Best grindcore in 2020

 Like I did every year since 2012 I'm giving you my list of favourite grindcore (including grindpunk, deathgrind, noisegrind, etc.) released in the passing year. Alphabetical order. Click to go to my review.

 

- Anthropic - Architects of Aggression

 

- Bain de sang - Sacrificed for A Load of Filth and Lies (EP)

 

- Caustic Wound - Death Posture

 

- Chepang - Chatta

 

- Cognizant - Cognizant

 

- ESP Mayhem - Bloodsportswear

  

- Feastem - Graveyard Earth

 

- Feed Them Death - Panopticism : Belong / Lost

 

- GALL - 17 : 21 MIN

 

- Internal Rot  - Grieving Birth

 

- Napalm Death - Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism

 

- Triage - Triage

GALL - 17​:​21 MIN (2020)

17​:​21 MIN is the new release from German trio GALL(Read HERE my review of some of their previous releases), and once again it is excellent. Their noisegrind with experimental leanings stimulates the mind while producing an electrifying physical impact. Good drumming parts, good textures, high intensity. I really enjoy it.

The BC page.

 

Ett Dödens Maskineri - Det Svenska Hatet (2020)

Det Svenska Hatet is the first album from this Swedish band called Ett Dödens Maskineri and it's an excellent one in a crust/d-beat punk hardcore vein, with fine melodic / epic parts that could evoke neocrust. If you're into that kind of stuff there's just absolutely no reason you wouldn't enjoy it. With their first album they are already much better than most bands in this scene. Quality stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

 

Brainbombs - Cold Case (2020)

Cold Case, released early in 2020 is the return of the kings of repetitive noise rock with trumpet and sordid spoken vocals. And it's a kind of return to the basics of Brainbombs, exit the somewhat psychedelic experimentations of Souvenirs and (to a lesser extent) Inferno, Brainbombs are back harder, more straightforward, bleaker and even more miserable. The result is maybe less memorable than Souvenirs, but sounds maybe more cohesive and consistent than Inferno. For sure, it's a worthy addition to their very special discography.

Panic Scenery - Eldritch Abomination (2020)

Second album from Belgian producer Panic Scenery (Kevin Barbier) Eldritch Abomination (on the label Spirit of Progress) is a good piece of horrific themed hardcore techno, twelve tracks (plus three remixes) of thick dark ambient / industrial atmospheres with heavy hardcore beats over it. Good stuff. 

The BC page.

 

Unless Truth - Chaotic Manifesto (EP 2020)

Unless Truth is a Mexican deathgrind one-man band and the EP Chaotic Manifesto is its first release. Seven tracks for ten minutes of top notch deathgrind, with vocals and riffs evoking as well Repulsion and more modern brutal death, and typical grindcore drumming. The lyrics are in line with the punk/leftist side of grind. A simple but welcome listening pleasure. I really like it and will for sure follow what he'll do next.  

The BC page.

 

 

GA-20 - Lonely Soul (2019) & Live vol.1 (EP 2020)

GA-20 is a garage blues trio from Boston formed in 2018, they released last year an impressive first album, Lonely Soul, and now are back with an equally good live four tracks, simply called Live vol. 1. Their music is rooted in the blues, Delta blues, Chicago electric blues, etc. but also reminds the Black Keys, and could also evoke The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street. It's really well done and I really enjoy those two releases. They're my favourite recent garage blues band.

The BC page.

 

Refused - The Malignant Fire (EP 2020)

This new EP from Refused called The Malignant Fire is in line with their album from last year War Music that was a kind of return to their hardcore roots (one of the five tracks, Malfire, was already on war music), and it's also excellent, quite straightforward, but always with this subtle something (the vocals, the songwriting, the soul and the fire?) that makes Refused very special among hardcore bands.

Their website

 

Dark Machine Nation - Hail of Iron (2020)

Therion Major, the man doing Dark Machine Nation describe his music as "intense vocal Power Noise/Industrial Hardcore" and as you can guess there's elements of industrial techno and power electronics, but also industrial metal (some parts reminds Ministry, when it was good). And it is indeed intense. Hail of Iron is a one-hour mix with recent and older tracks. It's one of my favourite industrial/electronic release this year. Powerful stuff.

The BC page.

 

Skeletal Remains - The Entombment of Chaos (2020)

I consider Skeletal Remains as one of the most reliable purveyor of quality old school death metal. All their albums are excellent and the new one, The Entombment of Chaos, is no exception. Even though they are Californian they keep on delivering the best classic Floridian death metal you can find (evoking Death, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Agel and Obituary). Recommended.