Disclaimer: I started writing this list on Dec 31, but even though a few weeks have passed I still highly resonate with the intro below. That’s why I’ve decided not to rewrite it.
What better way to spend the last hours of the shittiest year in recent memory than to ponder the awesome music that was released in the past 12 months! I won’t dwell the personal challenges that steamrolled over my psyche recently, but as always I’ve been able to retreat into an album, either recent or older, to escape the surrounding shitstorm.
So without further ado, here are the albums that I consider absolute essentials out of the many released this year. This list is not ranked in any way, none of them is particularly better than another, but the list shows a dissected view of the music that had an impact on me.
Cytotoxin – Nuklearth
Death metal had one hell of a year, but the brutal onslaught laid to disk by Cytotoxin takes the brutal death metal crown for 2020. Every detail of this album screams catharsis and it has been my go-to when I needed to exorcise some mental junk. When listening to this one pay attention to the drums, especially the dual tone premier.
Essential track:
Unleash the Archers – Abyss
I’ve never been much of a power metal fan, but this album completely hooked me. From the gorgeous vocals by Brittany Slays to the catchy super technical riffing, it’s hard to find anything to dislike. Whenever I needed an energy boost I would just play this and, sure enough, it delivered every time.
Essential track:
Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber
I’ve been a fan of Oceans of Slumber since 2016’s Winter, and had the privilege to see them live once. Cammie’s vocals are as gorgeous as ever, but the new line-up deliver such perfect performances that it’s hard to find a single one that stands out. This is how a band firing on all cylinders sounds like, and I can’t wait for more.
Essential track:
Crippled Black Phoenix – Ellengaest
As I’ve mentioned in my piece on this album, I made the grave error to allow the review sites to shape my opinion on this band. Now songs from their entire discography make their way into my rotation constantly.
Essential track – this time without the warning:
Deftones – Ohms
I’ve been listening to Deftones for so many years that I noticed I can’t associate them with a particular state or memory. Each release is like a childhood best-friend coming to visit. Needless to say, Ohms is a great album that lived up and exceeded my hype for it. Is it weird that I have the entire Deftones discography in my car?
Essential track:
Enslaved – Utgard
This is another release from a band I’ve followed for many years. For me, they can be hit or miss sometimes, as was the case with their previous album “E”. But this one… man, it’s so good! If you fell off the Enslaved wagon, now is the time to come back aboard.
Essential track:
Anaal Nathrakh – Endarkenment
The British duo have returned in 2020 with arguably their most accessible work, as well as their best in recent memory. All the familiar unhinged A.N. elements are still here, but somehow coerced into something that resembles melodic death metal at times. This one has been considered by many review sites as absolute album of the year and for good reason!
Essential track:
The Ocean – Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic / Cenozoic
God damn The Ocean and their album titles. Nevertheless, the second installment in their Phanerozoic double release features some of the best songs the band has ever written. Now that they are both released, listening to the two albums back to back is an essential experience. Since Pelagial, The Ocean have been one of my all-time favorite bands and this release lives up to that standard, no matter what the review sites tell you.
Essential track:
Dynfari – Myrkurs er þörf
I honestly can’t put my finger on it, but there is something about Dynfari that acts like a warm blanket for my mental health. This year’s release make no exception in that regard. Also make sure to check out the similar album released by Auðn.
Essential track:
Cojo – Abraziv
OK I’m gonna get flacked for this one, but hear me out, this is one hell of an album. Aside from the overall quality of the record it has two achievements: it opened my eyes to a new genre I enjoy – Grime, and it was the first album I bonded over with my kid. Just to show you the great attention to detail put into it, the last song ends on exactly the same note as the first song begins with, making it a seamless listen on repeat. Witty lyrics, heavy message, great instrumentals, and a fresh genre – that is a major win in my book.
Essential track – according to myself and my kid 🙂
Celestial Season – The Secret Teachings
I’ve written about why I find this album very important here. I never hoped to hear this band ever again, and the fact that they came back with such strong material is a further testament to their tremendous skill.
Essential track:
Paradise Lost – Obsidian
To write something about a band of this calibre is almost pointless. Still it’s amazing that they maintained such a stable lineup over the years and that their output only grows in quality is astounding. To be able to both release a great album and also celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of their legendary ones (Draconian Times) just cements that Paradise Lost continues to be an unparalleled success.
Essential track:
Katatonia – Dead Air
I am well aware that Kat released a new album in 2020. I also know that I didn’t particularly like it. It was the first Katatonia album, in forever, that I was not able to listen front to back. But boy, did they redeem themselves with this live studio album. I love seeing them live and this album captures that so well!
Essential track – THE WHOLE DAMNED THING!, but here’s an example
Dawn of Solace – Waves
I’ve been a fan of Tuomas Saukkonen’s since the Before the Dawn era. One of the things I miss most in his recent output is the clean vocals and in 2020 he delivered! And what an album this is! Please point out a flaw for me, I’ve been spinning it since January and I can’t find any.
Essential track:
Irist – Order of the Mind
I think this is the only metal debut on this list. Some of you may set it aside as generic Gojira-core, but it’s so much more! The post-metal atmosphere is almost suffocating, bringing echoes of Cult of Luna and Isis. Make sure not to miss this one!
Essential track:
Orbit Culture – Nija
This is the first Orbit Culture album I’ve listened and found their blend of progressive death metal infectious. If I had to choose a single word to describe this album it would be “driven”. My only hope is that this record will propel them in the mainstream, because the guys really deserve it. Just wait for the first chorus to drop in the track below.
Essential track:
Daniel Tompkins – Ruins
I confess that I don’t care a lot for TesseracT or any of Daniel’s other projects, or his stage presence for what it’s worth. The Algorithm served this one, it stuck somehow and would not leave my constant rotation for quite some time. So I say: give it a shot regardless of your preconceptions, you may be surprised.
Essential track:
Trivium – What the Dead Men Say
For years I have been saying to myself: “You need to dig deeper into Trivium!”. Sadly I never get around to it, and the band seems to always disappear from my radar. This year it was the same thing: they released a monster of an album in April, and I got around to it only in December. Needless to say, I loved it, and it only strengthened my resolve to dig. I find it fascinating how they blend old-school and modern metal so well.
Essential track and a lesson on how you kick off an album – man, that first riff….
Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero
If you had told me that Max Cavalera would release probably my favorite album of the year a few months ago, I would have laughed my ass off. But here we are with the second release of the super-group featuring Troy Sanders (Mastodon), Max Cavalera (you know him), Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan) and Ben Koller (Converge). Troy sounds about 100 times better here than in Mastodon, and their collective output is absolutely top notch.
Essential track:
Sepultura – Quadra
Now if you had told me that both Max Cavalera AND Sepultura would release albums that would make it to my year-end list, I would have just left the conversation. But that was 2020 for you, always circumventing expectations. I have to be truthful and say that I haven’t listened to a Sepultura album since 1998, because I fell off the wagon when Derrick Green came onboard. With Quadra, I have completely changed my mind about his performance, Max would never have the pipes necessary for Derrick’s performance. But by far the highlight is the drumming from Eloy Casagrande. It takes something special to revert my 20+ year bias and this album has done it.
Essential track:
Not Kinetic Per Se 
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