Every year, Hardrock Haven staffers compile their Top 10 best releases. Our writers and photojournalists have diverse interests, allowing Hardrock Haven the ability to cover a broad spectrum of music. This is quite evident when you read through the varied selections for the year. Here are the writers’ favorites from 2016:
Alexandra’s Top Ten for 2016
01. CETI – Snakes Of Eden
02. Andrzej Citowicz – In Time
03. Darrel Treece-Birch – No More Time
04. The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise
05. Hardline – Human Nature
06. Diamond Head – Diamond Head
07. Wild Rose – 4
08. Existance – Breaking The Rock
09. Doogie White & La Paz – Shut Up And Rawk
10. Massive – Destination Somewhere
Anabel’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Epica – The Holographic Principle
02. Motorhead – Clean Your Clock
03. Black Sabbath – The End
04. Amon Amarth – Jomsviking
05. Devin Townsend Project – Transcendence
06. Fleshgod Apocalypse – King
07. Deftones – Gore
08. Anaal Nathrakh – The Whole of the Law
09. In Flames – Battles
10. Korn – The Serenity of Suffering
Brenda’s Top Ten for 2016
01. RavenEye – Nova
02. Korn – Serenity
03. Gojira – Magma
04. Hed Pe – Forever
05. Into The Fire – Into The Fire
06. Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake
07. Lost Society – Braindead
08. Crobot – Welcome To Fat City
09. Cairo Son – Storm Clouds
10. Drowning Pool – Hellelujah
Cynthia’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Metallica – Hardwired… to Self Destruct
02. Avenged Sevenfold – The Stage
03. Meshuggah – The Violent Sleep of Reason
04. Deftones – Gore
05. Killswitch Engage – Incarnate
06. Thrice – To Be Everywhere is To Be Nowhere
07. Gojira – Magma
08. Of Mice and Men – Cold World
09. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Dissociation
10. Lacuna Coil – Delirium
Elsie’s Top Ten for 2016
01. The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise
02. Sixx: A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed Vol.1
03. Death Angel – The Evil Divide
04. Sixx: A.M. – Prayers For The Blessed Vol.2
05. Metallica – Hardwired to Self-Destruct
06. Anthrax – For All Kings
07. Deftones – Gore
08. Avenged Sevenfold – The Stage
09. Alter Bridge – The Last Hero
10. Sister – Stand Up, Forward, March!
Franco’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Pretty Maids – Kingmaker
02. Myrath – Legacy
03. Treat – Ghost Of Graceland
04. Nordic Union – Nordic Union
05. Theocracy – Ghost Ship
06. DGM – The Passage
07. Avantasia – Ghostlights
08. Almah – E.V.O.
09. Michael Sweet – One Sided War
10. Evergrey – The Storm Within
Grace’s Top Ten for 2016
01. The Amity Affliction – This Could Be Heartbreak
02. Sum 41 – 13 Voices
03. Asking Alexandria – The Black
04. Beartooth – Aggressive
05. Crown The Empire – Retrograde
06. Famous Last Words – The Incubus
07. Green Day – Revolution Radio
08. Avenged Sevenfold – The Stage
09. Blink 182 – California
10. Architects – All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us
John’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Opeth – Sorceress
02. Trees of Eternity – Hour of the Nightingale
03. Thunderstone – Apocalypse Again
04. Michael Sweet – One Sided War
05. The Jelly Jam – Profit
06. Anthrax – For All Kings
07. Voyag3r – Are You Synthetic?
08. Toby Knapp – The Architect of Paradox
09. Arkham’s Razor – Carnival of Lost Souls
10. Vicious Rumors – Concussion Protocol
Justin’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Dark Tranquillity – Atoma
02. Anthrax – For All Kings
03. Russian Circles – Guidance
04. Allegaeon – Proponent for Sentience
05. Ripper – Experiment of Existence
06. Almanac – Tsar
07. Abbath – Abbath
08. Be’lakor – Vessels
09. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre
10. Vektor – Terminal Redux
Marija’s Top Ten for 2016
01. The Rolling Stones – Blue & Lonesome
02. Ian Hunter – Fingers Crossed
01. Black Stone Cherry – Kentucky
04. Kansas – The Prelude Implict
05. The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise
06. Iggy Pop – Post-Pop Depression
07. Tyketto – Reach
08. Barb Wire Dolls – Desperate
09. Mitch Malloy – Making Noise
10. Ginger Wildheart – Year of the Fanclub
Ron’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Avantasia – Ghostlights
02. Metallica – Hardwired… To Self-Destruct
03. HammerFall – Built to Last
04. Ted Poley – Beyond the Fade
05. Theocracy – Ghost Ship
06. Primal Fear – Rulebreaker
07. Palace – Master of the Universe
08. Narnia – Narnia
09. Rhapsody of Fire – Into the Legend
10. Sonata Arctica – The Ninth Hour
Steve’s Top Ten for 2016
01. Electric Citizen – Higher Time
02. Abbath – Abbath
03. Anthrax – For All Kings
04. Opeth – Sorceress
05. Megadeth – Dystopia
06. The Well – Pagan Science
07. Glenn Hughes – Resonate
08. Metallica – Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
09. Purson – Desire’s Magic Theatre
10. The Rolling Stones – Blue & Lonesome
Metallica and Alter Bridge would definitely make my list. Also Treat’s Ghost of Graceland is an excellent record, surprised not to see it on more of your lists … I hadn’t heard of them before this year (though they’ve been around for a long time), but it’s a great album, highly recommended.
Glad to see someone else thought the new Almah was as good as I did. Hardlines Human Nature is another that was one of my favorites of the last year.
So hard to pick, in my opinion was not the best year…my Top 10:
1. The Pretty Reckless – Who You Selling For?
2. SIXX A.M. – Prayers for the Blessed
3. Alter Bridge – The Last Hero
4. Whitford / St. Holmes – Reunion (and when you include the bonus first album disc)
5. Lacey Sturm –Life Screams
6. Ace Frehley – Origins Volume 1
7. SIXX A.M. – Prayers for the Damned
8. Zakk Wylde – Book of Shadows II
9. Metallica – Hard Wired…To Self-Destruct (side one is the best, IMO)
10. Last in Line – Heavy Crown (not really a “band,” but the album is good)