September's Top 10 Albums

September is more memory than not; it fades into a blur, so you need to catch up on the month's best new releases. This might help you, casual readers, see what you missed.  I am not doing little blurbs on them, just linking the reviews. This helps me organize my end-of-year lists by including each album's genre. This does not mean these albums were released this month; it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed most. I have albums in my in-box that won't come out until December, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of how much I have listened to them. This month, it runs the gamut from indie folk to black metal , so perhaps you will find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums for September of 2026.

10-Bombstrap-"Big Enemy" 

Punk 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/bombstrap-big-enemy.html

9-Überchriist : "Dæmonic Apotheosis"

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/uberchriist-dmonic-apotheosis.html

8-Anthrax -"Cursum Perficio" 

Thrash 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/anthrax-cursum-perficio.html

7-Junius-"Sotera"

Doom Gaze 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/junius-sotera.html

6-Actors - "Our Love Will Live on Forever" 

Post-Punk

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/actors-our-love-will-live-forever.html

5-Brutalismus 3000- "Harmony" 

Hyper-pop/ Techno 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/brutalismus-3000-harmony.html

 

4-ANAGNORISIS- "Caregriever" 

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/anagnorisis-caregriever.html

3-Miley - "Bass Persuades"

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/miley-bass-persuades.html

2- Boy Harsher -"GET MEAN " 

New Wave

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/boy-harsher-get-mean.html

1-Emma Ruth Rundle - "These Killing Times"

Alt Folk Rock

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/09/emma-ruth-rundle-thee-killing-times.html

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Anthrax : "Cursum Perficio"

 It's been ten years since their last album was released, and while metal has changed a little since then, it hasn't changed as much as it has over their career, which reaches back to the 80s. They tried to shake the 80s from their sound to survie the 90s and did better than some bands in that regard.  Rather than expect them to sound likea band from 2020, what I am listening for here is how this measures up against the likes of "Among the Living," a top-tier album not just for thrash but metal as a whole. Even on "State of Euphoria" and "Persistence of Time," they had a hard time measuring up to that one. They open this album with "The Long Goodbye," which is what the band should be in 2026.

 At 65, Belladonna's voice has held up in a way that serves the band, as he retains a commanding tone, but it's unlikely he can still reach his upper register. In 2026, the falsetto yodels would point them in the direction of power metal. "It's For the Kids" feels like filler from the "State of Euphoria" album, almost trying too hard to be anthemic and not as focused as the previous song. They reach a better balance of hardcore punch with melodic 80s thrash sensibility on "Everybody's Got a Plan.". Scott Ian has called "Edge of Perfection" the best Anthrax song in the history of the band. It sounds like they are trying their hand at being Deafheaven until they lock into a groove for Joey to sing on. I will go ahead and say this song is nowhere near what they did on "I am the Law" or even "Keep it in the Family". Not sure why they need to use a blast beat to make themselves feel relevant. I like the effects they use on his voice midway into the song before the guitar solo. 

I will tell you that "Infectious" is a better song than "Edge of Perfection". It has more groove, and the vocals fit with more confidence. Sure, there is a little rock swagger to it, but a good song is a good song. Thanks to the ex-Shadows Fall guitarist Jonathan Donau, their guitar solos are less chaotic, and those sections flow more smoothly. "NYC 93" finds the band trying to convince themselves they are still a crossover band. They sound more like themselves on the title track. This does not mean it's a nostalgia fest but a more effective modern translation. 

'T.O.M.B" finds a meaner guitar tone crunching in, but the groove keeps things in the wheelhouse of what you want from these guys.I guess playing in Pantera has rubbed off on Charlie when it comes to this one.  "Watch it Go" works well and shows they can add a more modern approach to heaviness without compromising who they are. "My Victory" also finds the balance of flirting with hardcore aggression while still being who they are. I will give this album a 9.5 and see how it sits with me , there are songs that I am unsure of biut they are balanced out by strong moemtns that stand against their classic work, which is all I am asking for. 

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The Top 10 Albums of 1985

If you aren't aware that Reza Mills from Clean Sheets and Sleeping Shaman has been breaking down the decades with me to uncover our top 5 songs in pivotal anniversaries for these years, then you uare missing out. You should check out our insights here...

 

Here I am taking my top 5 choices and expanding them into the top 10 albums of 1985, and also ranking them in order of their impact and staying power, so here are my top 10 albums of 1985. Be sure to check out the episode above for a more in-depth look at the top 5 here. 

10-Megadeth- "Killing is my Business and Business is Good."

The debut of Mustaine's post-Metallica project feels like he picked up where "Kill'em All " left off.

 

9-Anthrax -' Spreading the Disease" 

They were beginning to hit their stride when it came to blending thrash with hooky classic metal songwriting

   

8-Ratt- "Invasion of Your Privacy."

One of the most endearing albums from the hair metal era, which stands the test of time. 

7-Sting -" Dream of the Blue Turtles." 

His solo debut is wonderfully bleak in its lyrical outlet and jazz overlay. 

> 

6-Slayer - "Hell Awaits"

Their most underrated album, considering that it opened the doors for a darker, heavier style of music to be born. 

 

5-Dio-"Sacred Heart."

He peaked in the 80s with this magical album, setting himself apart from metal trends.

4-the Cure "Head On the Door." 

Not their darkest album, but Smith's songwriting continued t o explore new colors of sound. 

3-Tom Waits - "Rain Dogs." 

Not sure he even knew the 80s were even going on a this album sounds like it came from a dive bar at the edge of time. 

2-Kate Bush-"Hounds of Love"

She did new wave on her terms and retained all the ethereal magic that she was known for.  

