Dark Quarterer " Pompeii"

 

Well here is a weird doom album if we are really calling it doom, as in truth is it more progressive . I like dynamics . I also like singers that  give me a few vocals colors. King Diamond is one of my favorite singers so shifting registers is my shit. Here is it done in a very fashion. There is a dramatic Candlemass like voice. Belted from a chest register. It is well produced . Then there a higher Ian Gillian like voice that comes in. What is amazing is that the bass player Gianni Nepi who handles the vocals is 67 years old. Holy shit his voice has held up better than Bruce and Rob both. These guys are very progressive and while they have cool riffs, the melodies are more dramatic than they are catchy. I respect the hell out of how young and vibrant they sound . This proves age is really just a number . 

It is funny because I often bring out how the egregore of where a bands comes from can influence their sound. The fact they are from Italy think is what brings a very operatic influence and a somewhat classical touch to their arrangements. I have noticed this in other Italian bands in the past but not to this extent. I am betting his falsetto was more piercing when he was younger . Right now they remind me a little of Pain of Salvation, but their song writing is not as tight. Some times he hits the notes in a better fashion than others. But he gets up there way more than a man his age normally would . I might rather hear him sing for Deep Purple than 75 year old Ian Gillian.  Oh gods yes , I just went down a Deep Purple Youtube rabbit hole, do not listen to anything after 2004.  The fourth song finds things getting the most interesting in terms of dynamics. "Gladitor" is more straight forward metal in the more Pain of Salvation direction. 

There is a darker and somewhat heavier tone to the last song. The album is generally well produced. It is hard to imagine the youngest members of this band are in their early 40s . But the bulk of the core is over 60. The higher notes are a little iffy in places on this song. Overall thought this album is impressive if you are looking for a some what more traditional progressive metal album with the sensibility of opera. I will give it a 8.5. 

The Top 10 Albums of 2020

At the end of the day...year these are the albums I listened to the most. The reason that makes these the best is because I listened to over 2000 albums this year and these are the ones that endured the influx of new music that hit my in box every morning and made me want to hear them again and again. Yes this is the culmination of all the other lists done up to this point for other blogs  and was refined down to this master list of all genres.  So here ya go...

10-All Them Witches- "Nothing as the Ideal" 

This album was not what I was expecting. It is a highly polished piece of rock that knows it's way around a bong without forgetting where they parked the car. Hooky song writing that is a rarity in rock today. 

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom -All Them Witches : "Nothing as the Ideal"

9-HAIM- "Women in Music part 3" 

Lots of music came out. This is a spectacular album that stood above most , and demanded me to listen to it repeatedly and I still want to hear it more. These sisters are amazing

Abysmal Hymns: Haim : "Women In Music pt 3 "

8- Morrissey - " I Am Not a Dog on a Chain"

Yeah it is not Moz's best album, but that is a high bar that would have taken the number one spot. Moz is not dialing it in here, so that alone gives it more creative power even if his song writing is not firing off at maximum creativity.  If you are a fan this is a must. He can not be cancelled. If you think he should go kill yourself. The Smiths are great music to do that to. 

Abysmal Hymns: Morrissey : "I am Not a Dog on a Chain"

7- Code Orange- " Underneath"

They continue to grow away from their day as hard core kids, in fact they are now firmly into an industrial metal sound. The trick is they are such killer song writers that they can do what ever the fuck they want and make it work. Growth seems to be a reoccurring theme this year. 

Abysmal Hymns: Code Orange : " Underneath"

6- (16) - "Dream Squasher " 

This former sludge band almost outgrew their genre by dialing up their song writing making this one of the years best heavy albums. It has all the grit and mean spirited snarl needed to capture the feeling of 2020. 

Abysmal Hymns: -(16)- : " Dream Squasher"

5- Charli XCX-"how i'm feeling now" 

The struggle for the number one spot was tough as I really listened to the fuck out of this album, is it everything I might want from a pop album, but She came up number 2 in the Pop Top 10 list on here as well, but nothing for her to be ashamed. 

Abysmal Hymns: Charli XCX : "how i'm feeling now"

4- Katatonia - "City Burials" 

These guys have always been one of my favorites so it is great to hear them come back and remember how to rock out again. Is it the "Great Cold Distance" no, but it works fine for what it is and better than most. 

