OVERDRIVE – THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016
Posted on December 30, 2016 by Oran
As the remaining hours of 2016 dwindle away before our very eyes, it’s safe to say that this year has been a rollercoaster of the good and the bad. We lost a tremendous amount of iconic artists from the Godfather of Metal that was Lemmy in December 2015 to David Bowie, Lenard Cohen, Prince, Glen Frey, Keith Emmerson, actors Carrie Fisher, Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman and not forgetting the legend that was Mohamed Ali, to name just a few. One saving grace from the loss of such pioneering talented artists has been the outstanding amount of music that saw the light of day in 2016. Overdrive staff and contributors give you their top five of the best.
From Megadeth’s mighty return with ‘Dystopia’ to Korn’s ‘Serenity in Suffering’, 2016 has seen an impressive selection of rock and metal releases. Overdrive had the rather difficult task of compiling a list of our top five albums, with our most memorable live show of the year, thrown in for good measure.
So without further ado, let’s get stuck in…
Oran O’Beirne
- Anthrax – ‘For All Kings’ (Nuclear Blast)
- Dead Label – ‘Throne of Bones’ (New Era)
- Megadeth – ‘Dystopia’ (Universal)
- Red Fang – ‘Only Ghosts’ (Relapse Records)
- Ten Ton Slug – ‘Brutal Gluttonous Beast’ (Self-Released)
Gig of the year – YOB, Whelan’s, Ireland 11/10/16
Stephen Brophy
- Fates Warning – ‘Theories of Flight’ (Inside Out Music)
- Death Angel – ‘The Evil Divide’ (Nuclear Blast)
- Flotsam and Jetsam – ‘Flotsam and Jetsam’ (AFM Records)
- Evergrey – ‘The Storm Within’ (AFM Records)
- Theories Divide – ‘The Outcast’ (Self-Released)
Gig of the year – Twisted Sister, Bloodstock Festival UK, 12/08/16
Shaun Martin
- Raging Speedhorn – ‘Lost Ritual’ (Self-Release)
- Anthrax – ‘For All Kings’ (Nuclear Blast)
- Metallica – ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ (Blackened Recordings / Universal)
- Alterbridge – ‘The Last Hero’ (Napalm Records)
- Sabaton – ‘The Last Stand’ (Nuclear Blast)
Gig of the year – Machine Head, Olympia, Dublin 06/03/16
Bláthín Eckhardt
- Vektor – ‘Terminal Redux’ (Earache Records)
- Kvelertak – ‘Nattesferd’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Gojira – ‘Magma’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Abbath – ‘Abbath’ (Chaosreigns)
- Wardruna – ‘Runaljod – Ragnarok’ (By Norse Music)
Gig of the year – YOB, Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland 11/10/16
Steve Dempsey (Down The Barrel Photography)
- Evergrey – ‘The Storm Within’ (AFM Records)
- Ghost – ‘Popestar’ EP (Loma Vista Recordings / Spinefarm Records)
- Metallica – ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ (Blackened Recordings / Universal)
- Dead Label – ‘Throne Of Bones’ (New Era)
- In Flames – ‘Battles’ (Nuclear Blast)
Gig of the year – Twisted Sister, Bloodstock Festival UK, 12/08/16
Paul Lynam
- Ghost – ‘Popestar’ EP (Loma Vista Recordings / Spinefarm Records)
- Glen Hughes – ‘Resonate’ (Irond Ltd.)
- Biffy Clyro – ‘Ellipsis’ (Warner Music)
- Green Day – ‘Revolution Radio (Warner Music)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘The Getaway’ (Warner Music)
Gig of the Year – Suicidal Tendencies, The Academy, Dublin Ireland 14/02/16
Ellen O’Dwyer
- Gojira – ‘Magma’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Black Peaks – ‘Statues’ (Easy Life Records / Sony UK)
- Cauldron – ‘In Ruin’ (The End Records)
- Korn – ‘Serenity of Suffering’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Trap Them – ‘Crown Feral’ (Prosthetic Records)
Gig of the Year – Gojira, Bloodstock Festival UK, 13/08/16
Kevin Kerwin (Jetrocker Events / Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses Ireland)
- Gojira – ‘Magma’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Killswitch Engage – ‘Incarnate’ (Roadrunner Records)
- Dead Label – ‘Throne of Bones’ (New Era)
- Anthrax – ‘For All Kings’ (Nuclear Blast)
- Testament – ‘Brotherhood of the Snake’ (Nuclear Blast)
Gig of the year – Gojira, Bloodstock Festival 13/18/16
Close consideration releases..
Oran O’Beirne
© Overdrive.ie 2016
