DISPATCHES FROM THE VOID

Release date: October 23, 2020

Origin: Los Angeles, California

Personnel: John Bush-vox, Phil Sandoval-guitar, Jeff Duncan-guitar, Joey Vera-bass, Gonzo Sandoval-drums

This was a special one. It’s always great to see one of the classic bands from metal’s heyday come out of nowhere with an absolute barnburner of an album. For a band damn near 40 years into their career to put out an album this solid is something to applaud. There’s not a stinker on this album. This is classic metal. Turn your system up to 11 and crank the hell out of it this fine Christmas morning.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
7. Armored Saint-Punching the Sky
8. Huntsmen-Mandala of Fear
9. Black Crown Initiate-Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
10. Haken-Virus
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: March 13, 2020

Origin: Chicago, Illinois

Personnel: Chris Kang-vox/guitar, Aimee Bueno-vox, Kirill Orlov-guitar, Marc Stranger-Najjar-bass, Ray Knipe-drums

These guys are a past winner of the Golden Flip Flop in 2018 with their debut album, American Scrap. I was really interested to see where they would go with their next album and whether they would suffer any sort of sophomore slump. Not only did they knock it out of the park with album number two, they went overly ambitious with a double-album concept record. This album also saw the addition of Aimee Bueno as a permanent second vocalist in the band. It feels as though this release moves a bit away from the Americana Metal style of the first release and have moved into a more progressive bent. The style of songs are very diverse on here from Yes-influenced prog to death metal to soulful dirges. In full disclosure, I truly love this band and feel like they are one of the more promising young groups to come down the pike in quite some time. They are really forging their own sound and a unique identity.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
8. Huntsmen-Mandala of Fear
9. Black Crown Initiate-Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
10. Haken-Virus
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: August 21, 2020

Origin: Orebro, Sweden

Personnel: Elin Larsson-vox, Zack Anderson-guitar, Kristoffer Schander-bass, Andre Kvarnstrom-drums

I think when I originally reviewed this one I characterized Blues Pills as one of those niche bands that I was really rooting for to break through. Their first couple of albums really showed a lot of promise, but there was that little extra something missing from the mix that would have pushed those albums into the great category. Well, on album number three, they figured it out. This is a retro-rocker that just oozes soul and sophistication for miles. Reminds me a lot of Graveyard with a female vocalist. This was one of those albums that I had a hard time keep out of the player.

4.5 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
6. Blues Pills-Holy Moly!
7. Armored Saint-Punching the Sky
8. Huntsmen-Mandala of Fear
9. Black Crown Initiate-Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
10. Haken-Virus
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: August 7, 2020

Origin: Reading, Pennsylvania

Personnel: James Dorton-vox, Andy Thomas-guitar/clean vox, Ethan McKenna-guitar, Nick Shaw-bass, Gabe Seeber-drums (session)

These guys have been at the forefront of setting the standard for technical death metal. They have also been one of the bands that has helped establish Reading, PA as a metal hotspot. The great thing about these guys is that they don’t let the technical aspects of their playing overshadow the songs themselves. It feels as though everything they do is in service of creating an outstanding song instead of just using the song as a vehicle to showcase the technicality of their playing. It’s a fine line and one in which a lot of bands in this genre fail to grasp. This latest album came out of a dark time personally for the band members and was made during a period when the future of the band was actually in doubt. I think we’re lucky to even have this album. All the more reason to cherish this one.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
9. Black Crown Initiate-Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
10. Haken-Virus
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: July 24, 2020

Origin: London, England

Personnel: Ross Jennings-vox, Richard Henshall-guitar, Charlie Griffiths-guitar, Conner Green-bass, Diego Tejeida-keyboards, Raymond Hearne-drums

Most prophetic album title for 2020 opens up the Top 10 of this year’s list. Not only did they nail the theme of this year, but they also saw their album delayed three times due to the pandemic. Since Dream Theater has kind of fallen off the map quality-wise in the past few years, there is definitely a void at the top of the metal-centric prog world. With the release of Virus, it feels like Haken is poised to step into that void. This album really straddles the prog world while still remaining a very crunchy metal album. This was a very ambitious album that swings for the fences and makes full contact.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
10. Haken-Virus
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: March 24, 2020

