#28 - Top of 2020

 Six Foot Six - The End of all  (Scarlet Records)

The End of All is the second full length album by melodic heavy metallers Six Foot Six which came out just in time for the 2020 wrap up (December!) and is once again led by great clear vocals, by lead vocalist Kristoffer Göbel (known by Falconer & Destiny), also on rhythm guitar, spewing amazing guitar melodies. From beginning to end, the album is full of memorable tunes and choruses including awesomely catchy tracks like the intro "Welcome to Your Nightmare", dynamic and groovy twists like the title-track "End of All", as well as more imposing tunes like "In God We Trust" and the Falconer-reminiscent "Blood Will Out"! The band shows how versatile they can be by shifting between different tunes and tempos without losing their melodic side, creating a very interesting album that can be heard on repeat and can be appreciated increasingly the more you listen to it. Highlights include "Last Days of Our Lives" which has some of the best guitar solos & mid-song surprises of the album and personal favourite "Finale Vittoria" which acts as refreshing change of pace! Overall, the Scandinavians know how to create the 100% perfect melodic riffs and are worth keeping an eye on! 

93.21/100

Below is the official music videos for "Welcome To Your Nightmare" and "The Last Days of Our Lives".

 

#29 - Top of 2020

Warbringer -  Weapons of Tomorrow (Napalm Records)

Although thrash has not really been the bread and butter of our blog, we always have a soft spot for bands that try to spicen-up their thrash with a pinch of more diversity. Such is the case of Warbringer and their latest output Weapons of Tommorow, for very rarely have feelings of such epicness been portrayed through the medium of thrash metal which is usually the medium of choice for portraying either (i) dissent or (ii) partying which results in anthems of "angry partying", "joyous rioting" and oft a mix of the two [and when dangerous ingredients are mixed to songs of "angry rioting", but rarely, if ever, of "joyous partying", reserved for genres of a more "speed" predisposition]. Warbringer however evokes images of war on a grand scale and produce such a unique thrash album that makes them completely distinct from other bands of the so-called new wave of thrash that begun in the late 00s. This album, which ranks surely among the best of the new wave of the genre, is no exception and provides clear proof that the band is among the pioneers of an otherwise stale genre, subverting its aesthetics without changing its core, all the while making heads banging and pits thrashing!

93.2/100

Below is the lyric video for "Glorious End".

#30 - Top of 2020

Alestorm - Curse of the Crystal Coconut  (Napalm Records)

The Scottish pirate metal crew is back with their 6th full length album which provided the perfect dose of fun & adventure needed for the dreadful 2020 (also see Top of 2014 and Top of 2017)! Alestorm have definitely not lost their magic touch and have given us a number of quirky and funny tracks such as "Treasure Chest Party Quest" and "Shit Boat" which are not so much on the heavy metal side but make everyone listening to the album miss live concerts even more! Packed with the equally enjoyable but also more epic tracks like " Fannybaws" and "Call of the Waves", the band achieves a balance of the elements that makes them what they are, with the best example being "Tortuga" juggling between electronic elements and epic choruses. However, the most interesting song has got to be none other than "Wooden Leg Part 2" which spans over 8 minutes and between 3 languages to tell the story of The Woodening of a pirate who loses more than a leg in the course of the track! If you are itching to go on a quest for an entertaining album of pirate adventures, look no further than the Curse of the Crystal Coconut! 

93.1/100

 

Below are the official music videos for "Treasure Chest Party Quest", "Pirate Metal Drinking Crew", "Shit Boat" and "Fannybaws"!

#31 - Top of 2020

 Manticora - To Live To Kill to Live (ViciSolum Productions) 

We are kicking off the best albums of 2020 with the newest offering from the exquisite Danish prog/power outfit Manticora. Released back in August, this is a follow-up to 2018's "To Kill To Live To Kill". The album is the culmination of the best period of the band, with an abundance of creativity both on a conceptual and an executional level. The album kicks off with the epic Blind-Guardianesque  "Katana - The Moths and the Dragonflies / Katana - Mud". The oriental interlude that follows paves the way for "The Farmer's Tale pt3", which closes out a trilogy of songs from the previous record, adding a more proggy sound bridging into "Slaughter in the Desert Room" which features a much more darker sound, in addition to the vocal contributions of June Dark (Clandestine).  There is a lot to uncover throughout the album with multiple musical styles intermingling with a very fresh-sounding production. Among our personal favourites are the Katana trilogy of songs which rank among the best power/prog songs all decade long and particularly the head-banging finale "Beheaded". Truly a memorable album among one of the oft-overlooked bands of the European power metal circuit!

