For what it’s worth…. Our top 12 albums for 2017:
- Charly Bliss – Guppy
Personally the more I listen to this album the more I love it. Though it doesn’t quite catch their live energy it’s a great album that promises great things to come in the future.
- Gwar – The Blood of Gods
Their first album without Oderus (David Brockie) had to be difficult to make. A lot of fans were skeptical, some never gave Blothar (Mike Bishop) a chance, but that would be their loss. The album is excellent, contains nice tributes to Oderus, and is entirely Gwar.
- Crowfeeder – No Flowers
No Flowers, features their signature over-driven guitars, breakneck drums, and an assortment of screams and melodic vocals that nearly matches the intensity of their live shows. Derek Paul’s sludgy metal guitar riffs, play counterpoint to clean chords throughout, ably backed by drummer Adam Norton.
- Waxahatchee – Out In The Storm
Out in the Storm the fourth album by the Philadelphia-based singer has her finally hitting her stride and Waxahatchee’s best work to date.
- Sheer Mag – Need To Feel Your Love
Seventies hard rock is back with a vengeance.
- Lorde – Melodrama
Melodrama is a work of sleek self-possession, packed with bursts of peculiar rhymes and production that confound expected song formulas.
- Prong – Zero Days
Zero Days continues Prong’s crossover sound. From straight rage to more melodic compositions blending a mixture of industrial, metal, thrash, hardcore, and groove (but all of it is inherently Prong/Victor).
- Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark
10 shamelessly melodic rock songs that hit home.
- Cherry Glazerr – Apocalipstick
Apocalipstick is a clear development with better production and a more expansive sound.
- Sorority Noise – You’re Not As ___ As You Think
Close your eyes and you can picture the band jumping up and down on a stage, blasting through a noise tinged pop punk song.
- The Dollyrots – Whiplash Splash
Fun, fast paced, pop punk with somewhat cheesy, sometimes clever, often comical lyrics, but with a certain authenticity most bands seek but never attain.
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Murder of the Universe
Murder of the Universe is an intense journey, an epic high fantasy tale told hurriedly through 21 tracks in less than three-quarters of an hour.
Honorable Mentions:
This year all our Honorable Mentions go to long time “legacy” acts. Each of them put out solid releases this year (particularly for how far into their careers they are) :
KMFDM – Hell Yeah
Nine Inch Nails – Add Violence
Rancid – Trouble Maker
Alice Cooper – Paranormal
Body Count – Bloodlust
Depeche Mode – Spirit
