Fashionably late with my fave albums of 2020 list but here's my Top 50 in no particular order:
GÖDEN - "BEYOND DARKNESS"
Featuring ex Winter member Stephen Flam. The perfect follow up to "Into Darkness".
PARADISE LOST -"OBSIDIAN"
Another excellent strong album from these veterans of musical misery.
STYGIAN CROWN - "STYGIAN CROWN"
Excellent debut album from this Californian epic doom metal band who are clearly influenced by Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus and the like. Vocalist Melissa has a great strong contralto voice and she is backed up by ex/current members of Morgion, Gravehill, Crimson Relic, Divine Eve etc.
CELESTIAL SEASON - "THE SECRET TEACHINGS"
Awesome comeback album from this dutch band, a return to their early-mid 90's Doom/Death roots. It is as if they bottled up their sound circa 1994/1995 and opened it in a studio in 2020. It would have been the perfect follow up to "Solar Lovers", but 25 years later will do!
Read my full album review here:
https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/celestial-season-the-secret-teachings/
SARCATOR - "SARCATOR"
Very impressive debut album from this young Swedish band some of whose members at the time of recording the album were only 15 and 17 years old! Excellent energetic powerful blackened death thrash and a very mature sounding debut.
Read my full album review here:
https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/sarcator-sarcator/
VAMPIRE - "REX"
Outstanding death metal from Sweden, full of killer hooks and excellent lead work, their best album so far in my humble opinion.
CRO-MAGS - "IN THE BEGINNING"
A welcome return by Harley Flanagan, a return to the old days of Cro-Mags, powerful HC Punk which packs a punch.
NECROPHOBIC - "DAWN OF THE DAMNED"
The best Necrophobic album with the current line up which is oozing with satanic death metal darkness.
BEAST OF REVELATION - "THE ANCIENT RITUAL OF DEATH"
Excellent debut album although the members of the band are no newcomers to the scene, featuring members/ex members of Incantation, Asphyx, Soulburn etc. Powerful dark DOOM/DEATH!
KONVENT - "PURITAN MASOCHISM"
Very strong debut by this all female Danish Death/Doom band who have been getting a lot of attention over the past couple years and it is well deserved, crushing doomed death, file alongside Mythic, Derketa, Acrostichon, Asphyx etc
Read my full album review here:
https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/konvent-puritan-masochism/
ANNIHILATOR - "BALLISTIC, SADISTIC"
Jeff Waters returns with the strongest Annihilator album in years, a true return to raging thrash/speed metal form bringing to mind the classic "Alice In Hell", "Never, Neverland" and "Set The World On Fire" days.
PYRE - "CHAINED TO OSSUARIES"
These Russians deliver a masterclass in Swedeath - prepared to be dismembered by their deadly death metal!
REEK - "DEATH IS SOMETHING THERE BETWEEN"
Death 'n' Roll from Sweden which reminds me a lot of "Wolverine Blues" era Entombed.
SKELETHAL - "UNVEILING THE THRESHOLD"
A strong offering from this French old school death metal band with a weighty heavy production and a guitar tone which will crush speakers.
SORCERER - "LAMENTING OD THE INNOCENT"
Another great album by these Swedish epic doom metal veterans - powerful and polished.
INCANTATION - "SECT OF VILE DIVINITIES"
American death metal legends unleash their best album in years! Some excellent crawling and crushing doomed passages collide with hefty death metal hooks.
MY DYING BRIDE - "THE GHOST OF ORION"
A majestically mournful, emotive and reflective full length from Yorkshire Doom/Death legends.
GODTHYRMM - "REFLECTIONS"
Impressive debut album from these Yorkshire doom dealers featuring ex members of Solstice, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Vallenfyre. Brings to mind early Paradise Lost in places.
HENRIK PALM - "POVERTY METAL"
An excellent eclectic album from ex In Solitude /Ghost guitarist.
LUCIFER - "LUCIFER III"
Their best album so far and Nicke Andersson's songwriting and musical contribution is clearly heard! Bewitching vocals as ever from front woman Johanna Platow Andersson.
LIK - "MISANTHROPIC BREED"
Dismember just called and want their sound back! Awesome hook filled death metal from Stockholm, Sweden which pays tribute to the early 90's Stockholm sound and Dismember in particular.
SODOM - "GENESIS IXI"
The strongest Sodom album in years! Teutonic Thrash Titans!
PALLBEARER - "FORGOTTEN DAYS"
Great hefty sounding production and awesome hooks both vocally and musically as always.
