The Best Of The 2010s

As we say goodbye to this decade, we would do well to take a moment and recognize the very best releases in the 2010s. One of music's, really all art, strongest muses is the releases of the past. It is there where we can take stock of what has been created, what was lacking, and what can be improved on. Only when we understand the best of the past can we begin to build toward the best future. It is with that we celebrate and honor the very best this closing decade had to offer as these releases will move into the 2020s with their place among the stars.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Power Trip - Manifest Decimation (Southern Lord) - 2013
2.) The Boston Strangler - Primitive (Fun With Smack) - 2011
3.) The Impalers - Cellar Dweller (540) - 2017
4.) Omegas - Blasts Of Lunacy (Parts Unknown) - 2011
5.) Crazy Spirit - Crazy Spirit (Toxic State) - 2012
6.) Hank Wood And The Hammerheads - Go Home! (Toxic State) - 2012
7.) No Tolerance - You Walk Alone (Painkiller) - 2015
8.) Arms Race - New Wave Of British Hardcore (La Vida Es Un Mus) - 2016
9.) Murderer - I Did It For All You (Toxic State) - 2018
10.) Vaaska - Ruido Hasta La Muerte (540) - 2010
11.) Cülo - My Life Sucks And I Could Care Less (Deranged) - 2012
12.) The Impalers - Impalers (540 / Todo Destruido) - 2013
13.) Wiccans - Field II (Katorga Works) - 2012
14.) SQRM - Rodeo (Youth Attack) - 2010

15.) Concealed Blade - Concealed Blade (Beach Impediment) - 2017

16.) Vanity - Vain In Life (Katorga Works) - 2014
17.) Masshysteri ‎- Masshysteri (Ny Våg) - 2010
18.) Framtid - Defeat Of Civilization (Crust War) - 2013
19.) Exit Order - Seed Of Hysteria (Side Two) - 2017
20.) War Hungry - War Hungry (Six Feet Under) - 2011
21.) Total Abuse - Prison Sweat (Post Present Medium) - 2011
22.) Dawn Of Humans - Slurping At The Cosmos Spine (Toxic State) - 2015
23.) The Flex - Wild Stabs In The Dark (Video Disease / Milk Run) - 2014

24.) The Ropes - Always Nothing (Youth Attack) - 2012

25.) Crown Court - Capitol Offence (Katorga Works) - 2016
26.) Hoax - Hoax (Self-Released) - 2013
27.) The Rival Mob - Mob Justice (Revelation) - 2013
28.) Vaaska - Todos Contra Todos (Beach Impediment) - 2015
29.) Isterismo - Follia Verso L'Interno (Crust War) - 2012
30.) Inmates - Inmates (Painkiller) - 2013
31.) Vile Gash - Nightmare In A Damaged Brain (Youth Attack) - 2018
32.) Wiccans - Skullduggery (Katorga Works) - 2011
33.) Tragedy - Darker Days Ahead (Self-Released) - 2012
34.) Game - No One Wins (Quality Control HQ) - 2019
35.) The Boston Strangler - Fire (Self-Released) - 2014
36.) Warcry - Savage Machinery (Self-Released) - 2014
37.) Candy - Good To Feel (Triple B) - 2018
38.) Hank Wood And The Hammerheads - Self-Titled (Toxic State) - 2018
39.) Soul Swallower - Devoured (Painkiller) - 2011
40.) Selfish - Life Has No Vacant Time (Feral Ward) - 2013
41.) Civilized - Chopping Block (Youth Attack) - 2017

42.) Salvation - Mortality Interactions (Youth Attack) - 2010

43.) Glam - Veneno En Sus Flechas (La Vida Es Un Mus)
44.) Cold World - How The Gods Chill (Deathwish) - 2014
45.) Vein - Errorzone (Closed Casket Activities) - 2018
46.) No Warning - Torture Culture (Last Gang) - 2017
47.) Omegas - Power To Exist (Beach Impediment) - 2016
48.) Violent Reaction - City Streets (Painkiller) - 2013
49.) Total Abuse - Excluded (Deranged) - 2015
50.) City Hunter - Deep Blood (Youth Attack) - 2018


