This year it felt that bands leaned towards EP’s versus full albums or maybe I just gravitated towards EPs. There was still a few gems that got put out and these are the ones I really enjoyed…

IF NOT FOR ME - “EVERYTHING YOU WANTED”

This album truly is everything you wanted. Every song is a banger and certified potential top 10 hit. Everything just blends so well and its produced to sound the exact way it should. I have a hard time thinking this band isn’t gonna be huge in the next year or two and when they are 20 years into thier career this will be that amazing breakthrough record that people get super excited about them doing a tour celebrating it.

SUGAR HYSTERIA - “BREAK UP OR BREAK DOWN”

If your looking for some good time pop / rock that’ll put you in a good mood and something to sing along too. Here’s your album. Sugar Hysteria know how to put a smile on your face. Some awesome guitar licks and great lyrical content on the record as well as a few ballads. For a good time listen to Sugar Hysteria.

DESOLATION - “DESOLATION”

This is a brutal album from front to back. Growling vocals w/ pure adrenaline based music. The breakdowns are perfectly placed. The additions of the keyboards adds an ambience and extra layer as well. I honestly can’t get over how well put together this record is and this band is young and new. They fit perfectly in w/ this new Heavy Metal resurgance that we are seeing w/ bands like Knocked Loose and Kublai Khan.

HEARTBENT - “HEARTBENT”

These guys go back and forth from clean vocals to the screaming w/ such ease. Using two vocalists the two blend and harmonize so effortlessly that it just seems meant to be. This isnt your typical for fans of as they have a unique sound and a guitarist who can solo w/ absolutely anyone.

BLOOD AND EARTH - “KILL US ALL”

Blood and Earth are very old school metal. They blend classic type metal w/ more screaming vocals. Yet they are not the heaviest band you’ll ever hear which makes them unique. Its a hard band to describe as they have a very unique mixture of genres which is great because you can put them on a variety of shows.