

[@GameAuvers]

I add some of my personal favorites of the year : Orbit Culture - Sound Of The Bell In Flames - In the Dark

[@kodi0223]

Love that Alluvial is on here, they always got some sweet riffs

[@valorjoz]

Love the mix of genres, from super heavy to definitely more accessible. In Flames & Unearth put out some of their best work this year with their respective albums, thanks for highlighting them 🤘

[@_Thunderball_]

First year in forever that I'm up to date with the music I like listening thanks to Nik. Keep at it brother.

[@TeznasGV]

I'm really surprised From The Inside by Orbit Culture wasn't on here. That being said, excellent choices

[@ascenelongforgotten9682]

1:15 Nik, I'm glad you didn't forget the riff that earned Spiritbox a Grammy nomination, thank you 🎸

[@KevinTheGreen]

Gotta love the riff for ”Flow” by Smash Into Pieces, by far their most ”heavy” song & one of my top songs this year🤘🤘

[@NeroPlay92]

For me one of the best riffs, if not the best, is Hymns from the Apocrypha - Suffocation. One of the coolest songs I heard this year.

[@aycaramba4910]

Yes! I was hoping you'd do another riff compilation this year! Those are the best videos on the channel Nik! I go back and watch them all the time. Once again great job my dude! 👌🏻

[@frankieinjapan]

My favorite riff was the 1:07 mark from a dialogue in b flat minor by in flames. It's dead simple but so chunky. I love it

[@MPGhoul]

truly sick riff

[@channelforadventures8583]

Saw Alluvial live and they played Fogbelt. That's such a sick track and riff.

[@jaredlongoria612]

Great video! Fit for an Autopsy’s “Hellions” was another good one from 2023.

[@AbandonedChurch]

Very cool riffage nik! Love the way the riffs are riffing

[@mitchthemetalhead2589]

Awesome video Nik! As a guitarist and producer myself I really appreciate the time and effort it took to make this, so thanks! Only thing I would add to your list is basically every riff from “Hard Knock” by Tallah. I love Tallah and it’s thanks to you and your channel that I even know about them! Keep up the amazing content! 🤘

[@Remmy-iq3bs]

Thanks Nik. Love seeing you play. I love when bands put in guitar solos and breakdowns together in a tune. Been listening to All shall perish again alot. Thank you for introducing me to new groups.

[@Shadaux]

That Currents riff really stood out. Great work mastering some technical wizardry

[@callmebc]

I've been liking Asian bands a lot for metal stuff in recent years. For riffy stuff this year, District 105's "Beginning of Hate," RESERATE's "MONOCHROME," and DISOBEY's - "Lantang Menentang feat Thomi Falahan" (nice "Bleh" as well) struck me as not bad.

[@CoachSet]

At 51 I’m still a metal head who falls head over heels for great riffs and that was the most epic introduction to so many great bands I missed this year. Cant wait to dive in to these songs and your Top Albums coming up later. Thank you!!

[@jackdunc]

Was hoping for some Crypta, their new album had some great riffs.

[@austinb7188]

incredible video. knew that jaded, summoning, and some A7X would make it in, however loving the vast amount of riffs you’ve crammed into one vid. also made me do a deep dive on Silent Planet and they’re my new favourite band. i had heard of them before but somehow never heard a song. can’t go back now

[@bearmehenceofficial24]

Awesome stuff bro! Absolutely sick riffs!🔥 because of you dude, I’ve been introduced to so many new bands and have been keeping up with the metal scene. I appreciate what you do!! Corekid for life!!🔥😎🤘

[@austindoesstuff8367]

Pleasant surprise to see Smash into Pieces make the list. Flow is a banger

[@dmnn69]

You forgot all the banging Nik Nocturnal riffs from this year

[@tadeuszwolfoleszko6914]

So Cool! I've been waiting a year for this video! However the Sylosis album cover is from Cycle of Suffering, not A Sign of Things to Come.

[@mastersinzer]

Really nice performance... I was wandering if you ear the last album of Night verses - Every sound has a color in the valley of night! i am pretty sure you will like it! Great video and as alway's thanks for the entertainments.

[@immymortal]

Happy holidays Nik! Much love from Montréal. Thanks for this dope playthrough!!

[@toxicelec5960]

Dreamwalker is an absolutely fantastic song on one of the best albums of the year, very glad to see it mentioned

[@mishapashchenko6518]

Another awesome metal riff is Masterpiece by The Anchor, had that song on repeat at the breakdown parts, definitely recommend it. Also awesome list!

[@maradupras7278]

the anchor is absolutely fantastic

[@zacharymicah]

Freakin' Unearth!!! Fan for life! Zombie Autopilot is was hooked me in and Trevor's vocals have gotten beastly lately! Buz is one of my top favorite guitarists!

[@ahsoka5385]

I love this list ! However I’m a bit upset that there is no song from Orbit Culture last album, like Undercity, Sorrower, From the inside, Vulture of the north or black mountain, all of these songs could have made it on the list

[@johntyndal]

I know there were tons of banger riffs this year... but I can't believe you slept on Testify from Discrepancies... give it a listen if you haven't already

[@griiseknoen]

A perfect *super-efficient* summation of the past year's highlights, squeezed into eight minutes. Now I hardly even need to listen to the specific songs or albums any more. Everything I need is right here in this video! You just saved me HOURS of listening to filler material. 🤣 (And I'm only _slightly_ kidding... It is really THAT GOOD.)

[@lemixlemon]

He forgot tabidachi by shrezzers. That intro riff is so damn amazing, their ending solo riff on 23 is amazing. Also, uvb-76. Like makes me sad more people are not talking about them. They were the reason I picked my guitar up more and practiced more often to get better.

