Suffocation "Of The Dark Light"
picked by:
JAY BLAISDELL of
ABNORMALITY
If I have to pick a favorite album of 2017, I think I have to go with Suffocation's "Of The Dark Light". It's definitely been the record that got the most plays for me this year. I've always been a huge fan, and Suffocation has been a major influence on me. When Abnormality got to tour the US with them in 2016, it was one of the best experiences of my life. We were partying on their bus somewhere in the mid west and Derrick and Hobbs let me hear some demos of the material they were writing for the next record. It was just guitars and bass with a programmed drum track, no vocals. But it was already so fucking heavy!! It literally floored me. From that point on, I couldn't wait to hear that new record. And when "Of The Dark Light" was released, it didn't disappoint! I think that the current Suffocation lineup... Frank (now Kevin), Hobbs & Derrick, with the addition of Charlie on guitar and Eric on drums... Is really something special! And this combination performing live is like being hit by a full speed locomotive. They've never been more precise, tight, and pummeling as they are on stage right now!
Necrot "Blood Offerings"
picked by:
BEAU BRANDON of
WITHERED
After much self debate I have chosen Necrot ‘Blood Offerings’ as my AOTY. Old school death metal that beats you senseless and yet you just keep coming back for more!
Sepultura "Machine Messiah"
picked by:
PETE WEBB of
HAVOK
Eloy’s drumming is really talented and well thought out. Very powerful.
Vallenfyre "Fear Those Who Fear Him"
picked by:
ZACK SIMMONS of
GOATWHORE
Probably my all-around favorite and most listened to release from last year. It has the no-bullshit approach that I like and really gets the blood pumping. I think this band does this style a lot better than the others who get way more attention.
Fetid "Sentient Pile of Amorphous Rot" demo
picked by:
CHRIS ULSH of
POWERTRIP
Woe "Hope Attrition"
picked by:
Brad Rice of
Lazer/Wulf
I have not been able to stop listening to this album since I first heard about this band. And this is definitely one of the bands that is helping me branch out more into the black metal scene, which I’ve never been able to do previously.
Tie : Mastodon "Emperor of Sand"
Goatwhore "Vengeful Ascension"
picked by:
ROSS BURNETT of
BLACK FAST
Slaegt "Domus Mysterium"
picked by:
SEAN BRUNEAU of
CLOAK
Tie: Necrot "Blood Offerings"
Undergang "Misantropologi"
picked by:
PEARL KACEW of
MORDATORIUM
Arch Enemy "Will to Power"
Picked by:
WADE MURFF of
DOYLE
I put Arch Enemy’s “Will to Power” at the top of my list. There were a LOT of great releases in 2017, but this album stands out to me. Why? For one, it is a really well-written album. It flows perfectly from song-to-song and is a record that you play from beginning to end. I love that. I work out to metal records so I really like it when albums flow well. Also, the playing on the album is ridiculously tight. Not quantization-tight, not pro-tools-cut-n-paste tight, but legitimately and devastatingly tight. The interplay of the instruments is sick, and if you’ve seen the band live, you know that’s exactly how they play: tight as fuck. This band’s game is strong!
Added Bonus Drummer Choses:
Primitive Man "Caustic"
picked by:
DOUGLAS ANDRAE of
ABOMINATION IN CONFLICT WITH MECHANICAL DEATH
At the heart of all protest music is a wound, and 2017 was a year of being slashed to the bone. Nothing documented this like Caustic by Primitive Man. This music throbs with the hopelessness of industrialized life. The production crackles with baked-in filth, and the rhythms don't groove so much as ooze. The creeping inevitability of a natural disaster characterizes this record. But what is truly terrifying is how human it is. It feels & sounds crystal-clear, particularly the vocals. To be told so slowly and deliberately, 'when death grips your hands and kisses them goodbye / remember none of your work days mattered', it feels less like a lament and more like an accusation. Caustic expresses literal doom with such a fine grasp that, to me, nothing else this year came close as an artistic achievement.
And last but not least I had to add my choice for best metal release of 2017. It was a hard decision because a lot of kick ass bands that I know put out some sick records this past year. But if I absolutely had to pick one at gun point it would be Power Trip "Nightmare Logic". The songs on this album are crushingly catchy. Their albums are always solid and never disappoint. There were a lot of other good albums released in 2017 by some of the drummers' bands on this blog post including Havok "Conformicide" Goatwhore "Vengeful Ascension" and Cloak "To Venomous Depths".
I give mad props to Power Trip as well for being such nice dudes and having a strong and intense stage presence every time I get to see them live. This is not an album to be missed for fans of metal! And thanks to all the talented musicians and drummers out there especially for sharing your favorites!
Power Trip "Nightmare Logic"
Picked by:
METAL EMILY