Abysmal Hymns: Katatonia : " City Burials"

3-Witnesses - "Doom 2" 

You want the year's best metal album ? Then go about it like you are not making a metal album and bring in a pop singer who sings with the same passion. This keeps you from sounding like everything else and makes a great fucking album. 

Abysmal Hymns: Witnesses : "Doom II"

 

2- Sound VVitch-"Becoming" 

Heavy does not mean metal, sometimes it means darkness. This album conveyed that but in a way that made it hard for me to stop listening which is why it is taking one of this year's top spots. 

Abysmal Hymns: Sound VVitch : "Becoming"

1- Taylor Swift - "Folklore" 

2020 did some good things. It made Tay Tay really grow up and prove she should be taken as seriously as the National or Bon Iver. This might not be the best album of her career, but it is the best one this year. 

Abysmal Hymns: Taylor Swift : " Folk Lore"

Faith's Durty Durty Mix

 

I promise this is the last one of these for today then I am going to git writing fo real. Do no let me goth tan fool you I know me some hip-hop. And I will even start typing in ebonics. The person I am making this for should appreciate this , and perhaps you too gentle reader might want to slip sum of dat purple juice in your egg nog and try twerking in a stand stand. Oh I can do it so do n't worry about me . 

Big Boi - " Kryptonite"

   

 Tech N9NE - "Fuck Food"

   

 G- Eazy - " No Limit"

   

 

Jim Crow - "That Drama"

   

 Petey PABLO- "Freek a LEEK"

   

 q-Tip Vivrant Thing"

   

Kilo- "Love in Ya Mouth"

   

  Miguel - "RAN"

   

 

  Three Six Mafia - " Tongue Ring"

   

 Future- "Fly Shit Only"

 

Mix Tape Mania : Headbanger's Balls Edition

 

If you are a regular reader here , then know I have started back reviewing actual albums. I know I am doing a mix tape a day , I can not help myself at this point, it is harder to focus on blast beats and growling vocals when I am floating around with cotton candy biscuits in my head. But I have said it before and will say it again . This is my fucking blog so I write whatever the god damn hell I want, right not this is what I want, Feel lucky is this for someone and I am sharing it with you guys, not to diminish the importance of what I am sharing with the actual intended audience. On previous ones I have made play lists of  hair metal or emoish metal , but aside from Queensryche on the hair metal one not much in terms of actual metal, so I decided to throw some actual metal , perhaps not the heaviest by today's standards , but maybe we will get around to that, not sure I am really feeling songs about kissing your mother's decapitated head as my head in more along the lyrically lines of these songs today. I have not jerked off in two days so that might be feeding into this more cock rocking metal . 

WASP- "Fuck Like Beast"

   

 Iced Earth - "I Died For You"

   

 Diamond Head - "Sucking My Love"

   

 Kiss- " Keep Me Comin"

   

 Motley Crue - " Starry Eyes"

   

 Alice Cooper - " You're My Temptation"

   

 Judas Priest - "Eat Me Alive"

 

Scorpions - " Animal Magnetism"

   

 Black Sabbath- "Keep It Warm"

   

 Pantera : " Pussy Tight"

 

Mix Tape Mania- the Punk Goes Pop Edition

If you are just an innocent bystander who is a regular reader of this blog, and notice there has been in uptake in me making these sappy mix tapes , I am not sorry because it is my fucking blog and I will use it however I fucking want , With that said I have a soft spot for the Punk Goes Pop albums , they were just a whole mood this morning, so yeah I am doing the whole note in the locker thing, but oh well, they are good songs so if you are caught in the cross fire of this exchange , enjoy it anyways and keep reading. 

New Years Day : "Gangsta"

 

Living in Fiction- "Love me Like You do"

   

 Volumes : "Hold On We are Going Home"

   

 We Came as Romans - Glad You Came"

   

 We See Stars - "Till the World Ends"  

  Pierce the Veil - "Just the Way You Are"

I Prevail- "Blank Space"

 

Issues - "Boyfriend"

Mix Tape Mania : the High School Hair Metal Edition

In high school ,much Like notes in the locker ,  the awkward love language of teenagers was fairly limited. and for me the next was a mix tapes. were the next step.  I had to really like some one to make one. As we have discussed in recent versions of this , there is an intimacy in sharing music that is part of yourself. In teen years the range of musical expression was limited to metal. The more hair metal side of the equation was more sensitive and sexual than say Metallica or King Diamond, which at the time I was certain girls would not like so this is not just a good example of what I would send during this time period but pretty dead on recreation. SO this is me sharing the 14 to 16 year old version of Wil 's crushing. Sure now I am more emotionally developed and more sure of what I want and like. 