 

1-The Smiths -"Meat is Murder."

Lyrically brilliant and perfectly written, this iconic album still stands alone. 

Thanks for reading. Please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

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Live Review : "Back to the Beginning" concert

When this concert was announced on the heels of a Rock N Roll Hall of Fame show, which found other singers struggling through solo Ozzy songs, while the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness watched from his seat, I was skeptical. After all, I prefer to have the memories of my favorite artists, when they were closer to their prime, intact. I've always felt that the 1989 show on the "No Rest For the Wicked Tour " was The Oz-Man at his best. "Bark at the Moon" tour, something was off, and I was too young to know he was wasted, and my perspective at the time could not be trusted through my impressionable eyes when considered from the filter of nostalgia. Including the Black Sabbath reunion I saw in 1999.  So what I would want is something that would respect his legacy. Sharon, of course, has other plans

A bunch of bands covering Ozzy all day, well most of the performances on the Nativity in Black albums were better, but let's consider what unfolded.  It opened with Mastodon, who pulled out respectable Hinds-less versions of "Black Tongue" and "Blood and Thunder" before being joined onstage by Danny Carey, Eloy Casagrande, and Mario Duplantier for a cover of "Supernaut". Brann's mic was not working for his first verse, but when it came on for him to catch the second verse, he did an admirable job. Up next was Rival Sons, who are not my thing, and came across feeling like they should have waited for the Robert Plant farewell concert instead. 

One thing that became apparent was just how good of a singer Ozzy once was, as the majority of the singers struggled to hit the notes even in lower tunings. The one singer who might have done the best was Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, when they played "Into the Void" granted it was nothing like back when they used to cover "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" but Anthrax put on one of the day's best performances. 

Halestorm on the other hand, was almost unwatchable. Lzzy Hale screeched her way into running "Perry Mason", but fared better when she joined one of the all-star bands for "Ultimate Sin". She was not the day's worst vocal performance. "Randy of Lamb of God, who came across like a Temu version of Pantera, struggled with "Children of the Grave" until he just barked his way through it. 

The drum off between Travis Barker, Chad Smith, and Danny Carey was jammed over an instrumental version of 'Symptom of the Universe' that Tom Morello and Rudy Sarzo. Compared to what Carey normally plays, this was just straightforward rock, so the other two kept up. Smith is not known for being a bombastic player, but he has done session work with Ozzy. I am not sure why anyone thought it was a good idea for Billy Corgan and KK Downing to come onstage and play " Breaking the Law" after this, but this is what happened. On a day filled with generally terrible vocals, this one was exceptionally bad, in fact, the worst of the day. Most of these all-star things were unnecessary. However, David Draiman of Disturbed hit notes required of him much better than more popular singers, who struggled to even stay in key. William Duvall of Alice in Chains was also one ofthe better singers of this show, though "Fairies Wear Boots" is one of the easier Sabbath songs.

Gojira sounded rough; their cover of "Under the Sun" also has problems in the vocal department. The band that now calls itself Pantera, renewed my confidence in not spending the money to go see cash grab tours that are on, as it fell short of the memories I have from the half dozen times I saw the actual Pantera with Dimebag and Vinnie, one of those being on an Ozzfest. Tool's cover of "Hand of Doom" worked Maynard sounded better than the time he rode the struggle bus trying to sing ''Crazy Train" and to think he used to nail a cover of "Diary of a Madman" back in the early A Perfect Circle days thseir own songs felt rather dialed in. . 

Slayer was one of the day's better acts, though "South of Heaven" sounded rough. I like their approach to "Wicked World." They have been past their prime for 10 years now, but are such a great band, it's hard for them to do wrong. I am surprised that Guns N' Roses played as many Sabbath songs as they did, and while Rose is another singer not in peak form due to age, he was in key more often than not. James Hetfield, on the other hand, had no business singing "Hole in the Sky,"  the kind of leaned into the blues boogie side of like they were covering a Thin Lizzy song instead, but James sounded great on their own songs and "Johnny Blade," which was unexpected. 

We knew Ozzy would be in the chair. He sounded fine for "I Don't Know", despite not fully engaging his diaphragm by sitting when he sang. In fact, I was surprised by how convincing he was, but it was a mixed bag as "Iron Man' did not sound that great, and the crowd singing along to "War Pigs" certainly helped. He still has 70 percent of his charisma which is more than most. The set lists were not surprising; if you heard an Ozzy or Sabbath song on the radio, it was one of the ones they played. "N.I.B.." is the most challenging of the Sabbath songs he chose to tackle. He could sleepwalk through "Paranoid: at this point. I am sure Sharon encouraged Ozzy as this is the kind of farewell he needed to give himself. And it worked for what it was. I personally would have been fine with my memories, but if it made the world realize how great he is, then I can live with that.

Thanks for reading, check out the video below and  please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

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Check out our Podcast here ... https://www.youtube.com/@abysmalhymns666

 

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The Top 200 Greatest Rock Singers-110 -101

Digging deeper into our list of the top 200 greatest rock singers, inspired by the travesty that was Rolling Stone's supposed list. Where they got it wrong, this list hopes to be more effective,  not only focusing on rock singers and those adjacent to the genre. I am  placing the spotlight on the singer's technical vocal ability, in terms of range and power, as well as their dynamics, phrasing and the overall character of their voice. Can they emote from different places? How well does their voice hold up live? All factors are being considered here, lyrical content and the instruments they play do not factor in as these ranking are based on vocal merit alone. How they control a crowd or their entertainment value as performers is also not a factor; there are some great front men who are also sub-par singers.  

