By Andrew Bansal
It’s that time of the year again, when we look back at the best albums released through the first six months. You know the drill. Without further ado, here are my picks for the top 20 albums of the first half of 2016.
20. Mars Red Sky – Apex III (Praise For The Burning Soul): French group Mars Red Sky’s new album ‘Apex III’ is an undeniably fine representation of psychedelic stoner doom, as the band succeeds in utilizing every single note to its maximum in a Floyd-esque manner, and keep things interesting with vocals and dark poppy undertones reminiscent of the Beatles. There is more to this album than meets the eye (and ear), and newer layers are discovered on every repeat listen. This is one hidden gem that deserves the recognition amongst the finest releases of 2016.
19. Bat – Wings Of Chains: Fronted by Municipal Waste guitarist Ryan Waste on bass and vocals, Richmond, Virginia speed metal trio Bat boasts of tremendous musical pedigree and experience in its lineup which also features Nick Poulos on guitar and Felix Griffin on drums. The band put out their debut full-length ‘Wings Of Chains’ via Hells Headbangers this year, and the album is right up the alley for fans of Motörhead/Venom style thrash n’ roll. Bat’s ‘Wings Of Chains’ is your 2016 soundtrack for debaucherous good times.
18. Poison Headache – S/T: San Diego metallic hardcore trio Poison Headache released their self-titled debut LP this year via Metal Blade Records, and have stamped their authority straightaway with a true monster of an album that does full justice to its sub-genre tag. With ten extremely hard-hitting tunes, Poison Headache have left no stone unturned on expressing themselves here, as Phil Sgrosso (Wovenwar, ex As I Lay Dying) leads the band on vocals, bass and guitar, and is well-supported by his longtime collaborators Andy Kukta and Kyle Rosa. This album has been in the making for several years on and off, but the final product completely vindicates the band’s decision to put it out now in 2016. Besides the unwavering efforts of Hatebreed, metallic hardcore has a new voice in 2016, and it’s called Poison Headache.
17. Child Bite – Negative Noise: Detroit, Michigan post punk/art rock quartet Child Bite turn first-timers into fans with their insane live shows, but are equally capable of doing so through their studio recordings, as they’ve proved with their latest full-length effort ‘Negative Noise’, a wild, spastic, adventurous roller-coaster of a musical ride that makes several abrupt turns, dives and plunges and keeps listeners on their toes throughout. At times reminiscent of the likes of Refused, Child Bite’s hodge-podge of sonic frenzy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but is definitely a fine representation of this style and one of the most intriguing releases of 2016.
16. Nervosa – Agony: Brazilian all-female trio Nervosa have emphatically arrived on the scene this year with their second LP ‘Agony’, a fast and furious barrage of all things thrash. The music on this album is not extraordinary or innovative, but is simple and straightforward and is presented with such power and precision that it compels even the harshest critics and naysayers of thrash to take notice and applause in approval. A high-quality set of thrash tunes, and a breath of fresh air in a sub-genre that’s otherwise increasingly getting stale.
15. Cauldron – In Ruin: Over the past decade, Canadian old-school metal trio Cauldron have been known for a particular style and sound that they’ve stuck to, because they simply play what they love to hear, and do it well. Their fourth full-length ‘In Ruin’ is the next logical step from their previous efforts, and presents the signature Cauldron style through a brand new set of songs that is easy to listen to in its entirety. They’ve delved into their bottomless reservoir of catchy melodies to make ‘In Ruin’ an enjoyable listen for old-school metalheads. No matter what happens to the popularity of the NWOBHM style, Cauldron will always be Cauldron, and that’s the best thing about them.
14. Nails – You Will Never Be One Of Us: If you like your music angsty and hardcore, you can always count on Oxnard, California group Nails to serve you the perfect dosage of it. ‘You Will Never Be One Of Us’ is the band’s third LP and Nuclear Blast debut, and witnesses them at their angriest best, as they summon and exorcise all of their inner demons to emerge with this 10-track, 21-minute slab of precise, in-your-face musical brutality. Nails have been one of the most crushing underground bands over the years, but now even as they gain mainstream recognition, the music on ‘You Will Never Be One Of Us’ promises to retain their persona as an inimitably fierce entity.
13. Electric Citizen – Higher Time: Cincinnati, Ohio female-fronted stoner rock band Electric Citizen started out in 2013 and this year they’ve taken a major step towards establishing themselves as a band to watch out for, with their sophomore LP ‘Higher Time’ coming across as one of the most laid-back, chilled-out yet energetic slabs of Sabbath-worshipping heavy music. This four-piece band’s simple and effective instrumentation to go with Laura Dolan’s captivating vocal delivery makes this a compelling album from start to finish, and one that rises above the plethora of releases of similar style.