93/100

Below is the lyric video for "Katana - Death of the Meaning of Life".

Honourable Mentions - Top of 2020

 Welcome to another list of best albums, counting down the best among 2020 records. Before we get to the meat of the list, we will present some records that came out that while great, didn't quite get there. Without further delay, we are presenting:

2020 HONOURABLE MENTIONS (In no particular order)

Lucifer - Lucifer III (Trooper Entertainment)

 Lucifer, released their 3rd full length album in 2020 and it doesn't lack anything from what makes their sound unique including a retro dark feeling and amazing female vocals which steal the show. The band is not afraid to move between different sounds and styles, from atmospheric tracks like “Leather Demon”, to the more energetic “Flanked by Snakes” and the title-track “Lucifer” without missing out on their doomy beginnings. Worth a listen for those who are into that occult-inspired heavy rock.

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Merkfolk  - Echo (Independent)

 

Merkfolk is a an interesting folk band from Poland who released their third full length album in 2020. All songs are in the band's native language which fits perfectly with a mixture of flute, fiddle and accordion melodies. The record is pure folk with many tracks having a traditional but yet unique sound like "Dwa wina". A great listen by "the bringer of folk" (as the band's name loosely translates)!

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Moon Reverie - Moon Reverie (Rockshots Music)

 

Italian Neoclassical Rockers Moon Reverie truly impressed us with their debut outing from Rockshots last year. Their combination of technical musicianship with beautiful vocal lines and lengthy neoclassical instrumental pieces that demonstrate their virtuosity and their passion for music, was enough to stand out from the rest of the releases in their genre this year, exciting everyone regarding possible future music outputs from the band and  showing how a mildly contrived genre can get new ideas and directions from young and energetic artists that pay tribute to its past while shaping its future.

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Jet Jaguar - Endless Nights (Pride and Joy Music)

Another debut album, this time from Mexican speed/glam metallers Jet Jaguar. A breakout act from Wacken 2017's Open Air Metal Battle, they were able to take full advantage of that fact, by signing to a label (Pride and Joy) that is very good at showcasing new acts in a wider audience, and released a killer debut album, which includes not only hooky songs (such as "Blinding Lights"), but excellent compositions of pure speedy heavy metal! 

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Magnum - The Serpent Rings (Steamhammer)

 Magnum is one of those bands who still remain "true rockers" and ALWAYS deliver on their releases (making it into a number of our earlier Tops including 2016, Hard Rock Top and 2018). Armed with Bob Catley's unique voice, The Serpent Rings (the 21st full length album by Magnum!!!), has all the great traits of band including catchy tunes that are bound to be instant classics like "Where Are You Eden?" and chorus that are made for sing alongs like "Not Forgiven". Definitely worth a listen while waiting to see them live sometime in the future.

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Lord Vigo - Danse de Noir (High Roller Records)

In their 4th full length release, German Doomsters completely flipped the script, and presented a record that differs quite considerably from their previous releases, approaching their doom metal through the lens of the Dio-era albums of Black Sabbath and adding a very distinct 80s Neon/Scifi aesthetic to their distinct epic doom sound. Their experiment was successful for the most part and while we may miss the epicness oozing from their previous releases, this is still a great album unveiling a different aspect of the band, showing that the band is way more than a one-trick pony.

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Aether Realm - Redneck Vikings from Hell (Napalm Records)

 Aether Realm are one of those releases you hear about randomly and gets you hooked right away. Coming from the US, the band has a melodic death sound with a more "radio-friendly" twist that makes them memorable. The album has a number of great tracks including the super-catchy "Goodbye" and the fanbase-dedicated "TMHC" (standing for the Tiny Metal Hand Crew) making it enjoyable to listen through the album. It is worth having this band in mind as they show some great traits differentiating themselves from the classic melodic death metal sound.

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Mike LePond's Silent Assassins - Whore of Babylon (Silver Lining Music)

In their third offering, the personal band of Symphony X's bassist continue playing unadulterated pure heavy metal with touches of speed. prog, power and epic metal sprinkled in at different quantities throughout the record. Lepond has developed over these three releases a personal sound and this is even more evident here, where almost any composition could easily be a hit single, with almost no filler chaff mixed in. Among the best tracks of the album are "Ironborn", "Ides of March" and "Dracul's Son", but virtually any song has the potential to grow into a mega-hit. Highly recommended for all metal-heads with an affinity for late 90's power/heavy metal sound!

