There’s been so much in the way of good music so far in 2017 that this catch-all article is going to have to omit solid releases from Miss May I (Shadows Inside) and Sorority Noise, among others that didn’t quite make the cut. That doesn’t speak for the aforementioned bands as much as it does the absolute quality we’ve seen across the metal, rock, and even hip-hop spectrums.
We’re paring down our list of the best music of 2017 (so far) to 62 albums, including a couple EP’s that are really good. Note that we’re only including albums that will see a June 16th release or before, so anything after won’t be here. Sorry! Without further ado, here’s our (not ranked in any particular order, but the best is saved for the end) list of what 2017 has had to offer us.
#62: Loathe (The Cold Sun)
Is Loathe nu-metal? Metalcore? Post-hardcore? Deathcore? Industrial? The Cold Sun is all of that and more.
#61: Code Orange (Forever)
Forever is Code Orange’s “moment” where they break into the mainstream consciousness. Just look at who they’re supporting on tour – Gojira, System Of A Down. Incredible. “Kill The Creator” will have you moshing.
#60: Junius (Eternal Rituals For The Accretion of Light)
Junius’s first full-length in 5 years is mostly worth the wait. A couple standouts, no real weak tracks, and then you have moments of pulsing, shimmering beauty like on “The Queen’s Constellation”.
#59: Starset (Vessels)
Flashy electronic rock band Starset have doubled down on Vessels, the band’s second record. While it’s a bit long at over an hour, there’s some truly HUGE tracks on here – namely “Monster” and “Telepathic”.
#58: Deaf Havana (All These Countless Nights)
On All These Countless Nights, Deaf Havana prove adept (again!) at making gritty alternative rock that is also distinctly British. Despite numerous stylistic changes over the years, they prove incapable of making a bad record.
#57: Set and Setting (Reflectionless)
St Petersburg post-metal collective Set and Setting are back with Reflectionless, a self-released effort. Also, they have two drummers. For anyone who lives in Florida and gets to see them perform quite a bit, they’re certainly a treat to watch.
#56: The Menzingers (After The Party)
Well, I guess this is growing up.
#55: Black Map (In Droves)
Gritty alt-rock three piece that also contains members of Dredg, Far, and The Trophy Fire. Obvious comparisons to Deftones, Chevelle, and the like may abound, but this is not a bad thing.
#54: Michael Barr (+1)
Dark R&B/pop from former Volumes vocalist Michael Barr. If he doesn’t rule the airwaves in a year or two, I’ll eat my hat. Listen to “Dark Kid” and “Worthless” for some legitimately fantastic hooks.
#53: Voyager (Ghost Mile)
Pop-influenced vocals and expert-level progressive metal from Australia. Some seriously great production on this one – check out the booming drums around the 2:11 mark on the title track.
#52: Tigerwine (Die With Your Tongue Out)
Genuinely exciting post-hardcore // alt-rock from Colorado. Keep Tigerwine on your radar.
#51: Create To Inspire (Sickness)
Quality melodic hardcore outit from the UK. It’ll be a surprise if their debut full-length, Sickness, doesn’t put them on the international map soon.
#50: Lorna Shore (Flesh Coffin)
One of the best deathcore albums of 2017, Lorna Shore ventures into prog-metal and even post-black metal territory on Flesh Coffin. The punishing title track is something to behold.
#49: Acres (In Sickness & Health)
On the 3rd EP from post-rock/post-hardcore favorites Acres, they’ve created another masterpiece. With songs as good as the title track and “Gloom”, they’re fast becoming a favorite of British fans. A full-length might put them over the top.
#48: Volumes (Different Animals)
Even since their debut EP The Concept Of Dreaming, progressive metal band Volumes have proven themselves both frustrating and exciting (“Edge Of The Earth”). This album proves no different, because while DA’s tracklisting and flow feels a bit awkward, there’s huge crossover potential like the initially awkward but ultimately catchy “On Her Mind” and moshpit-inducing ragers like “Left For Dead” // “Disaster Vehicle”. It’ll be a shock if this isn’t the biggest Volumes release to date, but DA doesn’t completely abandon the band’s old sound, either.
#47: Incendiary (Thousand Mile Stare)
Flame bursting hardcore that’s also influenced by Rage Against The Machine, of all bands. Recommended.
