It was a dark fucking year, but dark times usually equate to great heavy music (see our 20 Best Albums of 2017 list). Such was the case this year, 12 harrowing months that were never at a loss for a good, cathartic song to soundtrack its twists and turns, and provide release. Here are our favorite cuts from a challenging year — from an alt-metal juggernaut's apocalyptic return, to a hardcore band's post-grunge anthem, to a goth-rock outfit's twisted love song, to death-metal vets' new statements of intent and much more.
50 Best Songs of 2017
Our playlist of the finest cuts heavy music had to offer this year
Slipknot's '.5: The Gray Chapter': How Death, Trauma Shaped Comeback LP
Corey Taylor: "This album is about making peace with the loss that we've suffered"
Drugs, Death, Chaos, Contradiction: Inside Dillinger's 'One of Us Is the Killer'
How Greg Puciato and Ben Weinman's complex relationship has shaped one of heavy music's most insane bands
Killswitch Engage: Inside Jesse Leach's Return, Making of 'Disarm the Descent'
Leach: "Being in Killswitch today is worlds apart from what it was 10 years ago"
Killswitch Engage 'Incarnate': Metalcore Rebels Face Dark Side, Fight Inner War
Singer Jesse Leach: "This album literally drove me crazy"
Slipknot's '.5: The Gray Chapter': How Death, Trauma Shaped Comeback LP
Corey Taylor: "This album is about making peace with the loss that we've suffered"
Drugs, Death, Chaos, Contradiction: Inside Dillinger's 'One of Us Is the Killer'
How Greg Puciato and Ben Weinman's complex relationship has shaped one of heavy music's most insane bands
Killswitch Engage: Inside Jesse Leach's Return, Making of 'Disarm the Descent'
Leach: "Being in Killswitch today is worlds apart from what it was 10 years ago"
Killswitch Engage 'Incarnate': Metalcore Rebels Face Dark Side, Fight Inner War
Singer Jesse Leach: "This album literally drove me crazy"