Well, This Is A First
There’s nothing particularly special about this episode aside from it being the last regular episode for this shitty year…and a couple of mini-reviews from Brian. It does, however, mark the first time in over nine years we had to skip a scheduled recording. Still a damn impressive run, if we do say so ourselves.
You may also notice a review that seems out of place. Why did we do it? Go to THIS PAGE to find out how you can help this podcast contribute to Crew Nation and make us review whatever you want.
And remember – Be responsible. Stay healthy. Stay Metal.
Reviews:
Dark Tranquillity – Moment (Century Media)
Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero (Nuclear Blast)
Within the Ruins – Black Heart (eOne)
Crew Nation Donation Feature:
Butch Walker – Letters
Dark Tranquillity – Moment
Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero
Within The Ruins – Black Heart
The Sideshow Podcast 
It seems that the Apple music algorithm is never going to let you forget about Frank Zappa! Switching gears, I’m ready for my top albums of 2020:
10. Oceans of Slumber
Even though they are listed as Progressive Metal, there’s really no one out there like Oceans of Slumber, as they are able to bring a wide range of emotions on this self-titled album.
9. Unleash the Archers – Abyss
Solid power metal that doesn’t go over the top and never fails to deliver.
8. Alestorm – Curse of the Crystal Coconut
Among the countless things that surprised me in the year 2020 is the fact that the pirate metal schtick hasn’t worn thin. But with songs this fun, Alestorm prove that their one trick pony still has a ways to run.
7. Spirit Adrift – Enlightened In Eternity
Moving away from Doom Metal into more Classic Metal territory has only served to make this band more endearing to those of us who got hooked on metal in the 1980s.
6. Black Crown Initiate – Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
BCI does it again, combining catchy melodies with technicality better than just about anyone else in death metal.
5. Covet – Technicolor
This is probably the album I listened to the most in 2020, as this mostly instrumental math/art rock seemed to be able to fit almost any mood I was in.
4. Wilderun – Veil of Imagination
This is a bit of a cheat, because this album was self-released in 2019 but re-released this year by Century Media. I didn’t listen to it in 2019 but did so after the re-release and loved it. This hits the sweet spot of Watershed-era Opeth.
3. Haken – Virus
Haken are shaping up to be one of the best modern progressive bands and Virus solidifies that fact. Bringing back themes from their 2013 song “The Cockroach King” is a brilliant touch in the in the vein of Dream Theater’s Metropolis Pt. 2 Scenes From A Memory.
2. Ulcerate – Stare Into Death and Be Still
Chin-strokingly good atmospheric technical death metal that perfectly suited the early days of living under the quarantine of a global pandemic.
1. Nightwish – Human II Nature
This is one of Nightwish’s least metal albums, but one of their most emotional. It brought chills down my spine when re-listening to this album in December when making this list. It is a great mix of poppy songs that cheered me up during difficult times and also pastoral songs that whisked me away to the countryside even though I was stuck in an urban lockdown.
To sum things up for my year in music, I feel like there was a clear top 10 for me this year. But for the top album, I feel like any of my top 6 could have been number 1, as unlike most years, there was no clear winner.