1. Volbeat - Beyond Hell/Heaven Above (2012) - Thirteen tracks of rockabilly metal madness! This is my favorite of Volbeat's four albums of the decade and maybe their best of seven studio albums in their catalogue. From start to finish this album delivers up tempo rockers with huge riffs and hooks. Michael Paulsen's voice is deep, but smooth. There are guest appearances from musicians from Mercyful Fate, Kreator, and Napalm Death; there's a bonus track written by Glenn Danzig. Volbeat is from Denmark, and they sound like no one else. I find something new to like with every listen.
2. Danko Jones - Rock and Roll is Black and Blue (2012): This band is from Canada, and although they have had some critical acclaim in North America, they mostly tour in Europe where there is more demand for their type of music. This album is about love, sex, and heartbreak. It has elements of punk, blues, and garage rock, but with anthemic songs. I promise that you will find at least one song on this album that you absolutely love. I like to listen to this album while walking, cooking, showering, or just chillin'. Although I like every song, I think "I Don't Care," "You Wear Me Down," "Always Away," and "I Believed in God" are all epic!
3. Seether - Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Deluxe) (2011): No album has gotten more spins from front to back for me this decade than this one. When I still had a cd player in my car, this disc was about the only thing I listened to for a couple of weeks straight, and it gets regular plays still. At first I didn't even think it was the best Seether album. It really grew on me though, and now I see it as a masterpiece. There are grunge rockers like the ones they are known for, there are epic ballads, and there are genre-bending songs that show off the artistic songwriting ability that this band has. I think Shaun Morgan is one of the best songwriters and vocalists of my generation. His vocal range and artistry are on full display throughout this album. The first single, Country Song, brought them new fans and critical acclaim. Emo-ballads "Here and Now" and "Tonight" are among some of the bands' best. The regular version has twelve killer songs and the deluxe has sixteen.
4. Crobot - Something Supernatural (2014): Finally an American band makes the list. They're from Pottsville, PA to be exact. The first time I heard Crobot was on Octane and I knew they were special. Self-described "dirty groove rock," Crobot has a unique sound that is part throwback and part revolutionary. There's bluesy guitar riffs like Black Crowes and powerful soaring vocals similar at times to Wolfmother. I saw Crobot open for Chevelle shortly after their full length debut album was released, and I was blown away by how similar to the record they sounded! Lead singer Brandon Yeagley has phenomenal range and power, and the rest of the band compliments him with a righteous rhythm section and well-timed leads. Something Supernatural is a concept album with songs about subjects like chupacabra, succubus, and the devil. They've since released two other great albums, but I think this one is the gold standard. In my 2014 list this one was number 4 behind my next pick, but it moved up the list of favorites because of its originality and replay-ability.
5. Chevelle - La Gorgola (2014) - Chevelle followed up what was definitely their weakest effort, 2011's Hats Off To the Bull, with maybe their most consistent album. This one has banging riffs throughout. The main riff from "Under the Knife" was straight out of my brain circa 2002. "Ouija Board," "An Island," and "Jawbreaker" are straight fire. "Takeout the Gunman" was a breakout single. If you've ever liked Chevelle's previous work, or are just a fan of riff-based alternative metal, you need to listen to this album.
6. Judas Priest - Firepower (2018): Quoting myself, "Firepower starts off with three kick ass songs, "Firepower," "Lightening Strike," and "Evil Never Dies." In fact, these are the three they have been regularly incorporating into their new live show. It fits into the set great. I think the reason this new album has been viewed so favorably is that it has some of the classic Priest sound (Never the Heroes, Children of the Sun), some modern heavy rock sounds (Necromancer, Lightening Strike), and some sick lead guitar solos (Rising From Ruins, Traitors Gate). There is something for everyone. The songwriting is strong, the melodies are fresh and the riffs really rip. There's not a bad song among the generous 14 tracks. If you like metal and you haven't checked this one out, do yourself a favor and give it a listen."
7. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence (2017): Lead singer and guitarist Matt Heafy is a monster of melodic metal, and this album is rock solid from start to finish. The drumming is also phenomenal. The band even got a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for the song "Betrayer." I actually prefer the title track, "The Wretchedness Inside," and "Sever the Hand."
8. Alter Bridge - Last Hero (2016): See my full track-by-track review here. In addition, Last Hero won the Loudwire Best Rock Album of the Year and "Show Me A Leader" won Best Rock Song in a year full of fantastic rock music. Enough said.