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Temperance  - Viridian (Napalm Records)

Italy is known for a breadth of melodic heavy metal bands but not many are as successful in creating memorable and catchy tunes like Temperance. The album is packed with with tracks that stick to your mind and you are bound to listen on repeat with examples like the pumping "I Am the Fire", the melodic "My Demons Can't Sleep" and last but not list the Mission-Impossible2-inspired "Mission Impossible". With the bonus of a blend of great female and male vocals complimenting each other, Viridian makes for an uplifting release worth checking out.

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Boisson Divine - La Halha  (Brennus Music)

It might have been some time since we last heard from French folk band (previously in the 2013 Top) but they still got this unique sound that fits perfectly with their mixture of French and regional Occitan dialect. Straight from the first track "Lo pèla pòrc" to the memorable "Libertat", the album is packed with traditional sounds (including hurdy gurdy, flabuta, boha and accordion). A very interesting 2020 release from the French folk scene, making us wish there were more bands like them!

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Greyhawk - Keepers of the Flame (Fighter Records)

 What a debut album! Greyhawk show signs of great things to come in the future with their Keepers of the Flame. Riding on the wave of great heavy metal bands coming out of the US in the past couple of year, Greyhawk sound like a band to keep in mind with great clear vocals which along with heavy metal riffs make for some memorable EPIC tracks like "Frozen Star" and "Keepers of the Flame". Definitely worth a listen for all those true heavy metal fans!

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The Flower Kings - Islands (Inside Out)

Another year, another great release from Roine Stolt and company this time around, just one short year after the release of the excellent Waiting for Miracles! While not as masterful as its predecessor, Islands manages to be another highly enjoyable release in the long list of beautifully crafted albums by one of the most consistently good prog rock acts out there. Highlights of the record include the single "Broken" and "Tangerine" which interweaves the vocals of Hasse Fröberg with those of Stolt in a truly magical vocal interplay worthy of any previous release of the band!

#1 - Top of 2019

 Grand Magus - Wolf God

And in number one, we could have none other than Grand Magus, the heavy metal Swedes who throughout the years have never ceased releasing albums which are instant classics while gradually evolving from their doom/stoner origins to a more and more EPIC sound (check out Top 2012, 2014, 2016 and the Best of Epic metal!!!). In another solid release, the Wolf God starts off with an amazing acoustic track accompanied by a folky cello,  while "Gold and Glory, sets the mood in an album that it gets really hard to pick a favourite song. From heavy and more slow-paced tracks like "To Live and to Die in Solitude" and "Glory to the Brave" to amazingly melodic and catchy songs like "Brother of the Storm" and " Dawn of Fire" the record doesn't slow down with the small exception of  filler track "Spear Thrower", which nevertheless is catchy as fuck. There are also tracks like the "Wolf God" and "He Sent Them All to Hell" that have that extra layer of HEAVINESS that has become a distinct feature of the band that flawlessly fit in creating the most enjoyable  2019 release! As always, the album is made unique and memorable thanks to the awesome JB, who provides both lead vocals and guitars (both on studio and in live shows)! The album and, the band in general, are perfectly summarised  in the final track "Untamed", where we can sing along with JB: 

From the north

Now hear us roar

From the north

Now hear our call 

98.5/100

Below are the official music videos for the songs "Untamed", "Wolf God" and "Brother of the Storm".

#2 - Top of 2019

Devin Townsend -  Empath (Inside Out)

Devin returned in 2019 with a deeply endoscopic release, reconciling a number of different aspects from his career while at the same time adding new elements to his music, rendering Empath an essential part of Devin's music catalogue. Choosing to do the release under his own name (and not under the DTP moniker) clearly allowed more creative freedom to DT, allowing him to collaborate with a different array of musicians than on DTP releases, while at the same time allow him to converse with the audience more intimately than ever before. The album opens with a small interlude breaking into the chaotic madness that is "Genesis" with multiple musical themes and aspects colliding into a maddening fest of prog. This is followed by the anthemic "Spirits Will Collide", a personal favourite of my co-author here at the blog and a great song to listen to live. The albums continues with Evermore, a very "DTP" song and continues with Sprite, mixing fable and prog into a strange amalgam of sounds. "Hear Me", once again treads on familiar DTP grounds before "Why?" gently pushes the viewer out of its comfort zone into an absurdity of emotional resonance. "Borderlands" which follows is an almost perfect song combining different facets of DT while at the same time providing great entertainment and a quite infectious main riff, while the album closes with the multi-part prog labyrinth of Singularity, where at times elements of DT's earlier releases fuse with influences and personal experiences, providing perhaps not the ending of the album we asked for, but definitely the one we deserve. 

