Kick Down the Walls

Top 20 Non-Metal Albums of 2017

So, while my passion has long been heavy metal, there is so much other great music out there I felt it was worth my time to compile a list of the best of the rest. These twenty albums represent quite a number of genres, but they all share the quality of being awesome…

1. BLACK SEAGULL - Distant Lullabies

After the heart-breaking demise of one of my favorite band of the last two decades, On Trial, I was overjoyed to hear that a couple of ex-members had formed a new band called Black Seagull. While the sound is a bit more mellow and countrified, the songwriting quality is still top-notch and it sounds very much like a logical continuation of the Forever album.

2. ANVIL STRYKEZ - Anvil Strykez

My first impression was this would be a half-assed synthwave late-comer, based on the name, song titles, and album art, but damn if this isn’t one of the most thoroughly engaging albums all around. Vocoded vocals, pure 80s synth and drum machines, well-placed guitars, and a completely memorable and different approach for each tune add up to one hell of a spin.

3. DEPECHE MODE - Spirit

The past few Mode records have been consistently good, if not quite as memorable as Playing the Angel or any of the classics. Spirit is a different beast and my favorite album of theirs since Songs of Faith and Devotion way back in in ’93. The songs “Going Backwards” and “Where’s the Revolution” rank right up there with anything they have penned and the lyrics throughout the album are the perfect reflection of our current state of devolved world affairs.

4. POPPY - poppy.computer

It’s happening again. Some things are weird. Let’s appreciate together. Am I doing this right? Someone sent me this. Can you see it? These are cotton swabs. Poppy loves politics. You are Poppy. I’m Poppy. Everybody wants to be Poppy, Poppy.

5. SNIFF ‘N’ THE TEARS - Random Elements

One of those groups that, save for one big top-40 hit back in 1979, has flown under the radar but consistently released top-notch albums over the years. Paul Roberts is the singer/songwriter that has helmed the group since the start (and even paints all the album covers) and he still sounds as unique as ever. He writes songs that have a certain melancholy to them that has always struck a chord with me and Random Elements is full of them.

6. DANCE WITH THE DEAD - B-Sides: Volume 1

While synthwave acts like GosT and Carpenter Brut have made a considerable number of fans among metalheads, Dance With the Dead goes the furthest in actually combining the styles. Retro synth lines are still the dominant feature but the chugging, thrashy riffs are nearly as omnipresent and the band add some very well-placed (and well-played) guitar solos on many tracks. This is their latest and they have only gone from strength to strength.

7. THE HAXANS - Party Monsters

This is the kind of thing I would usually roll my eyes at and dismiss straight away but this duo has put together a collection of songs that are so infectious, I can’t stop listening to it. It is the perfect mix of death punk, pop, and Rob Zombie-eque horror metal. Vocalist Ashley Costello is a real gem, too, delivering the campy lyrics with the perfect mix of sensuality and power.

8. KMFDM - Hell Yeah

These die-hard industrial rockers have been releasing slight variations on the same album for the past 25 years or so but, hey, it’s a fucking great album. Hell Yeah isn’t quite up there with WTF?! or WWIII but it’s better than the last couple and their revolutionary calls to action have never been timelier.

9. THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA - Amber Galactic

When it comes to paying tribute to classic AOR from the 70s and 80s, no one does it better and with more enthusiasm than The Night Flight Orchestra. Amber Galactic is not as consistently brilliant as the first two albums but it is still great and the song “Domino” is an instant classic.

10. SIINAI - Sykli

This is Finnish ambient space trance. Repetitive, hypnotic electronics, looping guitars - it’s the perfect soundtrack for some meditation or that long, slow flight into the night. I’m always looking for chill stuff like this that works and, damn, this is executed with utmost perfection.

11. CHEAP TRICK - We’re All Alright!

While Cheap Trick made some pretty mediocre records in the 80s and 90s, their 70s albums all stand up as classics and they have done some good work in recent years, too, most notably 2009’s The Latest. We’re All Alright! might be even better and the first half in particular is loaded with some well-crafted and hard rocking tunes.

12. CURSED MOON - Rite of Darkness

This album positively reeks of early-80s death rock in all the best ways. You’ve got driving basslines, reverby guitars, and gloomy synths, with the added bonus of gruff vocals that are more in the vein of early black or death metal. Not a ton of variety from song to song but it’s a highly enjoyable sound that works for a full album.

