Haunter Presents: Top Ten Albums of 2017 (and some other cool small lists!) A NEW TRANSCENDENCE EXTRAVAGANZA
Hello and happy holidays dear readers! It’s almost the end of the year which means it’s time for our annual Roundup of our favorite full lengths, EPs, singles, and more.
Today’s episode (if you wanna call it that. I do.) is brought to you by the letter H, which in this context means heavy as dicks, son.
Without further ado, here we go!
10.) Oceano – Revelation
As per usual, Chicago Deathcore Titans Oceano have delivered another heaping, hulking, hyper horrific slab of heaviness revolved around the topic of aliens and the extraterrestrial. Vicious vocals, inhuman instrumentation, and barbaric breakdowns galore.
9.) Remo Drive – Greatest Hits
While not a heavy record in terms of low tuning or guttural vocals, it’s a very heady, noodly, emo romp perfect for the inner highschooler inside us all.
8.) Varials – Pain Again
While it retains the trademark ruthlessness of their debut, this new effort from Pennsylvania’s own Varials shows a distinct sense of maturity and emotion, allowing a much more personal and angry experience, while providing a perfect hellish landscape for those new to this ruthless quintet.
7.) Alpha Wolf – Mono
Australia is a notorious hotbed for heavy and hard music and this debut from Alpha Wolf is no exception. Choc-full of bouncy grooves, melancholic lyrics, and stunning vocal performances, Alpha Wolf made their mark in a huge, gloriously nu-metal way.
6.) Code Orange – Forever
Pittsburgh’s Code Orange have had quite the year. From releasing their new album through Roadrunner, premiering two videos on Adult Swim, and earning a Grammy nod, this masterful metallic hardcore outfit become twice as menacing, aggressive, and engaging.
5.) The Acacia Strain – Gravebloom
It is certainly not an easy task to be a band for almost two decades and still manage to improve with every release. Equal parts Coma Witch and Continent, Gravebloom is without a doubt the band’s most unrelenting effort to date.
4.) Counterparts – You’re not You Anymore
Canadian Melodic Hardcore outfit Counterparts have come through with their most mature and emotionally honest album since their debut. While Brendan Murphy may be the sole original member left, the band sounds more invigorated and empassioned than ever before.
3.) Heft – Heft
Slipknot fans, rejoice. Taking the best, most sinister aspects of nu-metal and blending them with blistering hardcore, somber metalcore, and too-tough-to-care beatdown, Heft crafted a truly perfect debut record. This self-titled selection of sonic self-loathing is a unique and immersive listen, and the hidden track gives every preceding song a little extra… Heft to it. I’m not sorry for that pun.
2.) Sentiment – Every Day I Die More
If you read my favorite upcoming albums list from last year, you’ll know how much I absolutely loved this album. While the production may be lacking in clarity, the grittiness adds perfectly to the amount of groove and aggression. If you love your heavy served up with a heaping side of melody, give this album a spin.
1.) Introvert – A Collection of Failed Attempts to Breathe
Last year’s split with Irritated proved Introvert was absolutely, inarguably not fucking around. On their second full-length, they solidify that stance. While the Youth Forever influence is still very much present, the experimentation and raw emotional energy alone earned this record the number one spot on this list.
now for the lightning rounds!
TOP EPS OF THE YEAR
End – from the unforgiving arms of God
Depreciator/The Color Nothing – Null/Void
Culture Killer – Culture Killer
$uicideboy$ – Kill Yourself pt XIV-XX
TOP SINGLES OF THE YEAR
WICKED WORLD – VOID
LITERALLY THAT SINGLE ITSELF IS SO PERFECT IT NEEDS ITS OWN LIST YOU COWARDS
