Yes it’s that time of the year again when everyone’s top lists of the year are popping up and of course, The Rockpit has come up with what we think is the very best of the year in rock and metal. Compiled together by our “team of experts” in various genres and release formats, here is our top albums and releases for 2017.
TOP 10 HARD, CLASSIC & MELODIC ROCK ALBUMS
It was a great year for Hard, Classic and Melodic Rock music, maybe even better than 2016. This year saw a mix of old faces releasing new material and a few new pretenders making some sizeable waves, making the Top Ten a real struggle. As well as the Ten we’ve picked there are plenty of honorable mentions and I could easily recommend 50 releases that are well worth checking out with that Christmas money!
We have to mention the following bands who rounded out the Top 30 after all reviewers votes were counted, honorable mentions go out to:
Maverick (AU) (11=) Blood Red Saints (11=), Thunder (12=), Wildness (12=), Blacktop Mojo (13) Warrior Soul (14), Dirty Thrills (15), Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown (16), Sulo (17), Houston (18), Bigfoot (19), Every Mothers Nightmare (20), Travelin’ Jack (21), Lynch Mob (22), The Darkness (23), Myke Grey (24), L.A. Guns (25) Jon Stevens (26) Black Bambi (27) Harem Scarem (28) Alice Cooper (29) Vain (30)
10. Gene Loves Jezebel – Dance Underwater (UK)
Gene Loves Jezebel are as fresh and essential in 2017 as they were at their peak in 1987. For a band to still be making music of this depth and richness after so many years is simply breathtaking.
Review | Interview
9= Midnite City – Midnite City (UK)
This is an album that has it all – there’s a uplifting feel to this one, a kick of rock, the sheen of pop, and the smell of the summer in every slice. Remember when music used to be fun? Well I’ve news for you – it is again.
Review | Interview
9= Backwood Spirit – Backwood Spirit (SWE)
Imagine a band forged in the little known city of Orebro, Sweden that gives an immediate hit like The Black Crowes mixed carefully by way of classic rock alchemy with Badlands, but who also have at their disposal the sweet melodies of vintage Free. Well that sounds like something rather special to me, and that’s exactly what opening track ‘Give Me Good Lovin” delivers. Review | Interview
8. Dirtbag Republic – Downside Eastside (CAN)
This is an album full of great songs, a cool as hell sleazy sound and one that if I could hold a tune I would be wailing from the rooftops! I secretly never thought that Dirtbag Republic could better that debut release, I had money on it going down as one of those great classic debut albums that somehow never get outshone. I was wrong.
Review
7= Steelheart – Through Worlds of Stardust (USA)
This is rock from the heart, mature,modern music capable of moving people and taking you to a better place. Don’t dismiss this as just another comeback by an 80’s band, because it’s far, far more than that.
Review | Interview
7= Eclipse – Monumentum (SWE)
So there we have it 11 flawless tracks, great melodies, huge riffs, searing guitar, memorable bass and drums. This is a release that has it all. Is it better than their previous releases? You’ll have to decide because all I want to do is play it again. I’ll just say this – I can’t at this stage see it not being my album of the year…
Review | Interview (Eric)
6. King King – Exile and Grace (UK)
When I listen to an album like ‘Exile and Grace’ I’m unsure what to say, unsure what I can add about how important and rich and assured and vast it sounds. All I can do it play it again and each time I do I hear more and it gives more.
Review | Interview
5. Black Country Communion – BCCIV (USA/UK)
Listening to Black Country Communion’s latest offering ‘BCCIV’ is akin to a religious experience. It’s monumental and grand work, bludgeoning at times, and expansive at others, full of power and passion, as well as a ‘shed-load’ of heavy riffs, massive and meaty hooks, and enough melodies to make a minstrel weep. And it gets better with each play.
Review | Interview
4= H.E.A.T. – Into the Great Unknown (SWE)
If you loved HEAT before then this is the next stride forward in their evolution. The core of Erik, Jimmy, Jona and Crash are reunited with original guitarist Dave Dalone, after the 2016 departure of Eric Rivers and they sound so hungry here its unreal. This could just be the album that takes them to that next level and into the great unknown…
Review
4= Black Star Riders – Heavy Fire (UK/US)
Black Star Riders will be known to most as the band that was formed by the current day line-up of Thin Lizzy in December 2012 as a vehicle for new music. February 2017 sees album number three out on Napalm Records and the most remarkable thing is not how good it is – it’s how well these guys have forged their own identity.
Review | Interview (Ricky) | Interview (Damon)
3. Trucker Diablo – Fighting For Everything (UK)
One band that never lets you down is Trucker Diablo and on new long player ‘Fighting For Everything’ I’m glad to say not only does that still ring true but the music has been taken to another level entirely even exceeding the bar set by the wonderful ‘Songs of Iron’ from 2013 and certainly sweeping past ‘Rise Above the Noise’.