13. THE MOON AND THE NIGHT SPIRIT - Metanoia

This is a cool Hungarian duo that has been around for a good 15 years now. They make a very enchanting brand of folky darkwave with dreamy melodies and ethereal vocals. This is the first time I have had a chance to hear them since I fell in love with their 2011 album Mohalepte a few years back and I’m pleased to report they haven’t lost any of their charms.

14. LEGEND - Midnight Champion

Duo from Iceland that manages to capture the vibe and quality of classic industrial-rock and infuse it with modern and rather epic touches. The songs don’t just kick in and race to a catchy chorus; you have to be patient. The payoff is always worth it, though, and each songs follows its own dramatic course.

15. ADRENALINE RUSH - Soul Survivor

The debut from these Swedish hard rockers back in 2014 was a captivating collection of tunes that lived up to the band’s name. Soul Survivor is not quite as consistently good but it still has some damn fine tracks. The sound is big, melodic and surprisingly metal at times, with Tave Wanning’s vocals adding a great deal of charm, passion, and distinctiveness to the proceedings.

16. JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - Damage and Joy

I’ll admit I never paid much attention to these Scotts until the Automatic album came out and blew me away. Sadly, they seem to have slowly disintegrated after that, but after a lengthy break, they managed to return with one hell of a comeback record. Damage and Joy has some of the feedback from the early years, some of the electronics of the later years, and all of the sardonic humor and Velvet Underground chord progressions you would hope for.

17. BLONDIE - Pollinator

Blondie has had some good tunes since their reunion in 1999 but this is the first album where nearly every track is a winner. The three most important contributors to the band’s sound - Debbie Harry, guitarist Chris Stein, and drummer Clem Burke - are all still intact and in great form.

18. BLACK MARE - Death Magick Mother

This is the solo project from Sera Timms, the lead vocalist of Ides of Gemini. Here she takes a far more traditional gothic tone with the music, while her vocals take on an even more ethereal feel than in Ides. No individual song really stands out but it all works together beautifully as a complete album.

19. RAINBOWLICKER - I Saw The Light But Turned It Off

My first listen to this Finnish outfit was truly one of those WTF moments. Elements of punk, electro, chiptune, industrial and goth all merge together with some suitably peculiar, snotty vocals to make a fresh sound that is at once annoying and endearing.

20. TARJA - From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)

Christmas albums have a tendency to be either too campy or too cliched for their own good. Tarja instead presents a collection of traditional (and one original) tunes done up in a suitably dramatic and darkly original fashion. While her solo rock albums have left me rather flat, I love her voice and the orchestral pairing is simply gorgeous. No one sounds like Tarja, no matter how hard they try.

Some more bands with great releases in 2017 to check out if you are curious: AGUSA, BARDSPEC, CAMERATA MEDIOLANENS, DAN TERMINUS, FLAMES OF GENESIS, GALLEY BEGGAR, IIVII, KESHA, L.A. WITCH, LIVING COLOUR, PERTURBATOR, ROPE SECT, SOROR DOLOROSA, and UFFE LORENZEN.

Top 20 Heavy Metal Albums of 2017

While it has been a tragic year in many respects (natural disasters, mass shootings, data breaches, a political hellscape, etc.), there has been more good music unleashed on the world than ever. I’ve spent the past few weeks trying to narrow down just the stuff I have had a chance to listen to to a top 20 list and finally gave up. So, this year, I am splitting my list in two: one of metal releases and one of everything else.

I’ll start with the metal releases. Several of these are new(er) bands I have discovered through Bandcamp and Youtube, but the majority are long-time favorites. Countries represented this year: USA (x7), Germany (x4), Sweden (x2), Japan (x2), Finland, Norway, Italy, Chile, and the U.K.

Without further ado, here are my top 20 fave metal records (and tapes) of 2017…

20. EVIL - Rites of Evil

Bands that can successfully mix old-school black metal with thrash and/or speed metal always get my attention and Evil from Japan do it pretty damn well. Elements of early (like, REALLY early) Sodom are combined with Hellhammer to great effect, with lots of cool change-ups and a very raw production style.

19. JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR - Stand Your Ground

From his early work with Virgin Steele and amazing solo album with Rhett Forrester (RIP) back in 1984, Jack Starr has had a long and varied career. I was expecting Stand Your Ground to be good, just based on the last record, but damn it is some really top-notch US power metal. Only a few bands are doing this kind of material justice and it’s great to see one of the scene’s legends still out there and at the top of their game.