Ultimately, this is  great release, albeit one that may be a tad too much to someone not acquainted with DT's music before, but a record that rewards multiple takes, allowing the audience to discover something different every time it's on. 

98/100

Below are the (numerous) music videos from the album.

#3 - Top of 2019

 Darkthrone - Old Star

Darkthrone really outdid themselves this time, that they did. As per their latest recipe, they mixed up equal bits of old metal and aggression and really came up with an excellent package of a release that puts the pedal on the metal and steps on it till there is no tomorrow. In previous albums like The Underground Resistance in 2013 (being a worthy addition to our EPIC Top), they showed some great heavy signs, which are not a surprise to anyone who has had a glimpse at  Fenriz's taste in music, but in 2019 they definitely pooled out their BEST and most EPIC riff, which is none other than the opening riff of the "The Hardship of the Scots! The whole thing really explodes once the first sounds of track are heard, getting better as the song progresses into an excellent mid-track tempo change, making you forget about the more mediocre (!) opening of the album ("I Muffle Your Inner Choir") and wanting to repeat the track until you hate it (a truly impossible possible task). From there onwards, the album keeps raising the stakes with awesome dark and gloomy tracks like the "Old Star" and "Alp Man", with some Candlemass-like vibes that add a doomy element. But do not fear, there are also more solid and classic Darkthrone tracks like "Duke of Gloat" which is a throwback to earlier Norse-forest-dwelling periods of the band and last but not least "The Key Is Inside the Wall" which is another blast from the past but with some awesome heavy riffs to wrap up the album (though you will probably listen to it in repeat-mode). The album's dark mood is summed up by the eerily great cover artwork by Chadwick Saint John which is the perfect fit for one of BEST 2019 releases and at the same time one of Darkthrone's best works!

97.5/100

Below is the music video for the song "The Hardship of the Scots".

#4 -Top of 2019

 Twisted Tower Dire - Wars in the Unknown (No Remorse Records)

It might have been a while since we last heard from the US heavy/power metallers Twisted Tower Dire but they have not lost their magic touch! With Jonny Aune taking over the lead vocals (since the 2011 Make It Dark) the album blasts its way in with "The Thundering" and its uplifting attitude. There are a lot of melodic additions including "True North" and the memorable "Tear You Apart" which are a great change from the more rough/heavy sounds. "Light the Swords on Fire" is without a doubt that one of the album's highlights and the catchiest track that make you think: "what can they do to top this up?", but the you listen to the "And the Sharks Came Then" which has some of the best guitar riffs in the mid-song interlude and you can hear that Twisted Tower Dire know what their doing when it comes to heavy metal! The album is full of surprises with different tones and styles, with examples like "A Howl in the Wind" which slows down the rhythm while succeeding in creating a more epic vibe with its awesome chorus! The final track "These Ghosts Can Never Leave" is the perfect heavy/power ending to a great release worthy of 2019's Top Tier Albums!

96.2/100

Below are the lyric videos for the songs "True North" and "Light the Swords on Fire".

#5 - Top of 2019

The Lord Weird Slough Feg -  New Organon (Cruz del Sur Music)

Every release from Heavy Metal underground heroes The Lord Weird Slough Feg is a celebration. This could not be more true for New Organon, arriving 5 years after their previous release (the longest the band has gone without new output since their early days).  The course of the band, from 1990 until today, has been lonely but on the other hand their sound hs been a unique old-school heavy metal, thanks to the amazing voice of Mike Scalzi. The restoration of "The Lord Weird" to the band's name signifies a small backtrack to a more heavy and esoteric music, but more hard rocking elements from the latest releases are also evident here, This is a highly addictive release, thanks to the proto-metal infusion with  interesting lyrical themes. Here, the theme of "New Organon" is a  beautifully crafted journey through the history of philosophical thought, ranging from ancient Greece to modernity. Scalzi was always inspired by philosophical quests in his concepts, but he usually clothed them with thinly veiled stories of space pirates. Here, the concepts stand bare and direct, cutting the middle man. The songs themselves, musically range from the more "blues rock feel" of "The Apology" to the metal thrashing of "Uncanny" and 70s rock trippiness of "Coming of Age in the Milky Way". This is an essential release for 2019 and possibly the best work of the band for more than a decade! 

96.2/100

Below is the audio for "Headhunter"