15 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums Of 2020 (So Far)

There's always a certain level of intensity when it comes to the hard rock genre. Whether it be through your technical abilities or the frantic speed at which you play, each song makes the listener feel like something's happening that transcends just a couple of humans playing instruments. Though Protest The Hero's brand of prog metal already had the technical side covered, the band went a few extra miles on Palimpsest.

Structured as a look at the greatness of America, the band explores both the rises and falls of major historical events in a very natural manner. Rather than take a side on any one stance, the band present these in a series of musical vignettes that make you feel like you're watching them happen right before your eyes. In an era when people are questioning as to where true greatness comes from, Protest the Hero make the argument that your greatest strength could also be your fatal flaw in the end.

Aside from the lyrical topics, this also may be their most well-groomed album to date, with songs that are virtuosic without ever feeling too showboat-y. This might not have been everyone's expectation for a Protest the Hero record, but these tunes might just be what the entire rock community needs right now.