18. JAG PANZER - The Deviant Chord

It’s been, what, six years since the last Jag Panzer record? Damn good to have them back though and worth the wait. The band’s brand of US power metal is still intact, with a good mix of the faster, heavier stuff and more expansive, melodic songs. It’s not the band’s best album, sure, but it is still a strong return after a long break.

17. RAM - Rod

Ram really knocked it out of the park with their previous album so Rod was bound to be a bit of a disappointment. Still, there are many great songs here and even the six-part conceptual piece that makes up half of the album works remarkably well. Classic heavy metal is alive and well.

16. SATYRICON - Deep Calleth Upon Deep

This one almost didn’t make my list because, frankly, I forgot it came out until I started looking back over the year. Which isn’t to say it isn’t memorable, only that I never got a copy of it to really give it a proper listen. Glad that I finally did, though, because it is a huge return to form after the rather disappointing eponymous release of 2013. The smoldering menace of Now, Diabolical is back in all its glory, with the drums possessing a particularly wonderful, organic thump.

15. MIDNIGHT - Sweet Death and Ecstasy

When it comes to filthy, punky black metal that worships at the altar of Venom, it is hard to beat Midnight. Having said that, No Mercy For Mayhem (2014) was a bit of a let-down after the still-brilliant Satanic Royalty (2011). Sweet Death and Ecstasy is right in between the two, with a couple of slower, more experimental cuts and fairly memorable songs in general.

14. WALPYRGUS - Walpyrgus Nights

Despite a logo and album art that looks more like black or doom metal, this band from Raleigh play a very potent brand of melodic metal with clean vocals and lots of guitar harmonies. Closest comparison I can think of is Immortal Soul-era Riot. Very catchy vocal lines, killer riffs, and strong songwriting all around make this one of the year’s most underrated albums.

13. ACCEPT - The Rise of Chaos

Accept pulled off a miracle by reforming without their iconic singer and then proceeding to release and tour 3 amazing albums in 5 years. While Stalingrad was the highpoint, Blind Rage was still a great album and The Rise of Chaos follows in similar fashion. It has a good mix of modern, heavier tracks like “No Regrets” and really classic-sounding cuts like “Analog Man.” One could argue that the band hasn’t progressed at all (and they would probably be the first to agree), but the release of another quality Accept record simply makes the world a better place.

12. KREATOR - Gods of Violence

Kreator are easy to take for granted, as they deliver an album every few years that is always solid, kick-ass thrash metal with killer production. There are a number of great thrash bands out there (new and old), but I think Kreator are probably the most proficient and dependable of the lot. Gods of Violence is definitely on par with Phantom Antichrist and delivers at least one instant concert classic with “Totalitarian Terror.”

11. MYRKUR - Mareridt

Multi-instrumentalist Amalie Bruun is really evolving her brand of melodic black metal with this record, her second full-length album. One thing I really appreciate about this one is that each song is very distinctive and incorporates many different instruments and vocal styles. The guest appearance by Chelsea Wolfe doesn’t hurt either. One of the few critical darlings that actually deserves the attention.

10. BOLIDO - Heavy Bombers

Chile is turning into a real hotbed for quality metal of all genres lately and Bolido is one of my favorite in the classic vein. They have a real talent for coming up with interesting riffs that are offbeat yet 100% metal. Just check out opening track “The Absolute Dominion of the Skies” and get hooked.

9. SATAN’S HALLOW - Satan’s Hallow

The Midwest has been sourcing some great bands in recent years and Chicago’s Satan’s Hallow are right up there with the best of them. Their sound is very reminiscent of the NWOBHM, with plenty of catchy riffs, strong vocals and a healthy dose of speed now and then. More old-school metal for us aging headbangers!

8. ORDEN OGAN - Gunmen

While power metal as a whole has seen better days, certain bands are still out there delivering the goods and Germany’s Orden Ogan are one of my favorites. They manage to combine super-catchy melodies and huge choruses with fast and heavy riffage. Gunmen isn’t quite as good as 2015’s Ravenhead but it is damn close. Bonus: Liv Kristine guest vocal!

7. EMYN MUIL - Elenion Ancalima

Following in the footsteps of Summoning, Italy’s Emyn Muil create epic pieces with a Viking metal flair and lyrics and imagery straight from Middle Earth. Grim vocals are used as another instrument to add to the atmosphere and the songs remain engaging throughout, despite their long running times.