WASP - "Wild Child"

   

 Lita Ford - "Back to the Cave"

 

LA Guns - Sex Action"

   

 Ratt- "Body Talk"

   

 Queensryche - "Wanna Get Close to You"

 

Aerosmith- "What it Takes "

   

 Van Halen - "I'll Wait"

   

 Guns N Roses - " Think About You"

   

 Motley Crue - " You're All I Need "

 

 

Skid Row- " I Remember You "

 

My Top 10 Punk Albums of All Time

I am not saying these are the greatest or most essential punk albums of all time. Though if I made lists of the greatest or most essential punk albums of all time I am not sure this top ten would change much coming from me as these are the ten punk albums I have listened to the most. Obviously only 10 bands could make the list, if it was a top 20 then we would see bands like the Dead Kennedys  or Black Flag.  But only ten spots that could make the cut so here they are. 

- 10-The Ramones - "Road to Ruin"

 How could they not be on the list ?

  9-G.B.H - "No Need to Panic" If you look punk up in the dictionary this should be the album pictured. 8- Fugazi- "Repeater" Yes, I like Minor Threat , I just like Fugazi better. 7-the Misfits - "Walk Among Us" I have friends that maked fun of this band and call them pop punk. Haters be hatin , but their 1982 debut is the real deal for sure. 6-Iceage- "You're Nothing" This band from Denmark si as every bit as legit as the so called classic punk bands . 4-Killing Joke - "s/t" They might be more on the post- punk side of punk, but this is my list so I am going to count them ! 3- New Model Army - "Vengence" This 1984 debut, is rooted in rock n roll , but still has a punk sneer to it. They just happen to be better songwriters than their peers at the time shouting 'one two three go..." 3- the Stooges - " Raw Power" Almost more rock n roll than punk, but I am putting it on here anyway. 2- Cro-mags- "Age of Quarrel' If I had to only own one hard core album this would be it. 1- Christian Death - "Only Theater of Pain" Singer Rozz Williams says they are punks who like Halloween , so this album counts at punk and for 1982 fits the bill more than what kids think of today in a post- Blink 182 world.

Mix- Tape Mania - Songs of Faith , Lust, & Emotion

For me music is the best love language. It has many levels . The more obscure the song , the more deeply embedded in the fabric my life it. An artist released it , they may or may not have had more than cult status at best  and I am the one who carried it around with me like a secret. Any body can say "Oh, have you heard the new Taylor Swift" . While I might love Tay Tay, it's out in the world as a staple of pop culture, there is little risk involved with wanting some one to check it out. My therapist pointed out  intimacy is a high risk high reward proposition . It the " Yeah, I am a weirdo into these post-grunge metal bands from the late 90s, that no one listens to, and you might not even dig it , but it's me and woven in the fabric of my life, and for me to be real and show you who I am well here ya go"  Music is the picture within a picture of the memories that constructed us.  I was a depressed junkie when I was listening to more than half of these, and that might not be the most flattering time of my life , but it helped me get where I am today and here is what that sounds like. 

Therapy ? - "A Moment of Clarity"

   

 

Lollipop Lust Kill- "Like a Disease"

   

 Sense Field - "Different Times"

   

 Pist.On- "Gray Flap"

   

 Far- "I Like It"

   

 Life of Agony- "NEG"

   

 Forget Cassettes - "Lonely Does it'

   

Afghan Wigs - "What Jail is Like" 

 

 Only Living Witness - " Strata"

   

 Sugartooth- "Between the Illness"

 

Top 10 Metal Albums of 2020

 

 We have needed  heavy music more than ever this year. This is the culmination of all the other metal lists. Yes I have done other metal lists for other blogs and I seem them as being a refining process for when I make this list. So while result may have varied , this is the final word.  I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. At the very fact these bands made it on the list means they are the cream of the crop so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it. I  do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Metal albums  of 2020

10-Fange- "  Pudeur"

This awesome French band brought their nasty vision of chaotic sludge in the most hyper aggressive way possible. No Neurosis worship here . They are doing their own thing. This is the heaviest album on the list, but heavy does not equate the best so it is at the number 10 spot. 

Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Fange -"Pudeur"

9- Wayfarer- "A Romance With Violence" 

Their newest album goes in two directions, one of them is more towards the Western sounds that was a subtle under current, the other is more traditional black metal. No one can say they made the same album twice. The melodic nature of what they are doing does not shift the intensity. 

Abysmal Hymns: Wayfarer : " A Romance With Violence"

2- Umbra Vitae-Shadow of Life" 

Jacob from Converge loves Entombed. He also likes other classic death metal. He created a band to pay tribute to this and it is as awesome or perhaps even more so than we could have hoped for. It was a tough call between this and the number one album , but the scope of what the top spot does beat this out. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/umbra-vitae-shadow-of-life.html

7- Igorrr- "Spirituality & Distortion" 

These guys out Bungled Mr. Bungle this year. At times their sound has more in common with Dead Can Dance or Beats Antique, but wit ha more metallic touch. This was even given a push in a more metal direction with a guest spot from Cannibal Corpse's singer. A band that continues to amaze as their legend grows with each album, any questions why this takes the number one spot ? 

 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/igorr-spirituality-and-distortion.html

  6- Pallbearer - " Forgotten Days"  

Yeah I know it is surprising they did not take the number one spot. It was a tough call and a great year for doom. I have listened and will continue to listen to this album a helluva lot. It stacks up against their already impressive body of work and in some ways is a return to the more metal sound of their first album.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/pallbearer-forgotten-days.html

 

5-Chrome Waves - "Where We Live" 

This is the least black metal album of the 3 , but it is the best . They ride the line between shoe gazing and black metal so hard that I has to listen through the entire album and compare it song by song  to see where it fell, it was a 60/ 40 mix. Making it still more black metal than most Deafheaven albums. Not just the best black metal albums of the year but in the top 10 best albums over all. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/chrome-waves-where-we-live.html 

 

4 -Pulchra Morte - " Ex Rosa Ceremonia"

This is the first year and artist took the top death metal spot 2 years in a row. This speaks to how awesome these guys are. Even with a change of sound and new line up they still manage to earn this all on their own . It is an album that gets better with every listen. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/pulchra-morte-ex-rosa-ceremonia.html

3-(16) - "Dream Squasher " 

They stepped it up in terms of songwriting and the overall direction of their sound. Is this their heaviest album? But it is in your face and pounds the point home as you bang your head more than enough. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/16-dream-squasher.html

 2- Code Orange-"Underneath" 

The Orange Kids have pretty much evolved beyond their hard core past into an angry industrial machine that writes fucking catchy songs. Their vocals continue to improve , and this album captures the mood of 2020.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/code-orange-underneath.html 2-Code Orange

1- Witnesses - "Doom II"

The question many, myself included might ask in regards to how these guys took the top spot over  Code Orange is best answered  by saying.. they took more chances. It would have been easy to put out a typical funeral doom album with low growled vocals . They got a guy who is not even a metal singer. This breathed new life into the genre as the melodies and approach are way different to an emotional level as to what is refreshing and new about their sound. More than just melancholy or morning their is a desperation that is real and with little pageantry.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/witnesses-doom-ii.html

The Top 10 Stoner Rock Albums of 2020

Do you smoke weed ? Have you been smoking more this year ?  Here are the albums you should have been listening to. These are album that are not prog or doom, falling some where in the middle with more than likely a heavy doses of bong blues to them Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past   sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how  great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 stoner rock and perhaps a touch of metal albums of 2020

10 - Atomic Bitch Wax - "Scorpio" 

This is almost more of an honorable mention. These guys are great musicians , the song writing was more dialed in than what we have gotten in the past, but they are great players and managed to pull it off/ 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/atomic-bitch-wax-scorpio.html

9- King Buffalo -"Dead Star"

This band does not aspire to be Black Sabbath. They have a refreshing take on what they do. Melodic and at times progressive this is one of those albums that I wish I would have spent more time with over the course of the year. But it is what it is. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/king-buffalo-dead-star.html

8 Lowrider- "Refractions" 

 This Swedish band came before Monolord, the Truck Fighters and Graveyard, who are the countries exports when it comes to this kind of music.  More in your face than some . If Atomic Bitchwax does too much cocaine for you then these guys are worth your time.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-is-doom-lowrider.html

 

7-Dopelord -"Sign of the Devil" 

This Polish band might be the heaviest entry on this list. Where most of these album's albums are stoner rock , this is stoner metal. There is too much movement in their rocking intent for this to be doom, though it borders on it. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/dopelord-sign-of-devil.html

