5. MASTODON – Hushed and Grim

Overall, a nicely groovy, proggier Mastodon album. It definitely has it’s blemishes, like the country westerny parts of “The Beast” that really bother me, but even that track is largely redeemable. Unfortunately, too much of Grim drags or sounds too domestic to really be special. I find myself skipping a lot of sections. You’ve got 15 tracks on there, and some of them aren’t good, or are half good. Do some editing. I feel like they are casting too wide of a net here, trying to appeal to people who aren’t me. The nerve. It’s good, overall, though.

Favorite Track: “Eyes of Serpents”

4. BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – Colors II

I couldn’t have given this one much higher praise than I did in my review. If you want to know everything I think about it, read that. It’s a near perfect album, and a worthy sequal to Colors. That being said, I haven’t been in BTBAM mode for a minute, and I haven’t been listening to it enough to put it in the top 3. Very well realized, though.

Favorite Track: “Bad Habits”

3. ALLUVIAL – Sarcoma

This one was a nice surprise. Thanks, Luke Rager, for the tip. Sarcoma earns the third spot through sheer volume of plays. I listen to it A LOT. Awesome technical guitars, with some heavy djent, and some really cool interplay with different harsh vocals. Also, one of the best instrumental tracks I’ve heard in forever in “Sugar Paper.” Two parts All Shall Perish, one part Monuments. My only real gripe with the album is that the tone and subject matter are too caught up on rage/fighting/violence. It’s perhaps the angriest album I’ve ever heard (which is saying something) and the display of artistry from the musicians tells me they could widen that range dramatically. Maybe next time.

Favorite Track: “Sugar Paper”

2. GOJIRA – Fortitude

Always a contender, Gojira bring their unique style back in force. I do have a lot of issues with the album, but some of the tracks are too strong for Fortitude to not make a splash. My main gripe is that the first three tracks (which are all singles released way before the album) feel completely separate from the whole, and they kind of are. The real musical themes of the album start with track 4, and unfortunately, even though the concept is nice and the music good, I inevitably miss the punch of those first three tracks, which we never really get back. The three singles are the three best songs on the album, and they come right off the bat, ordered from strongest to weakest. “Born for One Thing” is the best, then “Amazonia,” then “Another World,” and then there’s just the rest of the songs. I guess they know how to pick singles, but the arrangement hurts the album as a whole, and I wish the rest held up. I’m reminded of “Silvera” and “The Cell” feeling kind of like an island on Magma. They’ve done it again. I want something as consistent as The Way of All Flesh, or at least, La Savage Infant.

Favorite Track – “Born for One Thing.”

1. LEPROUS – Aphelion

I didn’t want to pick this one. It’s the same way I felt about Pitfalls, and Malina before that. I didn’t want to love this album, because it’s full of synth and it’s not very heavy. I wanted Coal Leprous or at least Congregation Leprous back, but not only do I think they aren’t coming back, I’m not sure I need them to. I can’t stop listening to this album. Lots and lots of cello, which is basically a cheat code at this point. There are proggy verses and powerful choruses. Einar is undeniable. The guitars and drums are clean as always, but really engaging. I think “Castaway Angels” is one of their prettiest ballads, and “Nighttime Disguise” one of their proggiest tracks, and a fun way to end the album. There’s even a brief scream on that one! See, heavy, guys! Kinda. But it’s awesome, anyways. Really hard to pick a favorite track. Here goes.

Favorite Track: “Out of Here”