6. VENOM INC. - Ave

I’m not sure exactly what people were expecting from this release but I was actually quite pleased. It continues in the vein of the Prime Evil-era Venom (naturally) but with a bit more of the ferocity of the early years. It is great to see these guys out there playing the classics on stage but I was happy they were also able to deliver a high-quality release of new tunes, too.

5. OUTRAGE - Raging Out

Long one of my favorite thrash bands, Japan’s Outrage went through some interesting turns in the 90s (who didn’t), but they have really returned to form with the last couple releases and Raging Out is one of their best to date. Pure old-school thrash with modern production. Still has some of the Metallica influence from the early days but it’s much less obvious now.

4. MIDNIGHT RIDER - Manifestation

I remember getting this band’s first EP about a decade ago and loving their mix of early Priest and Sabbath but then never heard from them again. Until 2017, when this full album comes out of nowhere and not only lives up to the earlier work but exceeds it in every way. If you ever wish Priest had recorded more albums in the vein of Stained Class and Sad Wings of Destiny, this album is for you. The production and mix are perfect, too, coming across as 1978 with more clarity and impact.

3. VAMPIRE - With Primeval Force

When Vampire first hit the scene, I was skeptical due to the hype and anonymity of the members, plus the debut was kind of underwhelming. Fortunately, their sophomore effort is leaps and bounds better, taking their raw, old-school thrash sound to new levels. They mix speed and brutality with a surprising amount of melody and skilled musicianship and the results are a frenzy of headbanging goodness.

2. MAUSOLEUM GATE - Into a Dark Divinity

This Finnish outfit has been going for a few years now and never disappoints with their wonderfully eclectic mix of heavy metal, 70s hard rock, doom, and organ-heavy weirdness. Hints of Uriah Heep, BOC, Judas Priest, and Candlemass all shine through, but no description can really capture the band’s unique sound. Every track is epic in feel, even the shorter ones.

1. SANHEDRIN - A Funeral For The World

The cover and title scream ‘doom metal’ but Brooklyn trio Sanhedrin tend more toward the likes of classic Diamond Head or… I don’t even know what. They cover a lot of ground and, yes, even some doom territory with the title cut, but it’s never anything less than killer, memorable metal. Can’t wait to see what this band does in the future.

As I said earlier, narrowing this list down to just 20 was a major chore. Of the bands that were very serious contenders but just didn’t quite make it are the latest from: ALDIOUS, ALPHA TIGER, ARCH ENEMY, BATTLE RAIDER, CONDOR, CULT OF EIBON, DEMON EYE, THE FERRYMEN, GOD DETHRONED, ICE AGE, L.A. GUNS, LADY BEAST, LIMBONIC ART, LYZZARD, MALLEUS, NIGHT, NIGHT VIPER, OBITUARY, OVERKILL, PORTRAIT, SEVEN KINGDOMS, SHAKRA, SLAEGT, SORCERER, STALKER, STRIKER, TYFON’S DOOM, URN, VHÄLDEMAR, VINTERSORG, and VULTURE.

On top of that, there were many excellent demos, 7” singles, and EPs this year. My favorites came from BOMBER, COVEN, CRIME, CROWN OF COMMAND, CULT OF EIBON, DREADFUL FATE, FORGED IN BLACK, FREEWAYS, HAUNT, KROSSFYRE, LUCIFER’S HAMMER, MIDNIGHT PREY, ORNASSI PAZUZU, POUNDER, ROCK GODDESS, and SPEEDCLAW. Rock Goddess in particular was nice to see back in action and I hope they manage to release a full album next year because the EP was very promising (despite the less than sterling production).

As good as the year was, I think 2018 has the potential to be a stunner. New albums from the mighty JUDAS PRIEST and SAXON are on the way soon, not to mention MONSTER MAGNET, SUMMONING, WHITE WIZZARD, LOUDNESS, TRIBULATION, POSSESSED, RIOT V, and VOIVOD. Plus… IMMORTAL… maybe? Finally?? It was promised in 2017 so here’s hoping it will finally appear. And maybe a new HADES ALMIGHTY, too? Stranger things have happened…

Top 20 Rock/Metal Albums of 2016

Looking at a lot of other ‘TOP ALBUMS OF 2016’ lists, I rarely see any albums that made my list. Now, I don’t think this indicates that I’m out of touch with the current metal scene - I am, sure - but I think it is more a reflection of the incredible wealth and diversity of metal releases we saw this year. Plus, my tastes are more old-school than ever so I’m just more likely to gravitate towards bands like High Spirits and Spellcaster rather than critical darlings like Vektor and Khemmis (even though those bands are great, too). These are simply the 20 records that made the biggest impression and elicited the most repeat spins for me this past year.

