Well the year is almost up and now comes the time to talk about our 10 favorite albums released this year. I'll get the ball rolling here...
Now keep in mind, these aren't in any particular order.
1. Burials by AFI- After the shitfest that was Crash Love, AFI has come back in full form with a fantastic new album and a sound that blends everything they have ever done together.
2. Rescue and Restore by August Burns Red- This is metalcore at it's finest. ABR never disappoints and this album is no exception. It takes their more experimental side they used on Leveler and mix it with the heavy hitting breakdowns of Constellations.
3. Wrongdoers by Norma Jean- Norma Jean have done it again. A fantastic, chaotic metalcore album that blends the madness of their older releases with the more melodic side of recent ones.
4.Sempiternal by Bring Me The Horizon- Boy, this band just keeps getting better with each release. They started out as a barely tolerable deathcore band into one of the best metalcore bands around. The blending of metalcore, post-rock, and electronica is what makes this album so fantastic. They get my vote for most improved band.
5. This Is How The Wind Shifts by Silverstein- Silverstein continue to grow as a band and this album shows. This album tells the story of a broken, failed, and abusive relationship which is told from both perspectives. For every song that tells one side, there's another that tells the other.
6.The Greatest Generation by The Wonder Years- The best pop-punk band around right now. The Wonder Years have created an album that everyone can relate to. Touching on subjects such as depression, social anxiety, growing up, and finding your place in life, there's something here for everybody.
7. Saloon by The Ongoing Concept- A fantastic debut from a young band. These boys give us a blend of southern metal and metalcore that rivals Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. They use parlor sounding piano and banjos to compliment their brutal brand of chaotic metalcore.
8. No Place by A Lot Like Birds- A post-hardcore band that deserves more recognition than they get, this is a concept album based around what "home" really is. With amazing lyrics and passionate delivery coupled with amazing musicianship, it's a surprise this band isn't more popular.
9. Unimagine by Hands Like House- Coming off of their successful soulful, post-hardcore debut Ground Dweller, these Australian boys craft a tighter, more cohesive album with less breakdowns. This album is lighter in tone, which I'm sure might put fans of their first album off. However, this album is filled with stronger song-writing, lyrics, musicianship and vocals. Boy, can Trenton Woodley sing.
10. Heart Attack by Man Overboard- While this band doesn't break any new ground in the pop-punk/emo genres, they craft an album that's heartfelt, catchy, and fun. I keep finding myself coming back to this album. The instrumentation is good for what it is, it's nothing technical or new. The real strengths lie in the two vocalists. The way the singers voices play off each other harkens back to earlier Taking Back Sunday albums, and this album has hooks galore.
That concludes my top 10 list. What are yours?
Now keep in mind, these aren't in any particular order.
1. Burials by AFI- After the shitfest that was Crash Love, AFI has come back in full form with a fantastic new album and a sound that blends everything they have ever done together.
2. Rescue and Restore by August Burns Red- This is metalcore at it's finest. ABR never disappoints and this album is no exception. It takes their more experimental side they used on Leveler and mix it with the heavy hitting breakdowns of Constellations.
3. Wrongdoers by Norma Jean- Norma Jean have done it again. A fantastic, chaotic metalcore album that blends the madness of their older releases with the more melodic side of recent ones.
4.Sempiternal by Bring Me The Horizon- Boy, this band just keeps getting better with each release. They started out as a barely tolerable deathcore band into one of the best metalcore bands around. The blending of metalcore, post-rock, and electronica is what makes this album so fantastic. They get my vote for most improved band.
5. This Is How The Wind Shifts by Silverstein- Silverstein continue to grow as a band and this album shows. This album tells the story of a broken, failed, and abusive relationship which is told from both perspectives. For every song that tells one side, there's another that tells the other.
6.The Greatest Generation by The Wonder Years- The best pop-punk band around right now. The Wonder Years have created an album that everyone can relate to. Touching on subjects such as depression, social anxiety, growing up, and finding your place in life, there's something here for everybody.
7. Saloon by The Ongoing Concept- A fantastic debut from a young band. These boys give us a blend of southern metal and metalcore that rivals Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. They use parlor sounding piano and banjos to compliment their brutal brand of chaotic metalcore.
8. No Place by A Lot Like Birds- A post-hardcore band that deserves more recognition than they get, this is a concept album based around what "home" really is. With amazing lyrics and passionate delivery coupled with amazing musicianship, it's a surprise this band isn't more popular.
9. Unimagine by Hands Like House- Coming off of their successful soulful, post-hardcore debut Ground Dweller, these Australian boys craft a tighter, more cohesive album with less breakdowns. This album is lighter in tone, which I'm sure might put fans of their first album off. However, this album is filled with stronger song-writing, lyrics, musicianship and vocals. Boy, can Trenton Woodley sing.
10. Heart Attack by Man Overboard- While this band doesn't break any new ground in the pop-punk/emo genres, they craft an album that's heartfelt, catchy, and fun. I keep finding myself coming back to this album. The instrumentation is good for what it is, it's nothing technical or new. The real strengths lie in the two vocalists. The way the singers voices play off each other harkens back to earlier Taking Back Sunday albums, and this album has hooks galore.
That concludes my top 10 list. What are yours?
