The Most Anticipated Albums of 2016
Music isn't the the same as it was, in the twentieth century you were longing for your favourite band to release their next album. Albums stayed on the turntable for weeks and you took the time to really listen to the music. Chances ere that you actually could tell if the musicians were skilled, it was hard to fake back then, there was an always ongoing debate whether it was considered cheating to use synthesizers on your albums or not.
Today you rarely hear more than one song at the time and music is enjoyed when you are doing something else. You can't smell the fresh vinyl and the images that comes with the digital download passes by without even the slightest glance. Music is reduced to being "The Soundtrack of your life" rather than art to your ears
The sheer amount of album releases makes it almost impossible to navigate the musical jungle and there sure is a lot of good music around since it is posible for just about anybody to set up a bedroom studio where a professional sounding album can be produced. Some of the old mammoths are still around like KISS, AC/DC, Van Halen and Judas Priest all still going strong. We have a bunch of huge bands that formed in the end of the old Millennium like Rammstein, Slipknot, Linkin Park, Evanescence, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Nightwish and Hammerfall. Contemporary acts like Soilwork, In Flames, Halestorm, Pop Evil, Evergrey, Sparzanza, Baby Metal, Deathstars and Ghost are more interesting than ever before so there are a lot to keep an eye out for. We have listed a few of the releases of 2016 that we think might be on our release radar for you to enjoy.
Black Stone Cherry - Kentucky
Release Date: April 1 // Heavy southern rockers Black Stone Cherry will be paying tribute to their home state by simply titling their fifth album ‘Kentucky.’
Fleshgod Apocalypse- King
Release Date: Feb 5. // The Italian symphonic orchestrators of death will release their fourth album, ‘King,’ on Feb. 5 through Nuclear Blast. The band promises another devastating album, building on the musicianship established on the sheer insanity of ‘Labyrinth’ and will surely feature even more of their trademark classical influences.
Lacuna Coil - Delirium
Release Date: TBD // In the beginning of December, Lacuna Coil singer Cristina Scabbia told Loudwire Nights host Toni Gonzalez that the band had entered the studio to start working on their follow-up to ‘Broken Crown Halo.’
The Offspring - Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Four years have gone by since ‘Days Gone By,’ the 2012 record from the veteran punk rockers. The band tied fans over with the chart-topping single "Coming for You" in 2015, but 2016 is expected to see the release of a new full-length album from the Offspring.
Killswitch Engage - Incarnate
Release Date: TBD // Three years removed from ‘Disarm the Descent,’ Killswitch Engage are ready to come back with a new album. ‘Incarnate’ will mark the second album since singer Jesse Leach rejoined the band in 2012 and his fourth with the metalcore act overall.
Slash, Title TBD Release
Date: TBD // Whether Guns N’ Roses reunite in 2016 remains to be determined, but Slash will surely be busy regardless. With two albums under the Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators moniker, the iconic guitarist is looking to build on the success of 2014’s ‘World on Fire,’ which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. However, there's a chance the album could be delayed as Slash concentrates on Guns N' Roses in 2016.
King Diamond, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // King Diamond built on the success of his 2014 comeback tour and was featured on the 2015 Mayhem Festival along with Slayer. In celebration of his masterpiece album ‘Abigail,’ King toured performing the horror-filled concept record in full. He said he’ll be working with guitarist Andy LaRocque on new material in 2016 and that the album has to “kill every other album we ever did.”
Alter Bridge, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti stated the band will enter the studio in the first couple months of 2016 to record their fifth studio release. Following the recording and mastering, the members will have a few months to tour with their projects outside the band before getting back together to promote the new record.
Volbeat, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Danish groove rockers Volbeat hit the studio in November to work on a new album, the first not to feature longtime bassist Anders Kjolholm. The band will seek to top the efforts of their fifth album, ‘Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies.’ Volbeat have a history of bringing in a slew of guest musicians, so we'll see if that continues on the 2016 release.
Alice in Chains, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Alice in Chains are staring down their third release since adding singer/guitarist William DuVall one year after re-forming in 2005. Their last effort, ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here’ featured more of Jerry Cantrell’s signature herculean riffs. During the summer of 2015, bassist Mike Inez revealed the band has started to work on new riffs for their follow-up album to the 2013 disc.
Anthrax, 'For All Kings'
Release Date: Feb. 26 // Anthrax are exiting 2015 with one single, “Evil Twin,” released off their forthcoming album ‘For All Kings.’ The band took their time following the success of their critically acclaimed 2011 album 'Worship Music.
Judas Priest, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Judas Priest have been rejuvenated in the writing department since guitarist Richie Faulkner replaced K.K. Downing in 2011. The output hasn’t matched the spirit, but Rob Halford is constantly talking about how excited the band is to write and all the work they’re doing in the studio.
Green Day, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // In 2012, Green Day put out three studio albums -- ‘¡Uno!,’ ‘¡Dos!’ and ‘¡Tre!’ -- but also suffered a setback when frontman Billie Joe Armstrong had a meltdown and entered rehab. Since then the band has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Armstrong has mentioned that they've started to work on new material, although it's not clear whether an album will be released in 2016.
BabyMetal, Title TBD
Release Date: April 1 // Get ready for one of the biggest crazes to hit metal to get even bigger. BabyMetal have exploded over the past few years as the Japanese idol group fused together blistering heavy metal, choreographed live shows with dazzling light shows and theatrics. They’ve managed to transcend metal and attract fans from outside the genre and will raise the bar in 2016 with a new album.
Dream Theater, 'The Astonishing'
Release Date: Jan. 29 // Dream Theater are set to release what is their most ambitious work to date. The progressive masters have composed 34 tracks across two acts that will make up the double-album concept record set in a dystopian future where surveillance is ever-present. Dream Theater will even be performing the album in its entirety on their upcoming European and North American tours.
Korn, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Korn’s ‘Paradigm Shift’ was the first to feature the return of guitarist Brian ‘Head Welch. The 2013 effort was his first with the band in 10 years and the upcoming album promises to be ‘heavier than anyone’s heard Korn in a long time.’ Head estimated the new album will see a release in Fall 2016.
Rammstein, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // In 2015, Rammstein announced they are back and will be touring in 2016. So far, those are all the details we know concerning the band’s slated activity, but a new album is expected to be worked on and hopefully released, following up 2009’s ‘Liebe ist für alle da,’
Pearl Jam, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Grunge legends Pearl Jam will be looking to score the sixth No. 1 album of their career and a third consecutive chart-topper. One of the most consistent acts active in rock, Pearl Jam found continued success with 2013’s ‘Lightning Bolt.’ The forthcoming record will also be the third on the band’s own label, Monkeywrench.
Avenged Sevenfold, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // Avenged Sevenfold will be seeking their third straight No. 1 album in 2016. It will be the first to feature new drummer Brooks Wackerman, best known for his tenure in Bad Religion. The drummer left the seminal punk rock outfit to pursue new musical territory, which will certainly be found with A7X.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // After entering the ‘90s, funk rock fusion adventurists Red Hot Chili Peppers have never been too quick to release new albums. But each release is an event, and expectations are high for the next album. In October, singer Anthony Kiedis said the new material is “as good as any songs we’ve ever written.” Without any other details, we’ll just take his word for it for now.
Metallica, Title TBD
Release Date: TBD // It’s been over seven years since ‘Death Magnetic’ and Metallica fans are getting antsy. The band has offered updates from the studio, but we know Metallica take their time and are quite meticulous. Kirk Hammett has stated he hopes the new album will be out in late 2016 and early 2017 at the worst. Let’s hope they’re not on this list again next year!