It’s fair to say that 2020 has been a disaster of a year. However there have been a huge number of great heavy metal album and single releases in 2020. Legendary bands and newcomers alike. Surprise releases. Bands back from the dead. Quality from all around. So here I present you with the best metal songs of 2020.
Some particular highlights to point out from this year. Stick around to the end for the playlist.
Back From The Dead
Without a doubt stealing the spotlight this year was the release of two new songs from Armenian-American superstars System Of A Down. Protect the Land and Genocidal Humanoidz was a double track release by the band in or to raise awareness of the current conflict impacting their ancestral homeland.
Finland’s cave dwellers Finntroll released their first album in 7 years. Vredesvävd (full review here) showcased Finntroll at their creepy carnival best. After an even longer hiatus, Birmingham’s death metal heroes Benediction released their first album in 12 years with Scriptures (full review here). Back with their original vocalist Dave Ingram and pumping out thumping old school death metal.
Newcomers To The Heavy Scene
2020 also presented us with some newcomers to the world of heavy music. Making their way onto the best metal songs of 2020, established artists made their first venture into heavy music. YouTube celebrity and self certified post-genre star Poppy released her blend of pop infused heavy riffing on I Disagree. Florida rapper Ghostemane continued his venture into the heavy realm with strong industrial metal influence on ANTI-ICON.
Pennsylvania newcomers Tallah delivered a distinctively fresh and disturbing nu-core sound with Matriphagy. Having legendary stickman Mike Portney‘s son on drums surely helps!
Long Termers Deliver
Hardcore stalwarts Hatebreed continued their string of high calibre releases with Weight of the False Self. Other top quality releases came from Armoured Saint with Punching the Sky and Trivium with What The Dead Men Say.
We got new singles from symphonic metal icons Epica and Nightwish. Two new singles from German power metal originals Accept – The Undertaker taking the crown for grooviest interlude of the year. Ensiferum evolved their style with the addition of a clean co-vocalist.
Mors Principium Est and Spirit Adrift gave us more riffs than we could possibly digest in a single listen. Thrash metal was well represented with Testament, Havok and Warbringer delivering. Anaal Nathrakh released an album of the year candidate with Endarkenment (full review here), Producing a blend of melody and discomfort in a truly unique way.
Bringing the Heat
Amaranthe continued their assault on the metal scene. Growing bigger and bigger with every release. Tetrach, with their new single I’m Not Right continue to bring back nu-metal. Sounding as fresh as it did when KoRn released their debut album back in 1994. Alestorm continued to plunder the seven seas. All of these bands showing how hard graft pays off.
Brittany Slayes of Unleash The Archers and Ylva Eriksson of Brothers of Metal staking their claim to be the finest vocalists in metal today. Orden Ogan and Eleine joining the list of epic releases.
Architects, Pop Evil and Bury Tomorrow topping the metalcore list with some delicious breakdowns. You know you love a tasty breakdown, don’t deny yourself.
The Playlist You’ve All Been Waiting For
In honour of these great releases, check out the below Spotify playlist for the best metal songs released in 2020. 50 of the best heavy metal releases all in one place for your (repeated) listening. Please give the playlist a like on Spotify. Enjoy!
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