20 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2016

Feathers & Flesh is just plain weird. But what else do you expect from the crazy Swedes that are Avatar?

An Aesopian concept album that centres upon an owl's attempts to stop the sun from rising, Feather & Flesh is dark, subversive, witty, tragic, angry, emotive and a slew of other adjectives, making it one of the most emotionally and tonally diverse metal releases of this year.

For example, the melodic and insanely catchy "The Eagle Has Landed" contrasts entirely with the frantic "For the Swarm", which itself differs wholeheartedly with the uplifting "Night Never Ending". It's all over the map in the best way.