Well guys, we did it. We’ve officially made it to the end of one of the most grueling years in recent memory. Doing our best to say goodbye to all the negativity that surrounded these past twelve months, today we’re going to be focusing on some of the finest things to come out of 2016 – you know, like the best album, best song, best movie, best music video, etc.
Now just as we did last year, we’ve completely turned our list over to the bands we cover on a regular basis because let’s face it, we all know our opinions aren’t nearly as cool as band members. Right?
Yeah, we thought so.
So below check out what bands like Periphery, August Burns Red, Memphis May Fire, Atreyu, I See Stars, The Color Morale and more have all been obsessing over for the past year.
We hope you love the final list as much as we do and we wish you all the most radical holiday season ever!
Enjoy!
BEST ALBUM OF 2016:
I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful And Yet So Unaware Of It
by The 1975 - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
What Will Destroy You by Kyle Morton - JB Brubaker (August Burns Red)
The Human Condition by Jon Bellion - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
Weightless by ÆGES - Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
Everything by Lido - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
Integrity Blues by Jimmy Eat World - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
“I’m stuck between Erra / Sylar / Wolves At The Gate / Balance & Composure” - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
Blackstar by David Bowie - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
California by Blink-182 - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
Blush by Moose Blood - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
Peach by Culture Abuse - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
Mothership by Dance Gavin Dance - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
California by Blink-182 - Glass Houses
“Man, you asked the wrong person. My attention span is so damn short these days I can’t endure listening to an entire album. So, I don’t know…” - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
BEST SONG OF 2016:
“Crooked Red Line” by Ihsahn - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
“Postcard” by Balance And Composure - JB Brubaker (August Burns Red)
“24k Magic” by Bruno Mars - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
“A Reason Why” by ÆGES - Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
“22 (Over S∞∞N)” by Bon Ivor - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
“Pass The Baby” by Jimmy Eat World - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
“False Prophets” by J. Cole - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
“Sunset” by The Midnight - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“Bored To Death” by Blink-182 - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
“Silver Lights” by In Her Own Words - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
“Comforting The Disturbed and Disturbing The Comfortable” by Dead To Me - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
“Slow Me Down” by Issues - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
“Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake - Glass Houses
“Did The Muppets have any new music this year? I have a distinct hunch they did, thus the puppets who groomed us all into the people we are today would be my #1.” - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2016:
“Ben Sahar” by Behemoth - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
“Every video from Beyonce’s Lemonade” - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
“The Stage” by Avenged Sevenfold - Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
“Red Lips” by GTA - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
“Starboy” or “False Alarm” by The Weekend or “Calm Snow” by I See Stars - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
“Calm Snow” by I See Stars - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
“Blood Moon” by Giraffe Tounge Orchestra - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“What I Wish I Could Forget” by Too Close To Touch - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
“Desperation” by Gatecreeper - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
“To The Keys Of Evergreen” by The Devil Wears Prada - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
“Avalanche” by Bring Me The Horizon - Glass Houses
“Pop culture eludes me. I find more pleasure in a nap or taking remedial horticulture class. I’m semi-tuned out to what others do. I find focusing on oneself is monumentally more important.” - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
BEST MOVIE OF 2016:
10 Cloverfield Lane - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
Zootopia - JB Brubaker (August Burns Red)
Arrival - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
Before The Flood - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
Arrival or Hell or High Water - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
Arrival - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
The Jungle Book - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
Green Room - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
Arrival - Glass Houses
The Magnificent Seven - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
MOST BINGE-WORTHY SHOW OF 2016:
Stranger Things - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
Stranger Things or West World - JB Brubaker (August Burns Red)
11.22.63 - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
Game Of Thrones - Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
Stranger Things - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
Shameless - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
Game Of Thrones - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
Narcos - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“The Office. It’s not from 2016 but I’m sticking with it.” - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
Sons Of Anarchy (still relevant in 2016!) - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
Stranger Things - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
Game Of Thrones - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
Stranger Things - Glass Houses
Haters Back Off! - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
FAVORITE INTERNET MOMENT (VIDEO, GIF, MEME, ETC.):
“Anything Trump-related” - Mark Halcomb (Periphery)
“Crying Jordan on the real Michael Jordan at the Villanova/UNC NCAA championship. Also, Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of Donald Trump on SNL.” - JB Brubaker (August Burns Red)
“Evil Kermit” - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
“Man punches kangaroo to save his dog” - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
“Everything that revolved around the World Series and all the synergy that came along with it. There was so much negativity going on with the election and politics, I feel like the World Series was this really positive and empathetic thing that flooded my [personal] timeline every day. I think the World Series in general was awesome.” - Garret Rapp (The Color Morale)
“The love the internet showed to Harambe” - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
“#whitney #dickslap” - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“I saw this video of an old man stuck in his seatbelt. He keeps yelling, “Ma, I’m stuck! You’re making it tighter!’ And every time I watch it, I can’t breathe.” - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
“The Bat Dad” - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
“This is a tough one for me, I like memes and what not. I just like anything with dogs because I’m lame. Although I did really enjoy the ‘dat boi’ memes.’” - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
“Mannequin Challenge” - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
“Anything to do with Desiigner” - Glass Houses
“The ‘I Can Count To Potato’ meme. Matt my guitarist searched for hours with the sole intention of pulling me out of a grumpy mood. It worked! - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
THING(S) YOU WISH YOU HAD DONE IN 2016 BUT DIDN’T:
“Buy a Tesla” - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
“Skydive” - Devin Oliver (I See Stars)
“Play even more shows” - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
“Tour Europe” - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“Played Madison Square Garden (maybe some day)” - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
“I accomplished a lot this year as far as touring and what not goes. But I always strive to do more. I wish I played more guitar, went skateboarding more, was less self-deprecating.” - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
“Voted.” - Mark Adkins (Guttermouth)
BONUS QUESTION: 2017 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION:
“Be the world’s best husband” - Matty Mullins (Memphis May Fire)
“New album 😏😏😏” - Dana Willax (Kingdom Of Giants)
“Move to the country” - Jesse Smith (Jesse Smith and the Holy Ghost, Zao)
“Don’t die” - Keaton Smith (Everyone Dies In Utah)
“Get back on that fitness grind” - Kevin Miller (Mirror Eyes)
“I’m not too big on New Years Resolutions. I never stick to them. But this year I will say that I want to put out a new Old Wounds record, travel more, see other countries, and continue to play punk rock with my friends.” - Zak Kessler (Old Wounds)
“Find the inspiration to inspire others” - Brandon Goldenbaum (Mirror Eyes)
