Now that the year 2020 is coming to a close, we at Tuonela Magazine, want to share what releases we enjoyed the most. Each of our staff members will share their own lists, here is the list of our editor-in-chief, Laureline Tilkin.
There is one silver lining in the terrible year that has been 2020: Even though a lot of bands saw their shows getting canceled all around the globe, never in our lives we had more time to listen to music. At the same time, a lot of great tunes saw the light of day during 2020. 2020 sure hit us with a curveball, however, it also had a couple of surprises: never in a million years would I have thought SYSTEM OF A DOWN would release new material, but here we are! There were plenty of bands that blew me away with often progressive songs… So many that it was especially hard to make choices this year since there were plenty of options to choose from, but anyway here’s my section of things!
Top 10 International Albums
10. Kansas – The Absence of Presence
9. Myrkur – Folkesange
8. Igorrr – Spirituality and Distortion
7. Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber
6. Carach Angren – Franckensteina Strataemontanus
5. Unleash The Archers – Abyss
4. Haken – Virus
3. Ayreon – Transitus
2. Hällas – Conundrum
1. Wilderun – Veil of Imagination
Read more: REVIEW: Wilderun – Veil of Imagination, Interview with Wilderun, REVIEW: Hällas – Conundrum, Interview with Hällas, 4.3.2020 Hällas @ Tavastia, Finland, REVIEW: Carach Angren – Franckensteina Strataemontanus, Interview with Carach Angren, REVIEW: Haken – Virus, Interview with Haken, REVIEW: Unleash the Archers – Abyss, Interview with Unleash the Archers, REVIEW: Ayreon – Transitus, Interview with Ayreon, REVIEW: Oceans of Slumber – Oceans of Slumber, Interview with Oceans of Slumber, REVIEW: Igorrr – Spirituality and Distortion, REVIEW: Myrkur – Folkesange, REVIEW: Sepultura – Quadra
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. Oceanhoarse – The Damage! – LIVE
9. The Silenced – Orator
8. Humavoid – Lidless
7. Smackbound – 20/20
6. Marko Hietala – Pyre of the Black Heart
5. Apocalyptica – Cell-0
4. Lost Society – No Absolution
3. Altamullan Road – Altamullan Road
2. Nightwish – Human. .II. Nature.
1. Ensiferum – Thalassic
Read more: REVIEW: Ensiferum – Thalassic, Interview with Ensiferum, 10.7.2020 Ensiferum @ Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki, REVIEW: Nightwish – HUMAN. :II: NATURE., Interview with Nightwish, REVIEW: Altamullan Road – Altamullan Road, Interview with Altamullan Road, REVIEW: Lost Society – No Absolution, Interview with Lost Society, 31.10.2020 Lost Society @ Tavastia, Helsinki, REVIEW: Apocalyptica – Cell-0, Interview with Apocalyptica, 14.5.2020 Apocalyptica: Online concert @ Private Venue, Helsinki, REVIEW: Marko Hietala – Pyre Of The Black Heart, Interview with Marko Hietala, REVIEW: Smackbound – 20/20, Interview with Smackbound , REVIEW: Humavoid – Lidless, Interview with Humavoid, REVIEW: The Silenced – Orator, Interview with The Silenced, REVIEW: Oceanhoarse – The Damage – LIVE!
Top 3 EPs
3. Mercury Circle – The Dawn of Vitriol
2. VV – Gothica Fennica Vol. 1
1. Fever 333 – Wrong Generation
Read more: REVIEW: Mercury Circle – EP The Dawn of Vitriol, FEATURED SINGLE: Mercury Circle – The Beauty of Agony, Interview with Mercury Circle, REVIEW: VV – Gothica Fennica Vol. 1, REVIEW: Fever 333 – Wrong Generation
Best livestream concert
Vreid: In the Mountains of Sognametal on June 13th, 2020 at Sogn.
Read more: 13.06.2020 Vreid: In the Mountains of Sognametal live session @ Nysete, Sogndal
Most promising act
True Cult Club
Read more: Interview with True Cult Club, FEATURED SINGLE: True Cult Club – Saeed (Infected Mushroom cover), FEATURED SINGLE: True Cult Club – Touch Me, FEATURED SINGLE: Trve Cvlt Clvb – Empty Alley, 26.8.2020 True Cult Club @ On The Rocks, Helsinki
Top 5 music videos
5. Wilderun – “O Resolution!“
4. Oranssi Pazuzu – “Uusi teknokratia“
3. Haken – “Canary Yellow“
2. Ayreon – “Daniel’s Descent into Transitus Medley“
1. Gojira – “Another World“
Read more: REVIEW: Ayreon – Transitus, Interview with Ayreon, REVIEW: Haken – Virus, Interview with Haken, REVIEW: Wilderun – Veil of Imagination, Interview with Wilderun, REVIEW: Oranssi Pazuzu – Mestarin Kynsi, Interview with Oranssi Pazuzu
Top 5 lyric videos
5. Alice Cooper – Our Love Will Change the World
4. True Cult Club – Empty Alley
3. Ministry – Alert Level (Quarantined Mix)
2. Frosttide – We Will Be Gone
1. Pain of Salvation – Panther
Read more: FEATURED SINGLE: Frosttide – We Will Be Gone, FEATURED SINGLE: Trve Cvlt Clvb – Empty Alley, 26.8.2020 True Cult Club @ On The Rocks, Helsinki
Top 5 international songs
5. Kansas – “The Song the River Sang“
4. Oceans of Slumber – “The Adorned Fathomless Creation“
3. Fever 333 – “Bite Back“
2. System Of A Down – “Protect The Land“
1. Gojira – “Another World“
Read more: REVIEW: Kansas – The Absence of Presence, Interview with Kansas, REVIEW: Fever 333 – Wrong Generation
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Onségen Ensemble – Stellar
4. Finntroll – Att Döda Med En Sten
3. True Cult Club – Touch Me
2. Ensiferum – Rum, Women, Victory
1. Nightwish – Music
Read more: REVIEW: Finntroll – Vredesvävd, Interview with Finntroll, FEATURED SINGLE: True Cult Club – Touch Me, REVIEW: Ensiferum – Thalassic, Interview with Ensiferum, REVIEW: Nightwish – HUMAN. :II: NATURE., Interview with Nightwish
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Blame Me – Fire, Fuel, and Scars
4. Alice Cooper – Our Love Will Change the World
3. Fleshgod Apocalypse – No
2. Leprous – Castaway Angels
- Wheel – The Movement
Top 5 cover art
5. Blues Pills – Holy Moly!
4. Sólstafir – Endless Twilight of Codependent Love
3. Draconian – Under a Godless Veil
2. Deep Purple – Whoosh!
- Ensiferum – Thalassic
Read more: REVIEW: Ensiferum – Thalassic, REVIEW: Deep Purple – Whoosh!, REVIEW: Draconian – Under a Godless Veil, REVIEW: Sólstafir – Endless Twilight of Codependent Love, REVIEW: Blues Pills – Holy Moly!
Best collaboration
Arion – Bloodline ft. Noora Louhimo
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2021
5. Frosttide – Untitled
4. Arion – Untitled
3. Wheel – Resident Human
2. Soen – Imperial
1. Epica – Omega
Want to share your lists with us? Comment below with your lists.
The whole Tuonela Magazine team wishes you an inspirational 2021 filled with a lot of new music to discover. We hope to see you back next year!
Recent posts
[recent_post_carousel design=”design-1″]