6-Black Elephant- "Seven Swords" 

Very blues based with killer guitar playing. Until this album they could have been a band people said "They are better live" but they captured the jammy magic they create on stage and bestow your iPod with it.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/08/black-elephant-seven-swords.html

5- Forming the Void - "Reverie" 

A band from Louisiana that defies the normal swamp metal stereotypes of the region. Though the do dabble in some sludge like areas and at times darker than most commercial rock bands. Not that these guys are totally aiming for the radio. They are however less stoner rock than I thought it would be and more grunge. This album and the ones that follow are so good I recommend them to my friends in real life who smoke pot.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/forming-void-reverie.html

4 -Dool- "Summerland"

They are even more rock n roll on this record. It is still darker than most of the bong burning tunes on this list. Once upon a time it would have fallen in with the Occult rock trend. Rayanne's androgynous vocals keep getting better with every album. 
 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/dool-summerland.html

 3-Rezn- "Chaotic Divine" 

It is interesting when I come across an album made by people who sound like they might have done as many drugs as I have . At times like "Gish" era Smashing Pumpkins covering Black Sabbath. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-is-doom-rezn-chaotic-divine.html

2-Witchskull- "Driftwood Cross "

I listened to this album a shit tone which helped solidify their place at number two despite many of you scratching your heads wondering who the fuck are these guys. A dash of grunge is thrown into the mix amid Sabbath like riffs supported by in your face songs that still have hooks. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/witchskull-driftwood-cross.html

 

1-All Them Witches - 'Nothing is the Ideal" 

In the words of Mortal Kombat... "Flawless victory" . This is the slickest most accessible album on the list, but it is heavier than you might expect if you are not familiar with these guys . Witchskull is a more metal album , but these guys bring it on every level as songwriters and edged them out.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-is-doom-all-them-witches.html

the Top 10 Pop Albums of 2020

Pop speaks for itself. There is some hip hop woven in because it is basically pop. Experimental hi hop go put on the electronic list as well as some of the more avant garde pop artists. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there more new bands on this list than most. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite artist  not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Pop albums of 2020.

 

10-the Weeknd- "After Hours"

It was not too long ago he would have been taking the top spot. When he finds his footing on this album, he returns to his magic. I could stand for him to be a little more depressed and drugged out. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-weeknd-after-hours.html

9 Shabazz Palaces- "the Don of Diamond Dreams"

Where the Weeknd sounded to be slightly more sober, this album proved that drugs still do some wonderful things. Perhaps not as catchy as it could be , but instead takes you on a more surreal journey than expected . 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/shabazz-palaces-don-of-diamond-dreams.html  

8 Poppy- "I Disagree" 

Granted the novelty of this album wore off after a while for me, but I still think this album was well done for what it is. If you see this on anyone's metal list rest assured they do not know what metal is and let me know so I can shame them to death.  

Abysmal Hymns: Poppy : " I Disagree"

7-Eminem- "Music to Be Murdered By" 

I like how this album almost feels more like a mix tape. He feels like he  has regained some of the edge getting sober took away first. The first album in a minute from him that I have felt compelled to listen to more than a couple time. His flow is almost immaculate. 

Abysmal Hymns: Eminem : "Music to Be Murdered By "

6- Taylor Swift- "evermore" 

A late entry that came out while I was making this list. Songs that are left over from the "Folklore" sessions. Her left overs are better than most can muster normally .  It is still growing on me, more sedate than "Folklore" which was a more introspective album to begin with. Subtle hooks and delicate songwriting.

Abysmal Hymns: Taylor Swift : "Evermore"

5- Run the Jewels- "RTJ4"

Some might expect this to be number one since it was on other lists. While it is obviously a great album as it edged out Taylor Swift's leftovers, if  lyrically it was not so topical given the current climate do you think it would be as big of a deal. Really it is just a matter of these guys know how to read the room.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/run-jewels-rtj4.html

  4-Joji- "Nectar" 

This highest placing male on this year's pop list is nothing to sneeze at . This album is not dark, but moody, with emotions bared in shades of gray. He has a really interesting take on pop and I am looking forward to hearing where he does from here. He stole 4th place due to me just listening to him more. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/joji-nectar.html

4- Miley Cyrus - " Plastic Hearts" 

