4.Fallujah-Dreamless (2016):
As I stated earlier in the countdown, some sketchy production prevented Fallujah's otherwise masterful 2014 album The Flesh Prevails from achieving perfection. They managed to clean up that minor problem and then some on their follow-up effort Dreamless. By utilizing production that allows every element of their complex puzzle the proper amount of room to breathe and upping the amount of technical guitarwork in every song, Fallujah's mix of balls-out death metal and haunting progressive/atmospheric sections reaches its jaw-dropping peak.
Standout Tracks: 1.Adrenaline 2.Amber Gaze 3.The Void Alone
3.Lana Del Rey-Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019):
While it may be a tired cliché statement to make, Norman Fucking Rockwell! truly is the record Lana Del Rey has been waiting her whole career to make. Behind trippy, textured production predominantly handled by Jack Antonoff that allows her to explore the full extent of her massive vocal range, Del Rey creates the most dense, mesmerizing and mature take on her signature somber vintage meets modern art pop sound to-date. The fact that it's also an emphatic reminder of why she's the undisputed queen of the "sad girl sound" only adds to its quickly-earned classic status.
Standout Tracks: 1.California 2.Norman Fucking Rockwell 3.Cinnamon Girl
Showing posts with label top 20 album of the 2010's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top 20 album of the 2010's. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #14-13
14.August Burns Red-Found in Far Away Places (2015):
In a genre where a lot of their peers have lost their edge as they approach 15-20 years of activity, August Burns Red is a massive outlier. They've remained committed to pushing their songwriting forward by making subtle tweaks to their sound and that effort has resulted in some remarkably consistent output. Their seventh full length ended up being the transcendent record that they had been slowly inching towards since they broke out back in 2007. Found in Far Away Places is a wildly intricate and ambitious effort that weaves all of their influences (metalcore, progressive, hardcore, punk) into an epic, breathtaking tapestry.
Standout Tracks: 1.Broken Promises 2.Separating the Seas 3.Majoring in the Minors
13.Allegaeon-Apoptosis (2019):
Dialing back the progressive elements in favor of a faster, heavier sound was an unexpectedly genius move by Colorado extreme metal outfit Allegaeon. While there's admittedly a bit less variety here than there was on 2016's Proponent for Sentience, honing in on their more extreme traits resulted in a tighter, more cohesive product that rides a winning combination of killer riffs, ferocious vocals and unwavering energy to euphoric technical/melodic death metal glory.
Standout Tracks: 1.Metaphobia 2.Exothermic Chemical Combustion 3.Interphase//Meiosis
In a genre where a lot of their peers have lost their edge as they approach 15-20 years of activity, August Burns Red is a massive outlier. They've remained committed to pushing their songwriting forward by making subtle tweaks to their sound and that effort has resulted in some remarkably consistent output. Their seventh full length ended up being the transcendent record that they had been slowly inching towards since they broke out back in 2007. Found in Far Away Places is a wildly intricate and ambitious effort that weaves all of their influences (metalcore, progressive, hardcore, punk) into an epic, breathtaking tapestry.
Standout Tracks: 1.Broken Promises 2.Separating the Seas 3.Majoring in the Minors
13.Allegaeon-Apoptosis (2019):
Dialing back the progressive elements in favor of a faster, heavier sound was an unexpectedly genius move by Colorado extreme metal outfit Allegaeon. While there's admittedly a bit less variety here than there was on 2016's Proponent for Sentience, honing in on their more extreme traits resulted in a tighter, more cohesive product that rides a winning combination of killer riffs, ferocious vocals and unwavering energy to euphoric technical/melodic death metal glory.
Standout Tracks: 1.Metaphobia 2.Exothermic Chemical Combustion 3.Interphase//Meiosis
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #18-17
18.Unearth-Watchers of Rule (2014): When you think of someone that's been doing the same job for a long time, it's natural to assume that all of that experience has made them complacent. Unearth didn't subscribe to that philosophy. These Massachusetts-bred metalcore pioneers gave a defiant middle finger to the uninspired path of releasing watered down versions of their earlier records that many of their peers had drifted down by opting to embrace a whole new level of ferocity on Watchers of Rule. Letting pure, relentless aggression serve as the backbone of the songwriting resulted in an exhilarating listening experience that has enough blistering riffs, monster grooves and incendiary energy to fill at least 50 records.
Standout Tracks: 1.Never Cease 2.From the Tombs of Five Below 3.To the Ground
17.Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Descent (2013): Killswitch Engage ended the 2000's in a bit of rut. As evidenced by their decision to release a SECOND self-titled album, creativity wasn't really flowing their collective veins at that point. After a couple years away from the spotlight and the departure of longtime vocalist Howard Jones, the band surprisingly announced that original frontman Jesse Leach was re-joining the band. Leach's first LP with the band since 2002's Alive or Just Breathing was proof that he was the revitalizing shot in the heart that KsE needed to return to form. With its soaring hooks, catchy riffs and poignant lyrics, Disarm the Descent marked a delightfully nostalgic return to the classic Killswitch sound that made them one of the biggest metal acts of their era.
