Average Rating: 3.84 Rating Variance: 0.69 Objectivity Score: 66% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicAmorphis CircleAngelMaker SanctumAngelMaker AngelMakerAngelMaker DissentientBeach Fossils BunnyBilmuri American Motor SportsBuckethead The Squaring of the CircleSome of the most inspired, creative and energetic riffing Buckethead has put out to date. Solos on this thing rip like a ravenous chicken.Caligula's Horse Charcoal GraceCee Lo Green The Lady KillerChevelle Sci-Fi CrimesChinese Football Win&LoseChunk! No, Captain Chunk! Pardon My FrenchCradle of Filth Existence Is FutileDarkest Hour Godless Prophets and the Migrant FloraDavid Bowie BlackstarDavid Bowie LowDayseeker Dark SunDeadguy Fixation on a CoworkerDeafheaven Lonely People With PowerDeftones OhmsAn eye opening, transcendental experience with all the urgency and existentialism that a year like 2020 bring about. Candidate for album of the century. Deftones private musicDespised Icon Shadow WorkDraconian Under A Godless VeilERRA ERRAA flawless record with thought provoking lyrical content, hyper-technical guitarwork which flutters in and out between crushing djenty moments and beautiful tapping/ serene melodic moments. So cohesive it feels like you're peering into another world, the production is pristine and every low note bursts through the mix with a cinematic grandiosity. Jesse adds a newfound grit to his diverse tenor range, and JT just goes absolutely nuts cementing himself as the definitive ERRA harsh vocalist and showcasing immense versatility.Every Time I Die Low TeensEvery Time I Die RadicalIt's difficult to be objective with a band like Every Time I Die. This wrecks, the riffs are a frantic ADHD-friendly barage, they swarm you for a few seconds and then switch on a dime. Keith buckley swerves between the most genuinely aggressive "pissed" vocals I've heard, he sounds like he wants to rip your head off, and his cleans are once again rugged and tinged with southern swagger. It's ETID. They're an impressively consistent band. In terms of straight up heaviness the production lends itself well, and sonically it comes off more metallic than Low Teens was (at points) "Thing With Wings" being an exception. They may not be trying much new, but Every Time I Die are a unique band and they can afford to play it safe due to having such a recognizable, and original sound.Fall Out Boy From Under the Cork TreeFallujah DreamlessFear Factory Aggression ContinuumGhost (SWE) MelioraGreen Day KerplunkGreen Day WarningGreen Day American IdiotI AM Hard 2 KillInvent Animate HeavenerK-Rino The Blood DoctrineThese songs are meticulously crafted and incredibly deep, genuinely. Anti materialistic, spiritual and knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics. This man's insight is often depressing on an existential level. Korn KornLucifer (DE) Lucifer VMaster Boot Record C:\>COPY *.* A: /VIt's 2023 and one man electronic chipmetal is still here, you might as well consider this an omen of times to come. Meshuggah ChaosphereMonuments (UK) In StasisThe riffing isn't stale, it's progressive and colorful. Andy brings a post-hardcore esque sense of pizazz and range, Mick Gordon is on approximately 19% of the album. There's a good deal of atmosphere here which doesn't dilute the heaviness or intensity. Probably the best (pop) djent release since periphery's last record.Motorpsycho MotorpsychoNekrogoblikon Heavy MetaNorma Jean Deathrattle Sing for MeIt's really something else to experience a metallic-hardcore record this intense and visceral, even after the untimely end of ETID. New favorite band. By default. Obituary Cause of DeathOolong OolongOh boy. If you're a fan of emotional lyrics/vocals paired with intricate and jazzy lead and rythym work alongside fun little bits of self awareness. This is all the math rock and emo I personally need for at least a couple months, this thing deserves to get spun on repeat all summer. Paradise Lost AscensionPeelingFlesh The G CodePulsating Cerebral Slime GoreSlipknot SlipknotSunny Day Real Estate DiaryTelevision Marquee MoonTestament Para BellumThe Callous Daoboys Celebrity TherapistThe Cure Songs of a Lost WorldThe Dear Hunter Act V: Hymns with the Devil in ConfessionalTrivium In the Court of the DragonTrivium embraces a high fantasy prog aesthetic. Not too dissimilar from the themes explored on Shogun, and stumble upon the best songwriting they've ever had. There's a seriously masterful blend of clean and harsh sections in every song, influences from all over the heavy metal spectrum spring up and never feel out of place due to great transitions and the odd symphonic arrangements that compliment riffs that are meant to soar, or polished (but not over produced) production to make a metalcore smackdown sound more raw. Matt Heafy has developed a theatrical, but still very relatable, and emotional appraoch to vocals. You'll never feel a disconnect between yourself and the song due to him overdoing the "cheese factor" And if you ever felt like he was too nassally/whiny at some point on the older records he basically sounds like a beefy knight defeating a warlock with the power of his earth shattering baritenor these days. His vocals truly shine on tracks such as "A Crisis Of Revelation", "Like A SWOOOORD Over Damocles" The title track, as well as "The Shadow Of The Abattoir" Alex bent continues to be a monster behind the kit, constantly hammering out perfect beats for Cory and Matt, (and Paolo due to his presence being much easier to catch here), he's a constant source of energy for the band and has to be mentioned. While the album is significiantly closer to their classic material, echoing but not copying a great deal Shogun, and Ascendency. The band show a level of maturity when it comes to songwriting which couldn't have been achieved without the grooving "experimental" side of their discography testing water. All of these factors combine to form the most overwhelmingly cohesive, all-encompassing, definitive vision of Trivium as a unit. It's fucking great and if we're still judging them by the standards of modern metalcore, they're easily leagues above their contemporaries here. Utsu-P DiarrheaVoivod Synchro AnarchyDefinitely more straight forward alternative/sci-fi/experimental/thrash. But really, when you phrase it that way you realize how unique Voivod are to be making this style of music at all. Voivod Dimension HatrössWhirr Raw BlueWide Eyes OneironautLets face it, pure "Djent" hasn't really been a big thing in awhile. It's a genre that has been so influential that it's been homogonized into several other metal subgenres. This is precisely