Axl Rosenberg’s Top Fifteen Metal Albums of 2016

Alright… that sucked!

15. Toothgrinder – Noctural Masquerade (Spinefarm)

Well, I’d look right up at night, and all I’d see was darkness. Now I see the stars alright. I wanna reach right up and grab one for you! The sweat I make for you… I think you know where that comes from.

14. Lacuna Coil – Delirium (Century Media)

Sick of this life, not that you’d care. I’m not the only one with whom these feelings I share. Nobody understands quite why we’re here. We’re searchin’ for answers that never appear.

But maybe… if I looked real hard… I’d see you tryin’, too, to understand this life that we’re all goin’ through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXdXDLfvjFk

13. Cobalt – Slow Forever (Profound Lore)

Why let one bad apple spoil the whole damn bunch?

12. Eternal Sleep – The Emptiness Of… (Closed Casket Activities)

There’s no logic here today. Do as you got to, and go your own way. Time’s short, your life’s your own. And in the end we are just dust n’ bones.

11. Graf Orlock – Crimetraveler (Vitriol)

Keep the demons down and drag the skeletons out, I got a blind man followin’ me in chains. I said he’s fun to watch when the world has stopped — and I think he’s got somethin’ to say.

“You wanna fuck with me? Don’t fuck with me, ’cause I’m what you’ll be. So don’t fuck with me.”

10. Wormrot – Voices (Earache)

Back in town, an’a all new friends. They sayin’, “How ya been?” Fucked up and outta place — that’s how I felt back then.

9. Magrudergrind – II (Relapse)

You want a confrontation? I’ll give you every fuckin’ chance. With your verbal masturbation… me, I just like to dance. How’s that for provocation? I’m just makin’ a stance.

An I’m tired of the frustration of livin’ inside of your lies. I’m wired on indignation… SOMEBODY’S GOT TO DIE!

8. Mantar – Ode to the Flames (Nuclear Blast)

This fire is burnin’, and it’s out of control. It’s not a problem you can stop… it’s rock n’ roll. Suck on that!

7. Ghoul – Dungeon Bastards (Tankcrimes)

You wanna step into my world? It’s a sociopsychotic state of bliss! You’ve been delayed in the real world… how many times have you hit and missed?

Your cat-scan shows disfiguration. I wanna laugh myself to death. With a misfired synapse and a bent configuration. I’ll hold the line while you gasp for breath.

6. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Dissociation (Party Smasher)

I’ll never find anyone to replace you. Guess I’ll have to make it through this time without you. I knew the storm was getting closer, and all my friends said I was high. But everything we’ve ever known’s here… I never wanted it to die.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coi7wDyJgyw

5. The Erkonauts – I Did Something Bad (Kaotoxin)

I can’t stop thinkin’, thinkin’ ’bout sinkin’, sinkin’ down into my bed.

I call my mother — she’s just a cunt now — she said I’m sick in the head. She said, “You ain’t special! So who ya foolin’? Don’t try to give me a line.”

But I can’t stop thinkin’ ’bout seein’ ya one more time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cnptJCYq9Y

4. Destrage – A Means to No End (Metal Blade)

Sometimes I wanna kill, sometimes I wanna die. Sometimes I wanna destroy, sometimes I wanna cry. Sometimes I could get even, sometimes I could give up. Sometimes I could give, sometimes I never give a fuck!

3. Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Arc (Relapse)

My mamma never really said much to me. She was much too young, and scared to be. Hell, Freud might say that’s what I need… but all I really ever get is greed. And most my friends, they feel the same! Hell, we don’t even have ourselves to blame.

2. Gatecreeper – Sonoran Deprivation (Relapse)

Turned into my worst phobia, a crazy man’s utopia. If you’re lost, no one can show ya… but it sure was glad to know ya!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh_O2Dgowfk

1. Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas – Mariner (Indie) 

Get in the ring, motherfucker.