As 2015 draws to a close, we’ve asked some of those in the metal community to list their favorite albums of the year. Its been a busy year, with lots of music coming out, and we’re not even done yet, as evidenced by some people that chose Baroness’ yet-to-be-released Purple as one of their favorites. In this first installment, members of Soilwork, up-and-comers Toothgrinder, and instrumental band If These Trees Could Talk weigh in on their favorites. We’ll be bringing you many more over the next few weeks, as well as our own personal favorites of the year. Note that if there isn’t a number assigned, that means that the picks are in no particular order.
Dirk Verbeuren, Soilwork
10 )The Arcane Order, Cult of None
9) Venomous Concept, Kick Me Silly
8) Nile, What Should Not Be Unearthed
7) Lik, Mass Funeral Evocation
6) Godflesh, A World Lit Only by Fire (2014, I know)
5) Earthside, A Dream In Static
4) Aphex Twin, Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments, part 2
3) Killing Joke, Pylon
2) Dodhemsgard, A Umbra Omega
1) Napalm Death, Apex Predator/Easy Meat
David Andersson, Soilwork
10) Sara Bareilles, What’s Inside: Song From Waitress
9) Andreas Hourdakis Trio, In A Barn
8) Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
7) John Scofield, Past Present
6) Oddjob, Folk
5) Refused, Freedom
4) Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Alone in the Universe
3) Blitzen Trapper, All Across This Land
2) Clutch, Psychic Warfare
1) Ellie Goulding, Delirium
Jason Goss, Toothgrinder
Ghost, Meliora
Between the Buried & Me, Coma Ecliptic
Steven Wilson, Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Deafheaven, New Bermuda
Title Fight, Hyperview
More To Monroe, Appalachia
CHON, Grow
Lana Del Rey, Honeymoon
Baroness, Purple
The Dead Weather, Dodge and Burn
Justin Matthews, Toothgrinder
Faith No More, Sol Invictus
Puscifer, Money Shot
Between the Buried & Me, Coma Ecliptic
Marilyn Manson, The Pale Emperor
Periphery, Juggernaut: Alpha & Omega
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Ghost, Meloria
Shining (SWE), Everyone, Everything, Everywhere Ends
Bjork, Vulnicura
Muse, Drones
Mike Socrates, If These Trees Could Talk
Ghost, Meliora
Baroness, Purple
Chelsea Wolfe, Abyss
Graveyard, Innocence and Decadence
Puscifer, Money Shot
Between The Buried and Me, Coma Ecliptic
Intronaut, The Direction of Last Things
Chris Stapleton, Traveler
Wild Throne, Harvest of Darkness
Bring Me The Horizon, That’s the Spirit