why Wide Eyes cracking open a portal to that golden era of ultra crystaline clear production and lush noodly soundscapes for a solid 2 hours is such a saving grace for the genre, instrumental djent moreso as many of the genres flag bearers have been SLACKING (looking at you AAL) so, yeah. If your middle/high-school years were spent drifiting in that high-concept sci-fi world djent is oh so well equipped at creating. This can't go unnoticed. Wide Eyes may even be finished, this may be their swan song, but it is such a pitch perfect note to go out on I doubt anyone can complain. Wide Eyes Terraforming (Redux)Within the Ruins Phenomena IIYeule Glitch PrincessThis album feels incredibly of it's time but it's time feels dystopian and self destructive, It's something which achieves beauty through our own detachment from the natural world and feels transcendental as a result. this self aware take on the drastic decline in mental health and the near constant attachment to our online persona and anonymity is a crushing eligy. Especially when so often you can see cracks in their hyper computerized delivery. if this were the last piece of music ever made. It would be perfectly representative of what humanity is as a whole in a post 2020 world. Yeule is a shape shifter.4.5 superbAesop Rock Black Hole SuperetteAFI Silver Bleeds the Black SunAtlantis Chronicles NeraHighly polished djent and technical noodling with a consistently smooth delivery. I love the serene ambience that pops up from time to time synths and bright production help paint a very beautiful environment. Amazing third full length from a band dripping with potential. August Burns Red Death BelowI'm sure this will be a jam despite the shitty low res ai artwork.Bloodbath Survival of the SickestBuckethead Skeleton KeysThis pike has all of the things that make Buckethead such an exceptional artist. The grooves are there, and better than ever. The production goes a long way here. Overall a very solid rock record with an emphasis on melody, and incredibly refined riffing from an artist who has fine tuned their art to a level of godlike perfection. Bury Tomorrow CannibalBury Tomorrow hasn't sounded this visceral and groove-laden since that one record with Jamey Jasta on it, you know the one.Cannibal Corpse Violence UnimaginedCannibal Corpse Chaos HorrificChild Of Waste Hunger Made ManCrumb (USA-NY) AMAMADarko (US) StarfireDarkthrone Astral FortressThis is a good blackened doom metal album with a jammy atmosphere complimented by great (clearly seasoned) vocals that just barely growl enough to be ghostly and sinister, but present. It isn't like eternal hails, has more of a higher end and also less of the muffled sabbathian stylings it had. I'd compare certain tracks more to progressive rock with tracks like "Impeccable caverns of satan" having a near rush influenced jaunt at times. Bare in mind however that none of this is being accomplished by removing the blackened crust that Dark Throne has accumulated over time. Pretty great stuff. Denzel Curry Melt My Eyez See Your FutureOf course. How could I be so BLIND, hip-hop has no connections to psychedelia and every album that comes out of the genre is 100% for profit and nothing else. Dog Fashion Disco Cult ClassicDrown In Sulphur Sulphur CvltDuck Duck Goose Love Will Set You FreeDuster In DreamsDying Fetus Make Them Beg for DeathThis is one of the best death metal albums I have ever heard. Eidola EviscerateEnforced War RemainsERRA DriftVery deftones inspired "waves of heavy guitarwork washing over you" type stuff. Beautiful hooks on every song here with a consistent yet seemingly restrained debut performance from JT. though this restraint proves throughout the album to be more appropriate for the chill, math- rock centric vibe the album goes for. Highlight in "The Hypnotist" "Sleeper" and "Drift" but every song is great.ERRA AugmentEssentially the (first phase) Erra's equivalent of the Self Titled. A display of pure technical mastery, tons of fun melodic moments catchy hooks and a fantastic swan-song performance from Garrison giving it his all. Excide Bastard HymnsExocrine The Hybrid SunsSweeping blast-beaten tech death that builds soundscapes as soon as it wrecks them to pieces. The pace can get insane but Exocrine is not afraid to tone things down with slower groovier tapping/riffing, or hiking the pace up tenfold to achieve an archspire meets psycroptic feel. There is an everlasting ambience which enshrouds the album, and wraps it in a grandiose "marching towards intergalactic war" concept. Prog definitely has its nerdy little clutches on this record. For many tech enthusiasts this was a heavily hyped release, and it has managed to reach those lofty expectations.Firewind FirewindAn epic and comforting slice of old school power metal. Foreign Hands What's Left UnsaidFrost Children Hearth RoomGouge Away Deep SageGreat American Ghost Tragedy of the CommonsGreyhaven Keep It QuietHammerFall Hammer Of DawnThe performances are genuine and Hammerfall really does seem like a vehicle driven by emotion, and less by a calculated need to shred. Though there is still some gnarly riffage. Incredibly solid outing as long as you consider the band's slavish devotion to cheese. Best tracks "Venerate Me" and "Not Today" Humanity's Last Breath AshenThis album is good and heavy and helps me work out, but yeah I guess they are pretty "brazen" about the heaviness.Imminence The BlackImperial Triumphant GoldstarJawbox NoveltyJPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown Scaring the HoesK-Rino Mind VisionKerry King From Hell I RiseKing Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Butterfly 3000Great psychedelic neo-synth prog pop album. Butterfly 3000 stands out in their discography due to the sheer vibrancy it has in spades.King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard QuartersLorna Shore Pain RemainsMakari Wave MachineMalevolent Creation In Cold BloodFinally. Now that the digital release has been fixed, and the skipping is a non-issue. Malevolent Creation's "In Cold Blood" Is a skull crushingly brutal, yet technically gifted and progressive record with loads of variety (not pushing the boundaries exactly) in a familiar style which ranks as one of the bands most solid efforts. Marilyn Manson We Are ChaosMayfield The Cabin SessionsMerzbow KaoscitronMy Ticket Home UnrealNasty ShokkaNemophila Apple of My EyeNightrage Remains of a Dead WorldNorma Jean WrongdoersNorthlane MesmerNothingness SupraliminalNovembre The BlueNunslaughter Red Is The Color Of Ripping DeathStumbled across this randomly and this has got to be the snappiest most to the point