Top Albums of 2017
We're at the end of the year, atleast for notable music releases, so I'm gonna countdown some of my favourite albums of this year. In no particular order.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Dying Fetus "Wrong One to Fuck With"
Adrenaline Mob "We the People"
Seether "Poison the Parish" |
| 1 |  | Paradise Lost
Medusa
This album is the band at the slowest and doomiest, 10 tracks of misery and heaviness ripe for your ears |
| 2 |  | Shadow of Intent
Reclaimer
Everything about this record makes me happy, from the songwriting and production to the performances, guest features and lyrical themes. Deathcore needed a band like SoI and with this sophmore album, theyve got it. |
| 3 |  | The Night Flight Orchestra
Amber Galactic
Taking a brief break from metal, this supergroup (ironically formed from members of Arch Enemy and Soilwork) have delivered their 3rd album of classic 80's hard rock, with plenty of synth, plenty of cheese and plenty of swagger. |
| 4 |  | Tankard
One Foot In The Grave
Tankard are a band that have beat the odds, and my personal favourite among the big teutonic 4, and this is their 17th record of fast thrashy songs that are less in the name of the liquid of which their namesake is commonly poured in, but more, i suppose mature this time around. Whilst the music is nothing that makes you go WOW, its well written, well performed and well produced that show Tankard arent one foot in the grave yet. |
| 5 |  | Motionless in White
Graveyard Shift
The band are at their best musically, and despite from awkward lyrical mess ups have truly put out their best album yet. |
| 6 |  | Wednesday 13
Condolences
Having had the pleasure of seeing Joseph Pool's gang of metal misfits live, i can truly say they have the moxxi, the swagger and the entertainment value worthy to stand with an album like this. Their 7th studio release sees them do away with the DIY in exchange for a fuller sounding production, a home on Nuclear Blast and some pretty cool music videos to boot. |
| 7 |  | Alestorm
No Grave But the Sea
A band after my own heart, and also the biggest band from my pocket of this big blue marble, the memelords of Alestorm have truly delivered another OH WOW album. With solid songwritng and production, the nautical lyrical themes dont feel grating yet, but ask me again a few records more, and it might be different, or it might not be, who knows. |
| 8 | | Orden Ogan
Gunman
One of my favourite bands, who have released their fifth opus, have delivered once again with their brand of catchy, melodic, heavy power metal. |
| 9 |  | Satyricon
Deep Calleth Upon Deep
A black metal band that isnt all blast beats is a band that deserves a lot of respect, in my personal opinion. And this album certainly delivers 8 tracks of a brand of darkness that only Satyricon can bring. |
| 10 |  | The Black Dahlia Murder
Nightbringers
Despite rarely straying from their formula of fast melodeath, the Trevor Strnad outfit have delivered their best work yet, and I get to see them live in March, with the almighty Cannibal Corpse. A tasty coheadline tour for a tasty brutal album. |
| 11 |  | Power Quest
Sixth Dimension
A band from UK shores, these guys despite multiple hiatuses and lineup changes still manage to make some old school power metal, that whilst definitely cheesy, never gets to the point of being a chore to listen to despite many of the songs run times being over 5 minutes minimum. |
| 12 |  | Annihilator
For the Demented
Jeff Waters is one of my many guitar idols, not so much for his intricate shreddery, but for his tenacity for writing solid, catchy metal the way only he can. This record is chockablock with lots of hooks, warming lyrical themes and plenty of wicked solos. |
| 13 |  | Cannibal Corpse
Red Before Black
12 tracks of solid, raw death metal from floridas finest? Yes please, and i cant wait to see them play some of this stuff live, especially songs like the cheesy as hell Heads Shoveled Off or Remaimed. |
| 14 |  | Body Count
Bloodlust
With guest appearances from the likes of Max Cavalera and Dave Mustaine, i knew the 8th Body Count album was going to be a special one, and i was correct. This album is a product of this time. It is brutal, honest and really catchy to boot. Ice T is definitely more a metal musician than a rapper at this point, and this album shows it. |
| 15 | | Rings of Saturn
Ulta Ulla
The 4th album from the self proclaimed Aliencore outfit sees plenty of technical shreddery, but some intricate songwriting especially in The Macrocosm, my album highlight, plus the artwork is a great thing to stare at while high |
| 16 |  | Morbid Angel
Kingdoms Disdained
A massive bounceback from that not at all flop that was their last album, the band reunited with Steve Tucker for 11 songs of brutal riffs, pounding drums, sludgy grooves and more interesting lyrical themes |
| 17 |  | Jorn
Life on Death Road
The first album of original material since Traveller sees Jorn Lande bring 12 girthy songs of heavy metal with just enough hard rock swagger to make his outfit a cut above the others. |
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