20. HERMAN FRANK - The Devil Rides Out

Accept has long been one of my favorite bands and I was sad to see Herman Frank exit the fold a couple years ago. Still, it meant he was able to focus more on his solo work and this is his best album yet. It has a very classic, melodic heavy metal vibe without sounding dated or all that much like Accept, which is pretty impressive. Lots of great guitar-work and some really memorable songs are what led me to rank it in the top 20.

19. ARTILLERY - Penalty By Perception

These Danish thrashers have been releasing quality albums on and off for over 30 years and still remain criminally underrated. This is among their best albums, too, with a wide range of styles from melodic balladry to out-and-out thrashers, very much in the same style as their classic By Inheritance. Artillery deliver great riffs and leads but, first and foremost, great songs.

18. ALCEST - Kodama

Here is a great example of how many releases are coming out these days. Alcest is a band I have been following since the Écailles de lune came out and yet, until yesterday, I had no idea that they had released a new album last year. Not only that, it is one of their best and a real return to form, walking the perfect balance between post-black metal and shoegaze rock.

17. BLOOD CEREMONY - Lord Of Misrule

This band’s previous opus made #1 on my list in 2014 and for good reason. Their unique mix of 60s occult rock and doom metal (with some well-placed flute) is still fully intact on the follow-up. The songs here didn’t strike me initially quite as powerfully as the last one but they are growing on me and this would probably rank even higher a few months from now.

16. TESTAMENT - Brotherhood Of The Snake

One of the few here that seems to be making a lot of lists, it is really hard to fault this record at all. The last two albums have been quite good, too, but this one just feels like a new level of quality all around. The songs are more diverse, more memorable, better produced and feature some great performances from everyone, esp. Gene Hoglan. The Bay Area thrash scene is on fire this year.

15. DEATH ANGEL - The Evil Divide

With the exception of Killing Season, I have loved every Death Angel album (and even that one was okay by most band’s standards). The Evil Divide is not their absolute best but it is really solid and has the usual superb combination of melody, speed, emotion, and clever songwriting. While it was sad to see them lose original members over the years, the current line-up is absolutely killer and they really deliver here.

14. OCCULT BURIAL - Hideous Obscure

Another great band emerges from Canada, this time playing raw and brutal first wave black metal with hints of Bathory, Venom and early Sodom. The production is lo-fi but absolutely works and you can actually hear all the instruments remarkably well. Cool, unexpected guitar solos and drum fills help fill out the wonderfully primitive songs. A lot of bands attempt this sound but few succeed this triumphantly.

13. DEATHSTORM - Blood Beneath The Crypts

This is one of those albums I almost overlooked, even though I am a fan of their previous work. This is pure, hi-energy thrash circa 1985, with elements of of Hell Awaits, Endless Pain and Morbid Visions mixed together quite nicely. Powerful, raw, and brutal, with enough variety in tempo and killer riffing to make it a standout.

12. MOONSORROW - Jumalten aika

Moonsorrow has long been my standard for epic pagan metal and their latest is yet another gem. Composed of four 12-16 minute tracks and one 'short’ one (7 minutes), it is not a quick or easy listen but is highly rewarding. The balance of black, viking and folk metal elements is perfect and seems to come so naturally to Moonsorrow.

11. STRIKER - Stand In The Fire

This Canadian lot has been around for a few years now and, as far as I’m concerned, have never done a bad album. Lots of soaring vocals, memorable riffs and pummeling double-bass drums are served up with a top-notch, modern-sounding production job.

10. SPELLCASTER - Night Hides The World

Portland is home to many a hipster 'metal’ band (some of which are actually quite good) but there are also some die-hard old-school metal acts calling it home these days. Spellcaster started off as a good if somewhat unorginal US power metal band but quickly took off on a journey all their own. Their third record has hints of speed metal, NWOBHM, 70s hard rock, 80s AOR, 90s power metal, and everything in between. There is a haunting quality to the band’s sound that is rather intoxicating.

