Calvin Harris-Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1
Drake-More Life
Migos-Culture
Municipal Waste-Slime and Punishment
Within the Ruins-Halfway Human
20.Cannibal Corpse-Red Before Black:
There's not a single active old-school death metal act that even comes close to matching the level of skull-crushing intensity and love for their craft that Cannibal Corpse is still bringing to the table after nearly 30 years in the scene. Red Before Black is a unrelentingly heavy and beautifully chaotic record that further proves that these genre pioneers are immune to phoning it in.
Standout Tracks: 1.Destroyed Without a Trace 2.Heads Shoveled Off 3.In the Midst of Ruin
19.Future-Future:
On his seventh full-length release of the past three years (and first of the three projects that he dropped in 2017), Future throws the subtle introspection that has defined his post-Monster releases to the side for an unapologetic celebration of all things excess. It may lack the surprising vulnerability that Mr.Hendrix has so freely exposed to the world in recent years, but this endlessly catchy and wildly energetic musical victory lap is an absolute blast to listen to.
On his seventh full-length release of the past three years (and first of the three projects that he dropped in 2017), Future throws the subtle introspection that has defined his post-Monster releases to the side for an unapologetic celebration of all things excess. It may lack the surprising vulnerability that Mr.Hendrix has so freely exposed to the world in recent years, but this endlessly catchy and wildly energetic musical victory lap is an absolute blast to listen to.
Standout Tracks: 1.High Demand 2.Draco 3.POA
18.Big K.R.I.T.-4eva is a Mighty Long Time
Apparently a nearly 90-minute double album was all Big K.R.I.T. needed to get over his prolonged consistency woes. 4eva is a Mighty Long Time's mix of triumphant, trunk-rattling southern hip-hop and poignant, gospel-inspired conscious tunes does an excellent job of showcasing just how versatile and engaging K.R.I.T is when he's firing on all cylinders. It's going to take a bit more time for me to fully digest it, but this could very well end up topping 2010's K.R.I.T. Wuz Here for the title of his best project.
Apparently a nearly 90-minute double album was all Big K.R.I.T. needed to get over his prolonged consistency woes. 4eva is a Mighty Long Time's mix of triumphant, trunk-rattling southern hip-hop and poignant, gospel-inspired conscious tunes does an excellent job of showcasing just how versatile and engaging K.R.I.T is when he's firing on all cylinders. It's going to take a bit more time for me to fully digest it, but this could very well end up topping 2010's K.R.I.T. Wuz Here for the title of his best project.
Standout Tracks: 1.Big Bank (feat. T.I.) 2.Subenstein (My Sub IV) 3.Keep the Devil Off
17.21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin-Without Warning:
"Surprise" collab mixtapes were one of the biggest hip-hop trends in 2017. High-profile team-ups between the likes of Future and Young Thug, Travi$ Scott and Quavo, and Kodak Black and Plies sent giddy shockwaves throughout the various social media platforms genre fans tend to hurl insults at each other on. Without Warning was the only one from this densely-populated bunch to rise above the enjoyable albeit uneven vanity project tag that can typically be applied to these projects to achieve true excellence. Thanks to a slew of top-notch sinister beasts from super producer Metro Boomin and a pair of well-matched rappers in 21 Savage and Offset that fully committed to the intense nature of this project, this Halloween-themed mixtape ended up being a striking, cohesive collection of hard-edged trap bangers.
"Surprise" collab mixtapes were one of the biggest hip-hop trends in 2017. High-profile team-ups between the likes of Future and Young Thug, Travi$ Scott and Quavo, and Kodak Black and Plies sent giddy shockwaves throughout the various social media platforms genre fans tend to hurl insults at each other on. Without Warning was the only one from this densely-populated bunch to rise above the enjoyable albeit uneven vanity project tag that can typically be applied to these projects to achieve true excellence. Thanks to a slew of top-notch sinister beasts from super producer Metro Boomin and a pair of well-matched rappers in 21 Savage and Offset that fully committed to the intense nature of this project, this Halloween-themed mixtape ended up being a striking, cohesive collection of hard-edged trap bangers.