blackened death n' roll contribution of last year, it seems completely immersed in itself with how malevolent and playful the riffs and vocals can be with each other. Best description for the over all vibe would be a skeleton Lord commanding an army of unfortunate underlings to do his bidding. Apologies for the nerd out. Definitely a level of synergy benefiting of such a well established band, and a worthy addition to the legacy of Nunslaughter. Reccs: Title Track, Annihilate The Kingdom Of God, Black Cat Hanging, The Temptress.Obituary Dying Of Everythingof Montreal Freewave Lucifer f≮ck f^ck f>ckFun experimental music that takes a look at the zeitgeist and absolutely reviles everything capitalistic or self centered. Onmyo-Za 覇道明王 (Hadō Myōō)This band should really be more well known for those of you who like Iron maiden and anime openings. Palette Knife New Game+This is the best emo record you'll hear this early in the year and if you relate to the topics at hand then you'll likely see part of yourself in the genetic makeup of this self loathing goof off party. The way it masks uncertainty in ironic-ism is charmingly depressing? y'know what I mean. Definitely some j-rock inspired guitar work btw.Poppy Negative SpacesPsychedelic Porn Crumpets Carpe Diem, MoonmanPsychedelic Porn Crumpets And Now for the WhatchamacallitRevocation NetherheavenRoyal Coda To Only a Few at FirstScreeching Weasel WiggleSigh ShikiFirst go around with these guys, and I'm more than impressed. Pretty scratchy vocals with a kind of "euuggh" delivery on every line but very unique. Lots of little interludes and breaks throughout each track to add variety with keys and horn-work. The guitars are creative in a very fun and unconventional way (when they decide to slow down) and besides those very unique traits there is some of the most solid and polished black metal I've heard in 2022. Signs Of The Swarm Amongst The Low And Emptyeverything you could possibly want from a deathcore band, groovy chugging riffs, technical passages once the 100% brutal stuff stops, fun and catchy deathcore anthems with lots of memorable riffage and call out breakdowns. Is this revolutionary? perhaps not, but for Signs here they've captured a near purified distillation of their formula and penchants.Skindred SmileSoilwork A Predator's PortraitSoul Blind Red Sky MourningSpidergawd VIIStray From The Path EuthanasiaIf anyone would've told me I'd be enjoying a rap metal album this much in 2022, I seriously would've never believed them.Stray From The Path ClockworkedStrung Out Another Day In ParadiseSurgeon (MN) PetuniaGenuinely scary music that evokes a deep pit of existential despair and has great sound design which seems painstakingly put together. the whole thing is undeniably creative and a fun mix of eclectic inspirations that seem very soulful are in place. This is still deathcore though. Very nihilistic to the point of being apocalyptic, the genres it covers are nu metal, black metal, deathcore, industrial, atmospheric. Very creative breakdowns with unusual sounds and the bass is phenomenal here. Very fun album and it seems futuristic and ahead of it's time right now.Tallah Primeval: Obsession // DetachmentThe Birthday Massacre FascinationCan confirm me and my edgy emo friends have this in heavy rotation between all the hyper pop. Chibi's vocals are ageless. Eyeliner and reverb never gets old.The Dear Hunter AntimaiThe Dirty Nil The LashThe Sea And Cake The Sea And CakeNot only has this album withstood the test of time but it's one of the better chill guitar oriented albums I've heard, feels like a quintessential listen for fans of the genre. the guitar work is beautiful and the vibes are extremely pleasant when you're hearing those soft indie vocals and the mix of post-rock post-gaze post- whatever, this album is timeless and great, and everyone should listen to it.The Smile CutoutsThe Sound That Ends Creation Memes, Dreams, And Flying MachinesThy Art Is Murder HateTwenty One Pilots ClancyUnprocessed AngelUsedcvnt Ultraviolet2020s break core at its finest. This decade has rocked so far in terms of bringing quality records to the table, this is another one. Long live retro futurist revivalism. None of this break core has been particularly happy though, much more downbeat than twenty years ago. Still heavily recommended. Venom Prison ErebosVoivod Killing TechnologyWhitechapel Hymns in DissonanceXentrix For Whose Advantage?Yeule softscarsYeule seems as happy to still be here as I am to hear this brilliant synth punk album, there are so many facets here that evoke nostalgia for their early 2000s upbringing but soaked in a ton of beautiful production choices and a sense of inescapable dread, even on energetic bangers. There are still glitches and vocal modulation but it's all seemlessly rewoven into slightly more traditional song structures. Reminds me of Katamari damacy deftones and the darkest type of hyperpop which is already intrinsically dark. May yeule continue to cope with life's hardships in beautiful ways. This is industrial written from inside the machine. 4.0 excellent16 Guides For The MisguidedAborted ManiaCultAlpha Wolf Half Living ThingsAmorphis HaloI've always considered Amorphis a highly important band for melodeath, they keep the torch burning brighter than ever here. Halo is a smooth listen for the most part, but make no mistake. There are glittering moments of orchestral, synth, and prog rock beauty here alongside FAIRLY creative grooves and gallops when necessary. AngelMaker This Used To Be HeavenAnnisokay Abyss - The Final ChapterAtlantis Chronicles Barton's OdysseyAutechre PLUSAversions Crown XenocideBelphegor BlutsabbathTaking the new 2021 Remasters of belphegor's earliest catalogue into account, every album is now pristine. Including this ominous little gem. I highly recommend checking out the new reissues to hear the first few belphegor records in the most definitive way possible. They've been improved greatly. Berried Alive BERRIED TREASUREBlood Ceremony The Old Ways RemainBoundaries Death Is Little MoreChelsea Grin Suffer In HellThis is actually pretty good. A lot of symphonic deathcore influence and even some osdm nods really put this one ahead of their usual brand of bleghs.Children of Bodom Are You Dead Yet?Circa Survive Two DreamsSo what if it's not guitar centric. Still a powerful album with great arrangements in its own way. Anthony Green goes dream pop and nu wave. Coheed and Cambria Vaxis III: The Father of Make BelieveCrazy Lixx Thrill Of The BitecupcakKe Dauntless ManifestoDark Tranquillity MomentDe Profundis A Bleak Reflectiongood death doom, very good. slow riffs