Ever since I started using the internet to put my thoughts out there for others to see, I have always done a best of list for the prior year. I’ve always compiled my list in the month of February, you know, when people have already stopped caring about the previous year and moved on to the current one. Who am I to break tradition?
Quick housekeeping note, I want to use this more this year to connect with listeners on the topic of music. I know it will likely be the same people reading it (looking at you Bettie, Dave, Killer D’s) but it’s just something I want to be more consistent with. I also want @classicmaterial to contribute, as I enjoyed linking with him for B-side episodes and he’s an actual writer. It will be a nice balance to offset my incoherent rambling. We were going to combine a best of list but I want him to have his own so my eclectic taste doesn’t take away from his write ups. Stay tuned for his best of.
In the past I separated my best of lists by genre’s, but frankly I don’t have the patience or energy to do that this year. I listened to 780 albums that were released in 2020, and I’ll link the google doc I use to keep track at the end. I didn’t include any EP’s in this list, and I’m already laughing because I fully expect someone to find an EP in my top 10 that I didn’t vet out. I’m writing this at 3 am in a single room with my two kids and wife as we wait on a new house, so lay off me. I will do a quick 10 best EP’s list after this, for anyone who cares. I listed the band and album title next to the number and then linked my favorite song off of the album. In the caption under the video I put the song title in case it gets taken off of YouTube. In terms of a write up, I will at the very least tell you where the artist is from and the genre of music and I’ll try and say something for the top ten at least. I may say more, or that may literally be all I say, you get what you fucking get dammit. My lists always tend to be really hip hop heavy or really metal heavy, this year leaned more toward the metal side for whatever reason. Let me know if you end up enjoying any of the albums below based off this list.
- Disembowel- Echoes of Terror
My number one album of the year is a death metal band from Oregon. I am sucker for the old school death metal sound. I saw some reviews saying there was nothing groundbreaking, but to me sometimes familiarity IS a breath of fresh air. They have everything I look for in a death metal group, the riffs and energy are on point and if you feel the same definitely check these guys out.
2. Benny the Butcher- Burden of Proof
Anyone who’s a fan of hip hop knows the waves that the Griselda collective have been creating the past few years. I don’t think its a hot take to say that the largest of those waves have been fostered by Benny the Butcher. The Buffalo MC doesn’t disappoint on this one and he brought in a slew of guests with my favorite being Freddie Gibbs, linked below.
3. Sweven- The Eternal Resonance
Back in 2014 a Swedish group named Morbus Chron released a great album called Sweven, combining death metal and psychedelic rock. An odd marriage but they pulled it off. Fast forward to 2020 the lead of Morbus Chron comes out with the band Sweven. This album combines the aforementioned two genres but adds in a proggier element.
4. Warp Chamber- Implements of Excruciation
Death metal from the Pacific Northwest, this album is only 4 songs long and lasts about 30 minutes. It’s one of those albums that does so much with so little you’ll wish it went on longer.
5. Slift- Ummon
Crazy heavy psych/space rock from France. Massive is really the only way to describe this album. Give it a listen and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
6. Black Curse- Endless Wound
These guys from CO are listed everywhere as war metal, but I don’t hear any of that here, I just hear blackened death metal. They share members with Blood Incantation and Spectral Voice, so fans of those groups should be checking this out.
7. Paris- Safe Space Invader
Now this album took me by complete surprise. For those unfamiliar with Paris, he’s an MC from San Francisco who’s been around since the late 80’s, releasing his debut in 1990. He is incredibly politically charged, think Public Enemy, X-Clan, KRS-One ramped up to 1000. He comes back angry as ever about the current state of affairs, and he sounds just as fresh as he did 30 years ago.
8. Deftones- Ohms
Deftones 9th album and solidify the fact they are one of the most consistent bands from their era. I personally think this is one their best albums sitting aside Adrenaline and Around the Fur for me.
