Guest Lists: The Best of 2020

James Bauman of Racebannon, Wenches, Torturess

We have one more guest list for the best of 2020, this one from James Bauman of Racebannon, Wenches and Torturess. Take a listen over at the Master Kontrol Audio bandcamp. In case you missed it, Evil Empire came out on top in Change the Rotation's album of the year bracket for 2020. Check out James' picks below:

I know this is a bit late, as we are entering February of 2021, however, good things come to those that wait, right? Well, while last year was mainly full of shit, garbage, vomit and death (i.e., COVID, Trump, BLM, etc.), there were surprisingly a load of decent records released during this flaming ball of excrement called 2020 that are worth checking out. I kept a running tally of releases that impressed me and thought I would just narrow them down at the end of the year for my ultimate top ten list. Yet, that proved to be too difficult so instead I chose to just offer my list of the 35 releases I encourage all of you to check out that won’t disappoint, as long as you like things that don’t suck. So, in no particular order, here are my effin’ favorites of the worst effin’ year ever, that aren’t Run the Jewels or Fiona Apple:

1. Psychic Graveyard – A Bluebird Vacation (Fat Beats Records): Members from two of my favorites, Arab on Radar and The Chinese Stars, make this fun weirdo shit that continues to change my creative life with every friggin’ listen. I can’t get enough.

2. IDLES – Mono (Partisan Records): I looked forward to this release more than most everything else on this list and it didn’t disappoint. If you’re not familiar, don’t worry, it’s never too late. Go now. Run.

3. Jehnny Beth – To Love Is To Live (20L07 Music): First solo album from Savages’ frontwoman is waaay on point. So good. Saw her perform with Savages once and it was, without a doubt, one of the best live performances I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Yes, that good.

4. Skeleton – s/t (20 Buck Spin): Maybe my favorite release on this list. It’s too good to skip. Don’t sleep. Blackened metal punk.

5. Ils – Curse (Pogo Records): Members from one of my all-time faves, Black Elk, from Portland, Oregon. Fuckin’ sick record. Still super stoked on this release. I can’t get enough.

6. Rebel Wizard – Magickal Mystical Indifference (Prosthetic Records): One bad ass dude effin’ shreddin.’ Highly recommended.

7. Gulch – Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress (Closed Casket Activities): This rips HARD. Just do it. Now. Seriously. Holy shit. Brutal.

8. HJELVIK – Welcome To Hel (Nuclear Blast): Dude leaves kick-ass Norweigan heavy metal band Kverlertak and starts an even more kick-ass blackened Viking heavy metal solo-band. Fuck yes.

9. Drouth – Excerpts From a Dread Liturgy (Translation Loss): Black metal from Portland, Oregon. Super heavy and epic. Realllllllllllyyyyyyy fuckin’ rad. I promise.

10. Black Rainbows - Cosmic Ritual Supertrip (Heavy Psych Sounds): Heavy Psych Sounds has become one of my favorite labels recently. Not only do they have some of the sickest merch designs I’ve ever seen, but they put out bands like this doing the Black Sabbath thing and rulin’ at it. This record is really catchy and fun.

11. Exhalants – Atonement (HEX Records): One of the top noise rock albums of the year and there’s a reason why. Just check other lists, if you don’t believe me.

12. Gaytheist – How Long Have I Been On Fire? (HEX Records): I had every intention of going to this record release show in Portland and then COVID happened. I love this band and this album so much. Such good songwriting. This should be your new favorite band. Screw you COVID.

13. Human Impact – s/t (Ipecac Recordings): FFO Shellac, The Jesus Lizard, etc. Described as “an American noise rock supergroup made up of members from Unsane, Swans, Cop Shoot Cop and Xiu Xiu.” Enough said.

14. Kadavar – The Isolation Tapes (Robotor Records): FFO Krautrock, ‘70s classic hits and early Pink Floyd. I love this band and how much they evolve with every album. The vocals on this one are quite a pleasant experience.

