2020 – Saved by the Music!

Since the age of 13 rock music (in particular the heavier genres and sub-genres) has been a constant in my life and seen me through the highs and lows that inevitably get thrown at you over the years! Ever since seeing Status Quo live in 1984 I’ve been hocked on the whole gig experience; the sound, sights, smells and energy of seeing a band live cannot be beaten and have undoubtedly provided me with some of the most memorable moments of my first half century on our planet. Since ’84 I’ve probably been to somewhere between 400 and 500 gigs and festivals of various sizes and always had a great time with friends old and new along the way.

It’s a total understatement to say that this year has been different in so many ways! When seeing Garganjua play the Camden Unicorn as special headliners for the Metal to the Masses band final back on 23rd February I was not to know that it would be the last “normal” gig that I would see in 2020. Yes I’ve been lucky enough to see a couple of “socially distanced” gigs at the Black Heart in Camden when restrictions permitted (thanks to Tuskar, Ungraven, The Brothers Keg and The Grand Mal), but despite being an experience, it’s not quite the same!

One of the lessons to take from this awful year is to never take anything for granted. The impact that Covid-19 has had on the music industry in general has been nothing short of catastrophic! With bands unable to tour and our much loved music venues having to close, many have struggled to keep their heads above water and some will inevitably and sadly probably never open their doors again. This is the brutal and harsh reality of the situation that we find ourselves in.

Bands and music venues need your help now more than ever. Please keep buying their music and merch as every penny will help them survive and give them a chance of still being there for us once we return to some sort of normality in 2021 (fingers crossed). I for one cannot wait to be standing alongside mates with a beer in hand whilst watching a great band crank out some monstrously heavy riffs on the stage.

Anyway that rather long and winding intro leads me to the main point of this album of the year review! Despite the challenges that the year has presented, the music that has been produced by bands has been nothing short of superb. Admittedly most would have been recorded pre-covid but the quality has been so good that I’ve had to alter and expand my list on a number of occasions!

Music has most definitely helped me get through 2020 with my sanity mostly intact! Whether being the soundtrack for the hours spent alone whilst working from home or accompanying me on my permitted daily walk, the albums listed below have played a huge part of my life this year and for that I give the bands my undying thanks and respect – keep on rocking!

So let’s get to it! Below are my top 20 albums (yes I know there are a couple of EPs in there too – my list my rules!) of 2020.

20 – Calligram – The Eye is the First Circle (Prosthetic Records)

Brutal D-Beat infused metal with nods to black metal and punk along the way. This is a great debut full length from these Londoners that is sung totally in Italian – eccellente!

https://calligram.bandcamp.com/album/the-eye-is-the-first-circle

19. Green Druid – At the Maw of Ruin (Earache Records)

Released late in the year, I have a feeling that this great slab of doom would’ve been higher up my list given a few more listens! Denver’s Green Druid draw from the well of the doom masters but add their own take at times to keep it interesting.

https://greendruid.bandcamp.com/

18. Brunt – Ataraxy (Magic Moustache Records)

Guernsey’s Brunt have produced one of the best psychedelic/stoner rock instrumental albums of the year with Ataraxy.

Continuing where previous release “Blackbeard” left off, this is one groovy offering that combines post, stoner and psychedelic rock to great effect. 9 minute epic closer “Black Smoke” is a perfect example of what Brunt are capable of and makes me yearn to finally see these guys live.

https://brunt.bandcamp.com/album/ataraxy

17. The Ocean Collective – Phanerozoic II – Mesozoic/Cenozoic (Pelagic Records)

The masters of progressive metal produce the goods once again on their eighth release and second part of a concept album series exploring the Phanerozoic geological eon, the first part being “Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic”, which was released in 2018 – thanks Wiki!

The sound contrasts and in particular the use of synths alongside the heavy riffs combine perfectly to produce superbly atmospheric soundscapes. Another album that will probably be higher up this list with repeated listens!

https://theocean.bandcamp.com/album/phanerozoic-ii-mesozoic-cenozoic

16. DVNE – Omega Severer (Metal Blade Records)

Edinburgh’s DVNE follow up their impressive debut album “Asheran” with a superb EP that whets the appetite for their second full length.

