Rory’s Top 20 Albums of All Time
Rory’s Top 20 Albums of All Time
By Rory Bentley
A person’s top 20 is a window into their musical soul. Or it’s an arbitrary list of albums they like. Either way this is my all time list of favourite albums. Brutal cuts were made and many of my favourite bands don’t get a nod due to the criteria I imposed needlessly on myself. One album per artist, no hot-shot choices to look smart/cool, albums in question have to be zero-skip killers and trust your gut. The top end took care of itself pretty easily, but just like the annual Album of the Year lists, the pain of choosing that number 20 position and leaving classics out in the cold cannot be overstated.
Rankings kind of don’t matter here as we’re dealing exclusively in 10s, but naturally my absolute favourites occupy the top spots. These are the jams that have shaped my strange, dysfunctional brain and made existence bearable. As Shania once said (also the author of a no-skips album) let’s go, girls!
20. Atlantean Kodex- The Course of Empires
The term ‘Epic’ is thrown about way too casually, but this stirring swords and sandals saga is the very embodiment of the word. Layer upon layer of guitar and vocals with skyscraper melodies make you feel like Charlton Heston riding into battle with a cast of thousands.
The swaying, textured riffing of “Hammerheart” Bathory drives the songs along at a measured and stately pace and Markus Becker’s warm, bard-like vocal weaves each story together masterfully. It also has possibly my favourite production of any album, sounding raw and earthy despite its cinematic grandeur. To pull this off without sounding either too sterile or dulling the ambitious scope of the compositions is an incredible feat.
Atlantean Kodex – People Of The Moon (Dawn Of Creation)
19. Faith No More- King For A Day Fool For A Lifetime
The band that taught me you can do whatever the fuck you want and take joy in upsetting people. From lounge jazz to funk, to country, to screaming alt metal, this is the sound of a band with infinite possibilities executing those possibilities track by track. For me this is Mike Patton’s finest performance behind the mic within a body of work that puts him in the conversation of the greatest vocalist in human history. Every song is a winner in its own twisted way, and the influence on the landscape of alternative music can still be felt today. ‘Just A Man’ is also in the convo for the best closing track on any album.
Faith No More – Evidence (Official Music Video)
18. Metallica- Ride The Lightning
Could have plumped for ‘Puppets, ‘Justice or even ‘Load here, but in the end this one just inched it. The combination of unbridled ambition and newfound sophistication with scrappy, youthful energy is what does it for me. The band would get more refined and slick at the ideas explored here in later releases, but that full throttle Punk-like energy would never be quite the same as on here afterwards. Plus it’s got ‘Creeping Death’ on it, and every now and then in my day to day life I remember that ‘Creeping Death’ exists and everything feels right in the world. I’ll even defend ‘Escape’ to the death.
17. Nightwish- Imaginaerum
My favourite band had to get a look-in somewhere and this is what I arrived at. This band are so fucking weird when you try and explain things to the uninitiated. Essentially their best singer isn’t on any of their ‘classic albums’, their most iconic singer was ousted before their commercial peak, and their worst singer is on their best album. You still following?
Nightwish have a skill of making the world feel full of magic and wonder without resorting to fantasy, making me feel like a wide eyed young lad again and often helping me fall back in love with life. This sprawling cinematic opus is all about looking back on a life well lived and being thankful for the gift of existence. Like a Disney film for grownups and people that won’t let the world take away that spark of mischief and excitement that lives in all of us but too often is extinguished as the burdens of adulthood are piled on. Growing up really is a trap and “Imaginaerum” shows you the safe path around it.
Nightwish – Turn Loose The Mermaids (With Lyrics)
16. Tool- Lateralus
Put your (admittedly justified) prejudices against Tool fans to one side and just engage with the music. This is the absolute apex of Prog for me. The sheer chemistry between these four musicians is unreal, and despite two excellent follow ups, is never better here. Danny Carey is some inter dimensional being sent to play drums for us poor wretches, locking in with the masterful Justin Chancellor to form the greatest rhythm section in the galaxy, Adam Jones is the kind of understated intricacy and thrilling dynamics, and Maynard James Keenan is a spiritual guru with the voice of angel (rather than a grumpy old sod that hates phones).
