From enormous metalcore collectives to a herculean one-man project, the year in metal left a deep crater filled with scum, love, filth, and wizards. The big black umbrella that houses the genre has never been bigger or more inclusive as bands keep expanding and redefining the extreme edges of sound and emotion with their music.

The following list of songs and albums, sorted alphabetically, includes metal releases found on Pitchfork’s main year-end tallies as well as an additional 20 records that did not make those lists but are just as worth your time.

Listen to selections from this list on our Spotify playlist and Apple Music playlist.