AlbumsThatRock.com presents: The 20 Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2016
The year 2016 has provided metal fans with a large amount of great albums. At the beginning of the year it was obvious that it would be hard to top the year 2015, which gave us masterpieces such as Slayer’s Repentless, Fear Factory’s Genexus, Gus G’s Brand New Revolution, Butcher Babies’ Take It Like A Man, and Motörhead’s final album Bad Magic. But I was confident knowing that certain bands were working hard towards releasing new music.
This year, I decided not to include any EPs and live albums, as well as rock and punk rock albums, since it was already difficult to narrow down the list to 20 heavy metal albums. It wasn’t easy but I did it. Please keep in mind that the following selection and ranking is based upon my personal taste, the amount of spins the album has received on my CD player, and by how I feel about the music when I listen to it. That said, here we go:
#20 Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake (read here)
#19 Suicidal Tendencies – World Gone Mad
#18 Sonata Arctica – The Ninth Hour (read here)
#17 Sixx:A.M. – Prayer for the Blessed, Vol. 2
#16 Prong – X (No Absolutes) (watch here)
#15 Destruction – Under Attack (read here)
#14 Sabaton – The Last Stand (read here)
#13 Primal Fear – Rulebreaker (read here)
#12 Running Wild – Rapid Foray
#11 The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For (read here)
#10 Amaranthe – Maximalism (watch here)
#9 Megadeth – Dystopia (read here)
#8 Metallica – Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (read here)
#7 Filter – Crazy Eyes (read here)
#5 Striker – Stand In The Fire (read here)
#4 Alter Bridge – The Last Hero (read here)
#3 Death Angel – The Evil Divide (read here)
#2 Flotsam and Jetsam – Flotsam and Jetsam (read here)
#1 Anthrax – For All Kings (read here)
Recap of my personal top 20 heavy metal albums of 2016:
#20 Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake
#19 Suicidal Tendencies – World Gone Mad
#18 Sonata Arctica – The Ninth Hour
#17 Sixx:A.M. – Prayer for the Blessed, Vol. 2
#16 Prong – X (No Absolutes)
#15 Destruction – Under Attack
#14 Sabaton – The Last Stand
#13 Primal Fear – Rulebreaker
#12 Running Wild – Rapid Foray
#11 The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For
#10 Amaranthe – Maximalism
#9 Megadeth – Dystopia
#8 Metallica – Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
#7 Filter – Crazy Eyes
#6 Tremonti – Dust
#5 Striker – Stand In The Fire
#4 Alter Bridge – The Last Hero
#3 Death Angel – The Evil Divide
#2 Flotsam and Jetsam – self-titled
#1 Anthrax – For All Kings
These are my favourite album releases of 2016. Which are yours?
I wish you all a Happy New Year 2017, and may the gods of rock and metal provide us with many wonderful albums this coming year again.