After I finalized my top 15 of 2015, I shifted my focus to catching up on 2016 releases. From time to time I did go back into 2015 to listen to some albums I missed. Below is a short list:
Albums
Anekdoten - Until All the Ghosts Are Gone
I completely missed this one, and just out of sheer luck I decided to follow up on the band, only to be surprised that they released an album in 2015.
Knight of the Round - Fate's Delusion
An album of Final Fantasy covers probably wouldn't have made my list, but damn is it a good time.
The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
A band I knew about years ago, but never really got into them until now.
Leon Bridges - Coming Home
New old-school R&B. It even sounds like it was recorded back in the 60s and then remastered in 2015.
Jazmine Sullivan - Reality Show
A song from this album came up on Spotify Radio for Maxwell. I "liked" it on Spotify and forgot about it until a year later.
Death Grips - The Powers That B
Took me several tries to get into this experimental rap group. Looking back on it I'm not sure why, it's out there and seems like metalheads would dig this.
Muscle and Marrow - The Human Cry
Not quite metal, but this should appeal to any metalhead such as myself.
Gloryhammer - Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards
I mean come on...that album title though!
Helloween - My God-Given Right
I only casually follow this legendary cheeseball power metal band.
Eivør - Slør / Bridges
One of my favorite discoveries of the year. These two companion albums probably would have made the top of my non-metal list.
Susanne Sundfør - Ten Love Songs
Speaking of Scandinavian pop!
Marcus Miller - Afrodeezia
This guy is good at slappa da bass.
Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon
I finally made the effort to listen to an album from this depressing dream pop artist. She is good, but I still don't know why she is as huge as she is.
Wagakki Band - Yasou Emaki (八奏絵巻)
I have the Schlesinger v. Ticketmaster class action lawsuit to thank for this. While browsing the list of concerts I could see for free, Wagakki Band was one of them.
Karmaflow: The Original Soundtrack
A rock opera videogame soundtrack featuring Alissa White-Gluz, Dani Filth, Simone Simons, et al.
Hạc San - Sét Đánh Ngang Trời
This progressive metal band from Vietnam is my favorite discovery of the year! If I'm being honest here, I'm giving it a lot of extra points for being Vietnamese. I might not give this a second look if they were from anywhere else.
EPs
Thy Worshiper - Ozimina
This Polish folk metal band is just the right kind of out there and weird.
Entheos - Primal EP
A hint of what was to come with The Infinite Nothing.
Live Albums
Christian McBride Trio - Live at the Village Vanguard
A jazz bassist I got into pretty late in the game. Better late than never!
Snarky Puppy - Sylva (featuring Metropole Orkest)
Live jazz album feature a symphony / orchestra. I'm such a sucker for anything with a symphony.