2017 has been an amazing year for everyone who likes rock, punk, metal and hardcore. It almost seemed an impossible task to select only the best albums that were released this year. That is why we let our whole editorial team pick 10 of their own favourite albums. This was the only way to compile a comprehensive list of the 50 best albums of last year. The list was of course much longer than just these 50 works of art but in the end we had the difficult choice to choose only the very best. Here you can see all of them in the right order.

10) Kreator – Gods of Violence

Kreator can be seen as the counterpart of one of the US big four of thrash, even the number one European thrash band. With their 14th album Gods Of Violence Kreator is still delivering what they are best known for. Sharp riffs, crushing rhythms that will result in tortured neck muscles that only a Thai Massage saloon could do something about it. Thrashers and fans from the first hour will for sure take this album in their heart. (For the full review go here)

9) Elder – Reflections of a Floating World

One of the big names in the stoner scene released yet another masterpiece. Elder‘s latest release Reflections of a Floating World just flows. A complex and beautiful piece of stoner metal with progressive influences that’ll just make you sit back and enjoy. One of those albums that reveals something new with every new listen…

8) Igorrr – Savage Sinusoid

The rather eclectic music that sprouts out of the musical (I dare say) ingeniousness of Igorrr is mind-bending and blowing at the same time. It’s hard to describe the mix of really harsh metal riffage and asthetics with music that has as good as nothing to do with the genre like breakcore, baroque, classical and Balkan music. His new album Savage Sinusoid is simply a masterpiece. Igorrr might chase away some people with his braintwists, but he masterfully manages to put “old music” and “new music” together without making it sound like a cut and paste job. Every element in every song sounds like it belongs there and is at its intended natural place. This is what music should be like: without bounds, exciting, surprising and mind-blowingly good. (for the full review go here)

7) Sons of Apollo – Psychotic Symphony

The Sons of Apollo is stuffed with names like Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Winery Dogs, and a million other bands), Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater), Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr Big), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns N’ Roses) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey). For progressive fans this may sound as a wet dream and that is exactly what this is. They deliver an album that will be an instant classic in the progressive scene. Do not expect over the top musicianship, everything is well balanced and everyone has its own place to do what he is best at. (for the full review go here)

6) Amenra – Mass VI

Amenra will never change drastically from one to the other album, or at least that’s the impression they give. But just like good wine, not a single album will be exactly the same. Mass VI is a step in the direction of the future, marked by the pain, the sadness, longing and life. The addition of the clean vocals en spoken word parts throughout the album gives the music a new dimension. The innovation is in the details, this time the small things gave the end product more substance this time. (for the full Dutch review go here)

5) Alestorm – No Grave but the Sea

Grab your ale, your rum, your beer or other alcoholic beverages and loosen up those neck muscles, because it’s time to rock it out to your favorite pirate metal band again! Alestorm is back in town with their latest album No Grave But The Sea! You are destined to hear some of these lyrics on metal festivals many years from now, even if Alestorm isn’t playing there, with instant classics like Mexico and Fucked with an Anchor (their little message to all terrorists in the world)! That’s how catchy these songs are. You’d nearly think it’s a curse. “A pirate’s life is simple; we drink, steal and kill!” So raise your tankard up into the sky for this brand new treasure of pirate metal! (for the full review go here)

4) Ne Obliviscaris – Urn

This Australian progressive metal machine has been receiving tons of praise with their past releases. Following their growing success, Ne Obliviscaris has managed to set up a crowdfunding project among it’s growing fan base. The idea is to raise enough money for the band to be able to tour and focus on their recording. And with Urn we got to taste the first result of that. On their new album they delivered some more of their high quality progressive music that’ll take them further down the path of rising fame! A band with an even more perfected sound than before with tons of different influences making a little masterpiece of prog. (for the full review go here)