Words by Paige Cobos
Paige Cobos is an Indiana based freelance writer and content creator. Currently, she is a contributing writer for Off Shelf and had wrote for The Wright State Guardian covering the lifestyle and music scene around Dayton, Ohio. She is an avid music consumer of the metal variety. Outside writing she is traveling to the next metal show or playing video games in full view of the general public. Here are her top ten albums in no order.
Assemblage 23 – Null (Metropolis Records)
For over 20 years Tom Shear’s instructional project Assemblage 23 has held a special spot in the electric scene. Crossed between electric pop and EDM, Null is a carefully constructed album that is both melodic and aggressive. Shear’s vocals are strong and as charismatic as ever, paired with lyrics that speak of our current times. “Overthrow” and “Fuel” are highlights that will soon be classics of the dance floor.
Deafheaven – Lonely People with Power (Roadrunner Records)
Black metal? Shoegaze? Blackgaze? Whatever you call it, Deafheaven’s Lonely People with Power is a unique beast. Gnarly and gorgeous, it is their most powerful album to date. Marrying the two sounds with an emotional core that is confronting and cathartic. Tracks like “Magnolia” and “Heathen” demonstrate both sides of the spectrum while others like “The Golden Route” sound in perfect hybrid brutality.
Vianova – Hit It! (Arising Empire)
This German metalcore band has had one of the most unique debut albums of this year. Hit it! comes out swinging with heavy guitars and 70’s grooves that would seem silly if handled poorly but the sincerity makes it land. “Squier Talk” and “Oh No (Beliver)” really show off their heavy metal cred while being a little tongue-in-cheek. This is a band that you should keep an eye out for in coming years.
Bleed – self-titled (20 Buck Spin)
With their self-titled debut album, Bleed built upon an already impressive ep from 2021, Somebody’s Closer. Distinctly hard rock in sound, the album does have some Deftone-like vibes that will excite 2000 era nostalgia hungry listeners. Bringing on older tracks such as “Killing” with more added polish and refinement is fun to listen to. “Enjoy Your Stay” featuring Static Dress is a heavy and catchy display of what the future holds for the band.
Deftones – private music (Warner Brothers)
Where would we be without Deftones? Their release of private music this year shows a band that has not lost a single spark of their original sound. The album encapsulated all the melodies and sounds that we associate with the band and then some. “infinate source” feels like a magnum opus of everything that has been while “ecdysis” is a reminder of the unique spirit that makes this band one of a kind.
Violent Vira – Lover of a Ghost (Mom+Pop Music)
Violent Vira‘s Lover of a Ghost is a mature and haunting piece of emo rock. It is an album that touches on the themes of lost love, grief, and inner conflict. She brings textures of gothic and alternative along with an angry grit that makes the album unforgettable. “Burn Me with a Bible” is a standout anthem of the album while “Common Decency” is a highlight due to its guitar beats and beautiful vocals.
So Below – Afterthought (SO BELOW LTD)
So Below’s second album Afterthought is a fresh piece of gothic synthpop. Diving into themes such death and the duality of heaven and hell, yet the album sways with some of the catchiest beats this year. “Hush” and “Help” are easy favorites while the single ‘Currents” reaches into the emotional depths with breathy vocals and beautifully paced beats.
Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (self released)
The third coming of Blackbraid was bestowed this year with Blackbraid III – the best offering yet from indigenous black metal artist Sgah’gahsowáh. The album as a whole feels like an epic of old, traversing great landscapes while at times being spiritually introspective. Classic heavy guitar riffs and crushing drums are intertwined with more melodic guitars which make this album more than just head banger. “The Dying Breath of a Sacred Stag” is a standout of the album but the surprise Lord Belial cover at the end, “Fleshbound” is just fantastic.
Spiritbox – Tsunami Sea (Pale Chord Records / Risse Records)
It has been a few years since Spiritbox’s debut, but their sophomore effort Tsunami Sea demonstrates that patience yields powerful results. Infusing pop sensibilities with ruthless heavy metal vocals, it is their most refined and elevated album to date. “Perferct Soul” maybe the most balanced of the two worlds while “Black Rainbow” and “Soft Spine” shows that within their depths still lie a heavy metal soul.
Fleshwater – 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky (Closed Casket Activities)
With this being just their second album, Fleshwater’s 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky pulls no punches. Wrecked with beautiful tension and solid production, the album feels like a swell of shoegaze and metal. It is an ambitious album that melds its chosen genres perfectly. It feels like only just the beginning for Fleshwater. “Jetpack”and “Last Escape” are standouts but the first track “Drowning Song” will definitely drag you in.