2017 has been phenomenal for music. I feel like there have been so many amazing records both from personal favorites and bands I just discovered this year that should make it on this list. This is easily the hardest year in music for me to rank, but here goes.
10: Signs of the Swarm - The Disfigurement of Existence
Signs of the Swarm is that band for slamming deathcore this year. They came out swinging with some of the heaviest blast beats and most demonic vocals I have ever heard. It should go without saying that this should take the cake for the heaviest deathcore record of 2017. I didn’t think it was possible to get heavier than their debut record, Senseless Order, but holy fuck was I wrong.
9: Counterparts - You’re Not You Anymore
I’m pretty sure You’re Not You Anymore is a site favorite, especially for me and Cesar. This year has had a lot of emotional downs for me, so I hold this record all the nearer and dearer for its lyrical content and the groovy breakdowns that Counterparts are been known for. The Current Will Carry Us was my favorite Counterparts record, but this album, released the day after my birthday, took that spot from the first second.
8: Being as an Ocean - Waiting For Morning To Come
Being as an Ocean are a go-to band for bad nights. This record is full of gems, and I had to give it this spot because I find myself revisiting the album quite often.
7: PVRIS - All We Know of Heaven, All We Need of Hell
I vividly remember falling in love upon hearing my first Pvris track in 2014 when I caught them a few moments of their set at Warped Tour. It isn’t perfect, and not every song resonates with me like I had hoped, but it is an undeniably beautiful record that does everything right.
6: Full of Hell - Trumpeting Ecstasy
Full of Fucking Hell. Enough said right? Trumpeting is easily up there for me as the best Full of Hell record, and damn was it hard to top Rudiments of Mutilation. I can’t even describe in words how amazing this record is. It’s 23 and a half minutes of perfection.
5: Currents - The Place I Feel Safest
True story: I stayed up all night until the day before release just to purchase the record for more money on an NZ iTunes account because I was just that excited to own it. Hard work pays off.
PS: Brian is the god of break up songs.
PS: Brian is the god of break up songs.
4: Movements - Feel Something
I didn’t even listen to this album until a week or so after release because I knew it would make me emotional in ways I wasn’t 100% okay with facing. This record is close to perfect, and although there’s one song that I don’t really vibe with, every other track is musical genius.
3: My Ticket Home - unReal
It’s not Strangers Only and that’s clear as day, but unReal is a great take on this 90’s grunge/“nu” sound. I hope one day that we get to see what they did with the Strangers Only sound on their true unreleased sophomore album, but for now, this will hold me over just fine.
2: Varials - Pain Again
I’m such a sucker for a good beatdown record, but I really didn’t expect to love the new Varials as much as I do. I’m even in the video for “Colder Brother.” I honestly think the bass tone on this record is one of the best I’ve ever heard. It’s crunchy, diabolical, and makes this record stand out amongst the other hardcore albums this year.
1: Lorna Shore - Flesh Coffin
Psalms was my introduction to Lorna Shore, and at best, it’s a good record. It didn’t captivate me like it captivated others. I didn’t know what to expect from a follow-up, but I knew I loved “Denounce The Light” and pretty every other single from this album, so I had high hopes that Flesh Coffin met, and then exceeded. The blackened approach shows real musical progress, and I can see them becoming one of my favorite deathcore bands if they keep this style going.
- Dakota G.
Archival details
- Original URL
- https://metallifestyle.weebly.com/metal-lifestyle/dakotas-top-ten-albums-of-2017
- Recovery source
- live-weebly
- Recovery date
- 2026-07-22
- Stewardship polish
- 2026-07-22
- Preservation status
- restored
- Missing assets
- None recorded
Preserved by Bloodsoaked Media · The Archives