[@taylervence5852]

That vildhjarta riff is already one of their best, glad to see it included.

[@RADZADproductions]

the transition from will to resist to zagreus hits way too hard (also thank you for including better lovers)

[@malachigivens9602]

One of my favorite riffs was Doubt Me by Beartooth that one after the chorus always gets me banging my head way too aggressively 🤘🏻🔥

[@evanpaddock1655]

thanks for including monuments, love them and what you do for the metal community!

[@Marshall_Francies]

Was not expecting to hear Flow by Smash into Pieces, but definitely happy I did. Loved that song

[@Nicokakaroto]

nik check the low end in the kick when the kick plays fast, with a c4 at 100hz you can compress it and solve it. Nice riffs bro!

[@hannes7771]

I would have liked you to include sorower by orbit culture but i love that you put sylosis in

[@DrWillmac]

Have a happy new year big dawg

[@atroposV]

Happy to see Periphery here, cause we're falling apart, you and I. Haken needed to be here tho, Beneath The White Rainbow had my favorite "DAMN that was dirty" moment in metal this year when they ended the song with the riff on keyboard and guitar at the same time

[@screaminseaman6121]

The Zenith Passage is my girlfriend's uncle's band. Hes the lead singer. Nice list and fun to see them make it!

[@standabovethecrowd4]

Spiritbox had the grooviest riff of the year

[@The_Eternal_Grog_Tankyard]

Viking was by far my fav out of everything ive heard all year, im a little biased ik.

[@8bitArtist]

i do ice bathes to that entire song. straight 4 and a half minutes freezing pain. lol

[@The_Eternal_Grog_Tankyard]

thats badass @@8bitArtist

[@Thomatos200]

I am absolutely blown away by this, i cant see how much work you put into this, it sounds really good.

[@martijnvanderark4117]

I never have anything to add, although when you throw in bleed from within you just can’t forget the riff from chemical carnival. That riff is one of the best they ever wrote and a sucker to play. I mean that stretch is hard. Love the vids

[@JustinMcKinney]

The Zenith Passage riff at 3:08

[@luml1820]

1:56 my favorite 🔥

[@OffscreenkillVA]

I',m just the occassional comment that wants to point out that the transitions nik put in are absolutely incredible. This whole video just flows. Good shit.

[@John-k7d8w]

I was listening to older music all of 23..... But I think this year I'll jump into some newer stuff and you lad just introduced me to some of the new bangers!!

[@ryandonavon7451]

(BAND: Divisive SONG: Dead Culture) worth an ear or two! 🤘

[@AnythingWeThinkOf]

Good to see Nick shredding again! I miss the guitar covers.

[@bladeofphoenix]

One band that blew me away that I never see anyone talking about is Of Origins. They somehow only have ~400 monthly listeners, but their album 'Everything, Suddenly' is definitely my favorite of 2023.

[@mikuhatsune2988]

not only are these riffs fucking KILLER but you play them like a BEAST. so well done

[@oddball_covers]

1:25 Really appreciate the Entheos inclusion. Such a sick band

[@AgainstTheeWickedlyMusic]

I was so happy to see them here, too. They're so good. Chaney Crabb is also one of the nicest people I've ever met, on top of being an absolute monster of a vocalist

[@zecchouband]

Glad to see some love for Sylosis! Shred on.

[@bopper989]

Amazing list Nik. Also if anyone thinks Alluvial isn't heavy enough, check out Heriot- heard them first time this year and melted me. The riff in Demure is devastating af

[@seanh4058]

Currents has the most melodic riffs atm and I fucking love that you mentioned them ❤

[@antares4975]

your tone and playing is on point! great job

[@Haildestroya]

Thank you so much for including Vildjharta! Goes so hard

[@oriontackett7643]

Dang Nik! You killed it on this. Your playing is impeccable

[@quasarsoul3768]

Glad Flow from smash into pieces made it onto here just an underrated riff!

[@Oubaama]

Ay Nik great selection of riffs and props to you for learning them all! But you did ya boi Chris Turner dirty by not including a riffs from "Nut" in there. That song is pure 100% stank face all the way through!

[@liamblack4840]

So glad Alluvial made it on here, their musicianship and skill is incredible

[@RevMesmer_VT]

Ngl, the Smash Into Pieces one suprised me, the Currents one is so fvking catchy.

[@BattousaiMLT]

Sick riffs and guitars man!

[@raging_gamer95]

Drugs could never have the effect on me that listening to metal riffs has

[@jamesjearum7296]

I love that Nothing Nowhere got in on this list 🤘

[@theKYLEcometh]

Great list Nik! Knew some, heard some for the first time and added to my listening itinerary lol, have a good new year man!

You always discovery me new interesting bands. Thanks anda cheers from Spain🤘

[@josessuarezz]

Man.. good selection of riffs ⚡

[@AyyFuji]

This year has made me want to find my guitar again, and start playing again. So many good songs, too many to pick

[@koraymonkey1051]

Ayyy man i was so happy to see Sylosis on this, What an album they made this year, TOP TIER

[@hankvoight3326]

Hey Nik, have you ever heard of the band And Hell Followed With? They only have 40k listeners on Spotify, but they’re one of my favorite deathcore groups. Their first album, Domain, gives me early Whitechapel vibes

[@missinbrain]

This was really fun to watch. I was kind of hoping that in the middle somewhere, you would switch to the funky section of The Summoning just for the silliness of that whole thing.

[@kaboose111]

Seeing Unearth makes me so damn happy.