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) The Rival Mob - Hardcore For Hardcore (Six Feet Under) - 2010
2.) Warthog - Exterminate Me (Katorga Works) - 2013
3.) Hoax - Hoax (Katorga Works) - 2011
4.) The Impalers - The Impalers (W-Label / Todo Destruido) - 2011
5.) Ajax - Ajax (Katorga Works) - 2014
6.) Perdition - Perdition (Distort Reality) - 2010
7.) Warthog - Warthog (Beach Impediment) - 2016
8.) Rixe - Coups Et Blessures (La Vida Es Un Mus) - 2015
9.) No Tolerance - No Remorse, No Tolerance (Youngblood) - 2011
10.) Crazy Spirit - Crazy Spirit (Toxic State) - 2010
11.) Perdition - Perdition (Toxic State) - 2011
12.) Waste Management - Power Abuse (Painkiller) - 2010
13.) Obliteration - War Is Our Destiny (Beach Impediment) - 2013
14.) The Impalers - Psychedelic Snutskallar (Can O' Bees) - 2014
15.) Green Beret - Violence Is Their Currency (Side Two) - 2012
16.) Glue - Glue (Katorga Works / Video Disease) - 2014
17.) Vile Gash - Deluded (Youth Attack) - 2011
18.) S.H.I.T. - I (La Vida Es Un Mus) - 2016
19.) Blazing Eye - Blazing Eye (Overdose) - 2014
20.) Tragedy - Fury (Self-Released) - 2018
21.) Veins - Veins (Youth Attack) - 2010
22.) Civilized - Dust And Blood (Youth Attack) - 2014
23.) La Misma - La Misma (Toxic State) - 2014
24.) Warthog - Prison (Iron Lung Records) - 2014
25.) Death Evocation - Death Evocation (Quality Control HQ) - 2011

26.) Warthog - Warthog (Toxic State) - 2018

27.) Arms Race - Gotta Get Out (Quality Control HQ) - 2015

28.) Suburbanite - Suburbanite (Youth Attack) - 2011
29.) Rixe - Baptême Du Feu (La Vida Es Un Mus) - 2017
30.) Candy - Candy Says (Triple B) - 2018


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Power Trip - Nightmare Logic (Southern Lord) - 2017
2.) Disma - Towards The Megalith (Profound Lore) - 2011
3.) Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines Of The Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (Icarus Music) - 2010
4.) Ghost - Opus Eponymous (Rise Above) - 2010
5.) Mammoth Grinder / Hatred Surge Split (Regurgitated Semen) - 2011
6.) Volahn - Aq'Ab'Al (Crepúsculo Negro) - 2014
7.) Midnight - Satanic Royalty (Hells Headbangers) - 2011
8.) Ashdautas - Where The Sun Is Silent... (Crepúsculo Negro) - 2010
9.) Mammoth Grinder - Underworlds (Relapse) - 2013
10.) Black Witchery - Inferno Of Sacred Destruction (Osmose Productions) - 2010
11.) Arizmenda - Without Circumference Nor Center (Crepúsculo Negro) - 2011
12.) Ares Kingdom - Incendiary (Nuclear War Now!) - 2010
13.) Sleep - The Sciences (Third Man) - 2018
14.) Revenge - Scum.Collapse.Eradication (Nuclear War Now!) - 2012
15.) Magic Circle - Magic Circle (Armageddon Shop) - 2013
16.) Hooded Menace - Effigies of Evil (Relapse) - 2012
17.) Inquisition - Obscure Verses For The Multiverse (Season Of Mist) - 2013
18.) Arizmenda - Stillbirth In The Temple Of Venus (Crepúsculo Negro) - 2014
19.) Innumerable Forms - Punishment In Flesh (20 Buck Spin)
20.) Midnight - No Mercy For Mayhem (Hells Headbangers) - 2014
21.) Goat Semen - Ego Svm Satana (Hells Headbangers) - 2015
22.) Antichrist - Forbidden World (High Roller) - 2011
23.) Eternal Champion - The Armor Of Ire (No Remorse) - 2016
24.) Christian Mistress - Agony & Opium (20 Buck Spin) - 2010
25.) Gatecreeper - Sonoran Depravation (Relapse) - 2016


