Top 20 albums of 2017
Here are my top 20 albums of 2017. It wasn't a big year for finding new artists for me, but other year end best of lists have helped me catch up. Sadly, a bit to late to get on my best of list.
Some honorable mentions/bands-that-would-likely-have-made-this-list-given-more-time-because-I-discovered-them-so-late: Woe, Cloak, Ne Obliviscaris, Memoriam, and Cormorant. |
| 20 |  | Overkill
The Grinding Wheel
Every album Overkill has released over the last decade has been pretty good. Ironbound was wonderful, other than that, Electric Age, White Devil Armory, and The Grinding Wheel are good, but not super memorable as time moves on. Thankfully, these songs allow for Overkill to continue to play killer shows, they have got to be one of the hardest working old school thrash bands today. |
| 19 |  | Darkest Hour
Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora
I always knew of Darkest Hour, but never really picked them up, until I heard this. A great album on its own, I owe it for making me rewind to their earlier material. |
| 18 |  | Brendon Small
Galaktikon II: Become the Storm
We've been waiting for Metalocalypse/Deathklok's return, but we get this. Thankfully Brendon Small didn't let Adult Swim's pettiness to ruin everything, instead choosing to channel that energy into this killer release. |
| 17 |  | Replacire
Do Not Deviate
One of the best death metal releases of the year, but more technical than the others on my list. This album has a lot to offer, and a lot more for me to discover. I can't get over how Opeth their clean singing parts are, are they trying to summon Mikael Akerfeldt back to progressive death metal? |
| 16 |  | Black Anvil
As Was
Melodic black metal? Yes please. This a strong release by a band that surprisingly started out as a more hardcore based band with a different name). I'm glad they chose this haunting but beautiful sound. |
| 15 |  | The Haunted
Strength in Numbers
This is what you get when a band from the At The Gates extended family obsesses with Pantera, and I mean that in the best possible way. |
| 14 |  | Mastodon
Emperor of Sand
This album took some time for me to love, especially with poppy tracks like "Show Yourself", but much like Enslaved's release, this one should be heard as a whole (well isn't every album best heard as a whole?). Their last couple released were a bit odd, but I think Emperor of Sand shows Mastodon fixing up their sound and this album is as unique as can be expected by these guys. |
| 13 |  | Enslaved
E
I did not expect to like this album so much, especially after hearing the first single "Storm Son", but I think it just goes to show that Enslaved are not a singles band. Their albums are made to be albums and that is the only way they can be enjoyed. I digged their last effort, and although less heavy I dig this one more. |
| 12 |  | Necrot
Blood Offerings
Honestly these guys and the next two rankings are somewhat interchangeable. They are all great death metal releases by modern bands, and they guys may been leading that old school sound. |
| 11 |  | Horrified (UK)
Allure Of The Fallen
I believe these guys have a really strong future ahead. They straddle the old school death metal/melodic death line and I had this album on repeat for quite a while. The only downside here are the solos which seem weak and out of place. I can't wrap my head around it, but either they're not clicking with me or something needs to change. |
| 10 |  | Dyscarnate
With All Their Might
Discovered this band through MetalSucks claiming these guys had "just released THE death metal record of 2017" and they may be right. This albums has hints of Gojira, Meshuggah, among others, and their blend is crushingly heavy. I am excited to hear more from these guys. |
| 9 |  | Foo Fighters
Concrete and Gold
I've always been a Foo Fighters fan and with this, Dave Grohl and co have released another worthy addition to their rock legacy. The only rock band really touring and putting on shows of this magnitude today. Their sound may not be 70s, but their shows are sure trying to be. Also, this is likely the only list sandwiching the Foos between two death metal releases. |
| 8 |  | Decadence
Undergrounder
A very underrated band. This album is their best release yet. It's heavy, melodic, and well written. This albums has hints of Death which I thoroughly enjoy. |
| 7 |  | Kreator
Gods of Violence
Kreator have definitely established themselves as one of the top old school thrash groups today, continuously releasing amazing albums. Sure, they've dropped some of their viciousness for melody, but damn, does it sound great. Maybe not as great as Phantom Antichrist though. |
| 6 |  | Cavalera Conspiracy
Psychosis
Everyone is saying it, and it's true, this is the true successor to Sepultura's Arise (and I like Chaos AD). It's great hearing Max and Igor playing their signature crushing death-thrash sound! |
| 5 |  | Power Trip
Nightmare Logic
Executioner's Axe came out and all of a sudden everyone was a thrash fan again. Good job Power Trip. These guys are great at bringing the heavy but grooving thrash sound, maybe giving metal a good kick in the ass. |
| 4 |  | Pallbearer
Heartless
In a sense, the leaders of the modern doom movement, Pallbearer's first 2 releases are unbeatable. This album continues their evolution, taking a slightly less heavy sound, showing they aren't bound by metal. |
| 3 |  | Trivium
The Sin and the Sentence
Haven't been into Trivium's new work in a while, but this release has brought them back in my book. They seem to have finally been able to combine their two sides into one very strong, heavy, melodic, and memorable album. |
| 2 |  | Warbringer
Woe to the Vanquished
Damn! This album is great. Warbringer wanted to remind everyone why they were at the top of the modern thrash world, and this album set them way higher. |
| 1 |  | Havok
Conformicide
Havok are one of my all time favorite bands. Being from Denver, I've been lucky enough to see them many times, more than I've seen any other band. This albums continues their series of killer releases, but this time Dave Sanchez is way more vicious and the bass-lines are more killer than ever. |
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