#46: Our Hollow, Our Home (Hartsick)
Solid melodic metalcore from the UK. Hartsick is a self-released (!!!) album that might remind listeners of Bury Tomorrow, which isn’t a bad thing at all. This is a band that’s gaining traction, and fast. Give them another album or two and they could break down genre barriers – but Hartsick is a nice start.
#45: Uneven Structure (La Partition)
It’s not quite as good as 2011’s groundbreaking Februus, but 6 years of waiting for new Uneven Structure was more or less worth it. Ambient progressive metal that burns a bit slower than anything they’ve done previously, yet is all the more rewarding for it.
#44: Grayscale (Adornment)
If only Adornment, the band’s debut album for Fearless Records, had a track as good as “Midwest”, this would be ranked higher. But that’s about the only gripe one could have about it, because Grayscale are fixing to explode onto the national scene in a big way. If there’s a sure highlight, it’s probably “Beautiful Things”.
#43: Employed To Serve (The Warmth Of A Dying Sun)
Pulverizing and dirty metalcore/hardcore that’s being heavily championed by Kerrang! too. Peep their cover of “Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste“.
#42: Sampha (The Process)
Modern electronic R&B that is similar to James Blake, but is a true musical triumph both lyrically and musically. Seriously, the NPR Tiny Desk concert linked here is more or less god-tier.
#41: Power Trip (Nightmare Logic)
More good crossover thrash from Power Trip. Is it still 1987?
#40: Demon Hunter (Outlive)
Demon Hunter may have gone for their most melodic and accessible album yet on Outlive, but if you think they forget how to punch you in the larynx, you only need to listen to the pummeling assault that is “Jesus Wept”.
#39: Soen (Lykaia)
Lykaia, the 3rd full-length from progressive metallers Soen, is one that focuses more on atmosphere than it does blowing you away with flashy technical abilities. Restraint and buildup are something that Soen have clearly started to master.
#38: Acceptance (Colliding By Design)
Acceptance is back after a 12 year hiatus. Catchy and synth pop/alt-rock that’s produced by Aaron Sprinkle, AKA that guy you know who’s worked on records from Demon Hunter, Thousand Foot Krutch, Falling Up, and some band named Anberlin.
#37: Dangerkids (Blacklist_)
The 2nd record from Dangerkids is one that’s almost 4 years in the making. Considering the band’s wave of initial hype in 2012/2013 for their debut album Collapse, it was certainly a long time coming. It’s also a thrilling album that should be all over rock radio at this point. Octane, are you listening?
#36: He Is Legend (Few)
Schuylar Croom, everyone. He Is Legend continue to fire on all cylinders on album #5.
#35: Royal Thunder (Wick)
Royal Thunder are 3 for 3 in the awesome department. It’s like if a grittier Stevie Nicks was fronting The Sword. Not the best description, but it speaks to how unique Royal Thunder is, really.
#34: Fit For An Autopsy (The Great Collapse)
If you really consider Fit For An Autopsy to fall under the deathcore genre, then they’re one of the best. Whatever you’d like to call them though, on The Great Collapse, FFAA go for a slightly more melodic and progressive metal sound. That doesn’t mean it’s not heavy, but maybe it’s just a bit more room to breathe.
#33: Planning For Burial (Below The House)
Jesu-esque post-rock/ambient music from The Flenser, who are one of the most consistent and forward-thinking labels around. Planning For Burial’s best work to date.
#32: Outrun The Sunlight (Red Bird)
More cinematic post-rock/post-metal from Outrun The Sunlight, who are really coming into their own. Almost as good as 2014’s Terrapin, and in some ways better – it burns a little slower, but might be all the better for it.
#31: Brutality Will Prevail (In Dark Places)
You can more or less throw out the disappointment that was Suspension Of Consciousness – Brutality Will Prevail’s doom-laden brand of sludgy hardcore is back and better than ever.
#30: Slowdive (Slowdive)
A new Slowdive album in 2017? Yeah. And it’s as shoegazey fresh as ever.
#29: Palisades (Palisades)
Palisades’ self-titled album is the one they needed to make. The band’s electronic brand of alt-rock and pop is fully realized now, but it’s not like they’ve hopped on a trend to do it – vocalist Lou Miceli puts on some of the best performances of his career. It might be a far cry from “Bury It”, but songs like “Let Down” are far more catchy and anthemic than anything from the band’s 2 previous full-lengths. Opener “Aggression” shows that Palisades haven’t completely abandoned their roots, though, which is a good thing here.