and low growls + melodic/melancholic instrumentation w/ audible bass!Draconian Where Lovers MournEarthists. HYPERMETALElvenking Reader Of The Runes - RaptureElvenking Reader of the Runes - LunaEmarosa VersusEminem The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)Epica AspiralERRA NeonBasically Drift 2.0 with again, more focus on poppy melodies and math rock sensibilities. The album is likely one of their most accessible points for new listeners. Very vibey.ERRA CureExocrine LegendForests Get In Losers, We’re Going to Eternal DamnationFrost Children SPEED RUNGalleons Violent DelightsGhost (SWE) ImperaWhile this album needs multiple spins to fully engross you, it will in time. Each song is layered with impeccable detail and while not even in the same area code as the dark aura previous albums managed to conjure, you can't help but feel that's what it's going for with deceptively dark lyrics about overindulgence, greed, corruption of power, and capitalism essentially. There's a certain underlying darkness to each song (except for griftwood, it's actually quite bad) which helps with providing texture and a coherent thematic tone across the album. It dips into thirty years ago when a band could get away with wankery, but really incorporates that into the concept itself as a sort of motif, more than a crutch. Ghost Atlas All Is in Sync...Erra is likely my favorite modern metalcore band, and Ghost Atlas and its strong songwriting and post-hardcore influence actually explains exactly why that is. So much of what is great about Jesse Cash's style is exemplified here, very raw and emotional with catchy choruses and chord progressions. Gideon More Power. More Pain.Glare Sunset FuneralGo Ahead And Die Unhealthy MechanismsCavalera's cavalcade of crushing creations. Also some BM influence sprinkled in especially near the back half. Graphic Nature Who Are You When No One Is Watching?Hail the Sun cut. turn. fade. back.Hoplites ΤρωθησομένηHurray For The Riff Raff The Past Is Still AliveIbaraki RashomonI was a big fan of "In The Court Of The Dragon" last year, and this is essentially an even more ambitious and extreme metal inspired prog-fest than that was. So many dope little folky elements, and pristine production for a """"black metal"""" album. Also has me looking forward to new Mcr.Inferious Salt Your EarthJack White Fear of the DawnI would have never expected Jack White to meld his rustic Americana, and garage rock influences with synthesizers and electronic elements. It works surprisingly well, and while "Boarding House Reach" wasn't the one to make me a believer, this certainly did the trick. Jack White No NameJethro Tull The Zealot GeneA feel-good prog rock record made by a bunch of old renaissance fair worshipping nerds. Plenty of colorful synth and flute playing as is expected. As long as you have a high tolerance for cheese, and aren't turned off by "cringe" clearly spoken high fantasy inspired lyricism, you'll find plenty to like here. Also highly recommended for dungeon synth fans (really)Jinjer DuélKing Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Phantom IslandKnocked Loose A Different Shade of BlueKorn RequiemThis album seems a touch more experimental, and as a result organic. While the nothing may have had its moments of "nostalgia bait" requiem feels like a korn unstuck in time, and willing to experiment with sonic environments both heavy and melodic. while still conjuring a calming/aggressive and darkly mysterious experience. Ironically it also feels like Korn have regained a former spark of creativitity they haven't tapped into since Issues. Proving that intentionally treading old ground was holding back a great deal of potential for the band. I have a very strong emotional attatchment to this band. I used to fall asleep to See You On The Other Side every night as a kid. Your experience with Requiem will likely depend on whether or not you felt that same emotional resonance, if you used korn as an escape, or if their music provided a reprieve. And to you, fellow KoRn fan. Let this be some justification for all the headbanging you'll be doing even after Sputnik staff shits all over this thing. RECCS: Lost in the Grandeur, Penance To Sorrow.Kottonmouth Kings Krown Powergot to keep it movin, gotta leave it behind, keep on rollin' and smokin, gotta keep on that grind.Legion of the Damned The Poison ChaliceLock Up The Dregs of HadesA worthy contribution to the grind and osdm scene which will unfortunately be overlooked, regardless of how dry the genre was this year. Malice Divine Everlasting AscendancyMarilyn Manson The Pale EmperorMechina VenatorMechina CenotaphMechina Bellum InterruptumMelted Bodies The Inevitable Fork LPMeshuggah ImmutableDun dun, djun djun du-du djun dun, dun dun. Favorite track: Kaleidoscope Miss May I Shadows InsideNarrow Head Moments of ClarityNingen-Isu FuuchiikuNingen isu don't make bad albums. If you're unfamiliar with them, here's a quick rundown. Groovy doom influenced riffing, an exploratory riffing style that is at once heavy and experimental, and a rotating vocalist on each song. now you're ready to listen to any of their albums and have a good time. Novembre Words of IndigoOmnium Gatherum OriginOnmyo-Za Ryuuou DoujiReally wonderful soundscapes comprised of semi- vintage, fuzzy yet highly defined riffage with many layers. The instrumentation is undeniably virtuosic. graceful and highly illustrative key work and heavy as hell moments that genuinely surprised during my listening session. the vocals are highly emotive and have a very heartfelt resonance to them. Regardless of if you know Japanese. Female and male vox are on fire throughout. Onmyo-Za is a band that can communicate a somber epic and grand tale and have been doing so for many moons now. Check it out. Organectomy Nail Below NailOrigami Angel Somewhere CityOrigami Button No Parkingit is a noodle guitar album with vocals that shift between emo and soul inspired. The tracklist is tight, the album is short and there's a really nice summery, upbeat atmosphere. it's also highly replayable imo.Ozzy Osbourne Patient Number 9Paleface Swiss Fear & DaggerPipe-eye Pipe-defyPoppy FluxPsychedelic Porn Crumpets FronzoliPsychedelic Porn Crumpets Shyga! The Sunlight MoundPsychedelic Porn Crumpets High Visceral Pt. 2Psychedelic Porn Crumpets High Visceral Pt. 1PUP The Unraveling of PUPTheBandPupil Slicer BlossomRadiohead A Moon Shaped PoolREZN SolaceIt's so cool to see this band just keep getting better every 2 years or so. Really enchanting quiet and well written vocals, heavy riffs often that come out of nowhere from the chill atmospheric or quiet moments. This