Standout Tracks: 1.Ghostface Killers (feat. Travi$ Scott) 2.Rap Saved Me (feat. Quavo) 3.Ric Flair Drip
16.The Faceless-In Becoming a Ghost:
The Faceless miraculously overcame another wave of member changes, last-minute tour cancellations, release date-delays and general melodramatic bullshit to put forth another excellent LP. Everyone in the new lineup (Abigail Williams vocalist Ken Sorceron, The Zenith Passage guitarist Justin McKinney and ex-Hate Eternal drummer Chason Westmoreland) seamlessly gels with lead guitarist/clean vocalist/songwriter/noted egomaniac Michael Keene's eccentric vision and do their respective parts to help Keene pilot a successful journey further down the winding prog metal weirdo rabbit hole he started exploring on 2012's Autotheism. As long as Keene continues to churn out adventurous, technically-dazzling material like this, The Faceless will continue to survive every behind-the-scenes obstacle that crosses their path.
The Faceless miraculously overcame another wave of member changes, last-minute tour cancellations, release date-delays and general melodramatic bullshit to put forth another excellent LP. Everyone in the new lineup (Abigail Williams vocalist Ken Sorceron, The Zenith Passage guitarist Justin McKinney and ex-Hate Eternal drummer Chason Westmoreland) seamlessly gels with lead guitarist/clean vocalist/songwriter/noted egomaniac Michael Keene's eccentric vision and do their respective parts to help Keene pilot a successful journey further down the winding prog metal weirdo rabbit hole he started exploring on 2012's Autotheism. As long as Keene continues to churn out adventurous, technically-dazzling material like this, The Faceless will continue to survive every behind-the-scenes obstacle that crosses their path.
Standout Tracks: 1.Blackstar 2.I Am 3.The Spiraling Void
15.August Burns Red-Phantom Anthem:
Consistency is a trait that I admire more than just about anything in the world of music and few acts have a better track record of delivering the goods than veteran metal band August Burns Red. Phantom Anthem may fall short of reaching the heights of their career-defining 2015 release Found in Far Away Places, but it's still a monster of a progressive metalcore record full of sincere emotions, sweeping tempo-changes and hysteria-inducing breakdowns that continues their remarkable decade-plus run of high-quality releases.
Consistency is a trait that I admire more than just about anything in the world of music and few acts have a better track record of delivering the goods than veteran metal band August Burns Red. Phantom Anthem may fall short of reaching the heights of their career-defining 2015 release Found in Far Away Places, but it's still a monster of a progressive metalcore record full of sincere emotions, sweeping tempo-changes and hysteria-inducing breakdowns that continues their remarkable decade-plus run of high-quality releases.
Standout Tracks: 1.Quake 2.Coordinates 3.Dangerous
14.Tove Lo-Blue Lips (Lady Wood Phase II):
Tove Lo is the closest thing present-day pop music has to a true rebel. Her production is deeply influenced by European EDM, she frankly discusses sex and drug use in her lyrics and her soft, raspy voice is completely unlike any of her counterparts that are burning up the charts right now. This outsider mentality is ratcheted up even further on her third LP Blue Lips. Tove's career-best vocal performance and continued bluntness allows her to make her darkest record to-date without losing any of her infectious dance-pop sensibilities. As I mentioned in my top live performances of 2017 list last month, I firmly believe that Tove Lo deserves to be a star and hopefully Blue Lips will gain enough traction in the coming months for that to become a reality.
Tove Lo is the closest thing present-day pop music has to a true rebel. Her production is deeply influenced by European EDM, she frankly discusses sex and drug use in her lyrics and her soft, raspy voice is completely unlike any of her counterparts that are burning up the charts right now. This outsider mentality is ratcheted up even further on her third LP Blue Lips. Tove's career-best vocal performance and continued bluntness allows her to make her darkest record to-date without losing any of her infectious dance-pop sensibilities. As I mentioned in my top live performances of 2017 list last month, I firmly believe that Tove Lo deserves to be a star and hopefully Blue Lips will gain enough traction in the coming months for that to become a reality.
Standout Tracks: 1.shedontknowbutsheknows 2.Stranger 3.Shivering Gold
13.Converge-The Dusk in Us:
In an era that's dominated by instant gratification, waiting five years for an artist to put out new material kind of sucks. However, when the artist in question is Converge, that lengthy delay between releases ends up being easily forgiven once said album sees the light of day. This powerful LP sees the mathcore titans descend further into melancholic post-hardcore territory while simultaneously retaining their signature manic sound. Converge continues to provide a blueprint of how to age gracefully and every other metal band that's staring down their twilight years should take note.
Standout Tracks: 1.Arkhipov Calm 2.Under Duress 3.Broken by Light
In an era that's dominated by instant gratification, waiting five years for an artist to put out new material kind of sucks. However, when the artist in question is Converge, that lengthy delay between releases ends up being easily forgiven once said album sees the light of day. This powerful LP sees the mathcore titans descend further into melancholic post-hardcore territory while simultaneously retaining their signature manic sound. Converge continues to provide a blueprint of how to age gracefully and every other metal band that's staring down their twilight years should take note.