You can marvel at all the polyrhythms, technical wizardry and Fibonacci bollocks all you want, but at the core of this album lies a passionate, raging, powerful and vulnerable human heart beating with life.
TOOL – Parabola (Official Video)
15. Paul Simon- Graceland
Finally some Pop music eh? This album is pure sunshine for 43 gorgeous, magnificent minutes with every vocal line, bass line and soaring African instrumental permanently burned into my brain. This has been my go-to summer album for donkey’s years and the memories I have of singing these songs with my mates on holiday or using ‘Diamonds On The Souls of Her Shoes’ as a warm up song for me and my old drummer to get our harmonies on point will never fade. People will say any old shit is ‘part of their musical DNA’, but every whimsical little line on this thing occupies the same area of my brain as Alan Partridge and The Office quotes. Which, if you ask my wife, is most of it.
Paul Simon – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
14. Beastie Boys- Ill Communication
The only HipHop entry on this list, showing the full brutality of cuts that need to be made on a top 20. This was always a first draft, piece of piss, no-brainer of a pick. ‘Root Down’, ‘Sure Shot’- fucking ‘Sabotage’! are all as good as recorded sound gets. The deft blend of bangers and innovative sound collages like ‘Flute Loop’ evokes the feeling of pure joy in creating music at its most embryonic, heartfelt level. An album that hits the spot no matter what mood I’m in.
13. Down- NOLA
The power of the riff compels you. I’m not sure anything on this list is pound for pound as densely packed with insane riffs as this platonic ideal of the supergroup. Every second here crackles with authentic chemistry and the explosion of ideas and excitement that comes when musicians come together and just click. It’s soulful, sludgy, jubilant, somber and brutal and contains some of the greatest Rock songs ever recorded. ‘Temptation’s Wings’, ‘Lifer’, ‘Rehab’ and ‘Stone The Crow’ are the definition of classics, and no rundown of the greatest riffs ever is complete without ‘Bury Me In Smoke’. Every band I’ve ever been in has featured song contributions from me where I have ripped off the finest riffs from NOLA and I dare say I will continue to steal from it intentionally or not til the day I’m in the ground.
12. The Smiths- Meat Is Murder
Forget about Morrissey being your silly old uncle who gets his news from Facebook groups ran by thick gammons, The Smiths are one of the greatest bands of all time. They never released a bad song let alone album, and their sophomore release is just about my favourite of that untouchable quadriology. Johnny Marr is a total wizard on guitar in the purest sense, creating unreal sonic landscapes on ‘How Soon Is Now’ that I still cannot believe come from his Rickenbacker (I originally got the re-release where it’s added on so I’m counting it). Elsewhere he shows fleet-fingered genius on the panic-inducing ’Headmaster Ritual’ and the Rockabilly moments on ‘Russholme Ruffians’ and ‘What She Said’. Meanwhile Morrissey is utterly amazing on ‘That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore’ and ‘Well I Wonder’, extending a hand out of the stereo to my troubled younger self and saying, ‘hey, I feel all these things too and you’re not alone’
The Smiths – I Want The One I Can’t Have (Official Audio)
11. Cult of Luna and Julie Christmas- Mariner
I had to kick out some phenomenal and deeply personally important artists for this one, but it’s the right choice. When one of the most crushing, planet-sized soundscape building artists team up with one of the most unique, primal and utterly unhinged vocalists around expect fireworks. And expect them to be in outer space, because this trip to the furthest reaches of the universe is one of the most transportative sonic experiences I’ve ever had and continues to be to this very day.
“Mariner” is the best possible result a collaborative release can produce, and the crescendos of ‘Chevron’ and ‘The Wreck of S.S. Needle’ have been taking my brain out of the known universe for nearly a decade now.
Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas – “A Greater Call” (Official)
10. Lingua Ignota- Caligula
The most raw, disturbing and heavy album I have ever listened to. Kristin Hayter embodies trauma, pain and the darkest recesses of the human mind on an album that no trigger warning can ever adequately prepare one for. To hear a classically trained virtuoso singer tear her voice to shreds and have a literal mental breakdown over the course of this terrifying opus is both harrowing and incredible.
‘Do You Doubt Me Traitor’ is nightmare fuel, ‘Fragrant Is My Many Flowered Crown’ is a traditional Folk song for a woman scorned with murderous intent, and ‘Spite Alone Holds Me Aloft’ is a torch song sung by someone covered in blood, clutching a blade with the darkest of intentions. There is not one guitar on here, barely any percussion and predominately just a piano, but it makes any extreme metal band you’d care to name sound weak as piss.
09. Radiohead- In Rainbows
Radiohead proved they can still do bangers, they just didn’t want to. This record is also the counterpoint to all the boring accusations that people who don’t actually like music level at the band of being ‘depressing’. This is an often joyful, upbeat and beautiful album that is bursting with melody. ‘Weird Fishes/Arpeggi’ is a jubilant, intricate build up that goes full drum and bass in places, ‘Bodysnatchers’ straight up rocks, ‘All I Need’ is pure ballad perfection and ‘Reckoner’ is oddball melodic genius. Just 43 minutes of incredible songwriting that equals and arguably surpasses those earlier classics.
08. Converge- Jane Doe
Obviously this one was going to turn up somewhere. Hardcore as high art, Converge are one of a kind in their intensity, musicianship and chemistry. Jake Bannon is the definition of artistic integrity and raw emotion, Kurt Balou is a guitar genius and Nate Newton and Ben Koller are a supernatural agent of rhythmic chaos. The second ‘Concubine’ kicks in you will either lose your shit or immediately tap out with bleeding ears, and that’s the way it should be. Converge are the litmus test for Extreme and challenging music and the artwork a calling card across all reaches of underground music fandom that you have an open mind and a desire to explore new sonic depths. The title track is arguably the greatest artistic achievement in Hardcore history as well, so there’s that.
07. Soundgarden- Superunknown
The exception to all the moaning about albums being too long. You’re allowed to put out a 70 minute 15 track beast if you’re 94 Soundgarden, you have one of the greatest singers ever on peak form and every one of your songs is a classic. From ‘Let Me Drown’ pounding along and riffing all over your face to ‘4th of July’ going full psychedelic Doom and the insanity of ‘Limo Wreck’ it should not need to be stated why “Superunknown” is well in the convo for the best album of the 90s. Imagine releasing a song as perfect and iconic as ‘Blackhole Sun’ and it not being anywhere near the best song on the record.
Soundgarden – The Day I Tried To Live (Official Music Video)
06. Alice In Chains- Dirt
Everything I’ve said about “Superunknown” applies to “Dirt”, but somehow much much darker. This is the sound of danger, suffering, despair and anger channelled into peerless songwriting and played with devastating intensity. Jerry Cantrell is on Iommi levels of riff mastery and Layne would never sound this commanding and powerful on record ever again. The vocal harmonies are ghostly and sometimes angelic, the lyrics are as bleak and raw as a true crime documentary, and pretty much every band that has tried to follow the “Dirt” template has been fucking terrible like Soil and Godsmack. AIC are a one of a kind band, often imitated but almost never to any degree of success.
Alice In Chains – Them Bones (Official HD Video)
05. Rancid- …And Out Come The Wolves
I think Rancid are the best Punk band ever and this is the greatest Punk album ever. You might think I’m wrong and that’s all good, but ‘Timebomb’, ‘Maxwell Murder’, ‘Ruby Soho’, ‘Junkie Man’, ‘Roots Radical’ and ‘Olympia Wa’ make a pretty compelling case in my favour. It’s the heart and the feeling of lived experiences that seep out of every pore of this record that makes it so special. Sure the songs alone are all incredible, but they’re played and sung with such character that putting this album on feels like walking into a bar and meeting all your old mates. They might look like scary dudes on the outside but this album is a warm hug whenever I need a pick-me-up.