The same can be said of song writers which is why most Bob Dylan songs sound better covered by someone else. Needless to say, ole Robert Zimmerman is not making the cut. Most pop singers won't appear here, but there are a few country or jazz singers who crossover just enough to qualify for this list, while having a significant influence on rock music. Don't expect rappers on this list or metal vocalists who just scream or growl, but never actually sing. I am keen on singers who are derivative of other singers. The bulk of these are doing their own thing, the few paying tribute to other artists have still made enough of an impact with their music. Having a unique vocal quality is going to be one of the most important factors often trumping technical ability. If they sound too much like Steve Perry from Journey after listening to their vocal coach rather than developing their own style, it is also not going to fly. Some of these might have been ignored by mainstream music media, but by the time we get to the top 10, I am sure it will all make sense, so here are the Top 200 greatest rock singers.

110-Bradley Nowell 

 The late Sublime singer had a lot of depth and soul to his voice. Not a big reggae fan, but his delivery won me over more than most, as well as his ability to make the most of his resonate croon in his lower register when called for.

 

109-Paul DiAnno

Many of you might be surprised this guy did not make it higher since he sang for one of my favorite bands.  He has more streets smarts to his voice, but struggles in his upper register, thus the comparison is this ...Bruce can sing his songs, but he could not sing Bruce's songs to end further debate. Still, he sung for Maiden's first two albums earning his spot here.

 

 108- Phil Collins

His singing style took Genesis down a more commercial path the first few albums where he took over for peter earned him a spot here.

   

107- Joey Belladonna

The  Anthrax singer has the pipes to bridge the dramatic yodels made popular by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and grit of thrash.

   

106-Gene Simmons

Peter Criss might have the bigger hit ,but Simmons is the better singer. He might not be the best singer in Kiss, but his throaty belting gives the band a grittier edge as needed.

   

105-Debbie Harry 

Her voice helped her band navigate the tricky spot in the 70s to weave between punk and disco. She went from rapping with attitude to her head register with grace.

 

104-Jim Morrison

H He was not just a displaced beat poet who found himself in a jazz band playing rock. Morrison has a croon that held a great deal of darkness, he could unleashed a drunken blues belt or go into outright manic screaming to climax a song , before screaming was common place. He was an icon front man , so people might expect him to have placed higher, but in terms of his pipes he worked well with what he had

.  

 103- Daniel Gildenlow 

 Over the years his band Pain of Salvation has going from being an eclectic progressive metal band to spanning a wide scope of sounds. His range and power has been the catalyst that allows them to traverse all these sonic spaces. He covers all bases from metal screams to dramatic falsettos.

   

 102-Grace Slick

Her powerhouse voice made her a one of a kind singer in the 60s that would influence many female rock singers to come.

   

 101- Dave Byron 

 This band bridged the gap between prog and metal. Byron's falsetto yodels were commanding voice made him a bard declaring tales of demons and wizards with theatrical flare that would influence countless metal singers to follow.

 

Mr. Bungle : " The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny"

 

It's been over 20 years since they have released anything. They were not going to give you a reunion in the conventional sense as this time Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo join, Mike, Trey and Trevor to revist the demo that proceeded Bungle's self titled debut. The album opens with a guitar ditty which is basically an intro for "Anarchy Up Your Anus" .  Which is 80s style thrash that is consistant with what was coming out at the time. The first bit of oddity is not until "Raping Your Mind". Trey does a decent Kerry King impersonation . I think "Raping Your Mind" is a better song than "Anarchy" .  It is impressive that Patton can still pull off this brand of metal with as much vigor as he does.  "Raping Your Mind" does set the bar for the rest of the album has to live up to. 

"Hypocrites" shows a little more of their wacky side, before merging into a cover of S.O.D's "Speak English or Die" . It pretty much it was it is. "Bungle Grind" is like if Death Angel jammed with "S.O.D" .  It is very true to the time this was originally written.  Which with Scott Ian in tow is pretty easy to achieve.  "Methmatics" has a more rock n roll vibe to it. This is short lived as they blast back into thrash. As the song progresses you can hear a riff that would eventually become "Love is a Fist" .  "Eracist" is more mid paced and less over thrash. "Spreading the Thighs of Death" finds them back at warp speed thrash. "Loss For Words" sounds like it would have been filler on a Gwar album. 

They are back to the more brisk side of thrash with "Glutton for Punishment" .  When you think about it the guitarist from Primus was in Possessed , so this is not a reach. To be honest I find myself getting a little bored at this juncture. The whispered vocals were the most interesting part. It wraps up with the chug of "Sudden Death". Scott Ian must have just learned these parts as written nad played them as I do not hear much of his input. Ok none really. I like the taunt palm muted tension to the moshy riffs. I will give this album an 8. Their other albums would be 10s . A little too straight forward. I am sure this will divide their fan base. 

the Top `10 Thrash Albums of the Decade

The decade began before this blog was started , I can not just rely on sorting through previous reviews. I am just embedding video clips to support the reasoning for these albums to be listed as such, since I already did a best of the year list for each sub-genre. Hard rock was created by splitting mainstream metal and rock off into more specialized categories. Thrash started at where the cross cross of the New Wave of British Heavy metal metal Hard core punk. Some of these bands lean more heavily on either side of that equation.  This might not be the most hipster of the lists that say Vice puts out, what matters is the fact; these are the albums I listened to the most Any ways here are the Top 10 Thrash metal   albums of the decade.