is really the sort of group where they're in their peak right now and this sort of creativity is just flying out the proverbial wazoo so it's original and captivating as well as long, ambitious, weaving around itself and being of course slightly wanky but with a true passion behind the wank. Sentient Horror Rites of GoreSentient Horror are my favorite boss-worshiping OSDM group these days, just in time for my previous favorite, Entrails, to start really sucking. How convenient. With this release, they get tighter more technical, and are generally more skilled at painting a moody atmosphere with groove/thrash riffing o-plenty. You can tell by the almost tech-death solo at the end of the last track that these guys are into expanding their talent as much as their sheer brutality. Very, very promising third LP.Sentient Horror Morbid RealmsSilly Goose Keys To The CitySleep Token Take Me Back to EdenSoilwork OvergivenhetenThis is really amazing. The only song that doesn't hit the mark is "Death I hear you calling" and even then you can see it as a bit of a change from all the symphonic elements and blast beats. Spiritbox Tsunami SeaSpite Dedication to FleshI've listened to the little EP comprised of the singles that are going to be on this album several times every day since Hangman dropped. Didn't hate "Root Of All Evil" like some did, but these songs are taking me back to the "Nothing Is Beautiful" days mixed with more technicality and experimentation. Edit: best since nothing is beautiful. Easy 4.0Swans BirthingTermina Soul ElegyNik Noc't it out of the park with this collection of metalcore "bangers" as the man would say. I honestly thought once Andy joined Monuments that he would be too busy for Termina, and now he's in two kick ass bands at the same time. The Black Dahlia Murder VerminousTremonti Marching In TimeThis thing gets surprisingly heavy, and then the pretty parts start up and they're catchy as hell. Then the heavy parts start again and it's honestly so heavy sometimes in contrast to the pretty clean parts that it's like you dropped into a melodic death metal song out of nowhere. Seriously. The way that Tremonti plays with dynamics is really effective here, and you'll always be surprised by what he does next even if it's just a single song. Ulthar AnthronomiconValiant Hearts Hidden RealmsVolbeat Servant of the MindYep, a very pleasant surprise and a heavy return to roots for Volbeat. Seems like the last record was meant to be a bit of an experimental one off type thing. They switched back into prime-volbeat mode surprisingly quickly. Weatherday Hornet DisasterWith Sails Ahead Infinite Void3.5 great100 Gecs 10,000 gecs9mm Parabellum Bullet Deep BlueArchitects The Sky, the Earth & All BetweenThey still just want to sound too similar to bring me the horizon, but this is better than anything else they've done in the 20's.Artillery XA solid continuation of the winning power/thrash formula that artillery has been delivering reliably in the later era of their career. Michael Bastholm has a squeaky clean register, rarely ever adding any grit or distortion to his voice. And, while in thrash this could be seen as detrimental. the band writes memorable and clear melodies (paired with immaculate production), which compliment the generally polished approach showcased on songs such as "Silver Cross", and the surprisingly well executed ballad "Ghost Of Me" August Burns Red GuardiansAvatar Hunter GathererWhile not exactly reaching the lofty and epic standards Avatar have set for themselves. The band manage to craft an emotional and fairly heavy release which balances dynamic vocals with technical guitar work, beautiful songwriting on tracks such as the unexpected ballad "gun" and pure unfiltered brutality on the opening track "Silence In The Age Of Apes" which is sure to become a live staple once covid decides to piss off.AVRALIZE liminalBeartooth The SurfaceBefore I Turn LovelornFantastic album with plenty of chunky metalcore goodness, problem is the opener really should've been the closer with how slow paced it is.Belphegor The DevilsBleed from Within ShrineThe riffs are decently intricate and multi (phased?) while maintaining a punchy, direct production. the songwriting delivers a polished ferocity while never veering into butt rock or trap-pop. A surprisingly impressive feat for modern metalcore, and some of the hooks "it's a catastrophayyy" are beefy with competent riffwork to help compliment the catchy delivery. This is quite obviously not breaking new ground but will inevitably serve as comfort food for those looking for this particular brand of metalcore. Bleed from Within ZenithBlind Guardian The God MachineBokassa All Out of DreamsBring Me The Horizon POST HUMAN: NeX GEnBrymir Voices in the SkyProbably the best thing the band have done so far. Power/melodic death metal with lofty almost chorale vocals for the catchy parts. Buckethead Doctor Lorca's WorkBullet For My Valentine Bullet for My ValentineHonestly just a reminder that Bullet are capable of still writing metalcore songs. Still pretty good. Bury Tomorrow The Seventh Sungreat/good metalcore album. Clean vocals take some getting used to. Bury Tomorrow Will You Haunt Me, With That Same PatienceCheem Power MoveCloak Black Flame EternalGood blackened melodic doom. Great riffs, vocals, drumwork. Very solid. Coffin Feeder Big TroubleConfessions of a Traitor This Pain Will Serve YouConvictions The Fear of Godmetalcore albums with orbs on the cover are always great.Crypta Echoes Of The SoulDarko (US) Dethmask, Pt. 3Dayseeker Creature in the Black NightDeathbeds AU SinnerDevine Defilement RuthlessDistant Tsukuyomi: The OriginEmployed To Serve Eternal Forward MotionERRA ImpulseReally, really solid debut and a fantastic introduction to the lush soundscapes and heavy technicality ERRA is known for. Personally I wish there had been more Jesse, but it's a mute point given how he's prominently featured on literally every song they've made after Impulse. A few of the breakdowns as well can seem simple comparitively speaking due to how they weave them into the songwriting these days, but even still you can tell how boundary pushing and out of the box this album was at the time with the unique spins on fairly well-known metalcore tropes. Just don't go in expecting a full evolved form of their sound, and it's great. Filmmaker (COL) LATENT ALTERSAs solid as the rest of filmmaker's industrial tinged hypnotic darkwave/synth. Crazy long to the point where I feel it plays more like a compilation of tangentially related ideas than a complete concept. good though, very good. You can also see a bit of