Standout Tracks: 1.Arkhipov Calm 2.Under Duress 3.Broken by Light
12.Lana Del Rey-Lust for Life:
In a year where scandals and near-constant political upheaval rocked the United States, the return of trip hop Lana Del Rey proved to be one of the few W's the dysfunctional country I call home accumulated over the past 12 months. As cool as it was to see Del Rey experiment with stripped-down blues rock and Billie Holiday-inspired lounge music on her previous two albums (2014's Ultraviolence and 2015's Honeymoon), America's queen of sad pop is at her best when she's crooning over understated hip-hop beats that accentuate her stirring vocal range and gift for creating haunting soundscapes.
In a year where scandals and near-constant political upheaval rocked the United States, the return of trip hop Lana Del Rey proved to be one of the few W's the dysfunctional country I call home accumulated over the past 12 months. As cool as it was to see Del Rey experiment with stripped-down blues rock and Billie Holiday-inspired lounge music on her previous two albums (2014's Ultraviolence and 2015's Honeymoon), America's queen of sad pop is at her best when she's crooning over understated hip-hop beats that accentuate her stirring vocal range and gift for creating haunting soundscapes.
Standout Tracks: 1.Heroin 2.Cherry 3.Lust for Life (feat. The Weeknd)
11.Brand New-Science Fiction:
I couldn't have possibly dreamt up a more perfect conclusion for Brand New's musical journey. Science Fiction is an explosion of angst, regret, sadness and joy that encapsulates everything that made these emo-inspired indie rockers one of the most emotionally-resonant bands of the past 20 years.
I couldn't have possibly dreamt up a more perfect conclusion for Brand New's musical journey. Science Fiction is an explosion of angst, regret, sadness and joy that encapsulates everything that made these emo-inspired indie rockers one of the most emotionally-resonant bands of the past 20 years.
Standout Tracks: 1.Out of Mana 2.Desert 3.451
10.Brockhampton-Saturation III:
Brockhampton's rise throughout 2017 was fucking incredible to behold. This hip-hop collective emerged from relative obscurity to take the hip-hop world by storm after releasing three excellent full-length albums in just over six months. While I dug every entry in the Saturation trilogy, the final installment did the best job of illustrating the brilliant hook-writing, infectious energy and dynamic sound that helped propel this self-proclaimed boy band to stardom in a matter of months.
Brockhampton's rise throughout 2017 was fucking incredible to behold. This hip-hop collective emerged from relative obscurity to take the hip-hop world by storm after releasing three excellent full-length albums in just over six months. While I dug every entry in the Saturation trilogy, the final installment did the best job of illustrating the brilliant hook-writing, infectious energy and dynamic sound that helped propel this self-proclaimed boy band to stardom in a matter of months.
Standout Tracks: 1.Johnny 2.Alaska 3.Sister/Nation
9.2 Chainz-Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
Aided by a parade of A-list guest stars (Drake, Migos, Travi$ Scott, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell) and stellar production from several of the industry's brightest talents (Murda Beatz, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, Buddha Bless, FKi), 2 Chainz is finally able to parlay the magic of his scene-stealing guest spots into one of his own projects. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music sees the hardened hip-hop veteran finally finding his niche with a breezy release that is highly quotable, catchy as hell and endlessly re-listenable.
Aided by a parade of A-list guest stars (Drake, Migos, Travi$ Scott, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell) and stellar production from several of the industry's brightest talents (Murda Beatz, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, Buddha Bless, FKi), 2 Chainz is finally able to parlay the magic of his scene-stealing guest spots into one of his own projects. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music sees the hardened hip-hop veteran finally finding his niche with a breezy release that is highly quotable, catchy as hell and endlessly re-listenable.
Standout Tracks: 1.Sleep When U Die 2.OG Kush Diet 3.Rolls Royce Bitch
8.Archspire-Relentless Mutation
On Relentless Mutation, Canadian tech-death act Archspire once again hits the hard-to-find sweet spot of being dizzyingly technical without ever drifting into hollow wankery. Small, expertly-deployed bursts of melody and the whirlwind screams of Oli Peters prevent the sensory overload-induced monotony that can sometimes drag down this polarizing extreme metal subgenre from ever setting in. It also helps that these guys densely pack each composition with enough high-flying guitar theatrics, stupid heavy riffs and heavily triggered drums to plaster a huge shit-eating grin on my face for the duration of its 31-minute runtime.