10- Huntress -"Spell Eater" -2012










9-Toxic Holocaust - "Conjure and Command" 2011




-  






8-Spirit Adrift-- "Divided By Darkness" 2019




 







7-Destroyer 666 -"Wildfire" 2016




 






6- Istapp - "Blekinge"- 2010 




 





5-Death Angel -- "Humanicide" 2019












4-Exhorder- Mourn the Southern Skies" 2019











3- Gwar-- "the Blood of Gods" 2017



 





2- Goatwhore -"Blood for the Master "  2012 










1- Anthrax- " For All Kings" 2016 



 

Top 10 Albums of 2016

So here they are complied in relative order in one master list of metal and other genres to see what were the actual best albums of the year. These are largely based on which ones I got the most play out of . When I said relative earlier on one day I might be moved to listen to one album more than another that might be ranked higher so this can shift,, but a fairly accurate representation of what endured 2016. If you want to check these albums out then go to the review urls I posted with each one. Who cares if your favorite album did not make the list, the Kleenex is on aisle three of  CVS, these are my favorite albums of 2016 and thus when it comes to this blog the Top 10 Albums of 2016.

10-Anagnorisis -"Perpetia"

 The narrative these songs are woven around provides a more personal touch then most black metal band's allow themselves to create. There are no arctic wastelands or occult gibberish to hide behind. In some ways if it was not for the sonic storm cloud raging as this album's heart beat you might mistake this for hardcore.  The vocals keep their scathing snarl as a static coat of white noise to a similar effect as Deafheaven. Their approach to black metal is less atmospheric and the ambiance if of a more emotional nature. It is without question one of the better black metal albums I have come across recently and these guys have really stepped up their game when it comes to song writing.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/anagnorisis-peripeteia.html

9- Khemmis - "Hunted"

At times more NWOBHM than doom and "3 Gates" starts off to uptempo to be doom at all, but in the end it got the most play time and had enough melancholy to qualify as doom, after all Black Sabbath albums didn't always crawl all the way to the finish line so something can be said for the dynamics.This one earned it space at the top not because it was the most dismal, but because I listened to it the most, which at the end of the day is what matters.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/khemmis-hunted.html

8- Anthrax- "For All Kings"

 Anthrax used to be one of my favorite bands and to this day "Among the Living " is without a doubt one of the best metal albums ever with "Spreading the Disease" not too far behind. I hung tough with the band for the first six albums, even liking Jon Bush's first album. Then we grew apart.  "Worship Music"  saw the return of singer Joey Belladonna, but I never gave it a shot. I am giving them a chance here and while Belladonna might be 55, but I just reviewed the new David Bowie, and he is 69 so no body is slipping by due to age. Age might have helped Anthrax here , because with age Belladonna's voice is lower than even on "Persistence of Time" , but it gives him more aggression, which might have helped on albums like the almost too happy "State of Euphoria". There is younger blood injected in the band as Jonathan Donais from Shadows Fall is now in the band. They a surprisingly melodic section into the middle of the opener before thrashing back into it. They do not let up on the heavy with "Monster at the End", though it has a smoother groove allowing Belladonna's vocals to coast into a hookier chorus. A little less thrash and closer to mainstream metal, it's still a solid headbanger. .

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/anthrax-for-all-kings.html

7- Youth Code- "Commitment to Complications"

Production wise things have stepped up another level along with the song writing. After a melodic and perhaps dramatic synth intro the kick into the first proper song which kicks more like a rock song energetically than your typical industrial. Unlike your typical industrial there is not an obligatory layer of 90s thrash metal guitar over it. The synths are capable of summoning their own heft. This is in no way saying that there is not metal influence in place or this album isn't heavy. Ben from Goatwhore lends his snarl to the title track. It's interesting as he is not doing anything different from his normal delivery, but it's over a bunch of hammering synths.These kids are the real deal and not just hipsters playing dress up.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/youth-code-commitment-to-complications.html

6-Black Foxxes- "I'm Not Well" 

 This band is interesting as it's hard to imagine that they did not come from the late the 90s. While middle of the road when it comes to how hard the they do or do not rock,  I can appreciate the role the vocals play in their sound. As the opener builds there is more of  an early Pearl Jam like angst to the grit added in the vocals. They lock into a more traditional rock role on "Husk". When they ease their foot off the gas it offers a more dynamic glimpse at the band , but flirts with a more emo side than I am not sure I was ready to see yet on "Whatever Let's You Cope" .  There is an androgynous quality to their sound that doesn't glam it out like Placebo, but is there. They narrowly edged out Dinosaur Jr , I think I listened to this one a little more.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/10/black-foxxes-im-not-well.html

5- Merchandise- "a Corpse Wired For Sound"


 I guess the fact the band is on classic goth label 4AD , has finally settled in on them, so  it should not come as a surprise that the trappings of shoe gaze are more prominent in the guitar department on this album. It took a couple listens for me to fully appreciate the opening track.Perspective is a funny thing.  If I went Overall this album is great and Carson once again throws you a sonic curve ball and refuses to replicate past work and forge ahead creativelyinto the album not knowing it was Carson Cox and co, I would have latched onto the darker tones driving the songs.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/merchandise-corpse-wired-for-sound.html

4- Emma Ruth Rundle-"Marked For Death"

 In some ways there is not much difference between Emma Ruth Rundle's  second solo album and the last Marriages album, which is a good thing. If you were expecting just her and an acoustic guitar then think again. Perhaps the punches are not as rock and the songs are less jarring in their dynamic shifts, there is a very stormy mood that brews in the first songs.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/emma-ruth-rundle-marked-for-death.html

3- the Weeknd- Star Boy

 The tone of this album is much different and embracing more of a dance vibe with strong ties to house music. With the amount of drugs is supposedly does this is no surprise. The Micheal Jackson influence can be still felt on songs like "Rockin" though musically it is much more like Euro dance

