OUR LIST OF 2017’S MOST INFECTIOUS EXTREME METAL SONGS: THE COMPLETE LIST

 

Yesterday I ended the roll-out of our annual list of Most Infectious Extreme Metal Songs. As I’ve explained, it was more of an arbitrary halt than an orderly conclusion. When I began the rollout back on January 11 I had a big group of songs I knew would be on this list, but I hadn’t finished the selection. I started the rollout, and then continued to make up the list as I went along. I’m still not finished, but decided that we shouldn’t be continuing with a 2017 year-end list past the end of January in the new year.

Although many more songs could easily still be added, I do think the list, as it is, provides a decent snapshot of both the quality and the diversity of metal in 2017. And I think that’s true even though I only focused on the most “infectious” songs (some of the best songs and albums released in 2017 weren’t really “infectious”, but were stunning listening experiences nonetheless).

Of course, the list is a reflection of my own tastes, though I did try to cover a broad spectrum of genres and sub-genres. As we always do around here, I also made sure that lesser-known underground bands were represented along with the higher-profile groups. But of course I didn’t listen to every album released last year, or even to all of the roughly 600 songs that were recommended by our readers (though I listened to the majority of them).

Below is a list of all the songs on this year’s list — 78 of them (and no, that’s not counting the second time I added Ulvegr to the list) — in the order in which I rolled them out. The songs are hyperlinked to the original posts where you can listen to the music. I know it would have been nicer if I had included all the streams right here in one place, but that would have taken more time than you probably realize.

(But one of our supporters did take the time to make a Spotify playlist of  all the songs on the list, which you can find here.)

I’m grateful to everyone who suggested songs for this list, to everyone who read the installments, and especially to all the bands.

And by all means, in the Comments feel free to kick me in the kidneys for failing to include something I should have included.

 

Part 1
Dyscarnate
Power Trip
Dumal
Kawir

Part 2
SepticFlesh
Temple of Void
Acephalyx

Part 3
Asagraum
Almyrkvi
Ulvegr
Schammasch

Part 4
Vallenfyre
Warbringer
Vitriol

Part 5
Antigama
Archspire
Benighted

Part 6
Degotten
Rebel Wizard
Woe

Part 7
Au-Dessus
Cloak
Black Anvil

Part 8
Immolation
Hideous Divinity
Inconcessus Lux Lucis

Part 9
Kreator
Hellripper
Condor

Part 10
Satyricon
Wolfheart
Havukruunu

Part 11
Paradise Lost
Goatwhore
Ziggurat

Part 12
Advent Sorrow
A Hill To Die Upon
Aetherian
Devilgroth

Part 13
Jupiterian
Forgotten Tomb
Gloson
Hate
Marthyrium

Part 14
Maze of Terror
Undergang
Order Ov Riven Cathedrals

Part 15
Taake
Ulvegr
Selbst
Nova
Au Champ Des Morts

Part 16
Evoke Thy Lords
Párodos
Chrch
Planet Eater
Palmer

Part 17
Ulver
Enslaved
Fleshkiller
Amenra
Spirit Adrift
Fvneral Fvkk

Part 18
Witchery
Wode
Crafteon
Grave Circles
Obsure Devotion
Tyakrah

Part 19
Godflesh
Ghold
The Monolith Deathcult
Occvlt Hand
Balfor

Part 20
Possession
Beyond Grace
The Ominous Circle
Highrider
Gods Forsaken