Best album of 2020?

[Alex79]

So there’s another thread, but it seems that started way early.
I haven’t bought any new music this year, I think, so I’m wondering what everybody would say is their album of the year?

To make it more meaningful, may I kindly suggest we limit ourselves to the one personal favorite only and maybe just the Runner-up?

 

[nickgray]

Mors Principium Est - Seven

 

[sleewell]

for me its:

Ulcerate - Stare Into Death and Be Still


honorable mentions:

Igorrr - Spirituality and Distortion

Poppy - I Disagree

The Black Dahlia Murder - Verminous

 

[BusinessMan]

Bleed from within- fracture
Orbit culture- nija
Embodiment- palingenesis
The new ahkyls album_ pgnalion? Think thats how it's spelled
Krosis- make of free will
Ingested- where only gods may tread
Within the ruins- black heart
Coexistence- collateral dimension
Repentance- god for a day
Cytotoxin- nuklearth
Inferi- of sunless realms
Gaerea- limbo
Cellar vessel- vein beneath the soil

I still listen to these albums on a regular basis. The first two are probably my top 2 for the year.

 

[Ordacleaphobia]

Oh, this one's easy.

Loathe - I Let it in and it Took Everything
This album was so incredibly well put together. If you haven't listened to it, do yourself a favor and put it on. It's got something for everyone.

Since #1 was so free and the real battle was for second place, I've probably got to go for Make Them Suffer - How To Survive a Funeral. Banger after banger.

Runner ups are:
Alpha Wolf - A Quiet Place to Die
The Ghost Inside - The Ghost Inside
Protest the Hero - Palimpsest

 

[gnoll]

Run The Jewels - RTJ4

 

[bostjan]

Titans of Creation- Testament

Best Microtonal Deathgrindparrotcore album, though, at least that I worked on, was Prognosis Dire - Naegleria Fowleri.

 

[Masoo2]

Plini, Loathe, Movements, Acacia Strain, Alpha Wolf, Ramirez, Bootychaaain, and END take this year for me.

Number one specifically would be either Ramirez or Movements, both put out absolutely fantastic releases.





Movements is a long time favorite since their Outgrown Things EP, but Ramirez seriously surprised me with THA PLAYA$ MANUAL. It's the perfect combination of West Coast, funk/soul, and underground rap ala G*59/SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ/Buffet Boys like most of his earlier stuff. Definitely worth a listen.

Been pretty disappointed overall, especially on the rap side of things, but still some good stuff. 2018 and 2019 were just such great years that it'll probably be 2021 to see follow ups from my favorite artists.

 

[MFB]

@gnoll laying it down with the RTJ right out the gate, I like it.

If not that, "May Our Chambers Be Full" by Emma Ruth Rundle + Thou was pretty gnarly, and I do really dig the new Black Crown Initiate even though it's vastly underspun round these parts. "Palimpset" is good, but Rody's new vocal style is a little rough to me still, I'll need to hear it more before I can tell how much I like it compared to the old; he still just sounds like he's straining a lot, but it might just be the way it sounds.

Wish Spotify had a "sort by release year" option so I knew what the fuck albums actually come out this year besides those

 

[zappatton2]

I recently picked up the new Mr. Bungle and RTJ, and they've pretty much dominated my listening regimen. I don't know about best release of 2020, but they stand out for me.

 

[Doug N]

Pretty tough but I’d go with:

Deftones - Ohms
The Ocean - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic I Cenozoic

 

[aesthyrian]

Protest the Hero - Palimpsest

 

[rokket2005]

I feel like I didn't listen to a ton a stuff that came out this year aside from the aforementioned new Ocean record.

This album just came out though and it's super gorgeous. I've really been enjoying it.
To Athena - Aquatic Ballet

 

[Bdtunn]

In malice’s wake (for thrash)
Spirit adrift (for awesomeness)
Vader (for heavy)
John petrucci (for shred)
Abysmal dawn (for tech death)

 

[Matt794]

I can't decide between these 3:
Thundercat - It Is What It Is
Beneath the Massacre - Fearmonger
Warbringer - Weapons of Tomorrow

Also in the discussion for me:
The Midnight - Monsters
Undeath - Lesions of a Different Kind
Niiice - Internet friends
Pallbearer - Forgotten days

I really wanted to like Verminous by The Black Dahlia Murder as well since they've been my favorite band for ages, but it just didn't leave much of an impression on me.

 

[Nlelith]

2020 was surprisingly good year for new releases. Here's my top 10 so far:

Dark Tranquillity - Moment
Sordid Pink - Sordid Pink (not sure why ex-Destiny Potato flew under the radar for so many people)
The Birthday Massacre - Diamonds
Mors Subita - Extinction Era
Bring Me the Horizon - POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR (it's EP, but whatever)
Chaoseum - Second Life
The Unguided - Father Shadow
Palaye Royale - The Bastards
Blaqk Audio - Beneath the Black Palms
Æther Realm - Redneck Vikings from Hell

 

[FancyFish]

Top 3 (probably):
1. Good Tiger - Raised in a Doomsday Cult. The boys make another great album. Probably one of my favorite rock bands of the last decade or 2.
2. Loathe - I Let It in and It Took Everything. Good djent. Probably best Deftones album this year, definitely in the top 2.
3. Imperial Triumphant - Alphaville. Don't like it as much as Vile Luxury, but still a great album.
I don't really listen to albums the year they come out, they usually come around to me in like a year or 2.

 

[DrakkarTyrannis]

Greg Puciato- Child Soldier

https://gregpuciato.bandcamp.com/album/child-soldier-creator-of-god

 

[p0ke]

Æther Realm - RVFH
Finntroll - Vredesvävd
Ensiferum - Thallasic
Alestorm - Curse of the Crystal Coconut
Mygrain - V
Mors Principium Est - Seven
Verikalpa - Tuoppitanssi

Are a few that came to mind. If I had to pick one, I guess I'd say Ensiferum.

 

[spudmunkey]

Only an EP, and post-pop and shoe-gazey, but Ten Million Light's Shine So Bright