This past year was a huge one for music with so many bands releasing new material it was hard to keep up, even for us here at Ghost Cult. So many legacy bands, modern classic acts, and up and comers dropped new music this year, some may wish they had waited until 2017 to drop it like it’s hot. Without further ado, here are our picks for the new tunes you need in your life in 2017.
Mastodon
The album we are most anticipating in 2017 is definitely the new Mastodon album. Reported to be a double album, this could go several ways. Perhaps we are getting the heady concept album like Crack The Skye, or possibly an opus more all over the place such as Once More Around The Sun. With four stellar writers in the band capable of taking the material to different realms, it will no doubt be anything but pedestrian.
Enslaved
Fresh off of their triumphant 25th Anniversary shows in Norway and New York, Enslaved has already started writing the follow-up to 2015’s In Times. Chances are the music will be more of the later period poggy-ness of the band, but one hopes they also revisit the classic black metal material from the 90s charges them with the spirit.
Wintersun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alo7A0NLmxU
The problem with writing a masterpiece is following it up. Jari Mäenpää’s Wintersun put out Time I and it was so far and away ahead of anything like it at the time, it created a swell of demand and fan worship that has been hard to contend with. 2017 will hopefully be the year that Time II appears via Nuclear Blast.
Tool
Sigh. Really you guys, it’s coming this year! We swear! When it hits (our guess is April), it is going to sound, well, like Tool. So pretty much full of awesome. However, we are taking bets if the Tool album comes out before the proposed EP/single from A Perfect Circle, so there’s that.
SLEEP
SLEEP didn’t just spend 2016 playing cool ass tours and doing charity benefits, showing doom dudes can be all heart. They were hard at work on a new album! We have heard it’s going to be massive when it hits, followed by more touring. In related news both High On Fire and Om have also been working on various stages of new music as well! Hail Doom! Hail Weed! Hail Shirtlessness! #PikeJuice
Anathema
Working on the follow-up to Distant Satellites, Anathema fugues to continue down their path of post-rock, electronica, and folk anthems for the enlightened fans.
Pallbearer
Already announced, the new Pallbearer album Heartless hits this March via Profound Lore. We’re expecting the typical greatness this band has always delivered.
System Of A Down
Likely the most enigmatic band on this list. They have reportedly recorded 15 new tracks, which fans have been waiting forever. Based on their occasional shows the last few years selling out in seconds in some cases, the demand is still high for them after years of turning down huge offers for tours.
Depeche Mode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfHHkf1-u40
We’re beyond excited at one of the few veteran 80s bands still around capable of turning in a great release. Spirit is due to hit this spring. Expect an eclectic affair with few pop jams and definite subversive, danceable tracks.
Corrosion Of Conformity
These COC reunion shows the last year and half with Pepper Keenan have been a nice way to usher back in a proper new album, due this year. It will be the first new music co-written with Pepper since In The Arms Of God in 2005.
Alice In Chains
When we saw Alice In Chains live this past September, they put on a clinic of their classic material and a few newer jams. In a possible light year for rock/metal releases, they might have a chance to really stand out based on their ability to pen catchy hits.
At The Drive-In
Lot’s of folks are waiting for proto-alt metal At The Drive In’s new album. They have had some issues with touring, but hopefully once the release drops they will be able to support it since the demand is high.
AFI
Rejoice goth punks! The already announced release The Blood Album for mid-January figures to be a highlight reel type vibe from this band that has never had one weak record. Not once.
Oxbow
Having launched a crowdfunding effort behind years and years of work on this recording, The Thin Black Duke is coming this spring. A noise/avant-garde innovator sure to raise the bar for every other album that follows it in 2017.
Life Of Agony
A Place Where There’s No More Pain is coming this April via Napalm Records from Life Of Agony. We’re hoping for a banger from one of the great American metal bands from the 1990s.
PVRIS
One of the few pop-rock artists with a real strong writing chops AND a great stage show, PVRIS is said to be working on a follow-up release to their stellar début White Noise in 2014.
Code Orange
If you are looking for a hardcore-ish band that is NOT deathcore, to lead the way in 2017, Code Orange is your pick. They might threaten to take the crown of “angriest band” from Nails. I said might.
Adam Nergal Darski
While people are waiting and waiting on another Behemoth album, frontman Nergal is taking a left turn and putting out his avant-garde singer/songwriter release said to be in the vein of Wovenhand . Expect the unexpected, but it ought to be righteous.
Overkill
With every other legend status thrash band putting out an album in the last year and a half, Overkill figures to sweeten the pot in 2017 and dominate with The Grinding Wheel.
The Flaming Lips
Super psyched for another album from the long-standing purveyors of weird, alt-pop rock greatness. Another band that has a flawless history worth revisiting for fans.
Soundgarden
Based on how strong comeback album King Animal (Republic Records) was for the band and fans, the nearly five-year seems sure to be worth it.
Ghost
On a hot streak with Ghost Cult 2015 Album of The Year Meliora and their killer EP this year in Popestar, they have overcome haters and the hype train. Ghost continues to rule with no slump in sight. Bring on Papa Emeritus IV!
Dying Fetus
So far the death metal highlight of 2017 figures to come from Dying Fetus, whose last album Reign Supreme (Nuclear Blast) was fairly unfuckwithable.
Wolves In The Room
USBM fans throw up those horns at the prospect of a new album from WITTR. If the sold out tour this fall was any indication, people will be all over this.
Other artists releasing new music in 2017 include:
Fleetwood Mac
Gorillaz
Marilyn Manson
Queens Of The Stone Age
Amanda Palmer
Stone Sour
Father John Misty
Spoon
Panopticon
Kreator
The Ocean
Zack De La Rocha
Girlpool
Mortals
St. Vincent
Obituary
Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria/We Are Harlot) solo album
GOZU
Tombs
New Found Glory
Suicide Silence
Five Finger Death Punch
Linkin Park
Abigail Williams
John Garcia
Iron Reagan
Dark Angel
Soen
Helbound Glory
Carousel Kings
Jimmy Bower (Down/Superjoint/EyeHateGod) solo album
Immortal Bird
Ghost Against Ghost
Hark
Immolation
Witch Mountain
Decrepit Birth
King Woman
Devin Townsend as yet untitled symphonic album
Senses Fail
Black Map
Wear Your Wounds
30 Seconds To Mars
Coroner
A Perfect Circle
Blackfield
Ne Oblivscaris
Immortal
Brendan Smalls Galacticon
Windhand
Jason Becker
Guns`N Roses (EP)
Steven Wilson
Rammstein
Suffocation
Philm
Judas Priest
Nile
Alissa White-Gluz
NITRO
Hour Of Penance
Dead Cross
Goatwhore
King Parrot
Mushroomhead
HANK III
Pearl Jam
The Dropkick Murphys
Sun Kil Moon
Slowdive
Björk
Anti-Flag
Black Veil Brides
Asking Alexandria
Seaway
Creeper
Neck Deep
Say We Can Fly
Sick Of It All