We've already reached the penultimate TOP WAVES of the year 2023.
As usual, let's take a look at the French sales rankings in the "rock" category:
The latest The Rolling Stones album also ranks 5th
Maneskin's "Rush" comes back strong at #12
Shaka Ponk's eponymous album holds firm at #29
FFF's "I Scream" goes straight to #39
Sortilège's live album "Coram Populo" goes straight to 55th place
Metallica's "72 Seasons" holds steady at 58th
Imagine Dragons' "Mercury Act I" is 80th
Mass Hysteria's "Tenace Part 2" is 103rd
Blink-182's "One More Time..." is 121st
TOP WAVES GENERAL
Unsurprisingly, it's a progressive band that wins, but not necessarily the one most expected.
In fact, it's The Anchoret's debut album that takes pride of place.
"It All Started with Loneliness is a work that questions, challenges and, above all, reminds us of the power of music to provoke deep emotions" (Rhum1).
THE ANCHORET It All Began With Loneliness
Second place on the podium is shared by two albums.
The first of these is Angra's latest album
"As rich as its predecessor, Cycles Of Pain will delight Angra followers and fans of original progressive metal." (Lynott)
ANGRA Cycles Of Pain
Second place shared with Unitopia's new album
"A successful comeback for Unitopia with "Seven Chambers", a lush, melodic progressive rock... But with a few surprises in store too." (Corto1809)
UNITOPIA Seven Chambers
Detailed general ranking
THE ANCHORET: It All Began With Loneliness (Progressive Metal) 18
ANGRA: Cycles Of Pain (Melodic Metal) 17
UNITOPIA: Seven Chambers (Progressive Rock) 17
EARTHSIDE: Let The Truth Speak (Progressive Metal) 11
MATTEO MANCUSO: The Journey (Jazz) 8
TILL LINDEMANN: Zunge (Industrial Metal) 8
WITHIN TEMPTATION: Bleed Out (Melodic Metal) 7
SCAR SYMMETRY: The Singularity (phase Ii – Xenotaph) (Death Metal) 5
JOE JACKSON: Max Champion In ‘what A Racket (Rock) 5
CONQUER DIVIDE: Slow Burn (Metalcore) 5
DGM: Life (Melodic Metal) 4
BLOODYWOOD: Rakshak (Metalcore) 4
RONNIE ATKINS: Trinity (Melodic Hard Rock) 3
THE OCEAN: Holocene (Post Metal) 3
THE ROLLING STONES: Hackney Diamonds (Rock) 3
D'VIRGILIO, MORSE & JENNINGS: Sophomore (Pop) 3
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD: Dirt On My Diamonds Vol.1 (Rock) 3
LAMBERT: Bon Courage (Atmospheric Rock) 3
HEXVESSEL: Polar Veil (Autres) 3
OZRIC TENTACLES: Lotus Unfolding (Progressive Rock) 2
SHINING: Shining (Black Metal) 1
ANUBIS GATE: Interference (Melodic Metal) 1
BLACK RIVER SONS: Skins (Rock) 1
TOP WAVES METAL
The Anchoret and Angra tie ahead of Earthside's new album.
"Eight years after a sublime debut album, Earthside offer us "Let the Truth Speak", which may be a little too eclectic, but is still rooted in high-quality 'Cinematic Rock'." (Gyvy)
EARTHSIDE Let The Truth Speak
Detailed general ranking
ANGRA: Cycles Of Pain (Melodic Metal) 16
THE ANCHORET: It All Began With Loneliness (Progressive Metal) 16
EARTHSIDE: Let The Truth Speak (Progressive Metal) 13
TILL LINDEMANN: Zunge (Industrial Metal) 11
SCAR SYMMETRY: The Singularity (phase Ii – Xenotaph) (Death Metal) 10
WITHIN TEMPTATION: Bleed Out (Melodic Metal) 9
DGM: Life (Melodic Metal) 8
BLOODYWOOD: Rakshak (Metalcore) 6
CONQUER DIVIDE: Slow Burn (Metalcore) 5
SHINING: Shining (Black Metal) 3
MASS HYSTERIA: Tenace - Part 2 (Industrial Metal) 3
WINGS OF STEEL: Gates Of Twilight (Heavy Metal) 3
THE OCEAN: Holocene (Post Metal) 3
STUBORA: Ecorché Vif (Heavy Metal) 1
ANUBIS GATE: Interference (Melodic Metal) 1
TOP WAVES ROCK
Unsurprisingly, first place goes to Unitopia's latest album.
In second place we find "Trinity", "Ronnie Atkins' new elixir of survival, [which] will delight fans of our favorite Dane and Pretty Maids alike." (Lynott)
RONNIE ATKINS Trinity
And last place on the podium goes to "Matteo Mancuso [who] releases "The Journey", "a very mature debut album that should make a big splash. A good omen for the rest of his career." (Gyvy)
MATTEO MANCUSO The Journey
Detailed general ranking
UNITOPIA: Seven Chambers (Progressive Rock) 21
RONNIE ATKINS: Trinity (Melodic Hard Rock) 14
MATTEO MANCUSO: The Journey (Jazz) 10
TEMPLE BALLS: Avalanche (Hard Rock) 9
D'VIRGILIO, MORSE & JENNINGS: Sophomore (Pop) 7
ZHORHANN: Ainsi Parlait Hominina (Progressive Rock) 7
THE ROLLING STONES: Hackney Diamonds (Rock) 6
OZRIC TENTACLES: Lotus Unfolding (Progressive Rock) 5
HEXVESSEL: Polar Veil (Autres) 5
JOE JACKSON: Max Champion In ‘what A Racket (Rock) 5
VANDENBERG: Sin (Hard Rock) 4
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD: Dirt On My Diamonds Vol.1 (Rock) 3
LAMBERT: Bon Courage (Atmospheric Rock) 3
DOKKEN: Heaven Comes Down (Melodic Hard Rock) 3
DUFF MCKAGAN : Lighthouse (Hard Rock) 3
BLACK RIVER SONS: Skins (Rock) 1
BLINK-182: One More Time… (Rock) 1
SEVENTH CRYSTAL: Infinity (Melodic Hard Rock) 1
More informations on http://www.musicwaves.fr/