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Releases

1.) Juicy J - Rubba Band Business 2 - 2011
2.) Future - Pluto - 2012
3.) Chief Keef - Finally Rich - 2012
4.) Waka Flocka Flame - Flockaveli - 2010

5.) Young Thug - I Came From Nothing 2 - 2011 

6.) Freddie Gibbs - ESGN - 2013
7.) Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - 2012
8.) Young Scooter - Street Lottery - 2013
9.) The Weeknd - House Of Balloons - 2011
10.) Juicy J - Blue Dream & Lean - 2011
11.) Chief Keef - Back From The Dead - 2012
12.) Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra - 2011
13.) Lil Ugly Mane - Mista Thug Isolation - 2012
14.) Rich Homie Quan - I Go In On Every Song - 2012
15.) Skepta - Konnichiwa - 2016
16.) Future & Freeband Gang - F.B.G. The Movie - 2013
17.) Frank Ocean - Channel Orange - 2012
18.) Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana - 2019
19.) Young Thug - Barter 6 - 2015
20.) Rick Ross - Teflon Don - 2010
21.) Young Thug - 1017 Thug - 2013
22.) Roscoe Dash - Demolition 2020 - 2010
23.) Waka Flocka Flame - DuFlocka Rant (10 Toes Down) - 2011
24.) Pusha T - Daytona - 2018
25.) Kendrick Lamar - Section.80 - 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years (Matador) - 2011
2.) Kacey Musgraves - Pageant Material (Mercury Nashville) - 2015
3.) Robyn - Body Talk (Konichiwa) - 2010
4.) Merchandise - Children Of Desire (Katorga Works) - 2012
5.) Björk - Vulnicura (One Little Indian) - 2015
6.) Milk Music ‎- Cruise Your Illusion (Perennial)
7.) Best Coast - Crazy For You (Mexican Summer) - 2010
8.) My Bloody Valentine - mbv (Self-Released) - 2013
9.) Beach House - Teen Dream (Sub Pop) - 2010
10.) Grimes - Art Angels (4AD) - 2015

11.) Kamasi Washington - Heaven And Earth (Young Turks) - 2018

12.) Chvrches - Every Open Eye (Virgin) - 2015

13.) Taylor Swift - 1989 (Big Machine) - 2015

14.) Solange - A Seat At The Table (Saint) - 2016
15.) Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Columbia) - 2013
16.) Rihanna - ANTI (Roc Nation) - 2016
17.) Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION (School Boy) - 2015
18.) Nothing - Tired Of Tomorrow (Relapse) - 2016
19.) Swervedriver - I Wasn't Born To Lose You (Cobraside) - 2015
20.) FKA Twigs - LP1 (Young Turks) - 2014
21.) Angel Olsen - My Woman (Jagjaguwar) - 2016
22.) Sturgill Simpson - High Top Mountain (Loose) - 2013
23.) The Men - Leave Home (Sacred Bones) - 2011
24.) Title Fight - Shed (SideOneDummy) - 2011
25.) Fucked Up Presents David's Town (Matador) - 2011


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) The Rival Mob - Mob Justice Promo (2012)
2.) The Impalers - 2010
3.) Ajax - Bleach For Breakfast (2013)
4.) The Boston Strangler - 2010
5.) Iron Age - The Saga Demos - 2011
6.) Warthog - Chain Wallet Sessions (2012)
7.) Murderer - 2013
8.) Stigmatism - 2018
9.) Exit Order - 2013
10.) Concealed Blade - 2015


