As we come to the end of 2020, I believe it is important to reflect upon the albums that really stood out during the year and helped get us through all the chaos. Yes, 2020 has been a rough year in terms of unprecedented and unfortunate events ranging from a global pandemic to Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy in a mimosa wrestling match. Even though this has been a rough year, we should not overlook all the great music that came out during 2020. Looking back at all the albums that came out this year, I was surprised at how many tremendous rock and metal albums were released. I do believe that this year was one of the most challenging lists to come up with given the amount of great albums that I heard over the course of the year. Also, I must give a shoutout to all the hardworking labels that were responsible for putting out a lot of brilliant releases. Even in the face of a pandemic the dedication from the rock and metal community never faded and hopefully coming out of this we will be even stronger going forward. So in conclusion, here are my picks and don't forget to check out the winners of the Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards...
Top Ten Albums of 2020
10. Dearth “To Crown All Befoulment”
For their debut full-length release, Dearth sure as hell did not disappoint! I really enjoyed what this blackened death metal from the Bay Area had to offer. The album features an endless amount of hellish sounding riffs that keep you hooked from beginning to end. Plus, the album's overall atmosphere is extremely horrifying, and sounds like something from another realm where monstrous entities slumber waiting to unleash eternal suffering upon the world of the living. Also, “To Crown All Befoulment,” was released through Sentient Ruin and you are going to see a couple other bands who worked with the label on this list. Overall, great debut album and one I highly recommend checking out.
Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/05/dearth-to-crown-all-befoulment.html
9. Shards of Humanity “Cold Logic”
Talk about a scorching storm of technical death thrash! The guitar playing on this album was exceptional and drumming was utterly deafening. I thought the musicianship on this album never disappointed and the songs contained a tremendous amount of fierce sounding attitude. Shards of Humanity did a great job writing impressive cuts of cranial splitting technical death thrash and the music never sounded repetitive or lackluster. Once you start listening to the first song I guarantee that you are not going to want to stop listening to this album.
8. Void Rot “Descending Pillars”
Void Rot's "Descending Pillars" was probably one of the most pulverizing albums to come out this year. Just a plethora of bone crushing riffs and abysmal sounding compositions. Another band that is associated with Sentient Ruin and another band that conjures up nightmarish sounding musical landscapes without any remorse. Void Rot's insidious style of death doom is without question not to be overlooked, because these dudes do not mess around when laying down some punishing tracks.
7. Putrid “Antichrist Above”
I have been a fan of Putrid for years now and I honestly believe that, “Antichrist Above,” is their strongest sounding release to date. The band’s blasphemous vision is perfectly executed throughout the album. There are no dull moments and the frantic guitar work injects such raw aggression into the musical onslaught. Putrid also put out a killer split this year with Grave Desecration that I recommending checking out as well. Arguably one of Peru's greatest exports in my opinion and a metal band that the global underground community has really started to take notice of after years of hard work.
6. Countless Skies “Glow”
These English metal musicians are true visionaries when pertaining to writing majestic sounding melodic death metal. When listening to this album at times I felt as though I were floating on a cloud through a dynamic atmospheric world containing mountain sized riffs and mesmerizing melodic arrangements. The song, "Zephyr," alone makes this a must listen, especially the fluid guitar work that constructs such breath taking sounds throughout the song. Definitely one of the strongest sounding albums in terms of musicianship and production in my opinion.
5. Pathetic “Cleansing the Land of the Infidel”
I enjoy history and I enjoy death metal, so an album that uses death metal to highlight the atrocities after the fall of the Ottoman Empire definitely peaked my interest. Pathetic proved last year with the release of their album, “Rat King,” that they are an unapologetic and brutal force in the extreme metal world. I thought this entire album had me engaged from start to finish by throwing in constant headbanging riffs and seismic drum parts. Pathetic showed how a death metal band can explore an interesting topic surrounding historical events, while still being able to deliver a tornado of ferocious sounding extreme chaos.
4. Hemotoxin “Restructure the Molded Mind”
I want to take a moment and say that I am extremely proud of Hemotoxin. Although this band has experience a handful of line-up changes over the years, but the band's hard work has really paid off as of recent. Hemotoxin is in my opinion one of the most talented up and coming Bay Area metal acts and the most driven band around Contra Costa County. "Restructure the Molded Mind," is not only a continuation of what they accomplished on their previous album, "Biological Enslavement," but dives even further into the world of mind bending technical death/trash. Guitarist/singer Michael Anthony Chavez is a dedicated artist who I have a tremendous amount of respect for as a guitarist and driving force within the local metal community. Please, go and get a copy of this album if you enjoy face melting riffs and tasty technical compositions. I promise that you will not be disappointed!
3. Cemetery Filth “Dominion”
Cemetery Filth’s debut full-length album was definitely worth the wait! I had been looking forward to this album for a while, so when they finally set a release date in the beginning of the year I was beyond excited. This band captures the true essence of old school death metal by writing vicious offerings of unfathomable brutality. From the haunting vocals to the catastrophic guitar riffs, the entire album is a return to late 80’s/early 90’s death metal. Also, compared to your typical generic old school death metal worship acts, Cemetery Filth writes songs that leave an impact on you and keep you wanting more gruesome sounding brutality.
2. Old Tower “The Last Eidolon”
This was a tough choice, because Old Tower’s “The Last Eidolon” could have easily been my pick for the number one album of the year. The artist behind Old Tower known only as, The Specter,” is a true dungeon synth genius. There are so many exceptional releases from Old Tower, however, this album was a culmination of all those other epic dark sounding themes that you heard on the previous albums. I felt as if I was listening to a cinematic tale that unfolded like a story of unspeakable malevolence. Amazing production throughout the entire release and the Specter has a great mind for composing. I really listened to this album a lot over the course of the year, which helped ease my mind at times through some of the challenges that 2020 brought.
1. Ceremonial Bloodbath “The Tides of Blood”
When Sentient Ruin sent me the promo for Ceremonial Bloodbath, I had never heard of this Canadian blackened death metal band before. I was instantly drawn to the album's cover art, but the music is what just took me by complete surprise. The rush of ferocious death metal mixed with tormenting blackened hatred made this album a tidal wave of sheer hellacious sounding brutality. Again, phenomenal production throughout the entire album and the songwriting from the first track to the last is what makes this my number album of the year. Once you start listening to this album there is no turning back, because you are going to be in for one unimaginable extreme metal ride into the gory depths of an inhuman void.
Hey, there were a lot great albums that did not make the list but definitely deserve a shoutout, so here are some honorable mentions: Cobra Cobra "Life After Poison" , Empty Chalice "Spiritual Abuse" , Voreus "The Proclamation" , Cryptae "Nightmare Traversal" , Diabolic Oath "Profane Death Exodus" and Deadlight Sanctuary "Thaumaturgical Rites of the Damned"
The Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards
(Please be advised that there was no voting fraud involved in the selection of these recipients. All votes cast were correctly counted and reviewed by The Rob "The Metal Guy" selection committee)
Best EP of the Year: Unlucky Theta “Debut EP”
Best Split Release: 4 Doors to Death Vol. II (Nucleus, Ectoplasma, Fetid Zombie and Temple of Void)
Best Label: Sentient Ruin Laboratories
Best Music Video: Hemotoxin “Automation”
Metal Ambassador of the Year: Jarvis Leatherby from Night Demon
Biggest Douche: Chris Jericho
Most Metal Wrestler: Rhea Ripley
