Part two of my top 50 albums list of 2020, another ten albums I think were standouts in an absolutely ridiculous year for music and horrible year for just about everything else. Let's go:
HORSEWHIP-LAID TO WASTE
Featuring members from straight up Florida hardcore royalty like Combat Wound Veteran and Reversal Of Man, Horsewhip are an entirely different beast, so intense, urgent and crushing that the legendary bands the members used to be a part of is the least interesting part about them. Laid To Waste builds upon and expands the path the band started charting on their self titled LP 2 years ago, taking everything that made that record stand out and taking it up several notches. One of the standout hardcore/metal records from Florida in a year where the state dropped several stunning releases. For more info, check out the review I wrote for the record earlier this year HERE.
BLOOD FROM THE SOUL-DSM-5
Honestly it's kind of bewildering to me that this record seems to have come out with little to no hype or fanfare. A supergroup helmed by Napalm Death member Shane Embury with Jacob Bannon of Converge/Umbra Vitae/Wear Your Wounds on vocals and members of Megadeth and Burst/Nasum as well, Blood From The Soul's first new album in 27 YEARS brings a mostly new lineup of musicians and a different/evolved sound from their previous album. While firmly rooted in metal, the band explores elements of post punk and progressive metal with extreme success on DSM-5, culminating in one of the most dynamic and layered heavy releases of the year. I'd imagine this will start to turn more heads as people get around to checking this out in the year ahead, so if you haven't heard this record yet, I'd advise you to get on that.
ETHER COVEN-EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY EXCEPT SUFFERING
Another outstanding release from a band in my home state on Florida, SFL luminaries Ether Coven released one of the heaviest and most emotionally deep records of 2020 with their third full length album. While retaining their now signature mix of metallic hardcore, post metal and doom, the album saw the band expanded upon everything that makes them a unique force in the metal scene, and honing their craft to perfection. There's a heart and soul to Ether Coven's sound that many of their contemporaries lack, as well as a flair for dynamics that many bands in their wheelhouse wouldn't dare attempt. For more information, check out my review of the record HERE.
RESPIRE-THE BLACK LINE
On their third full length album, Respire blur the lines between new era black metal, post rock and screamo even further, pulling out all the stops to make their biggest statement yet. The Black Line is both crushingly heavy, epic and beautiful, transcendent and triumphant as heavy music might get in 2020. As someone who's personally not a huge fan of classical instruments such as violin in metal, Respire certainly pull it off so perfectly that it's reconsidering my entire take on the subject.
BOLDY JAMES AND ALCHEMIST-THE PRICE OF TEA IN CHINA (DELUXE)
In a banner year for rap music, new Griselda associate and rising star Boldy James released several great projects this year, but the highlight is undoubtfully his collaborative LP with Alchemist "The Price Of Tea In China". With an incredible penchant for storytelling coupled with the incredible beats that Alchemist always provides, this was one of the more meditative rap albums of the year, with the almost mellow laid back approach of Boldy's rapping belying the heat and seriousness his lyrics can bring to a song. An expanded deluxe addition adds even more greatness to the initial release, pushing it towards the top of the absolutely stacked rap music releases this year.
HUMAN IMPACT-SELF TITLED LP
While the demise of Unsane is certainly worth lamenting, at least this incredible new project has risen from the ashes. Also featuring members of bands such as Cop Shoot Cop and Swans, Human Impact is the noise rock/industrial hybrid I never knew I needed. While still retaining much of the heavier elements of their previous projects, these songs also have a strangely serene quality to them and will dig their way into your head and make a permanent residence there.
YEAR OF THE KNIFE-INTERNAL INCARCERATION
Miss the outright straight up ignorance of Hatebreed's older (you know, good) records? Well Year Of The Knife has something just for you. Internal Incarceration is by far one of the outright heaviest metallic hardcore albums released this year, an absolutely crushing set of barnburners that will have you craving live shows even more during this current crisis. I'd be hard pressed to find a straight up groovier hardcore release this year, and the lyrics hit a nerve as well, always appreciated in a genre that can be hit or miss in that sense. Here's hoping the band can tour on this record next year, as I'd imagine they'll be on the rise throughout 2021 as this makes the rounds in hardcore and metal circles.
GAG-STILL LAUGHING
Seattle mutants Gag have finally returned with their sophomore LP Still Laughing, and it's an absolute ripper which should come as no surprise to those already familiar with the band. Expanding in scope and sound from their first album, the band delivers another blistering set of straight up hardcore songs with insane vocals and mountains of attitude. Featuring the biggest production sound of any of their releases so far, the album sounds as huge and wild as their live show footage would suggest. Another stellar release from the always incredible Iron Lung Records, easily one of the best punk/hardcore labels of all time, and an immediate seal of undeniable quality.
NARROW HEAD-12TH HOUSE ROCK
Narrow Head are certainly firmly entrenched in the now nostalgic era of 90's alternative, but definitely manage to let their own unique sound shine through that as well. Comparisons to early records from bands such as Hum and Smashing Pumpkins are certainly fair, but the band also manages to make music on par with those classics while not flying to close to the sun in the sense of straight up aping their sound entirely. It's an ambitious second album from a band that I'm honestly surprised isn't already huge, but I'm sure will get there soon enough.
SOFT KILL-PREMIUM DRIFTER
Purchase (Sold Out)
Soft Kill have the distinction of being one of only two artists who will have two records on this list, and while I didn't love this collection of demos quite as much as their absolutely incredible new full length Dead Kids RIP City, this is still an incredible collection of music in it's own right. I'm certainly glad it got a proper release, and I can't really think of any band that competes with the band as far as post punk/darkwave goes. There's a legitimate element of what could only be pure magic in their song crafting abilities, with hooks and melodies that will never leave you once you listen. One of two essential 2020 releases from this incredible band.
Check out Top 50 Albums Part 1 HERE if you missed it. Part 3 coming later this week.
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