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-weeknd-star-boy.html

2-Planes Mistaken for Stars- " Prey"

 These guys were always ahead of their time and finds music of today coming a little closer to meeting them in the middle. There has always been an unhinged side to the band and this is what the new album opens with. "Til it Clicks" is less explosive, but more of what I want from this band. The darker melody hangs around on "Riot Season" even after the pace picks up. The yowls of self loathing still haunt Jared's gravelly vocals riding the line between screaming and singing. The guitar to "Fucking Tenderness" carries some melody before tightening the tension. The vocals fill the spaces in the song perfectly and the band touching perfectly on all their trademarks without feeling like this song is any less urgent than it is.They are back in fine form and not standing stagnant in the legend of yesterday.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/10/planes-mistaken-for-stars-prey.html

1- David Bowie - "Black Star"

 It was the Thin White Duke's 25th album. He released it on his 69th birthday. Then he died and most of you made me sick the way you ran out to get this looking for clues if he was hinting that he knew the time was coming. So lets talk about the music ...it's vulgar I know but some body has go to do it. The lead single and title track opens the album, finding Bowie in a darker and more surreal place than his last album. There is a very experimental ambiance to things that will delight fans of his Brian Eno years. His collections of musicians  ranges from LCD Soundsystem to avant garde jazz , with the jazz contingent weighing more heavily. Not his best album ever, or even post-"Lets Dance" I think "Outside" is way better and "the Next Day" might be as well, but it's Bowie so no one can really compete making this almost a no contest.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/david-bowie-black-star.html

The Top 10 Mainstream Metal Albums of 2016

This could almost be the top 10 Hard rock albums of 2016, as many of these bands ride the line between what is metal and what is not. These are the band's you are much more likely to hear on your Sirrus Radio or any air waves that venture into metal like KNAC. Some of these are veterans who are back in fighting shape and the very fact that they are mainstream means they have already paid their dues in the clubs at the very least. These are no the kind of bands sites like Cvlt Nation would cover, but are more likely to be found in the few print sources at their so if you have still not figured out how we are defining mainstream then go back to sniffing glue, here are your top ten mainstream metal albums of 2016.


10-Flotsam and Jetsam -s/t

It's been a good year so far for the legends of metal, both Anthrax and Metal Church returned with strong albums lets see if Arizona's thrash lords can do the same. Granted their first three albums were their best, they did not have as long of a prolific run as Anthrax. Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner is on the throne for this one, but three of the original members are still intact. Eric AK's voice has taken some wear and tear. It's still powerful, but gone are the yodels that once rivaled King Diamond's upper range. King Diamond still has it so I expect to hear him attempt one. They can still thrash with authority on the opener and don't slow down for better or for worse

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/05/flotsam-jetsam-st.html

9-Daniel Lioneye- "Vol. 3"


The solo band of H.I.M guitarist Linde Lindstorm, takes out the bulk of the cheese that was stinking up the later H.I.M albums. Said to have been more influenced by black metal than his work with H.i.M, I'll say it's heavier but not black metal. The vocals are baritone croon, not far from what Vile did in H.I.M, just less gasped and over accented. It's right at the border of metal and hard rock for me. H.I.M often referred to their sound as "love metal" which was another way for saying we make music for girls and sissy boys. This is not as sissy boy as Linda former band, but if you are a regular reader here then chances are this won't cut it as metal for you regardless of how many times they opened for Cradle of Filth. Judged on it's own merits as hard rock, its pretty decent.


http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/08/daniel-lioneye-vol-3.html

8-Metal Church- "XI" 

The Metal gods of yesteryear are coming back strong this year.Things have changed since  Metal Church's electric steeple was held high. While well written I don't think "Killing Your Time" is actually metal and falls on more the the hard rock side of the coin. Chances are if this is your idea of metal you too have failed to change with the times. The strum of an acoustic guitar starts of the more aggressive attack of "No Tomorrow". When "Blessing in Disguise" came out the band as actually thrashing, but here they are only marginally heavier than W.A.S.P.
Mike Howe's voice sounds great. He has a good blend of grit and singing actual notes. His melody on the chorus of "No Tomorrow" couldn't be more solid. "Signal Path" has more of a classic metal vibe, that most of us think of us power-metal these days.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/metal-church-xi.html

7- Moonsorrow-" Jumalten Aika" 

 It's been five years since the Finnish overlords of pagan metal left us with "Varjoina kuljemme kuolleiden maassa". The album opens with folk instruments creating a ritualistic aura.After a  minute and a half of this they storm into the kinda of  larger than life metal you have come to expect from them. The black metal side of what they do is toned down on this album.They have more in common the more epic side of folk metal. Holding true to their mission statement this does have a commanding viking feel, without inspiring you to go into a jig with your drinking horn. They wait is in some part due to the ambitious production value this album was crafted with.  The drums have enough thunder to make Thor jealous. Production wise this might be their biggest drum sound yet. This drummer might have always been a monster, but this albums really shines a spotlight on the fact.