12. Exmortus – Ride Forth: Melting faces, scorching stages and raising hell with their unabated, unrelenting blend of neo-classical shred and death/thrash, Whittier, California quartet Exmortus reaped the rewards of years of obscurity and underground toil as their 2014 Prosthetic Records debut ‘Slave To The Sword’ turned them into an actively touring band, and their road miles have only inspired them to add more fuel to their creative fire, as is proven by their new LP ‘Ride Forth’. The guitar work is supreme on this one, to the extent that it would either inspire others to try to emulate this duo, or compel them to give it up completely. The daunting predicament is, all members of this young band are only going to get better at their craft, and are most certainly riding forth on their path to modern-day greatness.
11. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre: British psychedelic rock band Purson caught the attention of the hard rock/heavy metal world with an impressive debut album in 2013, and in 2016 they’ve attempted to take it to the next level with ‘Desire’s Magic Theatre’ and succeeded in doing so. There are several mediocre, overrated bands in the psych/occult rock realm in the present day, but Purson does it right and does it better than anyone. This is one band whose music actually demands to be fronted by a female voice, and frontwoman Rosalie Cunningham shines in her role, as her vocal delivery on ‘Desire’s Magic Theatre’ is next to none when it comes to executing this style. This album creates its own unique vibe and paints quite a hallucinogenic landscape in the listener’s mind, and is psych rock in the truest sense.
10. Megadeth – Dystopia: Metal giants Megadeth redeemed themselves from the disastrous ‘Super Collider’ (2013) and recovered from personnel changes to come up with an excellent album this year. Their fifteenth full-length ‘Dystopia’ marks the debut of new guitarist Kiko Loureiro and features Lamb Of God’s Chris Adler on drums, and thankfully from the fans’ perspective, presents mainman Dave Mustaine in good songwriting form, as he combines well with his newest partner-in-crime on the six-stringed instrument and his vocal delivery is better than most would have expected. Bassist David Ellefson is a formidable backbone as always, and more than anything, Megadeth have gone back to focussing on what metalheads loved them for, i.e. a guitar-centric approach and copious amounts of guitar riffs, solos, harmonies and trade-offs. For Megadeth and its members, ‘Dystopia’ is a welcome return to being in the news for the right reasons.
09. Black Cobra – Imperium Simulacra: San Francisco sludge metal duo Black Cobra have proved themselves over and over again as one of the most devastating entities in heavy music. Vocalist/guitarist Jason Landrian and drummer Rafael Martinez together pack such a powerful punch that neither the band nor their fans ever felt the absence of additional members, and Black Cobra have always stayed as a duo as a result. They have gained approval from the metal underground with each of their releases, and the nine destructive tunes that constitute the latest album ‘Imperium Simulacra’ further solidify their stronghold as an unstoppable and ever-intensifying sonic avalanche.
08. Scorpion Child – Acid Roulette: Austin, Texas classic hard rock band Scorpion Child gained widespread attention with their 2013 self-titled debut LP, and this year they’re back with an even more impressive effort, their sophomore release ‘Acid Roulette’ which takes them towards a heavier, bluesier, more psychedelic musical direction, but with a tremendous degree of variety from one track to the next. While stoner/doom is the prominent and popular sub-genre of heavy music these days, there isn’t nearly as much of an abundance of straight-up classic hard rock/rock n’ roll bands. Scorpion Child with their most honest, natural and straight-from-the-heart Zeppelin-inspired rock are here to attempt to change that, and do a mighty fine job of it with ‘Acid Roulette’.
07. Grand Magus – Sword Songs: Swedish trio Grand Magus have waved the old-school metal flag with much success and acclaim for several years, and are yet to put out a bad album. Their latest LP ‘Sword Songs’ lives up to their reputation and delivers metal hymns of glory and victory, through catchy musicianship and unapologetically cheesy lyrics. Frontman JB Christofferson’s distinct singing voice separates Grand Magus from other bands pursuing a similar style, and he is in top form on ‘Sword Songs’, as are his band mates. ‘Master Of The Land’ is the standout track on the album but there isn’t a dull or filler moment to be found anywhere. One of the most anthemic pieces of heavy music to have surfaced in 2016.
06. Gygax – Critical Hits: Ventura, California quartet Gygax started out in 2015 on their quest to play Thin Lizzy inspired boogie rock with a Dungeons & Dragons twist, and their brand of nerd-themed heavy music is portrayed excellently on their debut LP ‘Critical Hits’. This magical, enchanting 8-track, 30-minute spinner overflows with riffs, hooks, grooves and harmonies galore, and compels listeners to keep their finger on the ‘Repeat Play’ button. Started by Gypsyhawk members Eric Harris and Bryant Throckmorton, Gygax is Gypsyhawk 2.0 in every possible sense, and beckons to establish their victory stamp on all lands real and imaginary.