On Relentless Mutation, Canadian tech-death act Archspire once again hits the hard-to-find sweet spot of being dizzyingly technical without ever drifting into hollow wankery. Small, expertly-deployed bursts of melody and the whirlwind screams of Oli Peters prevent the sensory overload-induced monotony that can sometimes drag down this polarizing extreme metal subgenre from ever setting in. It also helps that these guys densely pack each composition with enough high-flying guitar theatrics, stupid heavy riffs and heavily triggered drums to plaster a huge shit-eating grin on my face for the duration of its 31-minute runtime.
Standout Tracks: 1.Remote Tumour Seeker 2.Calamus Will Animate 3.The Mimic Well
7.While She Sleeps-You Are We
You Are We is a striking testament to how much a slight change in sound can bolster the quality of an artist's music. The addition of more post-hardcore-influenced clean singing gives While She Sleeps socially conscious anthems the extra jolt of emotional juice and catchiness they needed to elevate their riff-centric brand of melodic metalcore to a new level of excellence.
You Are We is a striking testament to how much a slight change in sound can bolster the quality of an artist's music. The addition of more post-hardcore-influenced clean singing gives While She Sleeps socially conscious anthems the extra jolt of emotional juice and catchiness they needed to elevate their riff-centric brand of melodic metalcore to a new level of excellence.
Standout Tracks: 1.You Are We 2.Hurricane 3.Steal the Sun
6.Lorde-Melodrama
Lorde's 2013 debut Pure Heroine was a record that I felt flashed plenty of potential, but didn't materialize into a satisfying final product. Her long-awaited follow-up Melodrama sees Lorde erasing all of the major flaws that dragged down (cheap-sounding beats, plodding pace, lack of variety) Pure Heroine to deliver one of the most well-constructed pop records of the past few years. Stronger vocals and powerful, varied production from Jack Antonoff helps Lorde's smart, introspective take on synthpop hit its intended emotional targets while also delivering the abundance of excellent earworm hooks that you come to expect with this genre.
Lorde's 2013 debut Pure Heroine was a record that I felt flashed plenty of potential, but didn't materialize into a satisfying final product. Her long-awaited follow-up Melodrama sees Lorde erasing all of the major flaws that dragged down (cheap-sounding beats, plodding pace, lack of variety) Pure Heroine to deliver one of the most well-constructed pop records of the past few years. Stronger vocals and powerful, varied production from Jack Antonoff helps Lorde's smart, introspective take on synthpop hit its intended emotional targets while also delivering the abundance of excellent earworm hooks that you come to expect with this genre.
Standout Tracks: 1.Homemade Dynamite 2.Sober 3.Perfect Places
5.Darkest Hour-Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora
If you're a metal band looking to make a record that kicks the listener in the teeth from start to finish, hire Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou as your producer. Ballou's magic behind the boards awakened a sleeping beast that had been lying dormant at the core of Darkest Hour for the past decade on the ferocious Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora. This record is a blistering, take-no-prisoners return to Darkest Hour's thrash/melodeath roots that I never saw coming and couldn't possibly be happier about. #ThankyoubasedBallou
If you're a metal band looking to make a record that kicks the listener in the teeth from start to finish, hire Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou as your producer. Ballou's magic behind the boards awakened a sleeping beast that had been lying dormant at the core of Darkest Hour for the past decade on the ferocious Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora. This record is a blistering, take-no-prisoners return to Darkest Hour's thrash/melodeath roots that I never saw coming and couldn't possibly be happier about. #ThankyoubasedBallou
Standout Tracks: 1.In the Name of Us All 2.Those Who Survived 3.Knife in the Safe Room
4.Vince Staples-Big Fish Theory
Vince Staples' rapid climb to the top of the modern hip-hop hierarchy continues with this visceral gut-punch of a record. Fueled by sharp house-influenced production and a concise 36-minute runtime that amplifies the deep-rooted rage that drives his lyrics, Big Fish Theory manages to elevate the 24-year old rapper's abrasive sound to dizzying new heights.
Vince Staples' rapid climb to the top of the modern hip-hop hierarchy continues with this visceral gut-punch of a record. Fueled by sharp house-influenced production and a concise 36-minute runtime that amplifies the deep-rooted rage that drives his lyrics, Big Fish Theory manages to elevate the 24-year old rapper's abrasive sound to dizzying new heights.