6- Red Fang - "Only Ghosts"


 In the past when I heard them I thought they were a little derivative of Kyuss. While they are not re-inventing the wheel here, and are arguably taking more inspiration from the more hooky direction Torche went in back in 2008 on "Meanderthal", the songs are well written and by the time the vocals switch over into the hook, I am enjoying myself.  The riff to "Cut It Short " owes more to Devo's "Girl You Want" or Kiss' "Rocket Ride" than any Black Sabbath song. Ross Robinson did a good job here. I like the production on the vocals and there is a great bass tone this album. I am not sure this is what I would call metal as is rocks about as hard as the Foo- Fighters or Queens of the Stone-age.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/10/red-fang-only-ghosts.html

5-Deftones- "Gore" 

 The Deftones are the last nu-metal band standing that changed in their house of flies enough to remain relevant as the years have passed them by. Sergio Vega from Quicksand continues to fill in on bass making this his 3rd album with the band. The album opens with the moody "Prayers / Triangles" that benefits from one of Chino's smoother melodies that fits like a velvet glove on the groove. A more trip hop layer of  atmosphere leads into "Acid Hologram". It swells into a Mogwai like drone. With very emo tinged vocals giving a fey croon that sounds like something more fitting of My Chemical Romance or Coheed & Cambria. The heavier "Doomed User" is the second single from the album. It is much more in your face metal, with a riff that reminds me of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". Chino's vocals are all over the place on it until finding a smoother hook. The intro "Geometric Headdress" fakes like they are taking a darker turn until the more chugged riff comes. Chino throws in some his old screams. It feels like Slipknot getting more melodic and if it wasn't for the way the riff resolves itself then I would think this is an April Fools joke and someone slipped some Mudvayne in on me. It's unapologetic nu-metal. They earn their place, bu still writing some good songs and being heavier than expected. 

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/deftones-gore.html

4- Alcest- "Kodama"

 It seems the French purveyors of what was once hailed as black gaze have decided to at least try to be a rock band. The title track has more of a Pink Floyd like jangling drone to it. While this is far from black metal it is a more suitable extension of growth than their previous album which had little in the way of balls to it. They do flirt with blast beats on the second song, but it smooths out into the more fey touched indie rock. In some ways this is closer to what they once did than the title track, however my initial impression is that the title track is better even though harshly screamed vocals re-surface.  I respect this since between Opeth and the Used, this seems to be something many singers are unwilling to re-visit, which I think is as much of a cop out as only relying on screaming.There are some pretty awesome guitar tones on this album. While there is little by way of soloing, I think the tones are impeccable. They do have plenty of the older shoe gazey epic guitar lines soaring over the fairy forests for you. I don't need Alcest to re-make their first two albums. I just want to hear that they are still the band that I used to love and not abandon their metal roots altogether, along with writing good songs. This album tends to fall within those bounds. They do eventually revert back to almost full blown black metal, the only thing keeping them from it is the guitar sticks to dreamier sonic scope.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/09/alcest-kodama.html 

 

3-Rob Zombie- "Electric Warlock Acid Witch" 

 I love me some White Zombie, I was on for the ride the more Stooges like "Make them Die Slowly" so when "La Sexcisto" came out I was confused as to why they sounded like Metallica. The band hit their stride during the peak of my drug summer when "Astro-Creep" came out. I have caught Rob a few times live since the band broke up, but never caught on with his solo work cus I wanted White Zombie, the last of the Demons Defeated "Satanic Cyanide/ the Killer Rocks On" slows down and has more rock to it than the more electronic thump I associate with his solo work. Overall the songs can become rather infectous here if you are just on for some big dumb fun, much like his movies.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/04/rob-zombie-electric-warlock-acid-witch.html

2- Katatonia- 'the Fall of Hearts" 

 The gloomy Swedes have pretty much become a prog band at this point. The Opeth like cadence that builds the opener when the distortion is stomped on makes sense considering the acrobatics the guitars have already engaged in leading up to that point. "In Absentina" ear Porcupine Tree might also come to mind. This is not to say there is not plenty of the band's own DNA all over this song. Jonas' vocals are unmistakable.The album is very crisp from a production stand point, which lightens the shade of gray cast over these songs. Jonas doesn't have the same melancholic desperation fueling his vocals, yet he doesn't stray from his style. He sounds more hopeful, though lyrically the same themes seem to be present. The guitar work on this album is stunning. I am not sure how much of that owes thanks to Roger Ojersson from Tiamat who is another new addition to the band. If you are going to do prog-rock, this is the way to go as songwriting and melody have more value than showcasing chops or trying to create some kind of obtuse sonic puzzle. Their new drummer Daniel Moilanen, does't make me go "Damn, Daniel", but he does play very tastefully around the more progressive part to create more jazz influenced passages. This is a surprise knowing he comes from Heavydeath and other more extreme Swedish acts.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/05/katatonia-fall-of-hearts.html

1- Anthrax- "For All Kings"

 Anthrax used to be one of my favorite bands and to this day "Among the Living " is without a doubt one of the best metal albums ever with "Spreading the Disease" not too far behind. I hung tough with the band for the first six albums, even liking Jon Bush's first album. Then we grew apart.  "Worship Music"  saw the return of singer Joey Belladonna, but I never gave it a shot. I am giving them a chance here and while Belladonna might be 55, but I just reviewed the new David Bowie, and he is 69 so no body is slipping by due to age. Age might have helped Anthrax here , because with age Belladonna's voice is lower than even on "Persistence of Time" , but it gives him more aggression, which might have helped on albums like the almost too happy "State of Euphoria". There is younger blood injected in the band as Jonathan Donais from Shadows Fall is now in the band. They a surprisingly melodic section into the middle of the opener before thrashing back into it. They do not let up on the heavy with "Monster at the End", though it has a smoother groove allowing Belladonna's vocals to coast into a hookier chorus. A little less thrash and closer to mainstream metal, it's still a solid headbanger .

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/anthrax-for-all-kings.html

The Top 10 Metal albums of 2016...so far

Ok, this one took longer than our pop/rock list. One or two of these bands could have crossed over into that list, but they have enough balls to be here. These are ranked by what I have listened to the most weighed against the impact of the album and how it scored here at the blog. But it could have been a master piece , but if it didn't inspire me to listen to it a ton then an album I listened to more would be better. Keeping up? Then lets move on to the best Metal albums that the year has offered us so far. If you want to hear more there is a link to each full review with media.