9. Freddie Gibbs x Alchemist- Alfredo
Aside from the aforementioned Benny the Butcher, Freddie Gibbs is one of my favorite rappers out there. He hardly disappoints and this joint effort with Alchemist keeps his streak alive.
10. Duke Deuce- Memphis Massacre 2
Crunk Ain’t Dead is fucking right. The Memphis rapper released his 2nd album filled with pure energy hype songs that serve as a perfect nostalgia trip through the 3–6 Mafia style songs I grew up on.
11. Havukruunu- Uinuos syomein sota
Black metal from Finland
12. Chris Stapleton- Starting Over
I’m not a hater of country music, but I really don’t care for what gets passed off as country in a modern world. I’m also a smug asshole and one time someone told me at a party that I knew nothing about “good country music” when I said I didn’t care for Chris Stapleton. That pissed me off so badly that I have since engaged in a blood feud with Chris Stapleton. This album is so fucking good, it honestly pains me to say it, but its that damn good. You win this round, Chris and stupid idiot asshole at that party.
13. Lowrider- Refractions
Stoner rock from Sweden
14. Hum- Inlet
I don’t know what’s crazier, the fact that Hum returned with their first album since 1998 or how damn good it was. It’s hard for me to classify this with a genre, its alternative, shoegaze, post hardcore, etc. Whatever you chose to classify it as, it’s way better than it should be given it was the bands first album in 22 years.
15. Perdition Temple- Sacraments of Descension
Death metal from Tampa, FL.
16. Spectral Lore x Mare Cognitum- Wanderers: Astrology of the Nine
Spectral Lore are from Greece and Mare Cognitum are from California and they link up to create an atmospheric black metal concept album about outer space.
17. Conway the Machine- From a King to a God
Griselda Gang makes another appearance
18. Jay Royale- The Baltimore Housing Project
I didn’t know much about this guy until I heard this album, and I will most definitely be checking anything he puts out from here on out. The linked song below is probably my favorite hip hop song of the year.
19. Earth Rot- Black Tides of Obscurity
Blackened Death metal from Australia
20. Malokarpatan- Krupinske Ohne
Black metal with a hint of traditional heavy metal from Slovakia
21.Necrot- Mortal
Death metal from Oakland, California
22. Winterfylleth- The Reckoning Dawn
Atmospheric black metal from the UK
23. Dark Fortress- Sprectres From the Old World
Melodic black metal from Germany
24. Velnias- Scion of Aether
Black metal with a touch of doom from Chicago.
25. Undeath- Lesions of a Different Kind
Death metal from NY
26. Blu & Exile- Miles
Hip hop from Cali. Blu can be hit or miss for me but this was surprisingly excellent.
27. Roisin Murphy- Roisin Machine
Nu-Disco/Electropop from Ireland
28. Abysmal Dawn- Phylogenesis
Death metal from California
29. Rome Streetz- Kontraband
Rome Streetz is in my top 5 current hip hop artists and has been for the past few years. Everything he does is worthwhile in my eyes and I had both albums he dropped this year rated equally. Great New York hip hop.
30. Rome Streetz- Noise Kandy 4
See above
31. Of Feather and Bone- Sulfuric Disintegration
Apparently they started off metalcore but this album is pure death metal with some war metal flavor. Oh yeah, they’re from Denver.
32. Omegavortex- Black Abomination Spawn
Blackened death metal with a taste of thrash from Germany
33. Kairon; IRSE- Polysomn
Shoegaze/Space Rock from Finland
34. Hexenbrett- Zweite Beschworung: Ein Kind zu toten
Black metal from Germany
35. Funeral Leech- Death Meditation
Death Doom Metal from NY
36. Marrasmieli- Between Land and Sky
Pagan black metal from Finland
37. Faceless Burial- Speciation
Death metal from Australia
38. Spirit Adrift- Enlightened in Eternity
Traditional heavy metal/Doom from Arizona
39. Hellripper- The Affair of the Poisons
Blackened speed metal from the UK
40. Skelethal- Unveiling the Threshold
Death metal from France
41. Gulch- Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress
Metalcore from California
42. Local H- Lifers
Yeah Local H made an album in 2020 and yes it’s in my top 50. I’m as surprised as you are.
