May was an absolutely packed month for the heavy music scene. It took me a while to catch up with all of the releases but I’ve finally put together my list of favorites. I have my top 25 albums and EPs picked as well as dozens of honorable mentions that are all worth checking out.
I have lots of updates coming up, including new playlists, new weekly posts, a revamped YouTube channel, and much more. I’m hoping to get it all off the ground by the beginning of July but I may have to push it back. I’m currently working two jobs, applying for new jobs, and trying to take care of a 5 month old so my plans may be pushed back. Until then, I hope you’re able to find some great music here!
Best Releases of May 6
August Burns Red – ‘Leveler Live’ [progressive metalcore]
Ibaraki – ‘Rashomon’ [black metal]
Simple Plan – ‘Harder Than It Looks’ [pop punk]
Silverstein – ‘Misery Made Me’ [metalcore/post-hardcore]
Three Days Grace – ‘Explosions’ [hard rock]
Upon A Burning Body – ‘Fury’ [death/metalcore]
Windwaker – ‘Love Language’ [metalcore]
Honorable Mentions:
Bioplan – ‘Arcade Dreams’ EP [instrumental progressive metal]
Pure Reason Revolution – ‘Above Cirrus’ [progressive rock/post-rock]
Aenimus – ‘Sacrificial’ EP [progressive metal/technical death metal]
Fozzy – ‘Boombox’ [hard rock/heavy metal]
Halestorm – ‘Back From The Dead’ [hard rock]
Nocturnal Bloodlust – ‘Argos’ [deathcore]
Heists – ‘Troubled Souls’ [metalcore/hardcore]
Crash the Calm – ‘A Town Named Nowhere’ [post-hardcore]
All Better – ‘How To Be Alone’ [pop punk/alt rock]
Chamber – ‘Carved In Stone’ EP [hardcore]
Liquid State – ‘Cherished’ EP [post-hardcore]
Northwood – ‘Visceral’ EP [metalcore/deathcore]
King Yosef – ‘The Ever Growing Wound’ EP [industrial hardcore]
Best Releases of May 13
Moon Tooth – ‘Phototroph’ [prog rock]
State Champs – ‘Kings of the New Age’ [pop punk]
Where’s My Bible – ‘Circle’ EP [death metal]
Honorable Mentions:
Embla North – ‘Greywater’ EP [metalcore]
Wild Earth – ‘Weary Hymns Along The Way’ [alt rock]
Cage Fight – ‘Cage Fight’ [hardcore]
Master Boot Record – ‘Personal Computer’ [experimental industrial metal]
Visions Of Atlantis – ‘Pirates’ [symphonic metal]
The Cards I Play – ‘Retrograde’ [post-hardcore]
I Wither – ‘Oath to Nothing’ EP [metalcore]
Designed to Fail – ‘Bliss’ EP [metalcore]
Abyssal One – ‘Shadow’ EP [progressive metalcore]
Undead Corporation – ‘J.O.I.N.T.’ [fusion metal]
Best Releases of May 20
Awakening Sun – ‘HEAVEN IS WHATEVER’ [melodic death metal]
Evergrey – ‘A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)’ [prog metal]
Malevolence – ‘Malicious Intent’ [hardcore/metalcore]
Pymlico – ‘Supermassive’ [instrumental fusion prog rock]
Space Of Variations – ‘IMAGO’ [metalcore]
Static Dress – ‘Rouge Carpet Disaster’ [post-hardcore]
Honorable Mentions:
Imonolith – ‘Progressions’ [metalcore]
Cave In – ‘Heavy Pendulum’ [hard rock/hardcore]
James LaBrie – ‘Beautiful Shade Of Grey’ [progressive metal]
Watashi Wa – ‘People Like People’ [indie/alt rock]
Geezer – ‘Stoned Blues Machine’ [psychedelic rock]
LaMacchia – ‘Thunderheads’ [alt rock]
Last Temptation – ‘Fuel For My Soul’ [hard rock]
Lucer – ‘The New World’ [rock]
Rod Rodrigues – ‘Tales Of A Changing Life, Part 1’ EP [instrumental progressive metal]
Sandness – ‘Play Your Part‘ [hard rock]
Sedative – ‘Death Romantic’ [deathcore]
Volturian – ‘Red Dragon’ [gothic metal]
Earth Eater – ‘Infinite Ruin’ [deathcore]
Life Awaits – ‘Call Me Insane’ [post-hardcore]
SPICE – ‘Viv’ [rock]
A Dozen Black Roses – ‘Treading Ever So Deeply’ EP [metalcore]
Graey – ‘Nightbloom’ EP [metalcore]
Be Well – ‘Hello Sun’ EP [hardcore]
Best Releases of May 27
Cabin Boy Jumped Ship – ‘Sentiments’ [metalcore]
GFM – ‘Framing My Perception EP’ [beautycore]
Hollow Front – ‘The Price Of Dreaming’ [metalcore]
In Her Own Words – ‘Distance of Decay’ [pop punk/alt rock]
Notions – ‘Notions’ [nu metalcore]
Scary Kids Scaring Kids – ‘Out of Light’ [post-hardcore]
Sever – ‘This Should Have Been a Better Place’ [alt rock/post-hardcore]
Synge – ‘Vacant Minded’ EP [metalcore]
With the Punches – ‘Discontent’ EP [pop punk]
Honorable Mentions:
Decapitated – ‘Cancer Culture’ [death metal]
Fireproven – ‘Epilogue’ [progressive metal]
Venus Principle – ‘Stand In Your Light’ [progressive/post-rock]
Refiner – ‘Firewalker’ [deathcore]
Revenira – ‘Hong Kong 2124’ [progressive metalcore]
Begotten – ‘IDENTITY CRI$i$’ EP [nu metalcore]
Yunalesca – ‘This Heavy Rain’ EP [progressive metal]
Cries Hannah – ‘The Sleepwalker’ EP [metalcore/post-hardcore]
Encrement – ‘Liminal State’ EP [progressive rock/post-hardcore]
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