Don't have the time to make the final selection. I know that Vektor's Terminal Redux is the album of the year. OK? There you go! Best metal of 2016, now you know!
I also know that I liked a lot more albums this year than last year. So 2016 > 2015.
I know the 80s veterans did GOOD, really good in fact and this includes the 3 releases from the Big 4 (winner among them: Anthrax, oh yes sir), Death Angel (best work since Act III and among their best overall), Suicidal Tendencies (GREAT, Lombardo rules - but I liked 13 even more) and you probably know my opinion on Metallica and Megadeth (best work in years by both of them).
I know I liked some newcomers (Ripper from Chile and Armory got the most spins so far) and I know there is a ton of good shit I haven't explored in depth. And I know I am not in any position to draw up a list that satisfies my OCD and sense of duty (lol) and nobody is on my case with deadlines (aahhhhhhh, feels so gooooood!), so no list at this point I'm afraid dear reader.
However, for the benefit of those few people who asked me kindly to give them a list, as a thank you for the compliment of trusting my tastes, I will give you something, until I have made up my mind or decide to organise the Dungeon Metal Awards of 2016 (in a Kodak theater near you) to put all other metal award shows to shame (and how difficult would that be, right?).
This most scientific of lists is my 2016.txt in notepad, where I try to keep track of what the hell is going on. Marked with a * are the albums that would have probably made the list if I had any reason whatsoever to make one on time. I have an opinion on the albums on that list but I am just not in that place, where I have the urge to put it into words. Words will be added in due course (sometime before the new decade arrives)
Labelled "TO CHECK" are albums that I have sampled (a song, a video, a careless listening session of the album, something...) and I liked what I heard and want to listen to in full but haven't come round to do it. Albums I have no solid opinion on. But worth exploring.
Why post such a sloppy list? Apart from the people asking, it's because I think it's a good starting point for anyone wishing to explore some good metal or heavy music (or not so heavy...) from 2016 and thus perhaps someone might discover something that went under his radar.
Tip for the computerally challenged: Highlight the album you're interested in, right-click and google it. There, listen to the youtube. Easy.
Happy new year folks!
1. Vektor - Terminal Redux*
Anthrax - For All Kings*
Suicidal Tendencies - World Gone Mad*
Gojira - Magma*
Flotsam and Jetsam - Flotsam and Jetsam*
Death Angel - The Evil Divide*
Destroyer 666 - Wildfire*
Armory - World Peace...Cosmic War*
Black Viper - Stroming with Vengeance demo*
Watchtower - Concepts of Math - Book One*
Metallica - Hardwired...to Self-Destruct*
Megadeth - Dystopia*
Ghoul - Dungeon Bastards*
Warfect - Scavengers
Ripper - Experiment of Existence*
Teleport - Ascendance EP
Trallery - Spiritless
Testament - Brotherhood of the Snake
Sodom - Decision Day
Helstar - Vampiro
Metal Church - XI
Revocation - Great is Our Sin
Volbeat - Seal the Deal
Vicious Rumors - Concussion Protocol
DRI - But Wait...There's More! EP
Eternity's End - The Fire Within
Exmortus - Ride Forth
Eternal Champion - The Armor of Ire
Theocracy - Ghost Ship
Ranger - Speed and Violence
Mortillery - Shapeshifter
Terror-caust - What is Reality (EP)
Destruction - Under Attack
Kai Hansen - XXX - Three Decades in Metal
Brujeria - Pocho Aztlan
Nails - You Will Never Be One of Us
Asphyx - Incoming Death
Demon Bitch - Hellfriends
The Doomsday Kingdom - Never Machine Demo EP and single
Sumerlands - Sumerlands*
Prong X - No Absolutes
Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
Denner - Shermann - Masters of Evil
Paradox - Pangea*
Running Wild - Rapid Foray
Convixion - Days of Rage, Nights of Wrath
Rapture - Total Madness Reigns EP
Suicidal Angels - Division of Blood
Artillery - Penalty by Perception
Baphomet's Blood - In Satan We Trust
Wormrot - Voices
Conflagration - Cursed Earth EP
InnerWish - InnerWish
Wardrum - Awakening
Agatus - The Eternalist
Ghost - Popestar EP
Them - Sweet Hollow (not with lyrics)*?
Obscura - Acroasis (needs more spins)
------TO CHECK
Fates Warning - Theories of Flight (good, I don't hear the masterpiece though and I really prefer the Arch/Matheos version of the band...)
Evil Invaders - In for the Kill EP
Speedrush - Endless War
Mosh-Pit Justice - Stop Believing Lies*?
Dilliger Escape Plan - Dissociation
Ulcerate - Shrines of Paralysis
Protector - Cursed and Coronated
Blazon Stone - War of the Roses (Rolf needs to hire these guys and write songs for them, win-win)
Meshuggah - The Violent Sleep of Reason (not bad)
Striker - Stand in the Fire
Serious Black - Mirrorworld
Giraffe Tongue Orchestra - Broken Lines
Korn - The Serenity of Suffering
Deftones - gore
Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage (one clip sounded better than anything from their past)
Myrath - Legacy
Hammers of Misfortune - Dead Revolution (not great but has one awesome song, The Precipice)
Hellbringer - Awakened From the Abyss
National Suicide - Anotheround
Ravencult - Force of Profanation
Glenn Hughes - Resonate ("Heavy" is awesome)
Mithras - On Strange Loops (tech death metal)
Brain Tentacles - Brain Tentacles (avant-garde, jazzy metal)*?
Khemmis - Hunted (doom metal)
Mentor - Guts, Graves and Blasphemy (black thrash/punk)
Stormdeath - Time to Destroy (thrash, feat. Armory guitarist on bass)
High Spirits - Motivator (hard rock/hm thin lizzy style?)
Pretty Maids - Kingmaker
Spellcaster - Night Hides the World (Heavy Metal)
Seven Sisters - Seven Sisters
Hobbs' Angel of Death - Heaven Bled
Sacred Steel - Heavy Metal Sacrifice
Demontage - Fire of Iniquity (black/heavy)
Euphoria - Operation: Genesis (thrash)
