No, we’re not being repetitive. Yes, we did post a year-end list by Rolling Stone magazine earlier in our LISTMANIA series, but that one was the magazine’s list of the top 50 albums across all genres of music that they care about. This, however, is a list in which metal isn’t elbowed aside by the likes of The Monkees, Elton John, and Brandy Clark, leaving only Metallica standing as the lone metal recognition.
This is Rolling Stone’s list of the “20 Best Metal Albums of 2016”, which appeared yesterday. And here it is:
20. Black Sabbath, ‘The End’ EP
19. 40 Watt Sun, ‘Wider Than the Sky’
18. Virus, ‘Memento Collider’
17. Crowbar, ‘The Serpent Only Lies’
16. Gorguts, ‘Pleiades’ Dust’
15. Darkthrone, ‘Arctic Thunder’
14. Frontierer, ‘Orange Mathematics’
13. Abbath, ‘Abbath’
12. Nails, ‘You Will Never Be One of Us’
11. Khemmis, ‘Hunted’
10. Whores., ‘Gold’
9. Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas, ‘Mariner’
8. Gojira, ‘Magma’
7. Deftones, ‘Gore’
6. Megadeth, ‘Dystopia’
5. Neurosis, ‘Fires Within Fires’
4. The Dillinger Escape Plan, ‘Dissociation’
3. Sumac, ‘What One Becomes’
2. Meshuggah, ‘The Violent Sleep of Reason’
1. Metallica, ‘Hardwired… to Self Destruct’
Yes, unsurprisingly, Metallica gets the AOTY spot. Equally unsurprising, the list is loaded with other big names who have long histories, along with other more recent mass-appeal crowd-pleasers (including Gojira, who seem to have arrived on the big stage this year with the least interesting album of their career, though one that isn’t bad, mind you).
Yet the list does have its interesting and even unexpected features. Like many other lists from “big platform” web sites and large-circulation print zines, Rolling Stone’s list recognizes the quality of Khemmis’ new album (for those of you playing SurgicalBrute’s drinking game, it’s time for another shot), and it includes the collaboration by Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas as well as the albums by 40 Watt Sun, Virus, Gorguts, and Sumac. I confess that those surprised me.
But the biggest surprise, hands down, is the appearance of Frontierer’s album. That’s a deep cut, and a big deal for those Scots, and one that makes me very happy for them.
Anyway, if you’re interested in reading Rolling Stone’s commentary about all the albums on this list, go here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-metal-albums-of-2016-w454251
Now, how about some comments?
40 Responses to “LISTMANIA 2016: ROLLING STONE’S 20 BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2016”
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Comments you say? You mean like…
“Metallica” That’s laughable! Incarcerated Credenza put out the best METAL album this year – don’t deny it. Stop trying to be different – you’re only appealing to hipsters. Have fun with that. I thought i’d found a credible metal music site to frequent. Apparently not – laters!
Your dedication to this in-joke is inspiring
That’s one word for it. Another word is “obsessive”.
“joke”?
I had more respect for them before they did this list
HA HA. YOU HAD RESPECT FOR ROLLING STONE.
Well, I didnt think they could actually move past “boil on the ass end of music” but here we are
This comment literally had me laughing out loud.
Its better than the one on Revolver
Revolver put Avenged 7craps on 3rd, that deserves an award
I say we need a ranked listing of all of the lists. Listmania is not complete without it.
Good idea, against the disinformation of the mainstream media promoting bullshit all the time.
“Revolver”? That’s laughable! Terrorizer put out the best METAL list this year – don’t deny it. Stop trying to be different – you’re only appealing to hipsters. Have fun with that. I thought I’d found a credible metal music site to frequent. Apparently not – laters!
Lmao
A gold star for that.
I like the cut of your jib.
A list of lists sounds like a good idea. If I have time, I’ll take these non-NCS lists and weight the albums according to where they showed up in the rankings and then see which ones make the Top 10 or 20.
I don’t get why Gore or Abbath are on here. I wouldn’t even call them middling efforts, both albums were weak tea from musicians capable of a lot more.
I get where you’re coming from, but I do think Abbath’s albums had flashes of the old brilliance, even if it wasn’t as consistently gripping all the way through.
I believe In flames or Testament deserves it the most.
What, no love for Rob Zombie or Alter Bridge?
No.
EQUALLY PUZZLING IS THE OMISSION OF KORN
Hey wait a minute this list isn’t mine, it doesn’t matter!
This is like a Rosetta Stone of internet comments.
I try to encompass as much as I see in as few words as possible.
Millennia from now, people who happen upon your comment will write volumes of social commentary based upon it. You name will become immortal, even though you will probably die in agony anyway.
Dying in agony would virtually guarantee this outcome.
It would certainly help. I’m feebly trying not to suggest that it would actually be a good thing, since it’s the kind of pain that would bring rewards the sufferer would never experience.
If he dies in agony then we can use his newly minted immortal name to sell cheap shit on the open market and make off like bandits.
A stirring example of just how quickly these tawdry modern-day market forces can corrupt even the purest of goals. Truly, commentary for the ages.
Our marketing VP has spoken.
I give all permission to NCS to sell my comments infamy after I die. Please exploit it to the fullest, and make sure my grave site is often disrespected.
I’d argue that Whores. (or as I like to type their name, WHORES!!11!1!) is also a pretty surprising/deep cut.
Good point. I should have called them out too among the deep, surprising cuts. WHORES!!!!!!
I would have loved to say what a pleasant surprise this list is, but it seems to me that Rolling Stone doesn’t even try to surprise. Another magazine which thinks Metallice is the shit. To recite Metallica: “Sad but true”.
“Hardwired…For Recency Bias”
Not that I’m suggesting the end of year release date was in any way intended to ensure it ended up topping these lists.
Or perhaps the inevitable bump in sales that comes from being an obligatory stocking stuffer for the dad rock set?
As expected, a list full of mediocre bands. And the bands that are good are way out of order.
Some fun picks, but still no Gruesome, easily my top pick of 2016. Poopers.