#28: Eidola (To Speak, To Listen)
Progressive post-hardcore outfit Eidola are back with another genuinely exciting and anthemic album. Some incredibly talented musicians here.
#27: Halflives (Empty Rooms)
Halflives may be influenced by Pvris (seriously, almost everyone is comparing Empty Rooms to something they would do), and the big problem is that Empty Rooms is too short at just 8 songs. That’s a good problem to have, though, because these 8 songs are filled to the brim with choruses that catch fire just about every time. The Italian alt-rock/pop group are buoyed by a fantastic vocalist in Linda Battilani. The chorus in “Burn” is basically Halflives’ “moment” – the one where you know they’re poised to explode worldwide.
#26: Tricot (3)
Tricot’s new album, 3, is a barnburner of catchy and spastic Japanese mathy alt-rock. Even if you’re not into the genre, the album will likely hook you regardless.
#25: No Omega (Culture)
Just how do you label Sweden’s No Omega? They could easily fall under the screamo, post-hardcore, or even post-black metal tags, but their new album Culture is probably somewhere in between those descriptors. Tracks like “Agora” and “Feral Houses” are filled with the kinds of emotional and honest vulnerability that most bands of their style just can’t touch.
#24: Artificial Brain (Infrared Horizon)
Progressive tech-death that is never lame or uninspired. Also, bonus points for the great cover art on Infrared Horizon.
#23: Ulver (The Assassination Of Julius Caesar)
The best Depeche Mode album released in 2017. Wait, it’s by Ulver, you say? Yes, the band who arguably made post-black metal a thing (the highly influential Bergtatt) and then released more groundbreaking and experimental records that fell out of their black metal comfort zone (Perdition City, especially) are back with a synthpop record that sounds like both what you would expect, and also what you wouldn’t. Truthfully, it’s in Ulver’s nature to completely throw listeners for a loop, but this record takes the cake.
#22: Fen (Winter)
Atmospheric black metal done right.
#21: Full Of Hell (Trumpeting Ecstasy)
“Fractured Quartz” is worth the price of admission alone. Some truly monstrous riffs here.
#20: Anathema (The Optimist)
The Optimist is Anathema’s 11th studio album. Let that sink in for a minute. And the album, which is a part 2 of sorts to A Fine Day To Exit, is essentially another victory lap for the band who’ve never disappointed at all, despite major genre shifts in their music.
#19: Blood Youth (Beyond Repair)
It’s only a matter of time before fans outside Europe take notice of Blood Youth. They’re soon to be melodic hardcore’s “it” band, and given how infectious some of these songs are (“Reason To Stay”), they’ve got staying power too. Put them on a tour with Beartooth and/or He Is Legend and watch them go places.
#18: Sleepmakeswaves (Made Of Breath Only)
Made Of Breath Only is an example of how bands are putting the future in their own hands – in this case, via crowdfunding. Completely cutting out the middle man is a bold step to take, even for Sleepmakeswaves. The result is one of the most dynamic and exciting post-rock albums in recent memory. Yet Sleepmakeswaves is at their best when they opt for a more electronically-based approach – but no matter what they do, 3 albums and multiple EP’s in, they’re probably going to be quite skilled at it.
#17: Can’t Swim (Fail You Again)
How do you follow up an EP (Death Deserves A Name) that was the talk of the scene in 2016? By creating an album full of fantastic songs that capture both emotional vulnerability (“Stranger”) and growing up (the rousing album opener “What’s Your Big Idea?”). Can’t Swim is gaining some serious traction right now.
#16: Sikth (The Future In Whose Eyes?)
UK progressive tech-metal veterans are back with their first full-length in 11 years. Following up their highly influential discography (seriously, look at the new wave of bands they’ve inspired) is no easy feat, but despite a vocalist change, it’s all done very well. The crystal-clear production may bother a few but it’s actually a great fit. “Golden Cufflinks” will grow on you.
#15: The Maine (Lovely, Little, Lonely)
The Maine have cemented themselves as one of alt-rock’s most important assets. Seriously, can we get a Third Eye Blind and The Maine tour? That would be amazing.
#14: 3Teeth (shutdown.exe)
The industrial metal band, who gained a ton of pull opening for Tool recently, are back with their 2nd full length, shutdown.exe. No, it’s not a spyware program, but it is an industrial rock/metal record that’ll remind you of early Ministry, Skinny Puppy, and even PHM/Broken-era Nine Inch Nails. 3Teeth is the future that’s also happening right now.
