Scrolling across the internet in the coming weeks, you’ll find the occasional “top-ten” or “best of” year-end ranked list. On these lists, critics provide a taxonomic, often numerical ordering of the best releases in a given year, whether that be of albums, films, books, or other pieces of media. I’ve always considered this classificatory approach – numerically ranking art – frustratingly narrow-minded, often alienating, and perhaps even pernicious. My favorite releases tend to reveal their brilliance with time – it’s taken me years to fully grasp the excellence of some records. Who can authoritatively rank albums released just weeks ago? I wonder how these year end lists will fare in 2021, or in 2030, when future readers have some genuine hindsight. Perhaps they’ll lament how the fussy selections of more pompous publications stagnated the careers of promising young acts. Perhaps these lists are more banal and harmless than I credit them for. After all, they can be quite fun.
Familiar comfort comes with reading these year-end lists, debating their merit with friends, and discovering new artists along the way. Jack Murphy, ‘21 eloquently details such joys in his Phaser article “What can we make of the “Best of 2019” lists?” For reasons Jack articulates better than myself, I opted to indulge myself and make a list of my favorite albums from the past year. As you’ll see, they aren’t numerically ranked – principally because I take issue with the taxonomic approach. Instead, I’ve divided them between my twelve favorite full-length albums and some honorable mentions. As shoegazing’s resident metalhead, you’ll notice most (if not all) of the records are abrasive in some fashion. These records and their apocalyptic and at times harsh sounds are the perfect end to a truly apocalyptic and harsh year.
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2020:
Poppy – I Disagree
Genre(s): Alternative / Nu / Industrial Metal, Hyperpop
FFO (For Fans Of): Bring Me the Horizon, Ghostemane, Marilyn Manson
Rina Sawayama – SAWAYAMA
Genre(s): Pop, Nu Metal
FFO: Evanescence, Dorian Electra
Code Orange – Underneath
Genre(s): Hardcore, Metalcore, Alternative / Nu / Industrial Metal
FFO: Slipknot, Ghostemane, Harm’s Way, Vein
Eye Flys – Tub of Lard
Genre(s): Sludge Metal, Noise
FFO: Full of Hell, High on Fire, Torche
Rotting Out – Ronin
Genre(s): Hardcore
FFO: Knocked Loose, Turnstile, Terror
Sightless Pit – Grave of a Dog
Genre(s): Avant-Garde Metal
FFO: The Body, Lingua Ignota, Full of Hell
Mrs. Piss – Self-Surgery
Genre(s): Trad / Industrial / Sludge / Doom Metal, Grunge
FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, War on Women
Moor Jewelry – True Opera
Genre(s): Post-Punk, Post-Hardcore
FFO: Moor Mother, Show Me the Body, Dope Body
Vile Creature – Glory! Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
Genre(s): Sludge / Doom Metal, Choral, Noise
FFO: Lingua Ignota, Primitive Man, Amenra, The Body
Imperial Triumphant – Alphaville
Genre(s): Avant-Garde / Progressive / Black Metal, Tech Death, Jazz Fusion
FFO: Portal, Meshuggah, Liturgy, Voivod
Primitive Man – Immersion
Genre(s): Sludge / Doom Metal, Death-Doom, Noise
FFO: Ilsa, Thou
Touché Amoré – Lament
Genre(s): Melodic Post-Hardcore
FFO: La Dispute, Birds in Row, Hesitation Wounds
HONORABLE MENTIONS: XIBALBA – Años En Infierno, Body Count – Carnivore, Midwife – Forever, LEYA – Flood Dream, Anna von Hausswolff – All Thoughts Fly, Liturgy – Origin of the Alimonies, Trivium – What the Dead Men Say, Kvelertak – Splid, Hatebreed – Weight of the False Self, Ilsa – Preyer, Jesse Draxler – Reigning Cement, Dorian Electra – My Agenda, Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now, Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher, Backxwash – God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out Of It, Boris – No
