Year in Review: The Best Songs of 2016

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Timothy Nguyen
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Song: “Hardwired”
Artist: Metallica
Album: Hardwired…to Self-Destruct
Label: Blackened
Released: August 18

The hype for Metallica is back and bigger than ever. Featuring some spicy riffs and aggression featured from their earlier works, Hardwired is an excellent choice for a title single and opener for their latest record.

After an eight-year hiatus, Metallica still show off that they can write tracks for the thrash masses and sell out arenas.

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Song: “Silvera”
Artist: Gojira
Album: Magma
Label: Roadrunner
Released: May 20

Featuring a nasty riff that draws you right in, Gojira’s second single off their latest effort Magma is technically proficient, atmospheric and lyrically captivating.

Although the genre is maintained by prog-elitists, Gojira proves that prog can be accessible by anyone with this track.

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Song: “Army”
Artist: Ellie Goulding
Album: Delirium
Label: Polydor
Released: January 9

Despite Delirium not being my favourite album by Ellie Goulding (Bright Lights all the way!) “Army” proves to be a stand-out off the record, being devoted to Goulding’s best and closest friend which I think is pretty sweet in itself. Easily relatable and applicable to all your friends who deal with your break-ups and whom you have drunken (mis)adventures with.

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Song: “The Stage”
Artist: Avenged Sevenfold
Album: The Stage
Label: Capitol
Released: October 13

Avenged Sevenfold stepped up their game, especially after the ill-inspired previous effort, Hail to the King. Prog vibes, tasty shredding by Synyster Gates, aggressive delivery by new drummer Brooks Wackerman and immense delivery by vocalist M. Shadows, this is everything I wanted but never asked for from the band.

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Song: “Me and Your Mama”
Artist: Childish Gambino
Album: Awaken, My Love!
Label: Glassnote
Released: November 10

Donald Glover, known moreso by his stage persona Childish Gambino, stepped up his game with the release of this single. Expanding more than six minutes, Gambino pushes his experimentation with an atmospheric piano intro, blending blues, rock and R&B in a darker feeling than his previous efforts.

When the heavily reverbed guitar kicks in, we get some hella Southern vibes which are electrified by Gambino’s soulful delivery of his vocals. Alongside second single “Rednote”, Gambino has me excited for his album to drop!