#1. Mutoid Man – War Moans: Brooklyn, New York power trio Mutoid Man formed in 2012 and was initially recognized as a side project featuring members of Converge and Cave In, but rapidly carved out their own identity with the 2013 debut EP ‘Helium Head’ and the 2015 full-length ‘Bleeder’, and in 2017 they left no stone unturned in stamping the authority of the Mutoid Man name. Their second LP ‘War Moans’ arrived this year and formed a vice-like grip straightaway upon anyone and everyone who gave it a listen, only strengthening it several fold with every subsequent listen. Combining elements of thrash, hardcore,  prog and math rock with sprinklings of many other styles and sub-genre, ‘War Moans’ boasts the organic feel of a typical power trio but at the same time defies the simplicity of Mutoid Man’s three-piece setup with song structures and sonic patterns so rich, dynamic and complex. With 12 instantly mesmerizing tunes, this one is a winner from start to finish, and simply does not fade away till the very end. Vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky puts in the absolute best recording performance of the year bar none, as do drummer Ben Koller and bassist Nick Cageao on their respective instruments, and together, they have created the best album of 2017. ‘War Moans’ triumphs over all else that surfaced this year in the world of heavy music.

Full list via Metal Assault