10 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Songs Of 2017 (So Far)

8. Masks - Bear

Onto the heaviest of the heavy, and though Bear's decision to name their album "///' (like a claw slash) is endearing and supremely awesome, it does make them a nightmare for newcomers to find online.

That said, the band's core sound is like Rammstein does groove-metal, taking what could be too simple a riff in the wrong hands and cranking the attitude in a way that forces you to pay attention. Vocalist Maarten Albrechts' pipes are ones clogged with dirt and grime, but that's precisely why it works so damn well.

Bear draws you in with expert riffing and production, asking those unaffiliated with harsher vocals to weather the storm, as when everything finally clicks, Masks is a gateway into one hell of an album.