Rancid – ‘Ruby Soho’ (Music Video)
04. Idlewild- The Remote Part
Albums that hit you this hard only occur a few times in a lifetime. When I did my 2002 mixtape this was one of the first places I looked to, picking ‘A Modern Way of Letting Go’ at the time, but I could have chucked a dart at the track listing whilst wearing a blindfold and landed on a total worldie. ‘You Held The World In Your Arms’ is a glorious, cinematic opener and ‘American English’ is full-on globe conquering, strident majesty with the kind of chorus that “Joshua Tree” U2 would kill an endangered seal for. Then you’ve got the tartan REMism of ‘Century After Century’ and the warm glass of scotch of the closing title track. I often bemoan that the band never kicked on commercially after this (despite continuing to release great albums), but fuck it, the mere existence of this 38 minutes of Rock perfection is reward in itself.
Idlewild – American English (Official Video) HD
03. Killswitch Engage- Alive or Just Breathing
The top of this list is about to get incredibly predictable, but there’s a reason these picks are obvious from here on out. It’s like Occam’s Razor for riffs up here. This was my eureka moment in music. The reason I wanted to sing and scream and learn guitar. The reason I got into Hardcore and the reason I hold the bands I review to the highest standards. Killswitch changed the game and this album is about as perfect as can be. Sure they influenced some terrible bands that followed in their wake like some Metalcore Oppenheimer, but the original blueprint is a work of genius.
Killswitch Engage – My Last Serenade [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
02. Mastodon- Leviathan
Split your lungs in Blood and Thunder my friends! It’s time to hunt down the white whale. If you’re looking for the finest riffs on the seven seas and a progressive epic that will pound your ship to rubble, the Atlantan Sludge/Prog Metal lords of the high tide have got you covered. There are no words for how much I love Mastodon and how important they have been to me on a personal and musical level. With the devastating loss of Brent Hinds a few months ago, the sublime, wild erratic genius of the ‘Hearts Alive’ solo hits even harder. There will never be a band like this again, and in my opinion they are the finest Heavy Metal band of all time.
MASTODON – “Iron Tusk” (Official HD Music Video)
01 Devin Townsend- Empath
In 2019 there was a big chunk of time where I did not want to be around anymore. I’d lost a relationship, a house and my sense of who I was. I was left with nothing and I felt like nothing. This album reached out to me and told me to hang on in there because life is often brutal, unfair and hard to take- but it’s also beautiful. It’s exciting, it’s rewarding, it’s fun and there are untold joys you have yet to feel. This is summed up in ‘Spirits Will Collide’, which still makes me bawl my eyes out to this day, but is all over this bizarre, brilliant record.
Forget about my own little story- this is the magnum opus of a genuine artistic genius taking the plunge and then unleashing every brilliantly bonkers idea in his head. ‘Genesis’ is every genre of music condensed into six insane minutes that somehow remains unbelievably catchy. ‘Why?’ is pure musical theatre transposed into an existential crisis, and ‘Hear Me’ is the most savagely heavy song with a totally positive message on facing your fears.
Then there’s the 24 minute ‘Singularity’ where every possible human emotion is covered. The opening movements feature some unbelievably beautiful vocals from Devin and the incredible choir he collaborates with before getting as ugly and nasty as anything he ever did on Strapping Young Lad in the middle passages. The eventual emergence into the euphoric outro then feels like a total spiritual cleansing.
This is an album that captures every aspect of being human, great and terrible, and concludes that life is so worth living. As Devin says ‘I’ll shine for you if you shine for me’.
DEVIN TOWNSEND – Genesis (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