Origin: United States/Sweden

Personnel: Dennis Lyxzen-vox, Brian Baker-guitar, Michael Hampon-guitar, Johnny Temple-bass, Matt Schulze-drums

Ok, I know. Not metal so much. I mean, it’s guitar driven rock, but this is kind of a pop punk album made by some punk veterans. But, as I like to say (mainly to get a rise out of my punk rock wife), punk is really best seen as a sub-genre of metal. So, it’s getting included here. Go suck eggs if you don’t like it. I’m including this album on the countdown because I just kept coming back to this album over and over throughout the year. It’s just so damn infectious. This is yet another supergroup to make the list this year and is the brain child of Brian Baker (Bad Religion/Minor Threat) and Dennis Lyxzen (Refused). This is just good jamming guitar rock.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
11. Fake Names-Fake Names
12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: April 7, 2020

Origin: Rochester, New York

Personnel: Sean McVay-vox/guitar/synth, Dan Reynolds-bass/synth, Scott Donaldson-drums

It feels like lots of bands have tried to jump on the whole renaissance into psychedelic metal of late. To me, King Buffalo is one of the go-to bands in this resurgence. These guys just know how to construct a atmosphere of spaced-out jams. And, whoever they got to produce this album just did a bang-up job on making this thing sound so good. Every little texture just shines.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: February 14, 2020

Origin: Stavanger, Norway

Personnel: Ivar Nikolaisen-vox, Vidar Landa-guitar, Maciek Ofstad-guitar, Bjarte Lund Rolland-guitar/piano/sax, Marvin Nygaard-bass/percussion, Havard Takle Ohr-drums

First album out with new vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen. There’s really no discernable difference in his delivery compared with prior singer Erlend Hjelvik. You’ve got that weird blend of punk and black ‘n’ roll that Kvelertak has perfected. It’s just crazy infectious Norwegian shenanigans. Just catchy as hell and puts a little spring in my step every time I listen to this album. See if you don’t catch yourself doing all sorts of moshing around your room while spinning this one.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

12. Kvelertak-Splid
13. King Buffalo-Dead Star
14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: February 7, 2020

Origin: Reading, England

Personnel: Josh Middleton-vox/guitar, Alex Bailey-guitar, Conor Marshall-bass, Ali Richardson-drums

I was a little worried when word came down that Josh Middleton had joined Architects after the death of Tom Searle. I was concerned that this would lead to the end of Sylosis as an active entity. So, my spirits were lifted when this one came out earlier this year. Sylosis is one of those bands who I feel has fully grabbed the mantle of the the modern thrash movement. This is controlled aggression at its finest. Just blistering riffs from the word “go” and it is just a relentless attack all the way through. Josh Middleton is one of the true stewards of metal riffs.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:

14. Sylosis-Cycle of Suffering
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero

Release date: January 24, 2020

Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana

Personnel: Kirk Windstein-vox/guitar/bass, Duane Simoneaux-drums

I’ll admit that I was one of the dudes who was kind of upset when Kirk decided to leave Down and go back fulltime to Crowbar. But, looking back, he’s really kicked ass on the Crowbar albums he’s released since then. When I first heard that he was releasing a solo album, I kind of wondered what the point would be. Crowbar is his baby, after all. Does he get all of his creative energy out through that entity? I guess not. Because this solo album has a distinctive sound all it’s own. Sure, it’s still the same voice and guitar sound. But, this is more introspective and gentler Kirk than what gets presented in Crowbar. This is just a wonderfully melancholy release. Cheer to Kirk for continually pushing himself into these new areas.

4 flip flops out of 5

The list so far:
15. Kirk Windstein-Dream in Motion
16. Oranssi Pazuzu-Mestarin Kynsi
17. Forming the Void-Reverie
18. Lamb of God-Lamb of God
19. Demons and Wizards-III
20. Killer Be Killed-Reluctant Hero