Top 10 Albums Of 2020

This is my top 10 albums of 2020. There has been many great albums this year so difficult to pick ten but I’ll go with these albums as I have listened to them many times over the year. I have’t listened to every album so there’s bound to be one or two people would include on their list.
Descriptions will be short as it’s about the music…

zhOra – Mortals

I saw zhOra for the first time in 2014 and they blew me away. I followed them since then and while I liked their last album, it wasn’t the zhOra album I expected. This however was the album I expected times ten! I’d go as far to say as it’s one of the best metal albums by an Irish band full stop.
A viciously heavy album that attacks all in the senses in the best possible way!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhOramusic

Benediction – Scriptures

In a personal highlight of 2020, Benediction returned with Dave Ingram and man it did not disappoint! An album I’ll be still listening to years from now. A masterpiece!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Benedictionband

Annal Nakrath – Endarkenment

What a return! What an album! Maybe their best work to date? All I know is that this album is a masterpiece and one I’ll return to again and again.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anaalnathrakhofficial

Paradise Lost – Obsidian

A lot of Paradise Lost’s 2020 was about Draconian Times 25th anniversary and the planned full album performance at Bloodstock. Obsidian was released and it’s one of the best albums to date. An absolutely brilliant album by a brilliant band. Fitting they marked with the anniversary of Draconian Times with another classic album.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paradiselostofficial/?ref=page_internal

Vader – Solitude In Madness

Polish death metal legends Vader returned and released another classic album in the process. One of the best long term death metal bands and never fail to disappoint!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vader

Sylosis – Cycle of Suffering

Sylosis came back with a vengeance this year. A shame it was 2020 but they had just released this album and the whole world fell apart. Maybe sums up the luck this band have had over the years. They looked like hitting the next level numerous times but it just never materialised. Hopefully when things come back next year they can really kick on! This is an amazing album that deserves a lot more attention.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sylosis/?ref=page_internal

Ward XVI – Metamorphosis

Ward XVI aren’t for everybody. They’re the type of band you like or you don’t really. I personally love their music. This album is a real body of work listen as it’s a concept album and an amazing listen. Again, not for everyone but an amazing band in my humble opinion.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WardXVI

Fleshwolf – Fleshwolf

Fleshwolf are a one man project. Marty Robinson set out to create a death metal album influenced by his love of classic Swedish death metal and he did not disappoint. An amazing album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleshwolf

Raging Speedhorn – Hard To Kill

I have been a Raging Speedhorn fan since I heard Thumper nearly twenty years ago. Having them back playing live the past few years was fantastic and I caught them three times live since their return. A new album was the icing. It’s exactly what it needed to be. Another excellent Raging Speedhorn album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ragingspeedhorn

The Grief – Horizon’s Fall

While in theory having existed for a while, The Grief really made a comeback in 2020 to the point many thought they were a new band. Two EP’s were released this year and they then combined both to release their debut album. An utterly brilliant doom metal album and a band that should be a lot better known. Hopefully when gigs come back they can really kick on as they had planned this year.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griefdoommetal

That’s my top ten albums of 2020. Loads of great albums released this year but these were my return to albums so deserve their place in my list.

Top 10 Singles Of 2020

As we all know it is common for bands to release what was once known as the single. Changed a bit now but if a band release a stand alone track or drop a video to accompany a track before or during an album/EP cycle I would declare it a single. These are ten tracks I found my self returning to on numerous occasions. Short descriptions as it’s all about the music.

LIK – Morbid Fascination

Swedish death metal act LIK release their album Misanthropic Breed this year and this was their lead single. The album is excellent but I find myself returning to this song/video the most. It’s absolutely brilliant!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LIKofficial

Dog Tired – Lord Of The Vile

Dog Tired from Scotland released their album The Electric Abyss last year and this was their official music video/single for the album. One of the best underground bands in the UK without question!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogtiredmetal

The Enigma Division – The Neon Mirage

I firmly expected The Enigma Division to be in my best albums of 2020 list but 2020 happened and it was pushed back. They have released a few singles off the album but out of all I consider this to be the strongest. It’s Bladerunner metal basically and absolutely brilliant!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaDivision

Mushroomhead – The Heresy

Mushroomhead released their album It’s A Wonderful Life this year. A solid album without question but this track was a step above. The change to a female co-vocalist has worked but it excelled with this track. I’ve listened to this track likely more than any other this year. It’s incredible!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mushroomheadofficial

Psykosis – Tossed To The Dogs

Psykosis returned this year with their single Tossed To The Dogs. More is on the way but again 2020 happened. An excellent band that never fail to disappoint. Thrashtastic!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Psykosisthrashmetal

