Album Reviews: The Music That Shaped 2020
2020 has been a wild ride, and there’s no doubt this will be a year to remember for a lot reasons, most of them absolutely horrific, some wholesome and lots hopeful. The arts have taken a real beating this year, but we’ve seen a wave of virtual concerts and new ways for musicians to connect with audiences from home, as well as a load of really exciting music, including genre swaps, and unsuspected collaborations.
I asked Jakob Brett; Sugar Storm team member, DJ and music enthusiast to review some of the most impactful albums of 2020, and of course we stuck to our alternative roots, looking at the best new music from pop punk, metal and rock. Turns out there was more than expected so it’s going to be a two-parter. Next instalment coming next week!
Did your favourite make it on the list? Let us know your highlight album of 2020 in the comments below.
You can also listen to the Sugar Storm Soundtrack of 2020 on Spotify now.
Reviews by Jakob Brett.
I Disagree (more)
Poppy
Released 10 January 2020 (Deluxe: 14 August 2020)
Youtube weirdo extraordinaire Poppy, who is said to be a religious leader, a robot, a hologram and has a multitude of other myths surrounding her, has previously released a number of pop albums and singles but has branched out to the world of metal with this unexpectedly addictive album. She isn’t strictly a newcomer to the genre after releasing the song “X” in 2018 and “Scary Mask” which features FEVER 333 released in 2019.
This album smashes heavy guitar chugs, dirty hip hop bass and industrial synth tones into something altogether mind blowing. This album goes from pop to brutal guitar riffs on a knife edge. A perfect example of this is the track “Anything Like Me” which goes from airy summer vibes straight down to deep chunky metal guitar lines in a matter of seconds. Honestly, I listened to that track about 3 times back to back.
So if your up for a rollercoaster ride of mismatched genres that have been effortlessly worked together, whack this on and turn it up! (especially for “Bite Your Teeth”, wait for the breakdown.)
10/10 - It just works and i'm all for it.
Fall Better
VUKOVI
Released 24 January 2020
Vukovi (meaning wolves in Serbian and Croatian) hailing from North Ayrshire in Scotland released their second album Fall Better in January when the world seemed like a completely different place. The album opens on a very digital style soundscape, the kind of thing you’d want to hear in a trailer for a sci-fi blockbuster. Once your credit is accepted, you’re hit with an onslaught of rapid guitar strums and drum beats with damn clean vocals; somehow still retaining that sci-fi vibe.
The 10 tracks following intro (along with an interlude) are a whirlwind of up-tempo guitar and drums with strong layered vocals and numerous other noises that just make the album sound massive. Midway through the album a disembodied robot voice requests that you “Verify Your Worth”, this is when a mischievous character disrupts the transmission; continuing the whole sci-fi feel and gives it a bit more of a story and a concept of some kind of narrative.
The tempo does drop a couple of times giving a welcome break from the guitar riffs and hammering drums. The vocal styling does however remain the same with the layered vocals still making the track sound big full of depth. Towards the tail end on the last track of the album, the mischievous character returns for one final feature and brings an end to the album (and by the sounds of it someone's life).
8/10 - Genuinely impressed and intrigued by this album. I feel like I need to know the story behind the cutsie yet murderous individual who pops up every now and then.
Who Are The Girls?
Nova Twins
Released 28 February 2020
Alternative rock duo from London/Essex; Nova Twins coming hard and heavy with their debut album. Straight into the first track Vortex; aptly named, within about 30 seconds you’re launched into a spiral of wavy and rowdy bass effects piled onto a military style marching drum beat mixed with aggressive vocals. The heavy bass, raucous vocals and instrumental effects (the likes of which you would expect to hear from Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine/Prophets Of Rage) set the tone for the whole album.
This album is bass heavy but in the best ways imaginable. The use of wah, tremolo and distortion effects on a bass guitar make the whole instrument almost sound alien; I would love to hear some of those bass riffs used as laser cannon noises or some kind of giant alien spaceship. There is very little chill in this album other than the creepy and eerie “Ivory Tower” that might just send a shiver down your spine.
Nova Twins are definitely a force to be reckoned with, striving to diversify the alternative scene with their unique style and sound; re-defining the theory of heavy music. And I mean, they literally won a Heavy Award for the Best UK Breakthrough Band in September.
9/10 - Everything they release just seems to get bigger and better. Listen through the bassiest speakers or headphones possible and thank me later.
Ultra Mono
Idles
Released 25 September 2020
This is the third studio album by rock/punk/post-punk band IDLES. Formed in Bristol back in 2009, these five only recently started playing large venues and major stages at festivals; playing Alexandra Palace and Glastonbury in 2019 (I was in attendance at one and it was truly glorious). During summer of this year BBC Radio 1 even had a few tracks from this album rotating in their playlists.
The album kicks in with a heady mix of bass and drums, followed by whirling guitars and “Wa-ching! That’s the sound of the sword going in!”. War is an anti-war track filled with onomatopoeia that cuts straight to the point and gives you an idea of the band’s ethos. The album is full of positive messages of change, self love and unity. This is quite possibly the most positive punk album you have or will ever listen to; somehow they even manage to make a song about anxiety seem light hearted.
If you want a raw, non-plastic punk album with a lot to say; give it a listen. It’s guaranteed to make you think and get moving. The love for this band has even manifested into an online community with the message “ALL IS LOVE”; which is a place for people to discuss life, music, art and anything else (within reason).
8/10 - An amazingly thought provoking album that’s true to the bands nature and message of togetherness and unity. “You can do it!”
Anti-Icon
Ghostmane
Released 21 October 2020
Ghostmane is an innovative alternative through and through. Starting out playing in various hardcore punk and metal bands in Florida; he was well involved in the underground alternative music scene. He later entered into the rap game when he started writing and performing with the collective Schemaposse (alongside Lil Peep and a number of others). He eventually went solo and started releasing music that was a mix of rap, guitar and samples from classic metal and nu-metals.
On Ghostmane’s 8th album, it doesn’t take long for him to get back his metal and punk roots. I think it was around 30 seconds into the album that the heavy guitar and deep bass tones started. In signature Ghostmane style, the tracks flip on you in a second; going from dancy electro beats to harsh guitar then back again… and then back again. His quick choppy lyrical flow and low screams just seem to work with whatever is going on in the track. Even after listening numerous times, it’s impossible to predict anything in this album.
You can hear the industrial metal and nu-metal influences and there were times when I thought I had gotten lost and found my way into a Nine Inch Nails or Ministry album. Expect loads of drum machine tones, lots of synth along, rolling trap beats and guitar.
Another album that I encourage listening to with bass.
9/10 - It’s angry, it’s spooky, it’s noisy and i’m definitely into it.
Thanks so much to Jakob Brett for reviewing the albums of 2020, and thank you all for reading! Join in the discussion of your top albums of 2020 in the comments below and check back next week for part two!