Review
2. Babylon A.D.- Revelation Highway (USA)
So here it is just in time to celebrate their 30th anniversary. ‘Revelation Highway’ might just be the best slab of Hard Rock you’ll hear all year and really recaptures the classic sound of the band with a subtle modern twist.
Review | Interview (Derek)
1. Coldspell- A New World Arise (SWE)
Back in September I said that “In all the years of The Rockpit I don’t think I’ve ever been more certain that I’ve just listened to the album of the year”. Well I was right and what makes that statement even more surprising to me is that all three of ColdSpell’s previous releases have blown me away…
Review | Interview (Michael)
TOP 10 METAL/HEAVY ROCK ALBUMS
The underground metal scene produced some brilliant albums in 2017 and it shows in our top albums of the year. We take a look at the best of both the mainstream and underground in our top metal list of 2017.
10. Temple Of Lies – The Serial Killer Suite
The grungy UK rockers hit us with a bang on 2015’s “From Sand” and they follow it up brilliantly with their third album that shows this band is a force to be reckoned with.
Review
9. Chronic Hangover – Nero Inferno Italiano
Hailing from Italy, this band combines all the best traits of rock whether it’s stoner, doom, classic, blues and punk. Great album with a lot of diversity and hooks.
Review
8. Prong – Zero Days
Tommy Victor and co. do it yet again with another solid album containing eye popping riffs, slick production and a groove that’s unbeatable.
Review
7. Rex Brown – Smoke On This
The former Pantera and Down bassist goes solo for his debut album and it’s a scorcher! True classic rock at it’s heart with a real laid back southern rock vibe.
Review | Interview
6. Murkocet – Digging Mercy’s Grave
Groove metal from Phoenix, Arizona. Heavy emphasis on groove but with some blazing guitar work and sick vocals to boot.
Review
5. Harlott – Extinction
Aussie metal doesn’t get much better than this and Harlott are at the forefront of the new breed of thrash metal. This album is their best effort yet!
Review
4. Mortor – Burn Up The Dead
Canada’s Mortor rip it up with this heavy, compressed, manic, old school meets modernistic Death/Thrash and groove metal. This is just a lot of fun to crank up!
Review
3. Annihilator – For The Demented
These Canadian thrash veterans do a little throwback to the past and dig up some of the best of Annihilator all on one album. Jeff Waters is a God!
Review
2. The Darkhorse – The Carcass Of The Sun
The UK rules the roost in 2017 for rip roaring heavy music in the vein of Sabbath inspired doom and sludge but The Darkhorse give that old sound a big shake up and slap us with some seriously intense and twisted stuff.
Review | Interview
1. Satyricon – Deep Calleth Upon Deep
Black metal may not be for everyone but Satyricon know how to make the old sound completely new and fresh but more importantly, amazing. One of the best from the Norwegians yet and our favorite metal album of the year.
Review
TOP 10 ALTERNATIVE ROCK/METAL ALBUMS
1.Falling In Reverse – Coming Home [Review]
2. Jibe – Epic Tales Of Human Nature
3. He Is Legend – Few
4. Blacktop Mojo – Burn The Ships [Review]
5. We Came As Romans – Cold Like War [Review]
6. Royal Thunder – Wick [Interview]
7. Nothing More – The Stories We Tell Ourselves
8. Seether – Poison The Parish
9. Overkill – The Grinding Wheel [Review | Interview]
10 Years – (How To Live As) Ghosts [Interview]
TOP 10 EXTREME METAL UNDERGROUND ALBUMS
1. Code Orange – Forever [Interview]
2. Replacire – Do Not Deviate
3. Shadow Of Intent – Reclaimer
4. Kublai Khan – Nomad
5. Thy Art Is Murder – Dear Desolation [Review]
6. Alpha Wolf – Mono [Interview]
7. Zeal & Ardor – Devil Is Fine
8. Justice For The Damned – Dragged Through The Dirt
9. Fit For An Autopsy – The Great Collapse
10. The Walking Dead Orchestra – Resurrect
TOP 12 EPs
Bigger than a single, smaller than an album sometimes EP’s give you a powerful introduction to a band and promise so much more, other times they allow the band to try something a little different.
1. American Mafia – Made in New York (USA) [Review]
2. Black Stone Cherry – Black to Blues (USA) [Review]
3. The New Savages – Baby Don’t Lay Lonesome (AUS) [Review]
4. Charlie Bonnet III – Sinner With a Song (USA) [Review]
5. The Rich and Famous – Take Me To Your Leader (AUS) [Review]
6. Graphic Fiction Heroes – Dreams of a Libertine (AUS) [Review]
7. Three Lane Road – Three Lane Road (USA) [Review]
8. Rosemont – Rosemont (AUS) [Review]
9. Crimson Star – Bay View (UK) [Review]
10. Virginmarys – Sitting Ducks (UK) [Review]
11. Rock Goddess – It’s More Than Rock ‘N’ Roll [Review]
12. Groove Lagoon – Extended Play [Review]
