I can’t really decide how I feel about 2016 in terms of new metal just yet. The albums that have impressed me — and I mean really impressed me — are among some of the best works I’ve heard in years. But then on the other hand, those were rather limited in number and much of the rest was ‘good-not-great’. Regardless, quarterly recap time is always a blast, so I’m excited about the end of Q1 either way.
The one thing I will note before getting into my list is the diversity in quality metal from the past few months. While 2015 saw black metal rise to the top for the majority of the year, I have already been more impressed by various death, doom, and folk metal outfits, making 2016’s Q1 list far more diverse than last year’s. And that’s just good fun for everyone. Anyway, I don’t want to ramble anymore than I already have. Let’s get on with it. Continue reading