15. Kverlertak – Splid (Petroleum Records) Still produced by Kurt Ballou, they got a new vocalist on this one (see HJELVIK) and I can’t recommend this shit enough. Effin’ ripper of an album. Seriously. This just shreds. Damn. Damn!

16. Heads. – Push (Glitterhouse Records): Noise rock that slays in the vein of Am Rep bands. Love it. Very accessible.

17. Sightless Pit – Grave of a Dog (Thrill Jockey): This one is hard to explain. It’s noisy and aggressive, experimental, unique and features Lingua Ignota (who I’m super into – check her out too), a member of Full of Hell, and a member of The Body. Very worth a listen.

18. METZ – Atlas Vending (Royal Mountain Records): If you don’t listen to this band or this album, then you’re failing at life. Hurry up.

19. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Viscerals (Rocket Recordings): Massively heavy and catchy riffage with a bit of a “noise rock” vibe and “stoner metal” all wrapped up in a hard rockin’ package.

20. Umbra Vitae – Shadow of Life (Deathwish Inc.): Ridiculous metal/hardcore supergroup, including Jacob Bannon from Converge, just effin’ killin’ it. This kind of stuff is too intense for me so I can only handle a few songs at a time before I have to take a break. Whew.

21. Mrs. Piss – Self-Surgery (Sargent House): Chelsea Wolfe project noisy punk band that I’m a bit surprised I like. A total fun mess of a listen.

22. Zeal & Ardor – Wake of a Nation (Zeal & Ardor): One of the most important releases of the year. Remember George Floyd, the BLM movement, the riots, the protests, and listen to this. This is how to step up with a message when needed. Thank you, Zeal & Ardor.

23. Infera Bruo – Rites of the Nameless (Prosthetic Records): The name translates to “hellish noise” in the artificial language of Esperanto, which appropriately suits this black metal group, featuring the bass player of one of my favorites, Wolves in the Throne Room.

24. Coriky – s/t (Dischord Records): If I can’t have a new Fugazi record, this comes pretty close to sufficing, I suppose. Well, almost. I guess? Yeah, okay, I guess.

25. Sugar Horse – Drugs (Make War Not Peace): Technically this is an EP but it is as long as many LPs so it counts in my book. This is really really heavy and intense stuff. Massive sound.

26. USA Nails – Character Stop (HEX Records): Excellent noise punk from London along the lines of IDLES. Effin’ sweet.

27. Moon Pussy – s/t (Moon Pussy): Noisy female fronted punk from Denver that I can imagine totally ripping shit up in a sweaty basement. Hell yes.

28. Pushy – Hard Wish (Tee Pee Records): Technically this was released in 2018 but Tee Pee picked it up and re-released it on vinyl in May of 2020. You know why? Because it’s effin’ awesome, that’s why.

29. Wrong War – Fixed Against Forever (COUNCIL RECORDS): Not only is the singer from legendary bands Current and Ottawa back with a new band but he also revived his label, Council Records. Color me effin’ stoked on both accounts.

30. Pink Cigs – s/t (Harvest Studios): Doing that throwback ‘70s raw rock thang and doing it really damn well.

31. Warlung - Optical Delusions (Heavy Psych Sounds): Heavy, catchy, with a “vintage” sound and a psychedelic twist. Super good stuff.

32. Nite – Darkness Silence Mirror Flame (Creator-Destructor Records): Black metal flavor debut that rips sooo hard. Need more. Much much more.

33. REALIZE – Machine Violence (Relapse Records): Industrial thrash in the vein of Ministry and Godflesh but with vocals that remind me of being at a straight edge hardcore show “picking up change” or doing the windmill. Super heavy and intense. Soooo good.

34. Shadow People – Batom Rouge (Shadow People): Hardcore punk sludge metal OR the new, dare I say, “screamo” for the new generation. Effin’ excellent.

35. Mr. Bungle – The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo (Ipecac Recordings): For some reason I didn’t want to like this but I couldn’t help it. I mean, look at the lineup….it’s pretty pretty pretty good. Seriously, look at the lineup. It’s a damn supergroup.