Standout Tracks: 1.Homage 2.Big Fish 3.Yeah Right (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
3.Dying Fetus-Wrong One to Fuck With
The fact that three people are able to create this level of musical destruction every time they get in a recording studio will never cease to amaze me. There's enough striking riffs, pummeling blast beats and expertly-executed breakdowns on Wrong One to Fuck With's 12 tracks to fill hundreds of killer brutal death metal discographies 100 times over. Whatever deal with the metal gods Dying Fetus made to remain on a seemingly unbreakable warpath two decades into their career was WELL worth it.
Standout Tracks: 1.Seething with Disdain 2.Reveling in the Abyss 3.Unmitigated Detestation
The fact that three people are able to create this level of musical destruction every time they get in a recording studio will never cease to amaze me. There's enough striking riffs, pummeling blast beats and expertly-executed breakdowns on Wrong One to Fuck With's 12 tracks to fill hundreds of killer brutal death metal discographies 100 times over. Whatever deal with the metal gods Dying Fetus made to remain on a seemingly unbreakable warpath two decades into their career was WELL worth it.
Standout Tracks: 1.Seething with Disdain 2.Reveling in the Abyss 3.Unmitigated Detestation
2.Entheos-Dark Future
For the 2nd consecutive year, Entheos has released a unique extreme metal masterpiece. The addition of guitarist Travis LeVrier (ex-Scale the Summit) to their ranks prior to the start of the writing cycle for Dark Future granted them the freedom to further experiment with the progressive/atmospheric elements they teased on The Infinite Nothing. LeVrier's dynamic playing style has integrated a heavy dose of atmosphere into the group's traditionally heavy yet spastic songwriting, which subsequently results in the formation of a distinctly ominous sound that could easily double as a soundtrack for the apocalypse. Dark Future is a stunning accomplishment that has catapulted Entheos even further up my list of favorite bands.
For the 2nd consecutive year, Entheos has released a unique extreme metal masterpiece. The addition of guitarist Travis LeVrier (ex-Scale the Summit) to their ranks prior to the start of the writing cycle for Dark Future granted them the freedom to further experiment with the progressive/atmospheric elements they teased on The Infinite Nothing. LeVrier's dynamic playing style has integrated a heavy dose of atmosphere into the group's traditionally heavy yet spastic songwriting, which subsequently results in the formation of a distinctly ominous sound that could easily double as a soundtrack for the apocalypse. Dark Future is a stunning accomplishment that has catapulted Entheos even further up my list of favorite bands.
Standout Tracks: 1.Sunshift (II) 2.Melancholia 3.Suspended Animation
1.The Black Dahlia Murder-Nightbringers
In the booklet of every Black Dahlia Murder record, the members of the band are credited as "The Immortals". As they inch closer to their 20th anniversary as a band, that title has never been more fitting. Black Dahlia has overcome a sizable amount of member turnover (11 lineup changes) and dozens of shifts in the metal landscape since their inception in 2001 to churn some of the most inspired, catchy, memorable and flat-out badass music I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. Thanks to the continued passion and proficiency of their remaining original members (vocalist Trevor Strnad, rhythm guitarist/primary songwriter Brian Eschbach) as well as some especially stellar contributions from new guitarist/solo machine Brandon Ellis, their 8th full-length Nightbringers ends up going down as the latest untouchable classic in a discography that I truly believe surpasses all of death metal's forefathers in terms of both consistency and number of exceptional releases. The Black Dahlia Murder is one of only a handful of active bands that has yet to let me down and for the sake of my frail brain, I hope that day of soul-crushing disappointment never comes.
In the booklet of every Black Dahlia Murder record, the members of the band are credited as "The Immortals". As they inch closer to their 20th anniversary as a band, that title has never been more fitting. Black Dahlia has overcome a sizable amount of member turnover (11 lineup changes) and dozens of shifts in the metal landscape since their inception in 2001 to churn some of the most inspired, catchy, memorable and flat-out badass music I've ever had the pleasure of consuming. Thanks to the continued passion and proficiency of their remaining original members (vocalist Trevor Strnad, rhythm guitarist/primary songwriter Brian Eschbach) as well as some especially stellar contributions from new guitarist/solo machine Brandon Ellis, their 8th full-length Nightbringers ends up going down as the latest untouchable classic in a discography that I truly believe surpasses all of death metal's forefathers in terms of both consistency and number of exceptional releases. The Black Dahlia Murder is one of only a handful of active bands that has yet to let me down and for the sake of my frail brain, I hope that day of soul-crushing disappointment never comes.
Standout Tracks: 1.Kings of the Nightworld 2.Matriarch 3.Catacomb Hecatomb
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