9. EXUMER - The Raging Tides

This is like the greatest Bay Area thrash album to ever come out of Germany. Seriously ripping material in the vein of early Testament, Exodus and Vio-lence. In thrash it is all about the riff and Exumer deliver some great ones that more than makes up for any lack of originality.

8. PRIMAL FEAR - Rulebreaker

After two decades pumping out quality metal, I kind of take Primal Fear for granted sometimes. Rulebreaker isn’t their greatest album and it sounds very much like the last couple but, taken on its own merits, it kicks some serious ass. Ralf Scheepers is one of my all-time fave vocalists and Mat Sinner still comes up with great, super-heavy riffs and the combination is just magic.

7. LUCIFER’S HAMMER - Beyond The Omens

Despite a cover that puts one in the mind of black or doom metal, this Chilean outfit play a very old-school brand of metal that could have come out on Ebony or Neat Records back in 1982. Imagine a mix of Chateaux, Crucifixion, Tyton, and Warlord and you won’t be far off. Lots of melody and upfront basslines mixed with judicious use of speed make for a refreshing sound that doesn’t sound like anyone else out there right now.

6. BRAINSTORM - Scary Creatures

These Germans have always had their own mix of heavy riffs and melodic vocals that is powerful metal without really being power metal. They also seem to have been somewhat on autopilot after the awesome Downburst back in 2008. Happily, the fire has returned and Scary Creatures ranks up there with the band’s finest work, combining top-notch musicianship, punchy production, and ten highly memorable tunes.

5. METALLICA - Hardwired…To Self-Destruct

I’m sure I will end up writing a much longer review of this long-awaited album (like I did with St. Anger and Death Magnetic), but I generally was quite pleased with it. Surprisingly so. There were only a couple tunes on the whole thing that I didn’t care for (Halo on Fire, Am I Savage?), but even those had some moments that are worth the listen. Mainly, it sounds like a cross between Justice and the black album but there are also some bits of Kill 'em All and Load thrown in, too. The biggest improvement over Death Magnetic is in the arrangements, which sound much more like the finely-crafted and well-balanced songs that made Metallica famous than the somewhat haphazard DM songs. Best album since Justice, hands down. Also, worst album cover since like ever, sadly.

4. BABY WOODROSE - Freedom

One of my fave psych/garage bands ever since the Love Comes Down album hit me a decade ago. While I have enjoyed some albums more than others, they all have their moments and Freedom has some real classics like “Reality” and ultra-trippy “Termination” that capture the same magic that the 60s tunes that inspired them had.

3. DELAIN - Moonbathers

While much of my list is old-school metal, there are some more modern bands doing some cool stuff and Delain are one of my faves. Though clearly at the pop end of the symphonic metal scene, they deliver such good, memorable songs, I find myself returning time and again. Charlotte Wessels has one of those great voices that makes even the less memorable tracks highly listenable. Super psyched to finally see these guys with HammerFall this year.

2. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - Flotsam And Jetsam

At one time, F&J were rising stars on a major label with two killer thrash albums under their belt. Then the 90s hit and the wheels came off. After several mediocre albums and a truly awful attempt to remake No Place For Disgrace, I had lost hope but then this album came out and DAMN! The intensity and quality songwriting of those first two records were back, along with a kick-ass production, great solos, and Eric A.K.’s best vocal performance in a couple of decades.

1. HIGH SPIRITS - Motivator

When I heard the Another Night album a few years back, I was blown away and hooked right away. Somehow, the magic didn’t return on You Are Here in 2014 but holy hell it sure has on Motivator. All the classic hard rock and metal elements from the 70s and 80s are assembled in a very distinctive manner here on nine highly memorable songs. Right up there with The Night Flight Orchestra and The Dagger as one of my favorite no-frills, retro-minded bands.

As much as 2016 was a disaster in terms of losing great actors and musicians (not to mention that fucking election), it did produce quite a number of great albums. Beyond the twenty above, I also had much love for new releases from SAVAGE MASTER, SODOM, AXXION, SPELL, ATTACKER, ZODIAC, SUMERLANDS, PRETTY MAIDS, DARKNESS, ROTÖR, ABBATH, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, CAUCHEMAR, BURNING POINT, BELLA D, TREES OF ETERNITY, KATATONIA, SERIOUS BLACK, and probably a bunch more that I’m forgetting or just haven’t heard yet. Plus, some great EPs and demos from SUBSTRATUM, SOURCE, CANDLEMASS, CROSS VAULT, TAARKUS and VOIVOD.