20 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2016

17. Devin Townsend Project - Transcendence

Hevy Devy appropriately picks up number 17 with his 17th solo album, September's Transcendence.

Tapping into the more grandiose and atmospheric corner of Devin Townsend's brain, Transcendence is on another planet when compared to his early, death metal-inspired work in Strapping Young Lad. But that variety perfectly sums up why metalheads adore this guy so much.

It may not be heavy, but this album is doubtlessly emotive and genuine, proving that Townsend can be sombre and heartfelt just as well as he can scream his lungs out. Highlights of this proggy stunner include the massive "Failure" as well as the gloriously lengthy Ween cover "Transdermal Celebration".

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