Continuing with the proggy sludge style with a mixture of clean and harsh vocals heard on their debut, this 2 track EP is 17 minutes of great metal that harks back to early Mastodon at times, which is definitely a good thing in my book!

https://songs-of-arrakis.bandcamp.com/album/omega-severer

15. Dopelord – Sign of the Devil (Green Plague Records)

Poles Dopelord are in my opinion one of the best stoner/doom bands around at the moment. At times bringing to mind prime era Electric Wizard, Dopelord carve out some almighty riffs that are interlaced with psychedelic forays and melodic interludes to create a beast of an album.

The artwork is pretty spectacular and “on point” too!

https://dopelord.bandcamp.com/album/sign-of-the-devil

14. OHHMS – Close (Holy Roar Records)

Fellow Kent Lads OHHMS have once again come up with the post rock/sludge/prog/doom (whatever you want to call it!) goods on latest release Close.

This album sounds huge (great job Ian Sandler) and features notable performances by Paul on vocals and Chainy on bass, all of which comes together to an amazing climax on album closer Unplugged – great stuff guys!

https://ohhms.bandcamp.com/album/close

13. Kind – Mental Nudge (Ripple Music)

Five years after excellent debut album “Rocket Science”, stoner rock “supergroup” Kind return with another stellar release.

Mental Nudge took a few listens to sink in but once it did it was obvious that it needed to be heard as a whole rather than piece by piece. Once it clicked this excellent rock album with its change in tempos and often off-kilter riffs was a constant fixture on my turntable.

https://kindrocks.bandcamp.com/album/mental-nudge

12. Huntsmen – Mandala of Fear (Prosthetic Records)

Huntsmen were a new band to me this year and upon first listen of Mandala of Fear I was totally blown away! With an eclectic mix of progressive sludge/doom and leans towards trad metal, Mandala of Fear is an expansive sprawling concept record.

Encompassing both moments of melodic beauty and huge crushing riffs within its 85 minutes length, this is another album that needs to be listened to in its entirety to follow grasp its full magnificence.

https://huntsmen.bandcamp.com/album/mandala-of-fear

11. Coldbones – The Cataclysm (Dunk Records)

Being a Man of Kent it always fills me with great pride to see Kentish bands do well and along with the likes of OHHMS, Famyne and Harrowed, Coldbones are definitely doing the county proud!

The Cataclysm is an epic piece of work and undoubtedly one of the best instrumental albums of the year. Mixing elements of prog, post rock and shoegaze, this stunning concept album is full of both beautiful and dark soundscapes that take us on an intoxicating journey to the very end!

https://coldbonesuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-cataclysm

10. King Buffalo – Dead Star (Stickman Records)

This 6 track EP shows a further progression for King Buffalo from their superb previous album “Longing to be the Mountain”. The addition of synths provides further texture to their trademark stoner/psych sound.

The opening 16 minute epic that is “Red Star Pt 1&2” is a fine example of what KB are all about of as it builds to a superb riffy crescendo.

The recently released Live at Freak Valley album is also worth a listen!

https://kingbuffalo.bandcamp.com/

9. Killer be Killed – Reluctant Hero (Nuclear Blast)

How could a group featuring members of Mastodon, Converge, Sepultura and Dillenger Escape Plan not be anything short of amazing? This follow-up to the self titled debut released in 2014 is another great slab of modern metal.

Bringing to mind early Mastodon at times interweaved with Sepultura like riffing, this is a superb metal album that just screams to be heard!

https://www.killerbekilled.com/

8. Mountain Caller – Chronicle I: The Truthseeker (New Heavy Sounds)

Award for debut album of the year for me definitely goes to Mountain Caller! This London based 3 piece have produced a superbly heavy and progressive instrumental post rock album that takes the listener on an epic journey.

Since first encountering MC at Desertfest I’ve been looking forward to this release and was definitely not disappointed. Claire, El and Max have produced something very special here that sounds simply huge!

https://mountaincaller.bandcamp.com/album/the-truthseeker

7. Telepathy – Burn Embrace – (Svart Records)

Carrying on with the instrumental theme, Colchester’s Telepathy released upon the world another heavy post rock masterpiece this year.

