TOP ALBUMS OF 2020 SO FAR: YOURS & OURS

July 2; the exact middle of 2020.
While it’s been a wild, unpredictable and frustrating year for us all, we’ve still been blessed with incredible music across the board and for that, we’re very thankful.
In such uncertain times, we hope you’re remaining positive and able to appreciate the little things too.

Anyway, that’s enough rambling, let’s get to the point.

Here’s the ‘Top 5 Records of 2020 So Far’, as voted by YOU:

1. Dance Gavin Dance – Afterburner

Spotify / Apple Music

Here’s our web staff picks for ‘Top 5 Records of 2020 So Far’:

Corey Jackson (social media/writer):

1. Yung Pinch – Back 2 The Beach
This is my first choice, based purely on total play-time (hint: it’s more than I’m willing to admit). I’ve always had a soft spot for smooth and catchy emo choruses, and Yung Pinch blends this with 808’s and his style of pop-rap perfectly. Listen to ‘Lingo’ or ‘Cross My Mind’ and tell me it didn’t get stuck in your head for days.
Spotify / Apple Music

2. Code Orange – Underneath
To unashamedly quote one of my own tweets from release day; “Dynamic. Chaotic. Jarring. Code Orange are the band heavy music needs”. Clearly, I still stand by that.
Spotify / Apple Music

3. RMR – Drug Dealing Is A Lost Art
I was hooked ever since he burst onto the hip-hop scene earlier in the year with ‘Rascal’, a reimagined version of Rascal Flatts’ hit ‘Bless The Broken Road’. Blending RNB with rap and country in a way I haven’t heard before, RMR (pronounced Rumor) has quickly become one of my most-played artists.
Spotify / Apple Music

4. Polo G – The Goat
Going into this for the first time, I was expecting a reasonably typical hip-hop record, in terms of both bars and lyrical content. To my surprise, it’s littered with incredibly moving storytelling and impressive range, and it’s very diverse stylistically. I’m excited for Polo’s future, with this sort of potential he’s set to achieve great things in the world of hip-hop and even beyond.
Spotify / Apple Music

5. Loathe – I Let It In And It Took Everything
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the UK do it best. This release is so fresh and exciting for hardcore/metalcore, in a time where it isn’t easy to find music within the genre that truly stands out.
Spotify / Apple Music

Jillian Serene (writer/playlist curator)

1. Grouplove – Healer
Within the first few seconds of hearing “Deleter”, I was hooked; not only is it an amazing song, but a single of the year contender. This album being a showcase for how the band has collectively healed over recent years really resonated with me, and I the energy of the newer songs that I’ve had gotten to hear live translates flawlessly.
Spotify / Apple Music

2. The Weeknd – After Hours
The Weeknd is one of my favorite artists, so to no surprise, After Hours is second on my list.
Spotify / Apple Music

3. Joywave – Possession
Possession is another album that I was anticipating since I heard the first singles off of it. Half Your Age was another single I liked almost instantly, and upon hearing it, I was curious for what else they were releasing. I’ve been listening to Joywave for a while, so to no surprise, the album didn’t disappoint me at all.
Spotify / Apple Music

4. Loathe – I Let It In and It Took Everything
First off, the mix on I Let It In and It Took Everything is fantastic; if you aren’t listening to Loathe, you’re missing out on one of the best heavy bands in the scene right now. This album seamlessly weaves brutally heavy with ambient and atmospheric sounds.
Spotify / Apple Music

5. Silverstein – A Beautiful Place To Drown
Believe it or not, A Beautiful Place To Drown is out of my comfort zone, and I didn’t listen to it until a couple months after its release. After having it on repeat for two weeks, I had to mention it on my list. Princess Nokia on a Silverstein song was wild to me, and I cannot stop listening to Shape Shift.
Spotify / Apple Music

Matty Powers (writer):

1. The Night Flight Orchestra – Aeromantic
The first time I heard Bjorn Speed Strid from Soilwork sing, I wanted an 80’s new wave/classic rock album with him singing on it. I got my wish. This is only The Night Flight Orchestra’s latest stroke of brilliance. Extremely polished.
Spotify / Apple Music

2. Emmure – Hindsight
I like everything Emmure do with their sound nowadays. There’s chaotic dissonance, hip hop vocal flow, trip hop beats, rap disses, heavy grooves. Most of all, it’s such a fun album and super digestible. As soon as it ends, I start it again.
Spotify / Apple Music

3. Loathe – I Let It In And It Took Everything
What a layered, moody and dynamic album. Loathe are on to something here. I know the Code Orange record is being heralded as the next big thing for metal, but have those same critics heard THIS?!
Spotify / Apple Music

4. Warbringer – Weapons Of Tomorrow
10 years ago Warbringer already ripped. 10 years later they’re ripping HARDER. That’s rare for a thrash metal band. But I firmly believe my ass is kicked harder by Weapons of Tomorrow than it was by Waking Into Nightmares. On God.
Spotify / Apple Music

5. Heaven Shall Burn – Of Truth And Sacrifice
What a triumphant return. I feel that before this album, melodic death metal took most of the decade off. I know that In Flames, At The Gates and Dark Tranquillity are fondly seen as the greats in the genre but Heaven Shall Burn deserve to stand with them.
Spotify / Apple Music

And our live film crew staff picks:

Alfredo Preciado (co-founder/film crew):

1. The Weeknd – After Hours
Spotify / Apple Music
2. Dance Gavin Dance – Afterburner
Spotify / Apple Music
3. Polaris – The Death Of Me
Spotify / Apple Music
4. Jhene Aiko – Chilombo
Spotify / Apple Music
5. Mac Miller – Circles
Spotify / Apple Music

Tyler Dugoni (co-founder/film crew):

1. Polaris – The Death of Me
Spotify / Apple Music
2. The Word Alive – Monomania
Spotify / Apple Music
3. The Used – Heartwork
Spotify / Apple Music
4. Silverstein – A Beautiful Place To Drown
Spotify / Apple Music
5. Make Them Suffer – How To Survive A Funeral
Spotify / Apple Music

Sam Williams (videographer):

1. Currents – The Way It Ends
Spotify / Apple Music
2. Polaris – The Death of Me
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3. Invent, Animate – Greyview
Spotify / Apple Music
4. The Ghost Inside – The Ghost Inside
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5. Reflections – Willow
Spotify / Apple Music