11. AVATAR - "Feathers & Flesh"

These guys have been consistently putting out absolutely slamming music for years, and Feathers & Flesh is no exception - the hooks on "When The Snow Lies Red" still slay me to this day. What really got me about the record, though, was the mix - Jay Ruston's tones are unparalleled, and he's one of my favorites out right now. Two great tastes that taste great together!

10. VINNIE PAZ - "Cornerstone of the Cornerstore"

I got into Vinnie pretty heavily over the last year - he brings something different to what some call "intelligent hip hop", so he's one of my favorites as far as the underground goes. His melodic hooks always hit that sweet spot in your chest, and "Writings on Disobedience and Democracy", "Pistolvania 2" and "Steel Sharpens Steel" have extraordinary replay value. 

9. KUBLAI KHAN - "New Strength"

This record is so heavy it makes me want to throw EVERY table. I have a deep appreciation for ignorant mosh music, because I'm a fairly angry person - there's really nothing better for expelling aggression than a disgusting breakdown. The beat breaks in "Brotherhood of Man" are arguably the heaviest thing that any band has done in at least 4 years, and much credit is due to Will Putney, who knocked it out of the park on this one. 100/10 UR MOSHING

8. DEVANATION - "Dominion of Oblivion"

Shameless plug - if you aren't a fan of your own music, how can you expect anyone else to be? This album is still considerably heavy, but challenging myself to push in different directions on certain songs was supremely rewarding, and I cannot wait to release more music soon.

7. THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE - "The Violent Sound"

This was probably the most pleasant surprise of the year. I found this band when "Soulless Hymns" came out, and I loved it. But The Violent Sound is a different animal entirely - certain passages objectively sound like Mushroomhead, but being sprinkled in with Deathcore satiates me even more than Mushroomhead did when I was younger. It's a very cohesive body of work, especially considering the departure in sound. The title track is probably my favorite, and if you even remotely enjoyed any of this album, TLTSOL should be at the top of your radar for the future. 

6. SURVIVE - "RR7349"

The band credited for the "Stranger Things" soundtrack released an album on Relapse Records, and boy howdy is it juicy. Most of you probably know I have a deep affinity for electronic music, and this specific style is what really hits home for me - slightly retro, atmospheric, and DARK as all hell. I could use countless synonyms for "perfect" to describe the textures and tones the guys used on this record, but instead I'll just recommend you close this page immediately and go listen to it. Now. Go. 

5. KING 810 - "La Petite Mort or a Conversation with God"

This was a fantastic introduction into the collective mind of King 810, and arguably one of the most promising debut albums by any modern metal band. Earlier this year, they released the single "I Ain't Goin' Back Again" to promote the forthcoming sophomore album. My initial reaction was that I didn't care for the song very much at all.

BUT - I was proven wrong, as in the context of the album as a whole, the song fits and works perfectly. There's lots of experimentation, unique vibes and instruments, even a saxophone solo?!?! The complete body of work that is "La Petite Mort" was a massive success in my opinion, and I am incredibly eager for the next evolution of King 810. 

4. KORN - "The Serenity of Suffering"

There is only one band I've been listening to longer than I've been listening to Korn, and it's Papa Roach. When it comes to these two, you will probably never hear me say something negative about them (I refuse to speak on "The Path of Totality"). Korn's new record is exactly what everyone wanted from them - irresponsibly heavy. Nick Raskulinecz and Josh Wilbur absolutely KILLED it with the band this time around, and "Rotting In Vain" could possibly be my favorite Korn song in at least 10 years. 

The following 3 records are all tied for 1st, but we'll number them for the sake of this list.

3. THRICE - "To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere"

I was never a fan of Thrice. For a few years, I was one of those ignorant metal elitists that referred to bands like Thrice as "emo garbage" and whatnot (this is one of the few cases in which growing up is cool). This album is my introduction to the band - specifically the song "Black Honey". Have you heard this fucking song? The chorus hit me harder than any chorus this year. I was driving around listening to this album trying to imitate Dustin Kensrue's beautiful voice for weeks. Each song has its own personality and purpose, and though the band is well into their career, I sincerely hope they continue to make music - this album made a fan out of me.

2. GOJIRA - "Magma" 

When it comes to metal, bands are being forced to become more imaginative in recent years, which is normal when an artistic medium becomes oversaturated - no complaints here. Gojira fell under the "heard the name a zillion times, never got around to checking them out" category. I did a festival tour with them, didn't pay attention, and am now kicking myself because I hadn't listened to them earlier. "Magma" has some of the best riffs I've heard from a metal band in quite awhile, and there is not one uninspired song on this whole record. I don't smoke weed, but this album makes me want to smoke 8 thousand blunts and gaze into the abyss. 

1. DRÆMINGS - "The Eternal Lonesome"

I love metal, but at the end of the day, what really does it for me is a good melody, regardless of genre. I came across DRÆMINGS randomly scrolling through the Internet one day, and it is the best accident that's ever happened to me. Her voice is phenomenal, the soundscapes are enveloping, and the replay value is higher than anything else I've heard this year. "Reno", "Like A Ghost" and "Battle Mountain" are certain to infiltrate your subconscious, and I found myself humming these songs in my head for more hours than any reasonably sane person would admit. Kimi is also an objectively awesome person, and if I have it my way, we'll be making music together sooner than later. If you only listen to one album from this list, make it this one.