43. Skeletal Remains- The Entombment of Chaos
Death metal from California
44. Eternal Champion- Ravening Iron
US Power Metal/Traditional Heavy from Texas
45. Coffin Curse- Ceased to Be
Death metal from Chile
46. Skeleton- Skeleton
Hardcore punk/thrash from Texas
47. Kvelertak- Splid
Hardcore punk/Black n Roll from Norway
48. Sa-Roc- The Sharecropper’s Daughter
MC from Washington DC. She’s been around for over a decade but I admittedly have been unaware of her work. This album was great and I’ll definitely be checking out her catalog.
49. Osees- Metamorphosed
Group from California playing Krautrock in 2020. It works.
50. Ljosazabojstwa- Głoryja Śmierci
Love a band name that rolls off the tongue. Blackened death from Belarus.
51. Acid Mammoth- Under Acid Hoof
Doom/stoner metal from Greece
52. Elder- Omens
Heavy Psych/Stoner Rock from Mass.
53. Body Count-Carnivore
Similiar to Local H, if you told me Ice-T and Body Count would put out a record in 2020 and it would be enjoyable I’d never believe you. RIP Riley Gale from Power Trip, featured on the song below.
54. Thanatos- Violent Death Rituals
Death metal from the Netherlands. Their best album since their 1990 debut IMO.
55. Fluisteraars- Bloem
Atmospheric black metal from the Netherlands. What a misleading album cover.
56. Worm-Gloomlord
Death Doom Metal from Florida
57. Plague- Portraits of Mind
Death metal from Greece. Appropriate for 2020.
58. Jay Electronica- Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
This may be bending the rules since it was recorded 11 years before and songs have leaked through out the years. It still was released this year and it was still great so I’m counting it.
59. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou- May Our Chambers Be Full
Thou is a sludge metal band from Louisiana and they teamed up with a singer/songwriter and created an atmospheric sludge album that I enjoyed way more than I anticipated.
60. Mach-Hommy- Mach’s Hard Lemonade
Mach-Hommy is a rapper from New Jersey who’s been putting out solid releases for the past few years and building an underground reputation all while avoiding social media interactions and relying purely on word of mouth.
61. Dua Lipa- Future Nostalgia
Honestly one of the best pop albums I’ve ever heard.
62. Sturgill Simpson- Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1- The Butcher Shoppe Sessions
My personal favorite country artist of the new millennium
63. Eleven x Jason D- Strike Back
Hip hop duo (DJ & MC) from fucking Idaho of all places
64. Nas- King’s Disease
A great return to form after NASIR and The Lost Tapes 2
65. Westside Gunn- Pray for Paris
Griselda gang again. Buffalo NY.
66. AJ Suede- Finesse the Cube II
Everything AJ has done in the past 3 years has made my best of the year list. He’s a top 5 current artist for me.
67. Jay Electronica- A Written Testimony
His official debut album, with a lot of support from Jay-Z. It doesn’t disappoint.
68. Denzel Curry x Kenny Beats- Unlocked
Another one of the best out there right now is Denzel Curry from Florida.
69. Haunt- Triumph
Traditional heavy metal from California. They released 3 full length albums in 2020, this one being my favorite but the others were good too.
70. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard- K.G.
Psychedelic rock from Australia. I love these weirdos.
71. Killah Priest- Rocket to Nebula
Wu-tang affiliate and hip hop mainstay returns with some of the most out there hip hop I’ve ever heard. He’s slowed his flow down but his subject matter is like being in a college seminar or reading an elder scroll, and I mean that as a compliment.
72. Ripped to Shreds- Luan
Death Metal from California
73. The Killers- Imploding the Mirage
I hated these guys in college, mostly because my idiot asshole roommate constantly played When You Were Young all day long. Now that I don’t have to deal with his bum ass The Killers have grown on me, and their newest release was really solid.