10- Metal Church - "XI"

 This one made it over to the iPod and got more listens than Ihsahn whose album certainly should get an honorable mention here. It's perhaps not had the staying power that some of the other albums ranked higher have. They came closer to the top of the heap than many of their peers who have come back this year to make it feel more like 1988 than 2016.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/metal-church-xi.html

9- Abbath- st

Immortal has been slugging it out longer than Queensryche over who owns the rights to their name leading guitarist and front man Abbath Doom Occulta decided to just release this album under his own name enlisting Creature aka Kevin Foley who is Benighted's drummer to pound along with Gorgoroth bassist King ov Hell. So a Immortal / Gorgoroth super group is what we are looking at here. It is though the material on this album are the songs that were written as the follow up to the 2009 full-length "All Shall Fall". It is currently not in rotation on my iPod, but I will give it another shot as the album captures this kind of aggression well and the time I did spend with it colored my black heart impressed.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/abbath-st.html

8- Howls of Ebb - "Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows"

 This project out of San Francisco is bringing some of the wonderment back to death metal. Death metal all too often defaults to re-hashing what Incantation and Morbid Angel have already done. Little time is wasted digging into the meat of the metal on this one. The helter skelter sense of groove and trippy atmosphere that make this band so awesome are all intact.Overall this albums brings to life everything I could want from them. More progressive than just death metal loaded up on a ton of drugs. The bass playing is some of death metal's best this side of Cynic, who lets face it are off in the land of elves with Rush at this point in time. The experimentation is tempered with aggression, though it's not just a monochrome brutality. http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/howls-of-ebb-cursus-impasse-pendlomic.html

7- Eight Bells - "Landless"

 Things have changed for this band since "Captain's Daughter". I felt they had potential on that one and here they have fully realized. The drumming shows vast improvement as they open with the doomy "Hating" . The title track finds the band taking on more of a trippy post- metal ambiance to a  riff that feels like it spirals down before ebbing down into a softer sung section.The vocal melodies are stronger on this album as well and more love and care went into the song writing. Any doubts as to the metallic nature of this band is put to rest by the blast beat section this song hangs on with the vocals taking on more of a harsher growl when it slows into more of a punk beat.The song does drone me out a little though I got sucked into the black hole of the inner webs reading about the whole Phil Anselmo thing just when they hit the section of minimalist ambiance.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/eight-bells-landless.html

6-Voivod - "Post Society"

 Voivod has always been light years ahead of their time. Since "Target Earth" the band has locked into a sound that takes the classic tones from "Dimension Hatross " and pushes it forward in a modern production. This ep is the quality of both songwriting and production as "Target Earth" in fact the arrangements might be even more progressive,  like the surreal breakdown on the title track that kicks the ep off. They have always been able to shift in a very organic manner from one movement to the next . What amazes me more upon hearing this is how true they are to their legacy even though half of the original members are not on this recording. Chewy and Rocky did comprise the live band on their last pass through the states with Napalm Death and both really do justice to the Voivod legacy.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/voivod-post-society.html

5- Anthrax-"For All the Kings"

 Anthrax used to be one of my favorite bands and to this day "Among the Living " is without a doubt one of the best metal albums ever with "Spreading the Disease" not too far behind. I hung tough with the band for the first six albums, even liking Jon Bush's first album. Then we grew apart.  "Worship Music"  saw the return of singer Joey Belladonna, but I never gave it a shot. Age might have helped Anthrax here , because with age Belladonna's voice is lower than even on "Persistence of Time", but it gives him more aggression, which might have helped on albums like the almost too happy "State of Euphoria". There is younger blood injected in the band as Jonathan Donais from Shadows Fall is now in the band.They exceeded my expectation and this album is still in rotation.

http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/01/anthrax-for-all-kings.html

4- Graves At Sea- "The Curse That is "

 I had been waiting for these guys to drop a full length as the splits and eps were great, but wanted something more to sink my doom hungry jaws into. Doom begs to be questioned here right from the eleven minute title track that opens the album.  It's an odd evolution that includes the bigger production value this album has. It finds them thundering into your ears with something more akin to a stoner rock version of "Through Sliver and Blood" era Neurosis. Some evolution an be expected considering the line-up changes that have yo-yoed the band about. The vocals are still mean in their ample grit coated screams. The guitar has warmed up a bit. Perhaps it is the time they took in the studio to perfect their tone versus previous releases which have had a rawer, angrier sound.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/graves-at-sea-curse-that-is.html

3- Katatonia- "the Fall of Hearts"
 The gloomy Swedes were almost sent to the pop rock list, but have enough metal on this to make here even though they have pretty much become a prog band at this point. The Opeth like cadence that builds the opener when the distortion is stomped on makes sense considering the acrobatics the guitars have already engaged in leading up to that point. "In Absentina" ear Porcupine Tree might also come to mind. This is not to say there is not plenty of the band's own DNA all over this song. Jonas' vocals are unmistakable.The album is very crisp from a production stand point, which lightens the shade of gray cast over these songs. Jonas doesn't have the same melancholic desperation fueling his vocals, yet he doesn't stray from his style.It's weird as it's not as dark as previous releases, but packs more of a punch.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/05/katatonia-fall-of-hearts.html

2-Nails- "You Will Never Be One of Us"