Telepathy have a great knack of mixing up beautiful ambient moments with brutally heavy crescendos to superb effect. The addition of some sparse vocals on the final title track adds further texture to an awesome song that ends this album in fine style.

https://telepathyband.bandcamp.com/album/burn-embrace

6. Garganjua – Toward The Sun (Holy Roar Records)

Released way back in pre-plague January, this superb album has been in constant rotation throughout the year. What Garganjua have produced here is a crushingly heavy record that shows a more progressive and experimental side than previous offerings.

You want riffs? Toward the Sun has got them in great abundance in all shapes and sizes from monolithic doom to almost black metal frenzy. As previously mentioned, Garganjua were the last band that I saw live pre-Covid and I cannot wait to see them again.

https://garganjua.bandcamp.com/album/toward-the-sun

5. Spirit Adrift – Enlightened in Eternity (20 Buck Spin)

Moving further away from their doom roots, Spirit Adrift are now well and truly flying the flag for heavy metal! Whilst Enlightened to Eternity contains echoes of the metal gods such as Metallica, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, the addition of their own modern twist has produced a sonic barnstormer of an album.

This album is a riff lovers paradise and Nate Garrett’s guitar work throughout is a joy to behold. Finishing in great style with “Reunited in the Void”, which is a nod back to doomier times, Spirit Adrift have once again proved that they’re top of the heavy metal mountain!

https://spiritadrift.bandcamp.com/

4. Elephant Tree – Habits (Holy Roar Records)

Following their “Theia” debut and self titled follow-up was never going to be easy but with Habits Elephant Tree have pushed themselves to new levels of superb musicality.

This album drips with bluesy psychedelic swagger that brings to mind Pink Floyd at times. It still contains their trademark groovy heavy riffs but has also injected some pop like melodies along the way. The vocals throughout are gorgeously lush thanks to the amazing production job.

“Bird” has to be one of the songs of the year, although quite frankly Habits is full of songs that could have that accolade!

https://elephanttreeband.bandcamp.com/album/habits

3. Pallbearer – Forgotten Days (Nuclear Blast Records)

Pallbearer are one of my favourite bands but for some reason Forgotten Days just didn’t click with me at first. However, repeated listens (particularly the vinyl) soon changed my opinion.

Musically this is like combining earlier Pallbearer and previous album “Heartless” to produce a melodic prog doom masterpiece. Whilst heavier on the synths, the trademark melancholic riffs are still there in abundance. This is most notable on the 12 minute epic “Silver Wings”, which is another contender for track of the year.

https://pallbearer.bandcamp.com/album/forgotten-days

2. Elder – Omens (Stickman Records)

As in 2017, both Elder and Pallbearer have issued albums that continue to expand their sound and end up in my top 3 of the year!

With its greater use of synths and melody, Omens connected with me almost immediately. Whilst the songs are all fairly long, they always retain your interest with their expansive nature, time changes and sweeping guitar lines.

With this album Elder have evolved to new heights and produced a modern day rock classic that just keeps getting better with repeated listens!

https://beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com/album/omen

1. Svalbard – When I Die, Will I Get Better? (Church Road Records)

Not only an album of the year, with When I Die, Will I Get Better? Svalbard have produced an album for the year!

Both musically and lyrically, this is an album that we needed in 2020! Whilst still retaining their trademark hardcore fury, WID,WIGB? embraces black metal and shoegaze tendencies to produce a stunningly vitriolic album.

Second track “Click Bait” perfectly represents the album with its dual vocal attack from Serena and Liam and its refrain of “fuck off” that I can’t wait to scream at the top of my lungs when we can finally see them play these songs live. If their recent K Pit performance was anything to go by, future Svalbard shows are going to be incredible!

https://svalbard.bandcamp.com/album/when-i-die-will-i-get-better-2

So good riddance 2020. Let’s hope that things start to improve in the new year and that 2021 brings us another year of amazing music. It’s sure going to have to go some to beat 2020!