Cattle Decapitation – Bring Back The Plague

Cattle Decapitation released their video/single for Bring Back The Plague and it’s maybe the greatest thing to happen in 2020. The time of toilet paper hording will live on forever. Not our brightest day as a race…

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cattledecapitation

Filth – Hell

Filth were in my best EP list yesterday and here again with their track Hell. It’s so damn good it deserves to be here. An excellent track and one I’ll return to again and again!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filthnc

Enshroud – Deception

Another band that was in the best EP list yesterday. This track is absolutely brilliant and I’ve probably pushed the YouTube views up a lot over the past few months. A masterpiece!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enshroudnimetal

AC/DC – Shot In The Dark

AC/DC returned with their album Power Up and lead single Shot In The Dark. It won’t be in my best albums list because it’s basically another AC/DC album with out offense. This single deserves a shout though as it was great to have them back.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acdc

Soothsayer – Outer Fringe

Atmospheric doom act Soothsayer released their first single Outer Fringe from their forthcoming album that is due next year. It’s bizarre and maybe challenging to some, but to me it’s a fucking masterpiece!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soothsayerdoom

That concludes my ten best singles of 2020 list. A mixed bag yet again but that’s how I roll.

Top 10 EP’s Of 2020

Time for our top 10 EP’s of 2020. I haven’t heard every EP so may have missed something in the mind of others.
This my list. Very brief descriptions as it’s about the music and not my words.
In no particular order…

Filth – Filth

Filth released their self titled EP and it does exactly what it says on the tin!
Here’s their first single off the EP ‘Hell’. If this interests you? Hit the links below!
Excellent EP that has been played on numerous occasions this year.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filthnc
Bandcamp: https://filthnc.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0rTHp5…

Scour – Black

Scour released the final part of their trilogy of EP’s with the Black EP. Yet again it was of the highest quality and amazing to see Phil Anselmo delivering vocals like this at this stage of his career. A great end to a great project!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scourband
Stream/Purchase: https://media.nuclearblast.de/shoplanding/2020/Scour/black.html

Enshroud – Walking In The Shadows

A new band based on our little island that came from nowhere this year. Not only that, but they released an amazing EP and one of the most promising Irish acts in recent memory. If this is the start. How far can they go? A lot further I suspect! One to watch and follow if you aren’t aware as of now.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enshroudnimetal
Streaming: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/enshroud/walking-in-the-shadows?fbclid=IwAR3RKydSJQSdfe4RHfsrJWnFSvWu39NwfbrVMU8ivsarjKLp2956fSTxHBo

Carcass – Despicable

Carcass released their EP Despicable. Of course it was going to be in my list. One of my favorite metal bands. End of!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCarcass
Stream: https://nblast.de/CarcassDespicable
Buy: http://nuclearblast.com/carcass-despicable

Organ Blender – Blender Corps

Galway based Organ Blender really have their own thing going on. One of the most interesting Irish bands at present. They do what they want to do and offer no apology! Amazing band!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Organ-Blender-1680843132006305

My Dying Bride – Macabre Cabaret

My Dying Bride returned and showed all the pretenders why they are so highly regarded by releasing an absolute master class in Macabre Cabaret.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyDyingBrideOfficial
Stream/Buy: http://nblast.de/MDBMacabreCabaret

At The Movies – At The Movies Season 1

At The Movies began as a lockdown project for some of the biggest names in metal with the aim of covering 80’s songs that were tied to iconic films of that era. Time progressed. An EP was released and due to popularity another season aka EP is planned for next year. I absolutely love everything about this!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atthemoviesofficial

Make May For Man – Rites

Make Way For Man were easily one of my favorite discoveries of 2020. They’re just something different and do what they want to do. Australian bands seem to be able to do their own thing and really tongue in cheek as the success of 12 Foot Ninja has demonstrated. Just have fun with it all and see where it goes…
I have included their cover of Fireflies from the EP here as it’s just amazing!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makewayforman
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/76TeWvH0yKe8YsQpGCqD7T?autoplay=true

Dratna – Druid Winds & The Fall of the Celtic Gods

Dratna are a one man project that has been growing every year. This year he released his third and best release to date. Every release has had a jump in quality and this was a massive leap forward. I look forward to his next release and beyond. A true talent that is becoming more confident in his abilities as times passes…

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dratnaband

IHSAHN – Pharos

The man has gone to a new level of creativity with this EP and even included a couple of covers no musician with a strong black metal past would touch. He marches to the beat of his own drum and fuck you if you don’t agree!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ihsahnmusic
Stream/Buy: https://Ihsahn.lnk.to/Pharos

That concludes my top 10 EP’s of 2020. Some may agree or otherwise but these are the ones I returned to again and again. A very mixed bag in regards to styles but that’s my thing!