necrot

Despite undergoing constant change and no shortage of difficulties, the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, etc.) remains a significant stronghold for American heavy metal—and especially death metal. This in-depth feature includes perspectives from key bands (Ripped to Shreds, Vastum) and labels (Sentient Ruin Laboratories, Carbonized Records).

2020's end-of-year listmania yielded a set of records (including a tie for tenth place) that we deem indisputable champions. Well, unless you want to dispute these on Twitter, anyway.

Ted Nubel offers up his doom-laden picks for 2020.

Langdon Hickman's top picks for the year range from the emotionally harrowing to just plain kickass.

Andrew Sacher lists his favorite heavy releases of 2020.

Brandon Corsair, leader of the California death metal band Draghkar and studious metal journalist, reveals his top picks for the year, diving deep into the underground.

Chris Rowella highlights his top picks of 2020 -- exceptional albums for an exceptional (but in the other sense of the word) year.

We gathered up a posse of metallic hellraisers, from young rebels to grizzled veterans, to recount memories and love for one of the greatest albums to serve as nexus for metal, punk, and rock n’ roll. Featuring members of Repulsion, Midnight, Incantation, Goatwhore, and more.

In this special roundup, Langdon Hickman details five varied but recent heavy albums to highlight his trials with depressive/anxious episodes, heightened self-expectations, and a world at large gone mad.

Here are four most excellent (and quite personal) selections from last month's onslaught of heavy releases.