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Sets

1.) Bastard (reunion) @ Chaos In Tejas / Emo's / Austin, TX (May 29th 2010)
2.) Massive Attack @ Radio City Music Hall / New York, NY (September 26th 2019)
3.) The Stone Roses @ Madison Square Garden / New York, NY (June 30th 2016)
4.) Bolt Thrower @ Chaos In Tejas / 1100 Warehouse / Austin, TX (May 31st 2013)
5.) Framtid @ Chaos In Tejas / 1100 Warehouse / Austin, TX (June 1st 2013)
6.) No Warning (reunion) @ Game Changer World / Howell, NJ (April 10th 2015)
7.) Future @ Fader Fort SXSW / Austin, TX (March 15th 2013)
8.) Death Side (reunion) @ Le Poisson Rouge / New York, NY (April 16th 2016)
9.) Integrity (Systems Overload lineup) @ A389 Anniversary / Sonar / Baltimore, MD (January 18th 2014)
10.) Isterismo @ New York's Alright / The Acheron / Brooklyn, NY (April 17th 2015)

Special note for the worst set of the decade which was:
Poison Idea @ Chaos In Tejas / Emo's / Austin, TX (May 30th 2010)

The Best of 2019

Celebrating new music is important. In the subculture, we are constantly faced with a chorus of people who will tell you that the genres are dead and that there is nothing good coming out anymore. This opinion alone indicts how out of touch a person can be. There is a deluge of incredible new music coming out every year and it is important to take the time to praise the work of those who contribute to the subculture's sonic archive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Best Hardcore / Punk LPs

1.) Game - No One Wins (Quality Control HQ / Beach Impediment)
2.) Irreal - Fi Del Mon (La Vida Es Un Mus)
3.) Nosferatu - Solution A (La Vida Es Un Mus)
4.) Nightmare - Thirsty And Wander (Blood Sucker / 540)
5.) Asid - Pathetic Flesh (La Vida Es Un Mus)
6.) Division Of Mind - Division Of Mind (Triple B)
7.) Kohti Tuhoa - Ihmisen Kasvot (La Vida Es Un Mus)
8.) Restraining Order - The World Is Too Much (Triple B)
9.) Eyes Of The Lord - Misery Feels Like Home (Closed Casket Activities)
10.) Muro ‎- Muro En Vivo En El Festival Asfixia, Antípoda Bogotá (Fuerza Ingobernable)
11.) Judiciary - Surface Noise (Closed Casket Activities)
12.) Wild Side - Who The Hell Is WILD SIDE? (Triple B)
13.) L.O.T.I.O.N. - World Wide W.E.B. (Toxic State)
14.) Buried Dreams - 9 Reasons Not To Live (Triple B)
15.) Never Ending Game - Just Another Day (Triple B)

Honorable Mentions

Kaleidoscope - After The Futures... (Toxic State)

Fury - Failed Entertainment (Run For Cover)

Magnitude - To Whatever Fateful End (Triple B)

Wolf Whistle - Private Hell (Triple B)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Metal Releases

1.) Departure Chandelier ‎- Antichrist Rise To Power (Nuclear War Now!)
2.) Blood Incantation - Hidden History Of The Human Race (Dark Descent)
3.) Gatecreeper - Deserted (Relapse)
4.) Teitanblood - The Baneful Choir (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)
5.) Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance (20 Buck Spin)
6.) Antichrist Siege Machine - Schism Preparation (Stygian Black Hand)
7.) Magic Circle - Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin)
8.) Spirit Adrift - Divided By Darkness (20 Buck Spin)
9.) Pig's Blood - A Flock Slaughtered (Stygian Black Hand)
10.) Devil Master - Satan Spits On Children Of Light (Relapse)

Honorable Mentions

Crypt Sermon - The Ruins Of Fading Light (Dark Descent)
Misþyrming - Algleymi (Norma Evangelium Diaboli)

Creeping Death - Wretched Illusions (eOne)

Darkthrone - Old Star (Peaceville)
Cerebral Rot - Odious Descent Into Decay (20 Buck Spin)