plunderphonics influence ala Haircuts for Men and the many clones that follow in his wake, though no sampling is really utilized so it's a unique vibe.Gamma Ray Empire of the UndeadGloryhammer Return to the Kingdom of FifeGreen Day SaviorsHollow Front The Fear of Letting GoI gotta give the band props for "keeping the ball rolling". This is nearly as good as last years album, more synth and a bit less authentic but still very listenable.Hot Water Music Feel the VoidTook me a bit to get to this, but this is a classic. So raw and powerful. Full of emotion. Old, wizened emo knowledge from an unapologetically against the grain band. Hot Water Music VowsIt's a good hot water music album as any other to throw on and rock out to. I don't know if it's remarkably better than Feel The Void, or if it is really "as good" but I do know that it still sounds like Hot Water Music and it's good to not have another lengthy hiatus from them.Hypocrisy WorshipImmolation Kingdom of ConspiracyThis is their worst album? It's just about on par with majesty and decay. Even if it's mostly just a continuation of the riffing style and motifs on that album it's definitely not bad. Inhuman Condition Mind TrapInsane Clown Posse Yum Yum BedlamJoe Satriani The Elephants of MarsKatatonia Sky Void of StarsKendrick Lamar Mr. Morale and the Big SteppersI just appreciate having more kendrick lamar. It's solid stuff, guys. Edit: After hearing the entire record, twice. I have to say I could've seen this working as a follow up right after damn, maybe a year or two later. As a finished project it is disappointing. Nowhere on the same level as the pre damn albums and not quite as snappy or in your face as damn was at it's best. I appreciate the visceral social deconstruction on display here, but the actual rapping isn’t great. It seems like much less of a rap album and much more of a venting session with some good singing and slower jams on Mr. Morale. If it takes another five years for Kendrick to do something, I'll probably have lost interest. KMFDM HyenaPretty creative for kmfdm standards jumping all over the map between classic rock, boom bap hip-hop, industrial metal, edm, and such. Then again these things have always been present. It's a really happy album with a vibe that does not die down, it's not spectacular or anything but it could be a neat mood booster.Lamb of God OmensFirst off I'll say this is better than the self titled in almost every way. It's noticeably more creative, taking greater inspiration from the actual good metalcore of the 00's as well as a revitalizing dose of melodic death metal. Besides that though It's about what you would expect. Lyrics range from good to surprisingly bad, vocals and delivery are almost always the same but the hooks on Ditch, Nevermore, Vanishing, and Omens are undeniably infectious. Randy Blythe's signature hyper enunciated mid range shout is still melodically sound and good on the ears. Riff-wise I don't think the band has realistically been this consistently on the mark with the groove/melodeath fusion since "Strum Und Drang" or earlier. They can start to blend together at times as expected, as seen on "Gomorrah" and "Ill designs" The drumming if that was of any concern to you, seems to have gotten better with Adler's replacement now having picked up on more of the band's nuances. The production too, seems to pop in more places and have a more tangible style/vision to help pull the album towards. It's lamb of God in 2022, aware of their legacy and trying to claw back a bit of their reputation. Take them or leave them. Highlights: Nevermore, Vanishing, DitchLANDMVRKS The Darkest Place I've Ever BeenLordi LordiversityHaving began as an effort to flesh out the band's previous "fictional Greatest Hits" record "Killection" These seven albums based on eras depicted in said compilation have the same general level of quality and that is a fantastic thing for how inconsistent lordi have historically been. Humanimals, Spooky, SuperFly, and Moonbeast alone are cheesy fun and consistently well thought out period pieces with appropriate production to top it off. If you've never heard lordi, these seven albums are them functioning at their highest possible capacity providing innovative takes on disco, alt rock/industrial, party rock in the vein of kiss, 70's prog, early 90s thrash. It's all here and executed in a unique manner that still maintains the band's identity. I would've never thought them capable of such an ambitious project and while none of it is especially mindblowing it's all quite catchy and well played. Machine Head UnatonedMalevolence Malicious IntentSome real grooves on this one, growled and aggressive vocals even when they're cleans. Lots of nods towards early 90's thrash, and boatloads of adrenaline. the audible equivalent of red-bull at it's best.. One pretty, post-grungy ballad in the middle, and a few odd features (Matt Heafy??) add some jank to the overall flow, though.Miss May I Curse of ExistenceHad a listen to this again, and it's a pretty solid 7th album from a band that is good at metalcore.Motionless In White CreaturesMxPx Find A Way HomeMxpx are the most consistently solid pop punk band and they will never let you down. These riffs sound like they've been being saved for years because they're so good. Nickelback CurbNinja Sex Party These NutsNorthlane ObsidianNorthlane NodeNorthlane Aliennothing,nowhere. Void Eternalthat emo soundcloud wave from awhile back is now making some good music and isn't that just a heartwarming fact. Novelists CodaNovembers Doom Nephilim GroveReally solid stuff for Novembers Doom a lot more psych and stoner doom influenced then everything else they've done. The mixing however, is really quite bad. Flat, and oddly quiet is how I'd describe it.Origami Button Button SeasonThis is essentially a perfect swan-core release, every track bumps and there's not a dull moment on the EP. It encapsulates the vibe of a good album in this style and it's not time consuming to listen to. Our Mirage EclipsePathology The Everlasting PlagueSlam may not be as active as it once was, but of the few bands that manage to keep the genre alive - Pathology is a highly groove focused, technical death metal influenced beast who have been incredibly prolific and consistent over the past 16 years or so. They aren't slowing down, and if you're looking for some heavy melodic chugs, and incomprehensible vocals these guys are truly the peak. Pentagram Lightning In A BottlePowerwolf Wake Up The WickedProfiler A Digital NowhereBig fan of the nu metal aspects and the groove-downs are some high tier moments. Reminds me of Chevelle a lot.Prong