74. Xibalba- Anos en infierno
Death metal from California
75. Solicitor- Spectral Devastation
Heavy/Speed metal from Seattle
76. Draghkar- At the Crossroad of Infinity
Death metal from California
77. VoidCeremony- Entropic Reflections Continuum: Dimensional Unravel
Death metal from California
78. Ulcerate- Stare Into Death and Be Still
Technical death metal from New Zealand
79. Dearth- To Crown All Befoulment
Blackened death from California
80. 21 Savage x Metro Boomin- Savage Mode II
Trap rap from Atlanta. I think 21 gets better with age
81. Butcher Brown- #KingButch
Jazz fusion/hip hop from Virginia
82. Oh Sees- Protean Threat
These Kraut rockin motherfuckers again
83. Marlowe- Marlowe 2
Abstract hip hop collective featuring L’Orange and Solemn Brigham. I almost passed on listning to this because their debut did nothing for me. I’m really glad I gave it a shot.
84. Enslaved- Utgard
Black/viking metal legends with their fifteenth album!
85. Defeated Sanity- The Sanguinary Impetus
Technical death metal from Germany
86. Lucifer- Lucifer III
Female fronted traditional heavy metal group from Germany
87. Konvent- Puritan Masochism
Death doom metal from Denmark
88. Vader- Solitude in Madness
Polish death metal legends are back with their sixteenth album.
89. Cemetery Filth- Dominion
Death metal from Tennessee
90. Devangelic- Ersetu
Brutal death metal from Italy
91. Uptown XO- Culture Over Corporate
Rapper from Washington DC
92. Armani Caesar- Liz
Griselda again! I’m looking forward to more from Armani.
93. Sanctifying Ritual- Sanctifying Ritual
Death metal from Germany
94. Spirit Possession- Spirit Possession
Black/thrash from Oregon
95. Void Rot- Descending Pillars
Death doom metal from Minnesota
96. Wayfarer- A Romance With Violence
Atmospheric black metal from Colorado
97. Ransom x Nicholas Craven- Crime Scenes
Ransom has been in the scene for a while and he was busy this past year releasing 2 full lengths and 3 EP’s. This is my favorite of the bunch.
98. Loathe- I Let It in and It Took Everything
Metalcore/shoegaze from the UK
99. Sodom- Genesis XIX
German thrash titans with their sixteenth release.
100. Undergang- Aldrig i livet
Death metal from Denmark
Alright there you have a it, my top 100 of 2020. As a very special bonus here are my five LEAST favorite albums I listened to last year, in descending order from shitty to king shit.
5. Burzum- Thulean Mysteries
Varg is a murderous, racist pile of human excrement but I can admit he’s put together some really good albums throughout his career. This is not one of them. Burzum returns in 2020 with a dungeon synth album that honestly repeats the same fucking notes over and over again at a run time of 89 minutes. No thanks
4. Marilyn Manson- We Are Chaos
This list was made before all of the allegations started steamrolling for ole Mr. I removed two ribs so I could suck my own dick. The album fucking blows.
3. Danzig- Danzig Sings Elvis
I love Danzig and I love Elvis, I do not love Danzig singing Elvis.
2. Ozzy Osbourne- Ordinary Man
Sabbath is my favorite band of all time, and I have enjoyed, at the very least parts of, every Ozzy album he’s released. Until he released this.
- Six Feet Under- Nightmares of the Decomposed
Six Feet Under are an easy target, they are always shit on in the metal community. Honestly I find some of those criticisms unfair, I think their first 3 albums are perfectly fine. There’s no defending this, what the fuck is Barnes doing with this vocals? Easily the worst thing I’ve heard this year.
And as promised, here is the link to my entire rankings of 2020.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GOMVwO1JjBieaL0prpBaBYfA9DpYMePErCuhQUNwiOY/edit