PERDITION TEMPLE- "SACRAMENTS OF DESCENSION"
Excellent rabid blackened death metal darkness featuring ex Angel Corpse member. Fans of that band take note!.
SOLOTHUS - "REALM OF ASH AND BLOOD"
Great 3rd album by this Finnish Doom/Death band. Crushing!
REPUKED - "DAWN OF REINTOXICATION"
Total Autopsy worship from these Swedes.
DEATH THE LEVELLER - "II"
Awesome epic doom/metal from this Irish band, great soulful clean sung vocals!.
HELLRIPPER - "THE AFFAIR OF THE POISONS"
Ripping Black Thrash Attack from this one man riff machine! Fans of Midnight take note!
LIVE BURIAL - "UNENDING FUTILITY"
Great sophomore album by these English death dealers! These geordies are clearly in league with the 90's death metal sound! With some slower paced nods to the old death/doom scene too.
SKELETAL REMAINS - "THE ENTOMBEMENT OF CHAOS"
Another very strong old school sounding Death metal album with some fierce Van Drunenesque howls and growls!.
SINIRA - "THE EVERLORN"
Simply put - the best album 90's Dissection never made! This one man band is Jon Nödtveidt incarnate!.
RAT CAGE - SCREAMS FROM THE CAGE"
Excellent pissed off hardcore punk from Sheffield, England.
NECROT - "MORTAL".
One of the best death metal bands out there currently and this album proves why. A masterclass in death!.
ETERNAL CHAMPION - "RAVENING IRON"
A very welcome fist pumping return from this American heavy metal band!
DISRUPTED - "PURE DEATH"
Does exactly what it says on the tin - PURE DEATH METAL from these savage Swedes. Definitely one for fans of Bloodbath.
THE FUNERAL ORCHESTRA - "NEGATIVE EVOCATION RITES"
Great comeback from these gloomy Swedes featuring member of Runemagick. Slow crawling funereal doomed metal. The aural equivalent of a funeral procession.
ASHTAR - "KAIKUJA"
Excellent black/doom from Switzerland. Like a blackened Neurosis in places mixed with "Monotheist" era Celtic Frost and Triptykon.
Read my full album review here:
https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/ashtar-kaikuja/
EVIL DEAD- "UNITED $TATE$ OF ANARCHY"
A great comeback album from these Californian thrash metal legends - one of the best thrash albums of 2020!.
MIND WARS - "THE FOURTH TURNING"
Great thrash/speed metal from USA featuring Mike Alvord ex Holy Terror - a pure savage riff fest full of sharp hooks!.
THE RITE - "LITURGY OF THE BLACK"
Great dark, sinister, doomy, gloomy offering from members of Black Oath and Denial Of God.
TYRANT - "HEREAFTER"
Great comeback by Texan heavy metallers now featuring Robert Lowe(Solitude Aeturnus /ex Candlemass) on vocals.
PERDITION SECT - "END TIMES"
Excellent punishing Discharge influenced metallic D beat attack featuring members of Ringworm and other prominent Cleveland scene members as well as another Ohio native, Kyle from Incantation.
ENSNARED - "INIMICUS GENERIS HUMANI"
These savage Swedes deliver another deadly and deathly strike! Ripping Death!.
BENEDICTION - "SCRIPTURES"
A welcome return to form and a welcome return to David Ingram on vocals - Bulldozing Brummie Death Metal!
INSIDIOUS DISEASE - "AFTER DEATH"
Ex Morgoth vocalist Marc Grewe returns to the scene with this latest Insidious Disease album which also features members of Dimmu Borgir and Napalm Death.
WYTCH HAZEL - "III:PENTECOST"
Catchy hook filled trad heavy metal from England with great twin guitar harmonies.
TEMPLE - "FUNERAL PLANET"
Hook Filled Doom Rock/Metal from Sweden which brings to mind Windhand. Vocals are in the high range like Ozzy and Uncle Acid.
SLUTET - "BORTOM VANSINNETS GREPP"
D Beat Kängpunk Mangel from Sweden.
KNIFE FOR AN EYE - "DAMNATION ROCK" N" ROLL
Featuring Ex Anti Cimex drummer Charlie Claesson - powerful hooky punked up rock 'n' roll!
STALLION - "SLAVES OF TIME"
Great heavy metal from Germany guaranteed to get your fist pumping, head banging and making you want to play air guitar!
Had to leave some awesome albums off but had to stop somewhere!.
Hope you find something of interest that you might not have heard yet:
