List by Steve Knapp

Adebisi Shank – This Is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
Let me get this out of the way: trust me when I say this album will groove you ‘til you’re chafed. This is the last album of a mostly instrumental band. Front-to-back, this album is damn fun to listen to. The video game-esque track “Voodoo Vision” has become one of my all-time favorite songs.

Temples – Sun Structures
I am always leery of hyped debut albums, but this one caught me out of nowhere. I thought it was going to be simple 60s throwback rock but what I got was something complicated and special.

Hoth – Oathbreaker
Oathbreaker came out of the land of zero expectations and slapped my face with its big ol’ bag of bleak riffy goodness. And no, I’m not biased because of the Star Wars inspired name…ok yes I am.

Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun
Even though I love me some Mastodon, their last album was a whole lot of “meh.” I think this was the album a lot of people were expecting from them as they made the move away from straight up metal towards hard rock.

Voyag3r – Doom Fortress
Is it a conflict of interest for me to list this one? Absolutely (they’re my gf’s brother’s band). Out of Detroit, Voyag3r is like every one of your favorite synthy 70s and 80s soundtracks coming to life at once: a VHS for your ears. Yes, they’re that awesome.

 

Tengger Cavalry – Ancient Call
Ever listen to folk metal from Beijing? It’s like getting chased down by a galloping demon horse. It also holds its own (and then some) in the metal world. The traditional instruments are more than background filler on the album and are the reason this album made my list.

Strand of Oaks – Heal
Come for “Goshen ’97,” stay when you realize you have no idea why you can’t take your headphones off. The crunchy blend of fuzzed out guitars and old school synths kept this one in constant rotation.

Sólstafir – Ótta
This is one hell of a haunting album that covers you in its genre-obscuring fog. It’s an album that’s not trying to do anything other than a solid representation of metal from Iceland.

Year of the Goat – The Key and the Gate
Spacehog vocals, Thin Lizzy Riffs, Ghost B.C. sensibilities, this EP was an incredible release. Only problem: it wasn’t released in the US, but that’s what the internet’s for, right?

 

Cynic – Kindly Bent to Free Us
It was this or Opeth’s new album and this one barely edged out Pale Communion. Kindly Bent to Free Us was a new, spacier direction for Cynic while keeping the focus on solid individual songs. And oh how I wish I had that voice…