I have predicted 2016 as the year grind-core  and power-violence breaks through into the metal mainstream. What Weekend Nachos failed to deliver is being jack hammered into your face by this band.  Their guitar tone is as nasty as you can get and still play riffs that hold together actual songs. Even then when I used the word songs here I am describing sharp bursts of anger. Grind-core has never been my forte, typically because of the genre's limited range of dynamic expression. Coloring with only the red crayon of anger can limit what you do, this band from Southern Los Angeles colors with this crayon so well, I know what I'm in for and can hold on for the jolting ride.The heaviest album on the list for sure.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/06/nails-you-will-never-be-one-of-us.html

1-Tombs-"All Empires Fall"

 What happens on Tombs new album should not come as a surprise considering how they have evolved with each album. The last album might not have been as dark as the previous, but Mike Hill and company continue to evolve. With the inclusion of Fade Kainer into the fold on "All Empires Fall" it made me think the industrial influence that has lurking under the surface would rise like Godzilla. This is not the case. They make it clear the metal isn't going anywhere. They kick the fucking door down with a neck crushing riff.The only thing wrong with this release is the fact it's an EP rather than a full length, because it leaves me still wanting more.
 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2016/03/tombs-all-empires-fall.html

Anthrax : " For All the Kings"

Anthrax used to be one of my favorite bands and to this day "Among the Living " is without a doubt one of the best metal albums ever with "Spreading the Disease" not too far behind. I hung tough with the band for the first six albums, even liking Jon Bush's first album. Then we grew apart.  "Worship Music"  saw the return of singer Joey Belladonna, but I never gave it a shot. I am giving them a chance here and while Belladonna might be 55, but I just reviewed the new David Bowie, and he is 69 so no body is slipping by due to age. Age might have helped Anthrax here , because with age Belladonna's voice is lower than even on "Persistence of Time" , but it gives him more aggression, which might have helped on albums like the almost too happy "State of Euphoria". There is younger blood injected in the band as Jonathan Donais from Shadows Fall is now in the band. They a surprisingly melodic section into the middle of the opener before thrashing back into it. They do not let up on the heavy with "Monster at the End", though it has a smoother groove allowing Belladonna's vocals to coast into a hookier chorus. A little less thrash and closer to mainstream metal, it's still a solid headbanger.

The title track opens with Belladonna belting by himself in a very Dickinson like manner. Charlie Benante proves he still has it as well on this song, though the melodies don't hit me as powerfully as they did on the first two songs. At this point in the album it's obvious the vocals are way up front in the mix. There is a more classic anthemic metal ring to the chorus of "Breathing Lightning" , though it is mindful of where more melodic hard rock is at today. The vocals do feel more hard rock than metal on this song and have big layered harmonies creating an almost Dream Theater like soaring. Which is well executed it just doesn't have the classic Anthrax bite, but this proves to be a good song regardless. Things are clearly not in the 80s for the machine like chug that kicks "Suzerain" into gear and balances out the vocals which hit a better blend of aggression and melody. Scott Ian has said in interviews that "Evil Twin" is about the mass shootings in the media . In some ways it reminds me of a faster version of say "Indians" .

The more deliberate "Blood Eagle Wings" is a different sound for Anthrax, but it's darker and heavier than the previous song and the vocals fit into the groove better. At first there is a moshier groove to "Defend Avenge" before their hard core roots start pounding the riffs around. There are some cool guitar sounds, but the song is not as finely tuned of a metal machine as the others. "All of Them Thieves" carries pretty much the band's trademark sound without sounding dated. There is a pretty mean groove to "This Battle Chose Us"that recalls the bands best moments. Sure the vocal hook is slightly more blatant, but it works. The more thrashed out "Zero Tolerance' is rougher around it's edges as it abandons groove for more of a hard-core tinged break neck speed fest. I'll round this one up to a 9 because they exceeded my expectations on this one. Some solid metal that strikes an excellent balance of past and present.

The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums: 20 to 11

We now enter into the sacred circle of the top twenty albums in our Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time list. We haven't been looking for the most albums sold but quality over quantity.





20- Watain-Lawless Darkness

This Swedish band picking up the torch Dissection had carried. While their earlier work might have been rawer and more cvlt , this album found a thrash influence seeping into to polish the songs.



19-Celtic Frost-To Mega Therion

This album is the perfect middle ground for these guys, it retains the rawness of Morbid Tales , but gave them room to grow beyond the simplistic song structures of that album and add other elements.



18-Morbid Angel - Blessed Are the Sick

The best death metal album ever. The kids crying for Altars of Madness which might be an angrier album weren't even born when this one came out. It takes evil and makes it a seductive sonic animal.



17-Pantera -Vulgar Display of Power

It's a tough call between this one and Cowboys, the songs on this on might have slightly more staying power. The riffs are bigger and better here, though this album brought many half ass imitators.



16-Emperor-In the Nightside Eclipse

From the first wave of Norwegian black metal, these guys didn't compromise sound quality in order to adhere to an aesthetic.





15-Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses

This album took the best elements of goth and married them to Black Sabbath style doom.

 14- Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell

We have limited it to one entry per band, though the exception to this rule should be Sabbath, lets face it Dio Sabbath is like an entirely different band anyways.



13- Queensryche- Operation Mindcrime

One of the greatest progressive power metal albums not made by Priest or Maiden. Sure they have their cheese elements, but one of the few bands of this ilk who is worthy of having their name mentioned next to Priest or Maiden.



12- Anthrax- Among the Living

When crafting one of the best metal albums ever this band didn't give up powerful melodies for the sake of thrash.



11 - Metallica - Master of Puppets

Between this and Ride the Lighting it was a tough call for me but songs like " The Thing That Should Not Be" are darker than anything of Ride the Lighting so this won out.