State Of EmergencyPsychedelic Porn Crumpets Night GnomesPsyclon Nine Less to HeavenThis is great! Like an alternative reality MM where he's actually a good producer, and still sinister. Pitch shifted black metal screams and midi instrumentals are dope. there's such a deep atmosphere to get lost in, it's produced like you're peering into another world.Pyramaze BloodlinesRise Of The Northstar Chapter 04: Red Falcon Super Battle! Neo Paris WarRise to Fall The Fifth DimensionThe musicianship wins out above all on this one, Rise to Fall do seem to fall back on familiar patterns and the riffs are certainly not out of the ordinary for these guys brand of soaring and highly spacious melodic death metal, super catchy choruses on this one and undeniably solid guitarwork with some beautiful flourishes. Plus there's a track featuring Bjorn from Soilwork! Sabaton The War To End All WarsI can not possibly overstate how bad the timing on this Sabaton album was. Edit: I've been enjoying this recently. You can tell the band have passion for this era in history and that isn't directly related to current events. The album has grown on me. Sanguisugabogg Homicidal EcstasyI don't mind the length at all. If these guys take another two years to make an album, given just how good their brand of just-technical-enough groovy brutalicore is I really need as much of this as possible before whatever the fuck becomes of 2025. Scarlxrd Acquired Taste: Vxl. 2This is my favorite scarlxrd project. You've basically got some heavy drum and bass instrumentals underneath the trademark scarlxrd flow and he's really locked in on this album.Screeching Weasel The Awful Disclosures of Screeching Weaselcertainly an overlooked punk album of last year, pretty wonderful craftsmanship throughout this old school meets pop punk concoction that has come to define Screeching Weasel.Sevendust Truth Killerthis is more experimental in comparison to other recent sevendust albums.Slaughter To Prevail GrizzlySlipknot The End, So FarSpace Weather Jaded and DreamingSpite The Root of All EvilStabbing Westward Chasing GhostsCatchy and well composed darkwave with an industrial metal sheen. standards Fruit TownMove over Berried Alive, there's another technically gifted fruit-based rock band and they're significantly less annoying.Starbomb Starbomb Boom: Rise of LyricsStillbirth Homo DeusStillbirth continue to improve and widdle away at their slam metal elements until mostly techy deathcore and some spite-esque moments (if they had better groove or instrumental ability by an order of magnitude) remain. Really truly, not a bad deathcore album but this is easily the most streamlined and "Accessible" Stillbirth have been. These guys are becoming an example of enviable consistency as the years roll on. The Aquabats Finally!The Devil Wears Prada Color DecaySingles so far are pretty impressive and noticeably closer to their roots than The Act was. I'm pretty excited honestly. The Zenith Passage DatalysiumStreamlined tech death, and probably the best way for The Zenith Passage to go on. Solid.Thornhill BodiesTilian Factory ResetTy Segall Three BellsValiant Hearts YonderVargskelethor Skeleton Metal Xreally good thrash metal though at times a bit immature which evokes other jokester thrash bands of recent memory. Pretty freakin' sweet. Vomitory All Heads Are Gonna RollVoyager Fearless in LoveWe Came As Romans All Is Beautiful… Because We're DoomedWhirr Pipe DreamsWide Eyes SaṃsāraWisp (US) If Not WinterWolves at the Gate Eulogies3.0 goodAmaranthe The CatalystAvenged Sevenfold Life Is But A Dream...Before The Dawn StormbringersThis is not that bad but they've had better outings and the time this took to make is hard to look past. Bodysnatcher Bleed-AbideHyped for the next 2 and a half hour long Bodysnatcher double album. Bodysnatcher This Heavy VoidBuckethead Castle of Franken BerryBuckethead The Chariot of SaturnBush I Beat LonelinessDance Gavin Dance Jackpot JuicerAt first I thought it was good, because it's like one consistently good song 18 times. That has proven to be its downfall, you get sick of one song you get sick of all of them. Dark Funeral We Are the Apocalypsesqueaky clean diet bm to indifferently shrug at during a black mass at Halloween City.Dead/Awake VileHad a few good songs, "Donnybrook" largely didn't care about it. Demon Hunter There Was a Light HereDemon Hunter Songs of Death and ResurrectionDestruction DiabolicalDevil May Care LimitDevilDriver Dealing With Demons Vol. IIDying Out Loud Grippy Sock VacationEdge Of Paradise HologramIf there is to be such a thing as Dad metal, then there must too be Mom metal. Filth (NC) Southern HostilityThat last Gideon album was a significantly better version of this album.Four Year Strong analysis paralysisThis album is really weird. There's kind of some industrial elements to the sound but it's also partially grungy and pop punk along with Four Year Strong's easycore/metalcore style. There is also a not unnoticeable amount of influence from Nu-Metal on tracks like uncooked, although it isn't obnoxious. *Track by track this album flows a little awkwardly*. This seems like an honest and personal album, it clearly details some reflective moments in the life of Four Year Strong vocalist guy which tend to be quite relatable and charged with a lot of emotion, but it's not as good as Brain Pain. Goldfinger Never Look BackGoldfinger are a good band, they're reliable and catchy. If you want an entire album of nonstop tony hawk pro skater-esque tunes you can't possibly pick a better band.KMFDM Let GoLil Wayne Tha Carter VIMemphis May Fire Remade in MiseryMetallica St. AngerMystic Prophecy Hellriotthere are a lot of clichés here but the album is a fun heavy metal affair, with metal mania most definitely being the main attraction here. You're hearing about metal lyrically in several different ways, right off the bat talking about both putting your foot to the metal and playing the metal in equal proportions. Holy fuck is this thing generic, but it'll scratch that ooold school itch. Highlights: Unholy HellNo Fun At All Seventh WaveThis is the most generic punk rock album I've ever heard. Of Mice and Men TetherOf Mice and Men Another MiracleOverkill ScorchedOverkill are a classic thrash metal band with a no holds barred attitude. This album contains heavy metal of the masculine variety, with many hell yeahs and goddamns to be had. This album is better than 72 seasons by Metallica. Palette Knife Ponderosa Snake House and the Chamber Of BullshitPoppy ZigPowerman 5000 Anyone For Doomsday?Prospective Reasons to LeaveThis band's entire career can be summarized in "Derivative, but