9. Nonpoint - The Poison Red (2016): One of my favorite bands of all time released five awesome albums this decade. The Poison Red is the best since their 2000 debut Statement, and I have it a little above 2018's X. There is not a skippable track. It is one of their most ambitious and diverse albums. Opener "Generation Idiot" is a scathing commentary on the culture of text, eat, sleep, repeat. Lead guitarist BC Kochmit shows his chops on tracks like "Foaming At the Mouth" and "Bottled Up Killer Bees". "El Diablo" brings back the Spanish influences from the Puerto Rican roots of Robb and Elias, who seem to show no signs of slowing down. Closer "My Last Dying Breath" has a heavy sludging rhythm in the chorus unlike anything the boys in Nonpoint have done before.
10. Monster Truck - Furiosity (2013): This can best be described as groovy grunge metal. It is toe-tapping, head-banging riffage with soulful, raspy clean vocals. When I saw this band open for Buckcherry in February of 2014 they blew me away. I couldn't believe how talented they were, how hard they rocked, and how original their sound was. They have since come out with two other great albums, but this one is perfection. If you're new to these guys, start with "Sweet Mountain River."
11. Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream (2018): Wow, another concept album that actually works! This band has been around since 2002 and had the breakout of their career with this album inspired by classic horror movies including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, It, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I saw them at Starland in May and though I had heard some of their songs on Octane, I didn't expect a whole bunch. Well, the stage show was very theatrical, the band sounded just like the record, and the singer really impressed me with his strong, smooth vocals. If that wasn't cool enough, the album features guest vocals from members of Finch, Mest, Fenix TX, Less Than Jake, and Stanley Kubrick's grandson, Sam Kubrick of the band Shields.
12. Tremonti - A Dying Machine (2018): It was close between this one and 2016's Dust, but this album had more songs on it, and the standout track "From the Sky" which I think is one of Tremonti's best. You'll find trademark chunky riffs alongside a soaring whoah-oh-oh sing along chorus. I dare you to dislike it.
13. Megadeth - Dystopia (2016): Megadeth is one of my favorite bands, and as such I have high standards for them. Dystopia is definitely their best album of the decade, and I think a worthy top 20 selection. On this album Dave Mustaine shows that he can still shred, and he still has more to say about society. The title track won the band its first Grammy (Best Metal Performance), after 11 previous nominations, beating out Baroness, Gojira, Korn, and Periphery.
14. Rammstein - Rammstein (2019): Rammstein had nothing to prove; no reason to put out a career bookmark, but that's exactly what they did with this album. 15 years after the country commentary on the United States and Russia heard on 2004's Reise Reise, Germany gets it's own satirical theme song, "Deutchland." The main beat is like EDM MDMA, and yet it also has a driving drum beat that is rock gold. Then add Till's creepy chanting vocals over top and you have a unique rock anthem. Radio is also one of the best songs in their catalogue. Puppe is one of the creepiest. The videos are some of the most provocative of their career, and I think "Deutchland" is definitely worth everyone viewing.
15. Buried In Verona - Vultures Above, Lions Below (2015): BIV is an Australian band from Sydney, New South Wales. I think I just found them by searching rock releases on iTunes. This whole album is really solid aggressive rock. From 2008-2014 they were more metalcore. There isn't a ton of screaming on this album, and the rough edges are more polished. There is good guitar licks and melody behind a mix of clean and unclean vocals. None of the tracks really stand out as amazing, but there are also no duds in the entire album. I just really enjoy this album.
16. Against Me - White Crosses (2010): This album is another in a string of my top 16 that I think is pretty much flawless. Besides Holding Onto Strings, this one probably got the most complete plays, mostly on car rides. The opening tracks "White Crosses" and "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" are full of punk angst. The rest of the album leans emo in the lyrics and tone, covering subjects such as drug use, death, and heartbreak. Though really dark times are discussed, the tempos remain upbeat and the songs have hopeful perspective. This album also marks the last for the lead singer being known as Thomas James Gabel before transitioning to Laura Jane Grace. You would definitely be right to consider 2014's Transgender Dysphoria Blues more socially important, but sonically this one takes the cake.