 Yeah last year she took the number one spot, but competition is tough this year and this is not as big of a banger, but Miley is only competing with Miley at this point , this album just came out on Black Friday, where the ones that beat her for the top 3 have stood the test of time over the year.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/12/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts.html

 

3-HAIM- "Women in Music Part 3" 

This could have been the number one album any other year. But it was a real tough call. They certainly belong at the top and number 3 is nothing to be ashamed of this and the other two albums that placed higher will be in the top 10 of the year for sure. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/haim-women-in-music-pt-3.html

2- Charli XCX- "How I'm feeling now" 

How did Charli beat out HAIM? After all they are playing instruments and everything. It came down to the fact I listened to this album more. This album is going down as being under rated, just like Charli herself. I mean she is gaining some steam in the states , but when it comes to hot pop chicks she has Selena Gomez and the like not even coming close. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/charli-xcx-how-im-felling-now.html

1- Taylor Swift- "Folklore" 

Pop was the easiest place to put this album as it was not quite folk , the pop sensibilities of her songwriting are intact, just very matured. She has proven herself a song writer to be taken as seriously as the National or Bon Iver. Not that I have not been taking her that seriously since I came across 1989.But not the rest of the world is catching up with the Swifties . 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/taylor-swift-folk-lore.html

The Top 10 Shoe Gaze / Post Rock Albums OF 2020

I changed things up a bit this year and got rid of the indie rock list and made this shoe-gaze / post -rock list . In years past the indie rock list had turned into this any ways or those bands got lumped in with post punk. Post rock is about atmosphere , post rock is about tension , ya know like Joy Division.  Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there more new bands on this list than most. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Shoe gaze and  Post-rock albums of 2020 

10-Mogwai - "Zero, Zero, Zero" 

This is more of an honorable mention. Granted they were not trying to write songs as they normally would due to the fact this was the score to a tv show.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/mogwai-zerozerozero.html

9- Midwife- " Forever" 

This album has a more minimalist indie rock garage vibe to the droning nature of what they are conjuring here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/midwife-forever.html

8-Ascension of the Watchers - " Apocrypha"

Burton C Bell takes another step away from metal with this project and out into a surreal blend of post rock and shoe gaze. I do not think he has anything against metal, it sounds like he is just smoking hella weed. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/09/ascension-of-watchers-apocrypha.html

 

7-O Brother- "You and I" 

More of a Radiohead direction than their harder rock edged records of the past. The yare still good song writers able to lure you in with the more subdued direction. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/obrother-you-and-i.html

6- Close the Hatch- " Modern Witchcraft" 

Many of the bands on this list have a heavy side. You did not think I was going to sing the praises of some castrated bull shit did you ? This one lumbers in a way that borders on being sludge. But the crunch is outweighed by the surreal .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/close-hatch-modern-witchcraft.html

5- Spotlights - 'We are All Atomic" 

A different shade of dark. Which considering where you are reading this it is almost redundant as almost every album I review has a dark side. Happy music does nothing for me. This albums lingers in the narcotic shadows it hypnotizes you with. They also have a heavy side. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/spotlights-we-are-all-atomic.html

4-   Bound- " Haunts" 

Like a darker more progressive version of Alcest. This album sweeps you away with it's dream like atmosphere, but still has some balls to it.  In many ways the fey nature of what they do now occupies a place Sigur Rios once held for me before they started doing symphonies. .

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/bound-haunts.html

3-Nothing - "the Great Dismal"

This band has been good at evolving from album to album. They are great at capturing their sound but not being defined by it in a way that hinders the dynamic scope of what they do.  Their song writing which pulls from familiar influences continues to captive. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/nothing-great-dismal.html

2- Hum - " Inlet"

Their unexpected return was everything I could have asked from them. They remember to not just ponder why there shoes are untied and also wrote fucking killer songs . The guitar tones on this album rule really hard. Nothing has nothing to be ashamed of by being beating out for the number two spot these guys as I am sure they also agree. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/hum-inlet.html

1-Iress- "Flaw" 

This late entry can in and swept it out from under Hum. Hum made a great album and it would have taken the number one spot if not for me finally hearing this album. It had been on my list of things to check out but everything I went to Bandcamp, there was never anything up, so I forgot then rediscovered it. Dark beautiful and hypnotic, the emotion invested into the vocals is really what beat out Hum. This album is catchier/ 

Abysmal Hymns: Iress : "Flaw"