Anyone that lives in the New York area or is in a touring metal band is probably aware of college station WSOU/South Orange, NJ. The radio station of Catholic university Seton Hall is just outside of New York, and plays metal almost exclusively. In addition to being the first place in the region where lots of metal gets its first exposure, it’s also served as an incubator for the music industry, with many there going on to work at labels, in radio or elsewhere in the industry.
WSOU has given us their list of their top ten records of the year, as voted on by 11 students and staff members, and they are as follows:
10) Black Crown Initiate, The Wreckage of Stars (eOne)
9) Pallbearer, Foundations of Burden (Profound Lore)
8) Darkest Hour, S/T (Sumerian)
7) Against Me!, Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble)
6) Whitechapel, Our Endless War (Metal Blade)
5) Unearth, Watchers of Rule (eOne)
4) Job For a Cowboy, Sun Eater (Metal Blade)
3) Every Time I Die, From Parts Unknown (Epitaph)
2) Slipknot, .5:The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner)
1) Mastodon, Once More ‘Round the Sun (Reprise)
Here’s the list of the staff that voted:
Erica Szczepaniak – Station Manager
Steven Varsanyi – Program Director
Thomas WIllert – Music Director
Rohit Ravi – Promotions Director
Clayton Collier – Sports Director
Adam Romero – Technical Operations Director
Ryan Stetz – Staff Representative
Molly Meller – Assistant Program Director
Dylan Horan – Assistant Program Director
Michael McKenna – Assistant Music Director
Rebecca Blomgren – Assistant Music Director