05. Death Angel – The Evil Divide: Almost singlehandedly keeping the heart, soul and real essence of San Francisco Bay Area thrash alive, Death Angel have only gone from strength to strength in recent years, quite the opposite to most if not all of their fellow Bay Area veteran thrash bands. Their eighth LP ‘The Evil Divide’ presents them at their most vicious yet most versatile, and a band at the peak of their powers. Guitarist and songwriter Rob Cavestany’s creative mastery along with vocalist Mark Osegueda’s hard-hitting vocal delivery and lyrics, and the rest of the band’s cut-throat precise performances, makes this Death Angel album a clear winner when it comes to thrash in 2016, and is easily among the best albums released this year.
04. Holy Grail – Times Of Pride And Peril: Pasadena metal warriors Holy Grail transitioned from their Maiden/Priest/Accept worshipping debut EP ‘Improper Burial’ to the more complex and shred-oriented ‘Crisis In Utopia’ and ‘Ride The Void’ LPs, and in 2016, re-emerged with the third full-length ‘Times Of Pride And Peril’, their finest, most diverse offering till date. It encapsulates elements of traditional metal, shred and power metal, with sprinklings of stoner/doom on tracks like ‘Those Who Will Remain’. While they successfully cater to the virtuosic guitar loving crowd through the expertise of their axe-slingers Eli Santana and Alex Lee, they still continue to stay true to their classic old-school metal roots, thanks mainly to frontman James Paul Luna’s high-pitched clean singing. And much to the delight of their longtime fans, they stayed away from the growling backup vocals on this album, for the most part. Holy Grail belongs to the rarest species of classic metal bands that are able to crossover to fans of other sub-genres, and they shall do so to an even greater extent based on the undeniable strength of their newest LP.
03. Kvelertak – Nattesferd: Norwegian six-piece Kvelertak have caught the eyes and ears of many around the planet in their short career thus far, and even though their first two albums were by all means successful and well-received by fans and critics alike, they’ve struck gold with their third album ’Nattesferd’, focusing more on the rock n’ roll aspect rather than the hardcore punk style that was more prominent on the previous efforts. This album presents them as a three-guitar band better than the first two, and more than anything, this set of tunes sounds completely natural and extremely free-flowing. The title track is arguably the best song of the year 2016 thus far, and the album as a whole is a slab of high-class musicianship that will take this band to unattained heights in the near future.
02. Striker – Stand In The Fire: Canadians wave the flag of old-school metal better than anyone, and Striker’s latest effort ‘Stand In The Fire’ further enhances the validity of this statement. This is hands down the standout clean-singing heavy metal album of 2016 so far. Frontman Dan Cleary’s soaring vocals combined with unmatchable clean backup singing, face-melting guitar work, stronger-than-steel rhythm section and crystal clear production make this a glorious embodiment of modern-day musical greatness. Aside from the traditional metal elements, Striker also masterfully combine facets of glam and shred into the 11 fantastic tracks that constitute this album. From scorching fast-paced tunes like ‘Phoenix Lights’, ‘Stand In The Fire’, ‘Outlaw’ and ‘Locked In’, to melodic, hook-laden glam-like compositions such as ‘Too Late’, ‘The Iron Never Lies’ and ‘United’, to the jaw-dropping instrumental ‘Escape From Shred City’ and the ballad-like ‘One Life’, this Striker album has it all, and commands your attention.
01. Gojira – Magma: Through their two-decade long existence, French progressive extreme metal quartet Gojira have developed a reputation as a band that never ceases to progress. Steadily growing in stature with each of their first four albums and then breaking into the metal mainstream with their 2012 effort ‘L’Enfant Sauvage’, Gojira have hit the nail on the head with their 2016 album ‘Magma’ in terms of striking the much coveted and often unattainable balance between complexity and accessibility, and the sheer perfection with which Gojira have executed this is something bands in this sub-genre can only dream of. The clean-singing is more prominent on this one, but unlike other prog/extreme metal bands, Gojira haven’t discarded any of what garnered them a fan base in the first place. The guitar work is exemplary and the rhythm section is unbeatable, particularly the drumming, while the lyrics and artwork paint a bleak picture in typical Gojira style. ‘Magma’ stands tall as the ultimate heavy metal monolith of the year 2016 thus far.
(If you like what you’ve read, support Metal Assault and buy a shirt!)