Hell Konfessor - Hell Konfessor (Klaxon)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Releases

1.) Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
2.) Benny The Butcher - The Plugs I Met
3.) Juice WRLD - Death Race For Love
4.) Young Thug - So Much Fun
5.) Denzel Curry - Zuu
6.) DAVE - Psychodrama
7.) Young Scooter - Trap Hero
8.) Megan Thee Stallion - Fever
9.) Westside Gunn - Flygod Is An Awesome God

10.) Future - The Wizrd

11.) Gang Starr - One Of The Best Yet

12.) Conway - Look What I Became

13.) Westside Gunn - Hitler Wears Hermes 7

14.) Peewee Longway - Blue M&M 4

15.) Little Simz - Grey Area

Honorable Mentions

Lil Peep - Everybody's Everything
03 Greedo - Still Summer In The Projects
Boogie - Everything's For Sale
Future - Save Me
DaBaby - Baby On Baby

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Releases In Open Competition

1.) Angel Olsen - All Mirrors (Jagjaguwar)
2.) Sturgill Simpson - Sound & Fury (Elektra)
3.) Sabrina Claudio - Truth Is (SC Entertainment)

4.) FKA twigs - MAGDALENE (Young Turks)

5.) Drab Majesty - Modern Mirror (Dais)
6.) Summer Walker - Over It (Love Renaissance / Interscope)

7.) Solange - When I Get Home (Columbia)

8.) (Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar (Domino)

9.) Taylor Swift - Lover (Republic)
10.) Carter Tutti Void - Triumvirate (Conspiracy International)
11.) Young Guv - GUV I & II (Run For Cover)
12.) Lust For Youth - Lust For Youth (Sacred Bones)
13.) Sheer Mag - A Distant Call (Wilsuns)
14.) Whirr - Feels Like You (Self-Released)
15.) Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains (Drag City)

Honorable Mentions

Prurient - Music For Halloween Night (Hospital Productions)

Ceremony - In The Spirit World Now (Relapse)

Geography Of Hell - Sabra Shatila 1982 (Hospital Productions)

Pharmakon - Devour (Sacred Bones)
Palmistry - Afterlife (Mixpak)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Hardcore / Punk EPs

1.) Hank Wood And The Hammerheads - Heads (Self-Released)
2.) Vaaska - Inocentes Condenados (Beach Impediment)
3.) Candy - Super-Stare (Relapse)
4.) Blind Authority - Death Dreams (Quality Control HQ)
5.) Skizophrenia - Undead Melodies (S.K.Z.)
6.) Ekulu - Half Alive (Triple B)
7.) Pobreza Mental - Ya No Me Pertenezco (Toxic State)
8.) Protocol - Bloodsport (11PM)
9.) Loose Nukes - Behind The Screen (Beach Impediment)
10.) Jackal - Jackal (Painkiller)

Honorable Mentions

Cochonne - Cochonne (Self-Released)
Leather Lickers - Leather Lickers (Cool Death)
Concrete Bollocks - Disasters Of War (Contra)
Rata Negra - La Hija Del Sepulturero (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Kriegshög - Paint It Black / White Out (La Vida Es Un Mus)
Armor - Some Kind Of War (11PM)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Demos

1.) Rated X
2.) Heavy Discipline
3.) Sprackta
4.) Schematic
5.) Phantasia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Sets
Note - I had a major medical issue this year involving my ear so going to shows was actual hell for me for most of the year. It only started to clear up in the fall which is why most of these shows were near the year's end.

1.) Massive Attack @ Mezzanine XXI / Radio City Music Hall / New York, NY (September 26th)
2.) Warthog @ The Final Brooklyn Bazaar Show / Brooklyn, NY (November 30th)
3.) Youth Of Today @ Saint Vitus / Brooklyn, NY (March 16th)
4.) Iron Age @ Hardcore Hell / Saint Vitus / Brooklyn, NY (August 9th)
5.) Mortician @ Saint Vitus / Brooklyn, NY (November 15th)