The Best Metal Albums of 2020 (So Far)

Best Metal Albums of 2020 (So Far)

In recent years, metal’s been one of the most overlooked genres in music. However, people are starting to realise that’s there more to it than just heavy riffs and screaming. Billboard details that the world has begun to appreciate its aesthetics and counter-culture sensibilities, as more and more people start to see its appeal.

This year alone has seen its fair share of great metal albums. And while the year is far from over, we thought it would be a great opportunity to put together a list of the year’s best releases. If you’re interested in learning more about this and our picks, read on for our list of the best metal albums of 2020 (so far). Do note that there are quite a few more albums that are to be released this year, so you may be getting an update on this in the near future!

Paradise Lost – Obsidian

Paradise Lost is one of the oldest names in the metal genre. With three decades of experience under their belt, it can still be quite surprising to find out that the best from the group could well be yet to come. The band’s latest release is proof that bands are perpetually evolving as this is one of the most eclectic of the band’s releases in a very long time.

This isn’t your granddad’s Paradise Lost, as the band has changed their sound quite a bit. One of the most evident instances of this would be the song “Darker Thoughts,” which starts off as a melancholic ballad and eventually crescendos into a mystical metal masterpiece. I personally enjoyed this song as it seems to transport its listeners into the fictional landscape that the band has created with their music. This has made me even more excited for the band’s future material, as this album is a clear sign that the band still has their best work in front of them despite being around for so long.

Lamb of God – Lamb of God

Lamb of God has been keeping themselves busy this year. Aside from the new album that they released back in June, the band also did an online show last September 18.

Old Lamb of God fans won’t be disappointed with this one, as the band pretty much have stuck to their guns on this album. However, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with a few pleasant surprises. While the distortion pedal fueled face-melting riffs and licks are the reasons why fans keep coming back to Lamb of God, this album is rather special as the vocal work on it cannot be understated. Randy Blythe has indeed done it again, as this may be the best his voice has sounded in years. Listeners will really hear the fullness of Blythe’s voice on this album, which is great as the band seems to have a lot to say. In typical Lamb of God fashion, their lyrics are also a reflection of the politics and social issues that are present in the world today — a comprehensive and nuanced conversation re-contextualised with a heavy metal backdrop. And this is one of the things I love most about Lamb of God. Say what you will about the band, but they’ve been true to themselves and their vision for their entire career.

Code Orange – Underneath

I’m probably not alone in saying that Underneath could not have come at a better time. Code Orange’s latest release is an accurate representation of the milieu of the times. The band continues on their post-metal trajectory that was well documented by Rolling Stone for their last album Forever, and fully leans into the darker themes all while maintaining thought-provoking lyrics and masterful instrumentation.

While fans of the band’s older work may be disappointed due to the new direction they seem to have taken in recent years, there’s really no denying that Code Orange has really embraced this new style and it’s clearly working in their favour. I’m personally a fan of these new changes, as they feel like a breath of fresh air in a genre that’s notorious for being formulaic. The track “Underneath” is a great example of the band’s sonic evolution. As the band makes use of elements taken from electronic music, in this case, it’s through the use of the Lifeforms Modular Synthesiser they seamlessly combine it with traditional metal elements.

By Rachel Jaqus