17. Staind - Staind (2011): I have been a fan of Staind since 1999, and think that Aaron Lewis is one of the most talented singers out there. 2008's Illusion of Progress was their slowest and weakest album, a big letdown. Documentary footage from the recording sessions of the self-titled album show that the band was going through a tumultuous time trying to meet deadlines for Staind while Aaron was working on a blossoming solo career as a country artist. Tensions boiled high and after recording was finished, the drummer, Jon Wysocki, was finished as well, and the future of the band was uncertain. This is the last release we have gotten, and it is unique for the guitar parts Mike Mushok came up with. There is more solos than on previous releases, and some intricate and challenging parts. At the same time, the anger and aggression harkens back to the Dysfunction and Tormented days. I think "Now" puts all these pieces together in the right way, and would be my favorite song off of the album, although "Not Again," "Paper Wings" and others are also worthy.
18. Boy Hits Car - Stealing Fire (2012): California's Boy Hits Car have been together since 1993 and spreading the Love Core far and wide since 1998. Stealing Fire is their best since their self-titled album. Lead singer Cregg can quickly change course from soothing crooning to screaming outbursts. The music includes some Middle Eastern strings juxtaposed with nu-metal worthy down tuned guitar riffs. Just when you think things couldn't be more unpredictable, they throw in a rock cover of a John Denver song, Eagle & the Hawk.
19. Of Mice & Men - Earthandsky (2019) - This band has been around since 2009, racking up over a million plays on Myspace of their cover of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." They have had several lineup changes, but have built a respectable reputation in the metalcore and alternative metal scene. 2018's Defy was in consideration for this list, but I think Earthandsky is heavier, and is their best album to date. "Mushroom Cloud" and "The Mountain" particularly rip!
20. Architects - Holy Hell (2018): Architects are a British metalcore band that sadly don't get enough recognition in the United States. They are 8 albums in, and a couple of them were among the best of the decade. Holy Hell made my list for being the most consistent, in my opinion. The band's founding guitarist and main songwriter, Tom Searle, passed away in 2016 after a battle with skin cancer. Brother, Dan Searle, drew inspiration from Tom's written lyrics and also used the music on this album as a cathartic way to deal with the pain of loss, process it, and grow from it.
21. Palisades - Erase the Pain (2018): Out of Iselin, New Jersey, Palisades first made a name for themselves with a rock cover of Pharrell's "Happy" that appeared on Punk Goes Pop Vol. 6. Since then they put out an EP and four studio albums this decade. I wouldn't call them punk; they're more post-hardcore alternative metal with some electronica songs (especially on 2015's Mind Games). Erase the Pain has 10 solid hard rock tracks out of 10.
22. Coldrain - Vena (2015): Coldrain is a Japanese post-hardcore band with lyrics all written in English. I discovered them by accident browsing new releases on iTunes late one night. They have a lot of talent and a different style than what we typically hear on American radio.
23. Avatar - Hail the Apocalypse (Deluxe) (2014): The opening title track is one of the best metal songs I have heard this decade. It has a driving drum beat and an epic chorus that is more like a breakdown. A Swedish band, they play melodic death metal, often in evil carnival clown makeup/costumes. They were awarded the 2017 Breakout Band Award by the Metal Hammer Golden Gods, but I don't think enough people know about them in the US.
25. I Prevail - Trauma (2019): If there is a new band that I haven't seen yet that I am dying to see, it would be I Prevail. Their 2016 album Lifelines was really good, and they topped it this year with Trauma. They have been in heavy rotation on Octane with songs like "Bow Down" (a song to the haters), "Breaking Down," and "Hurricane" with good reason. "Bow Down" was nominated for the Best Metal Performance Grammy and Trauma was nominated for Best Rock Album. Awards are announced on January 26.
