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 Samuel Järvinen.
It is said by many and will be said by many more that this year has been a crazy one. However, every year has its potential for both good and bad, and what has been constant this year as always is that amazing new music has been released. This year I found myself really liking many of the more psychedelic releases among which the usual prog, jazz, and death metal that I often put in these lists. When it comes to concerts, the last one I saw was in August (a gig by GOATBURNER, CHURCH OF THE DEAD, and SEPULCHRAL CURSE). Before that, it was OBSCURA at Helsinki in March. It’s crazy how little gigs I’ve seen this year!
Top 10 International albums
10. Poppy – I Disagree
9. Gaerea – Limbo
8. Black Crown Initiate – Violent Portraits of Doomed Escape
7. Napalm Death – Throes of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism
6. Good Tiger – Raised In A Doomsday Cult
5. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou – May Our Chambers Be Full
4. Imperial Triumphant – Alphaville
3. Loathe – I Let It In And It Took Everything
2. Deftones – OHMS
1. Haken – Virus
Read more: REVIEW: Gaerea – Limbo, REVIEW: Napalm Death – Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism, REVIEW: Imperial Triumphant – Alphaville, REVIEW: Haken – Virus, Interview with Haken — “We’re not bouncing around three chords.”
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. Atlases – Woe Portrait
9. Endless Forms Most Gruesome – Endless Forms Most Gruesome
8. Korpsesoturi – Korpskrist
7. Curse Upon A Prayer – Infidel
6. Kairon; IRSE! – Polysomn
5. Dark Buddha Rising – Mathreyata
4. Polymoon – Caterpillars of Creation
3. Gorephilia – In The Eye Of Nothing
2. Humavoid – Lidless
1. Oranssi Pazuzu – Mestarin Kynsi
Read more: REVIEW: Kairon; IRSE! – Polysomn, REVIEW: Dark Buddha Rising – Mathreyata, REVIEW: Polymoon – Caterpillars of Creation, REVIEW: Humavoid – Lidless, Interview with Humavoid — “Our band is driven by curiosity.”, REVIEW: Oranssi Pazuzu – Mestarin Kynsi
Best livestream concert
I surprisingly have watched only one streamed concert this year. They really are not my thing. I watched LORDI’s “Scarctic Circle Gathering” in May. Although it had a number of technical difficulties, the experience was warm and nostalgic for me.
Read more: 22.5.2020 Lordi @ Paha Kurki Rockhouse, Rovaniemi, Finland, Interview with Lordi — “It’s the default setting of a Finn, the social distancing.”
Most promising act
HUMAVOID released their debut album “Lidless,” which totally blew me away. Their music manages to reach the bad-ass levels of MESHUGGAH and their live-set back in 2019 truly blew me away. Watch out for this aggressive and progressive bunch!
Read more: REVIEW: Humavoid – Lidless, Interview with Humavoid — “Our band is driven by curiosity.”
Top 5 international songs
5. Monuments – Animus
4. Poppy – I Disagree
3. Deftones – Genesis
2. Haken – Prosthetic
1. VOLA – Head Mounted Sideways
Read more: REVIEW: Haken – Virus, Interview with Haken — “We’re not bouncing around three chords.”
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Gorephilia – Ouroboran Labyrinth
4. Endless Forms Most Gruesome – Viral Bloodlust
3. Radio Supernova – Väkivaltaa
2. Humavoid – Aluminum Rain
1. Oranssi Pazuzu – Uusi Teknokratia
Read more: REVIEW: Humavoid – Lidless, Interview with Humavoid — “Our band is driven by curiosity.”, REVIEW: Oranssi Pazuzu – Mestarin Kynsi, Interview with Oranssi Pazuzu — “The greatest fears are inside your dissolving mind.”, GALLERY: 28.11.2020 Oranssi Pazuzu @ Olympia Kortteli, Tampere (Musicalypse Archive)
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Humanity’s Last Breath – Tide
4. Everwave – Kármán Line
3. Wheel – Movement
2. Nerve End – Absolution
1. WÖYH! – Ukemi Tatami Totemi Tatami
Top 5 cover art
5. Afterbirth – Four Dimensional Flesh
4. Gorephilia – In The Eye Of Nothing
3. Kairon; IRSE! – Polysomn
2. Imperial Triumphant – Alphaville
1. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou – May Our Chambers Be Full
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2021
5. Veil of Maya
4. Wheel
3. Humanity’s Last Breath – Välde
2. Meshuggah
1. VOLA
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!
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