#13: Northlane (Mesmer)
Northlane confirm their nearly full-blown shift to alt-metal on Mesmer. “Citizen” is a crunchy slab of atmospheric post-hardcore, while “Paragon” is a roaring tribute to the late Architects guitarist Tom Searle.
#12: Darkest Hour (Godless Prophets and The Migrant Flora)
The metalcore/melodic death metal veterans are back with their best record since 2007’s Deliver Us.
#11: Hundredth (Rare)
Hundredth completely reinvent themselves in a career-lengthening way on Rare. The “listens to Swervedriver and Turnover ONCE” jokes are hilarious, but the complete stylistic shift Hundredth has undergone is nothing phony or phoned in. “Youth” is a certified banger – don’t tell me those swirling guitars wouldn’t fit on an early Swervedriver, Ride, or even Chapterhouse album.
#10: Creeper (Eternity, In Your Arms)
Misery never goes out of style. Creeper is going to completely break out on the Vans Warped Tour this summer.
#9: Mastodon (Emperor Of Sand)
Emperor Of Sand is both Mastodon’s best album in a decade, as well as being a statement – one that’s exhibited in bold songs like “Jaguar God” and solid opener “Sultan’s Curse”.
#8: Ghost Key (If I Don’t Make It)
Illinois melodic hardcore newcomers Ghost Key have released a pulverizing, gripping album in If I Don’t Make It, and its mission is twofold – provide a throwback to the greats (Verse, Modern Life Is War, Dead Swans), as well as provide an outlet for both vocalist Austin O’Brien and Ghost Key’s listeners to explore the darkest reaches of their souls. This isn’t hyperbole. Lines like “I am terrified to die because my life has yet to mean anything” are delivered with the utmost honesty and conviction.
#7: Kendrick Lamar (Damn.)
Stay humble.
#6: Heretoir (The Circle)
Probably the best post-black metal album release of 2017, at least so far. Heretoir have grown and improved tenfold from their previous work – the pulsing beauty of “The White” is just one of many great tracks here.
#5: Ocean Grove (The Rhapsody Tapes)
The Rhapsody Tapes might be the best debut album you’ll hear all year. Equal parts nu-metal/hardcore energy (the title track, “Beers”) and alt-rock with incredible hooks (“Thunderdome”, “Mr. Centipede”), Ocean Grove’s diversity really makes them stand out among their peers. And that’s not even counting the track “The Wrong Way”, a slow-burning song that is the absolute highlight of the album.
Also, the chorus on “Mr. Centipede” is god-tier. Listen to it. Ocean Grove is Australia’s most exciting new band.
#4: The Drowned God (Moonbearer)
As a massive fan of experimental post-hardcore band A Hope For Home, I am constantly hoping for new music from them, though it doesn’t look likely. Luckily, I have The Drowned God, the Pennsylvania post-hardcore outfit that veers between pummeling riffs and moments of calmer ambiance. Moonbearer (which also sports some great cover art) is a tense, moving experience that is somewhere between post-hardcore, post-metal, and post-rock in the vein of AHFH or even Devil Sold His Soul.
#3: Pallbearer (Heartless)
Listen to Pallbearer. That’s all you need to know.
#2: Eighteen Visions (XVIII)
Orange County metalcore is BACK. And 18 Visions, in the most unlikely musical comeback of 2017, hasn’t tried to “cash in” on a comeback – on XVIII, they’re here to show all the bands they inspired how things are really done. “Live Again” is a roaring tribute to the late “Mick Deth”, while “The Disease, The Decline, and Wasted Time” has arguably the most crushing breakdown outside of “Tower Of Snakes”. My reaction when I heard the song was very similar to this.
I didn’t think vocalist James Hart could put on an over the top vocal performance like this, but here we are. He’s never sounded more energized, yet there’s also moments of melodic power here too.
#1: While She Sleeps (You Are We)
You Are We, While She Sleeps’ 3rd full-length album, is an exciting statement more than anything else. It’s an album that straddles the line between rock, metal, and hardcore very effectively. And it’s the bold melodic moments on the album that really have Sleeps spreading their wings – whether it’s the closing (although slightly too short) anthem of “In Another Now”, the vocal tradeoff between Oliver Sykes and “Loz” Taylor in “Silence Speaks”, or even the energetic first single released, “Civil Isolation”.
Sleeps are on another level right now. Despite all obstacles, they’ve come out absolutely firing with all guns blazing.
