05) Loathe, I Let It in and It Took Everything (Sharptone Records)

Commencing the countdown of the Top 5 albums of 2020 is Loathe with their sophomore record, “I Let It in and It Took Everything.” This is an album all bands dream of creating and is a monumental moment for the band. This album has amassed a tremendous amount of positivity from many outlets and deserves all the praise. The soundscapes explored in the record invigorated their metalcore roots and captured a revitalized sound. This record has riffs that would satisfy the dark thirst for brutal heaviness while grasping your inner serenity with their ethereal-sounding vibe. With the success of this record, topping it will be very challenging for the band, but their future is very bright.

Key Track: “Screaming”

04) Trivium, What the Dead Men Say (Roadrunner)

Trivium is back with their ninth studio effort, What The Dead Men Say, and deliver another well-rounded album that validates their songwriting abilities. This record encompasses all the different styles of Trivium we’ve heard for the past seventeen years. It has a glimpse of darkness that was prevalent on The Sin and the Sentence, the technical proficiency of Shogun, and the powerful and lavish clean vocals from Silence in the Snow. However, this record best compares to 2011’s In Waves due to the similar tracklist structure. The throat-ripping screams of “Dusk Dismantled” and “A Skyline’s Severance” are present on “Amongst the Shadows & the Stones” and the radio-friendly vibe of “A Grey So Dark” lives in the emotional and catchy “Bleed Into Me.”  You can read my full album review here!

Key Track: “Amongst The Shadows And The Stones”

03) Hatebreed, Weight of the False Self (Nuclear Blast)

When Hatebreed announces a new record, you know what to expect; a one-way ticket to mosh city. Weight of the False Self blends Hatebreed’s signature tone, along with the essence of modern-day relevance. The band did not disappoint and has delivered a record with tremendous replay value. With every riff, song, or record, the band brings the same high-leveled intensity they’ve been laying out for the past 25 years. As frontman Jamey Jasta would say, “This shit is haaaaard.” You can read my full album review here!

Key Track: “Cling To Life”

02) Black Crown Initiate, Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape (Century Media)

Ever since Black Crown Initiate dropped Selves We Cannot Forgive back in 2016, I was always curious how the band would proceed with their next effort. Unfortunately, it took four years to hear new music, but it was definitely worth the wait. Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape has exceeded my expectations and is an excellent representation of progressive death metal and what can be done within the genre. The musical avenues the band chose to explore were thrilling and artistic. From beginning to end, there is an encompassing flow that is seamless from track to track. You can read my full album review here!

Key Track: “Years In Frigid Light”