Standout Tracks: 1.Beyond the Flames 2.The Hell in Me 3.Turning Point
Standout Tracks: 1.Never Cease 2.From the Tombs of Five Below 3.To the Ground
17.Killswitch Engage-Disarm the Descent (2013): Killswitch Engage ended the 2000's in a bit of rut. As evidenced by their decision to release a SECOND self-titled album, creativity wasn't really flowing their collective veins at that point. After a couple years away from the spotlight and the departure of longtime vocalist Howard Jones, the band surprisingly announced that original frontman Jesse Leach was re-joining the band. Leach's first LP with the band since 2002's Alive or Just Breathing was proof that he was the revitalizing shot in the heart that KsE needed to return to form. With its soaring hooks, catchy riffs and poignant lyrics, Disarm the Descent marked a delightfully nostalgic return to the classic Killswitch sound that made them one of the biggest metal acts of their era.
Standout Tracks: 1.Beyond the Flames 2.The Hell in Me 3.Turning Point
Friday, March 20, 2020
Top 20 Albums of the 2010's: #20-19
Movies are in the can, so it's time to finally move onto music. In the coming weeks, I'll be dropping my picks for the top 20 albums of the 2010's starting today with #20-19 as well as the 5 honorable mentions that just missed the cut. Stay tuned and hope you enjoy!
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Entheos-Dark Future (2017)
The Faceless-Autotheism (2012)
Kvelertak-Kvelertak (2010)
Revocation-Revocation (2013)
Travis Scott-Astroworld (2018)
20.Deftones-Diamond Eyes (2010): As I was getting into metal as a teenager, Deftones was a band that I kind of hated. Saturday Night Wrist put me to sleep and "Minerva" frequently drove me insane while logging dozens of hours on NHL 04. Initially, that anti-Deftones bias forced me to ignore Diamond Eyes. However after a couple months of hype (this record leaked online WAY ahead of its May release date) stemming from fans online, I caved and checked it out. This proved to be a superb decision as Diamond Eyes clicked with me right away. Combining signature extreme music properties (pummeling heavy riffs, chaotic shrieks, breakdowns) with breathtaking melodies and full blown shoegaze-inspired ballads is a recipe for metal that is beautiful as it is crushing. Plus this record also inspired me to go back and check out their early discography, which proved to be a gift that I'll be eternally grateful for.
Top Tracks: 1.You've Seen the Butcher 2.Royal 3.Risk
19.Every Time I Die-Ex Lives (2012): Consistent quality output is as big of a part of Every Time I Die's brand as wrestling and the city of Buffalo are. Although they've got a deep, gem-filled catalog, Ex Lives shines brightest of all. The energy is through the roof, Keith Buckley's lyrics are at their sarcastic best and the riff buffet served up by Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams is even more robust than usual.
Top Tracks: 1.Partyting is Such Sweet Sorrow 2.I Suck (Blood) 3.Indian Giver
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
Entheos-Dark Future (2017)
The Faceless-Autotheism (2012)
Kvelertak-Kvelertak (2010)
Revocation-Revocation (2013)
Travis Scott-Astroworld (2018)
20.Deftones-Diamond Eyes (2010): As I was getting into metal as a teenager, Deftones was a band that I kind of hated. Saturday Night Wrist put me to sleep and "Minerva" frequently drove me insane while logging dozens of hours on NHL 04. Initially, that anti-Deftones bias forced me to ignore Diamond Eyes. However after a couple months of hype (this record leaked online WAY ahead of its May release date) stemming from fans online, I caved and checked it out. This proved to be a superb decision as Diamond Eyes clicked with me right away. Combining signature extreme music properties (pummeling heavy riffs, chaotic shrieks, breakdowns) with breathtaking melodies and full blown shoegaze-inspired ballads is a recipe for metal that is beautiful as it is crushing. Plus this record also inspired me to go back and check out their early discography, which proved to be a gift that I'll be eternally grateful for.
Top Tracks: 1.You've Seen the Butcher 2.Royal 3.Risk
19.Every Time I Die-Ex Lives (2012): Consistent quality output is as big of a part of Every Time I Die's brand as wrestling and the city of Buffalo are. Although they've got a deep, gem-filled catalog, Ex Lives shines brightest of all. The energy is through the roof, Keith Buckley's lyrics are at their sarcastic best and the riff buffet served up by Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams is even more robust than usual.
Top Tracks: 1.Partyting is Such Sweet Sorrow 2.I Suck (Blood) 3.Indian Giver
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