Mick's Top 15 Albums of 2016

Well, another year has come and gone. Given the events that happened this year, it seems like 2016 is a year that most of us are wanting to end sooner rather than later. It's not all doom and gloom, however. We here at Brutalitopia experienced a record year in terms of readership and for that we will be forever grateful to you and all the other fine folk who give our site a gander every now and then. We promise to keep up with what we can in 2017 and beyond.

But now for the good stuff. Read on after the break to see what some of my favorite albums of the year were!

Tom's Top 15 Albums of 2016

2016 can be viewed through 2 lenses, that of national concern or those of personal concern, some intertwine but I will say it. 2016 really sucked and hard. Luckily there were plenty of moments that help me to forget this. My brothers in metal joined forces in Maryland for the annual meeting of metal known as Maryland Deathfest. I helped to cater a wonderful breakfast of Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese Sandwiches and NJ bagels. I only do this because of all you have done collectively for me in the past and has thus become inspiration for the above picture. My diner will open again soon just not in 2017... I would like to thank brothers Mick and Durf here at Brutalitopia for being the best, (the latter not so much with lists but I digress), the staffs over at No Clean Singing, Invisible Oranges, Nine Circles Heavy Music Headquarters and Metal Bandcamp. You are all incredible people and you have helped made through a year full of trials and tribulations. You know who you are and I love you all!

Now on to the list!

Durf's Top Albums, EPs, Songs, and Concerts of 2016

2016's been an odd year, to say the least.  It has been tough to watch the news; a worldwide refugee crisis is in full swing, climate change may have passed a reversible threshold, and the corpse of a moldy jack o' lantern was elected US President.  Enough beloved, respected actors, artists, and musicians have died this year that there's a 10% chance another passes away while you read this article.  I miss Gene Wilder more than I ever thought it was possible to miss someone you've never met.  But there have been good moments.  The Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series (and somehow Chicago didn't burn to the ground).  And the music... blessed Dio above, the music was great this year.  Last year, I found six albums that I felt were worth writing about.  This year, I filled a full fifteen, with honorable mentions and a separate list for EPs.  How good was the music this year?  Two of the biggest progressive metal legends ever put out the worst albums of their careers, and no one batted an eye, because there was so much other great stuff out that two cosmically huge misfires were no big deal.  Seriously, 2016 is the new bar to clear in terms of great music (replacing 2013).  Below are my Top Albums, EPs, Songs, and Concerts from the year that was; check 'em out, tell me what I missed, and pour one out for all those we lost this year.  Also remember that "Top" is my own preference, because I am woefully unqualified to tell anyone what is good or bad when it comes to music.