The 60 best metal albums of 2020 include (clockwise from top left): Great American Ghost, Azusa, Oranssi Pazuzu, Primitive Man, Obsidian Kingdom, Malokarpatan, My Dying Bride, Boundaries, Behold The Arctopus and O Zorn. Historians will likely look back on 2020 as one of the worst years ever. Luckily, metal…

The existence of Primitive Man almost seems unfair. The conversation suddenly becomes, “heavy metal music, and Primitive Man.” This Colorado trio truly takes the cake as far unrelenting and suffocating darkness. The band set the bar extremely high with its debut, Scorn, and doubled down on Caustic. Even if played…

Within the isolated DIY metal and punk music communities of Iowa, Aseethe has championed leveling riffs, nuanced ambiance and conscientious themes since 2007. What started as a solo project for guitarist-singer Brian Barr is now a power trio with drummer Eric Diercks and bassist Noah Koester. Like contemporaries Thou…