2016, please slow down, because I don’t know how to keep up with all of these amazing releases this year. Right from the get-go, this year has been giving us at least one great album every month and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon. Now that it’s July, the halfway point is here and we’re at a point where there’s just so much great music to reflect upon going forward.

You Will Never Be One Of Us by Nails. Shocking to no one, Nails are here for obvious reasons. Arguably the most talked about band in any underground genre, Nails continue to prove they are the most dangerous band today. Nobody does it quite like Nails.

Magma by Gojira. Only a few weeks old, Magma has quickly gathered a positive response from critics and fans all around. While fans expecting a straight-forward death metal album have expressed some displeasure, repeated listenings have certainly turned many opinions around, allowing fans to embrace the new directions the band is open to exploring.

Revengeance by Conan. Metal’s underground is rife with phenomenal music outfits, and Conan is the prime example of sludgy doom done right. To quote the band’s Facebook page, their own brand of “CAVEMAN BATTLE DOOM” is appropriately titled, delivering on that aspect. If I had the patience, I’m sure there’s a pun from the movies to be found for this moment.

Deathless March of the Unyielding by Death Fortress. I am still loving this album after repeated listens, and after my initial discovery of them I was hoping it wasn’t the honeymoon effect of the album. For something so cold and heavy, Death Fortress certainly make their own craft so easy to love.

The Infinite Nothing by Entheos. I thought I was done with tech death/deathcore music and had heard it all, but then came Entheos. This group of accomplished musicians are currently proving to everyone that the genre hasn’t seen its limits yet, and Entheos manage to surprise with every song. You may have knocked the genre prior, but you’re going to love Entheos.

Verenvalaja by Vainaja. I can’t pronounce the album name properly, but a hybrid genre like death-doom being done this well deserves recognition. Dark, crushing, and guttural, Vainaja are a cut above the rest when it comes to death metal, doom metal, or those employing both. Where’s the respect that these guys deserve?

Affinity by Haken. Haken are making the rounds as the next big thing in prog. Taking the best aspects of prog rock and metal and making it into a Frankenstein Monster of their own, Haken have gone even further with the remarkable Affinity. I can sit here and say how great it is, yet that’ll just prolong you from actually listening to it sooner.

Arktis. by Ihsahn. I long for the day Emperor reunites and comes to America to play shows, but I’d be ungrateful for everything Ihsahn is doing now. Arktis. continues to prove that Ihsahn is one of the most versatile and adventurous players in prog today, taking nods from his past adventures and exploring new territory. Despite setting the bar so high each time, Arktis. proves to be his best album yet.

Distance | Collapse by Inverloch. I’m surprised to say that an additional death-doom album was not what I was expecting to add to any list this year. But here I am, and Inverloch have gone the distance with this one. Claustrophobic and vacuous, Inverloch continue to prove that Australia is one still churning out amazing music day after day.

One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache by The Body & Full of Hell. Arguably the most distressing release to ever see a wide release this year, a collaboration between The Body and Full of Hell is nothing short of intimidating. Manifesting insanity into an audible form, you won’t hear anything quite like this at all this year. Truly a one of a kind work of art.

The Astonishing by Dream Theater. It’s a mighty undertaking to write a concept album, let alone a rock opera, but a double album and then going to play it live? Dream Theater have done something very different this time around, and while it may not be a typical album by them, it’s certainly memorable, musically and structurally.

Rituals by Rotting Christ. Multi-linguistic, bleak, emotional… Rotting Christ have come around to become more than just a band with a name to their reputation. The band’s previous releases have expanded on their black metal origin and evolved them into an extreme metal wonder. Rituals is arguably the band’s most evolved effort to date, and even if you think you know what you’re expecting, the band manages to surprise you with every twist and turn.

Grey Heavens by Omnium Gatherum. There’s melodic death metal in this world, and then there’s melodic death metal. Seriously, although Omnium Gatherum is best compared to the likes of Insomnium, Grey Heavens proves the band is more interested in melody than melancholy, proving across ten tracks how unique they are in an arguably over-saturated genre.

Gore by Deftones. It certainly took a while, but Deftones have managed to overcome the hype in the process of this album’s creation. Gore sees the band take cues from non-metal bands and a less-typical production approach than they are used to, but the payoff is worth it. Gore displays a band that’s not slowing down eight albums into their career, and by the looks of it they won’t be any time soon.

Abbath by Abbath. Much akin to Immortal as Triptykon is to Celtic Frost, Abbath took his leave from Immortal and put out an amazing album under a new band. Rooted in, but not restrained by, his black metal roots, Abbath accomplishes more in one album that some bands can’t accomplish in an entire career.

There’s still a whole half of a year left to go, and we’re only a few weeks away from more great music. But judging by everything we’ve heard this year, the rest of this year has to really, really awesome to displace any of these from an end-of-year list come December.