surprisingly good." This sounds a bit like every other metalcore band you may have listened to in the past few years (fit for a king, erra, and bad omens to be specific) and IMO it does a better job than that last ffak album which it partially visually resembles. It hits upon why this industrial-ish style is so commonplace. It's very well polished and the riffs are bouncy, with lyrics being completely optional to actually pay attention to, at the very least they're never outright cringe-worthy. All songs can reliably be added to a gym playlist or placed alongside aforementioned bands without a hitch. If you're a fan of tasteful technicality, bass-heavy djent-esque guitar riffs included, clean hooks, harsh vocals, this is pretty good. There are 10 3½ minute long songs and then it ends having nicely flowed and never dipping below a headbangable level aside from 1 outlier track called "Trapped" which is a well executed take on trap-metal, as implied by the title.Prospective The Weight Of What I've BecomePsyclon Nine More to HellPsyclon Nine And Then OblivionRed Vox RealignRed Vox VisionsPretty solid alt rock. Decent hooks, and memorable melodies from both the surprisingly tight rhythm section, and polished pseudo grunge vocals. Not a bad Red Vox record.Scar Symmetry The Singularity - Phase II: XenotaphScarlxrd FANTASY VXIDScarlxrd polishes his production up while still being raw, and distorted as ever. While it's practically impossible to understand any of the lyrics on a large chunk of tracks here Scarlxrd has honed his harsh vocals to the point where he can actually hit notes and scream in an almost melodic fashion.Sinister The Carnage EndingSiouxsie and the Banshees The RaptureTetrarch The Ugly Side of MeThis is one for the nu metal lovers out there. Not bad if you need a quick blast of this style.The Aquabats Kooky Spooky...In StereoThe Browning End of ExistencePretty average for the browning, but very few bands do what they're capable of with the trance, rave, synthwave etc deathcore fusion. Although much of this album just slips straight into Mick Gordoncore. The Devil Wears Prada FlowersThe Mountain Goats SwedenRandomly dug this thing up, folky acoustic introspective pop and "rock" sounds like a depressed Weird Al and a precursor to Bo Burnham. Tilian VERTIGOTiny Moving Parts Tiny Moving PartsI mean it sounds like an immature pop-punk debut, not something from a group who's been doing this for 10+ years but I still like it quite a bit.Twenty One Pilots BreachVeil of Maya [m]otherThere is nothing album-breaking about the new stylistic tendencies VOM have picked up More synths, more cleans, yes. Yet the riffs and atmosphere as a whole remain solid. Voivod KatorzWolf and Bear BloodletterYelawolf War Story2.5 averageA Day To Remember Big Ole Album Vol. 1Angerot The Profound RecreantAnvil One And OnlyBreathe Atlantis Overdrivethis is mixed atrociously but honestly it's okay-ish metalcore.Buckethead Toys R Us TantrumsDecent pseudo-ep from the alternative rock machine known as buckethead. Far and way from his best work but still solid enough to put on the "not a complete wank-fest" list. Buried in Verona Circle the DeadDefiled The Highest LevelVery Vanilla dm, average in every conceivable way. Still solid enough I'd say. Emarosa StingGuttural Disgorge First Degree MurderLil Yachty Let's Start Here.Memphis May Fire ShapeshifterMuse Will of the PeopleAh so here's the missing sequel to Weezer's SZNS. I do quite enjoy "Won't stand down" for the DEATHCORE INFLUENCE, WHAT.Nickelback Dark HorseOur Hollow, Our Home Hope & HellThe Ghost Inside Searching for SolaceI don't think this is that bad but it's not that good either.To The Grave Everybody’s A MurdererUltra-Violence BeyondI find it endlessly interesting how a fairly solid retro thrash revival band decided to bring in one of the songwriters/producers from Bad Omens, and started releasing fairly basic bmth-style electronic infused metalcore. Nothing they had done prior to this release signaled this was the direction they were heading in, and It prompted me to check if there was a discog mixup on Spotify (as there sometimes is) album is okay. Boiler plate. Average, and basic. Weezer Van WeezerWeezer SZNZ: SpringCheesy Weezy.2.0 poorBerried Alive Our Own LightThis is pop punk by way of trap-djent and if that isn't your thing, I would understand. Best enjoyed in bursts, it can be exhausting hearing such artificial and compressed music (especially given the run length) to give credit where it's due however, the guitarwork is on average pretty freaking cool and while highly processed still retains an otherworldly melodic sensibility. Vocals on the other hand are like a rap metal take on the I See Stars thing, definitely an acquired taste. So in conclusion, if you find yourself in the awkward position of having grown up on scene core garbage, but feel like you deserve better overall instrumentation and some fucking NF esque rapping in certain sections on a modern release of the same style. You may enjoy this. Buckethead Rooster CoasterDeez Nuts SaudadeGhost (SWE) SkeletáHobo Johnson The Revenge of Hobo JohnsonHorrible music but Hobo Johnson has a somewhat entertaining personality which almost makes it work as a comedy type thing. Jonny Craig Still SearchingThis is dreadful and really awful, no good and very bad. Paleface Swiss CursedI thought Fear and Dagger was great. I'm not sure how you could look at this and see how it's at all an improvement or even comparable in quality.Poets of the Fall GhostlightTemple of Void Summoning the SlayerThy Art Is Murder GodlikeThe gimmick has been stretched too thin. recycled riffs, structures, nothing new.Wage War ManicThe wage war guys, while clearly capable of playing their instruments well, seem completely and totally devoid of new ideas or interesting experimentation. This is the sound of a band making music they no longer have interest in. Clearly influenced by the burgeoning trap scene (which bare in mind. isn't a bad thing in all cases) the breakdowns, riffs, and hardly utilized harsh vocals come off complacent and tacked on. 1.5 very poorArchitects The Classic Symptoms of a Broken SpiritDropout Kings Riot MusicMC Lars Blockchain Planet1.0 awfulAttila Soundtrack to a PartyFall Out Boy Save Rock and RollFive Finger Death Punch AfterLifeMost of this is average jock rock for FDP. Moody has a single mode for every chorus, and it has stuck with him since Got Your Six. so if you're not in the mood for bombastic bro dude sing-alongs don't bother. Imagine Dragons Mercury - Acts 1 & 2Papa Roach Ego TripWage War Stigma
Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