Honorable Mentions (alphabetical; at least 4/5 star; and staying with one album per band rule):
A Day To Remember - Common Courtesy (2013)
A Skylit Drive - ASD (2015)
AFI - AFI (The Blood Album) (2017)
Alice Cooper - Paranormal (2017)
Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed (2018)
All That Remains - The Order of Things (2015)
Angels and Airwaves - The Dream Walker (2014)
Asking Alexandria - Lp5 DLX (2019)
Avenged Sevenfold - The Stage (2016)
Babymetal - Metal Resistance (2016)
Bad Religion - Age of Unreason (2019)
Badflower - Ok, I'm Sick (2019)
Badwolves - Disobey (2018)
Beartooth - Aggressive (2016)
Black Label Society - Grimmest Hits (2018)
Black Sabbath - 13 (2013)
Black Tide - Chasing Shadows (2015)
Blink 182 - California (2016)
Breaking Benjamin - Ember (2018)
Bring Me the Horizon - There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret (2010)
Buckcherry - Warpaint (2019)
Bullet for My Valentine - Venom (Deluxe) (2015)
Burn Halo - Up From the Ashes (Deluxe) (2011)
Clutch - Psychic Warfare (2015)
Darkness - Pinewood Smile (Deluxe) (2017)
Dead Sara - Dead Sara (2012)
Deafheaven - Sunbather (2013)
DED - MisAnThrope (2017)
Deftones - Diamond Eyes (2010)
Devildriver - Winter Kills (2013)
Devour the Day - Signals (2018)
Disturbed - Immortalized (Deluxe) (2015)
Eighteen Visions -XVIII (2017)
Emperors and Elephants - Devil in the Lake (2014)
Escape the Fate - Ungrateful (Deluxe) (2013)
Eve to Adam - Locked and Loaded (2013)
Faded Line - Ours Is the Fury (2012) available for free download @ https://fadedline.bandcamp.com/
Failure Anthem - First World Problems (2016)
Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors (Deluxe) (2011)
Falling in Reverse - Just Like You (Deluxe) (2015)
Fear Factory - Genexus (2015)
Fight or Flight - A Life By Design? (Deluxe) (2013)
Filter - Crazy Eyes (2016)
Five Finger Death Punch - The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light (2011)
Gary Clark Jr. - This Land (2019)
Gemini Syndrome - Lux (2013)
Ghost - Prequelle (2018)
Godsmack - 1000HP (2014)
Gojira - Magma (2016)
Green Day - Revolution Radio (2016)
Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army (2018)
Halestorm - Into the Wild Life (Deluxe) (2015)
Hed(P.E.) - Truth Rising (2010)
Hellyeah - Welcome Home (2019)
High On Fire - Electric Messiah (2018)
ill Niño - Till Death La Familia - (2014)
Intervals - The Shape of Colour (2015)
Issues - Issues (2014)
John 5 - Careful With That Axe (2014)
Josh Todd & the Conflict - Year of the Tiger (2017)
Killswitch Engage - Incarnate (Deluxe) (2016)
Korn - The Nothing (2019)
Kyng - Breathe in the Water (2016)
Lacey Sturm - Life Screams (2016)
Linkin Park - Hunting Party (2014)
Local H - Hey, Killer (2015)
Machine Head - Blodstones & Diamonds (2014)
Madam Adam - Madam Adam (2011)
Mayday Parade - Monsters In the Closet (2013)
Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016)
Moose Blood - Blush (2016)
Murderdolls - Women and Children Last (Special Edition) (2010)
Nothing More - Nothing More (2014)
Ocean - Pelagial (2013)
Oleander - Something Beautiful (2013)
Otherwise - Peace at All Costs (2014)
Papa Roach - F.E.A.R. (2015)
Pistol Day Parade - Burn (2013)
Pop Evil - Onyx (2013)
Raintime - Psychochromatic (2010)
Rancid - TroubleMaker (Deluxe) (2017)
Red - Until We Have Faces (2011)
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Am I the Enemy (Deluxe) (2011)
Rise Against - Black Market (2014)
Rival Sons - Feral Roots (2019)
Rob Zombie - Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013)
Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? (2017)
Saint Asonia -Saint Asonia (2015)
Seaway - Vacation (2017)
Senses Fail - The Fire (2010)
Sick Puppies - Fury (2016)
Silverstein - Dead Reflection (2017)
Skillet - Unleashed (2016)
Slash - World on Fire (2014)
Slipknot - .5 The Gray Chapter (Special Edition) (2014)
Spineshank - Anger Denial Acceptance (2012)
Starset - Transmissions (2014)
Stitched Up Heart - Never Alone (2016)
Story of the Year - The Constant (Deluxe) (2010)
Strung Out - Songs of Amor and Devotion (2019)
Taddy Porter - Taddy Porter (2010)
Taproot - Plead the Fifth (2011)
Theory of a Deadman - Savages (2014)
Throw the Fight - Transmissions (2016)
Tool - Fear Inoculum (2019)
Turbowolf - Turbowolf (2012)
The Used - Vulnerable (Deluxe) (2012)
Wage War - Blueprints (2015)
Wednesday 13 - Condolences (2017)
Weezer - Weezer (White Album) (2016)
Winery Dogs - Hot Streak (2015)
Wovenwar - Honor Is Dead (2016)
Yellowcard - Southern Air (2012)
Zebrahead - Call Your Friends (2013)
ZZ Top - La Futura (2012)
3 Inches of Blood - Long Live Heavy Metal (2012)
