10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of The 2020s So Far
7. Melee - Dogleg
Hopefully the members of this Detroit-based post-hardcore group weren't just looking at one of their pets when they thought up their name, but it's entirely possible that's exactly what happened.
Forming in 2015, Dogleg released their first studio album in 2020 after their first two EPs had gained some traction.
The end result was Melee, a punchy 35 minutes of catchy riffs, exciting sounds, and enough screaming to give you a sore throat just thinking about it.
Despite being self-recorded in singer Alex Stoitsiadis' house, the album sounds ridiculously polished. However, it is still very punk in nature, somehow sounding both professional and authentic at the same time.
Sometimes punk or punk-affiliated music can get lost in the noise, but these guys maintain a fine balance between ear-shredding guitar and lyrics you can actually understand without the need of Google. The songwriting is sharp, the playing is excellent, the album is varied, and the future looks very bright for these young men from Michigan.
Also, the album takes its name from the video game Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is the coolest thing ever.