The 10 Most Underrated Gems of 2020 (End Of The Year Lists)

It's safe to say that 2020 as weird of a year that it was you have to admit that the music industry despite the hit that it took put out some of the best music that we have seen in years. And because of that some fantastic tracks get left unheard; And since 2020 had such a groundbreaking year for music it's time to look at some tracks that got overlooked. So here is a list of "The 10 Most Underrated Gems of 2020".

Before we get started here's a couple of simple rules:

1: This is just a list so there's no set ranking of tracks. It's just one after another

2: This is our list. So if you have any tracks that you think that we might have missed then post them in the comments.

So without further a deux. Here is the list.

10: Lifelong - 'Above The Waves' COURTESY OF SOLID STATE RECORDS

Up first is the newly founded pop-punk/melodic-hardcore band Lifelong with their track 'Above The Waves' from their absolute smash of a record "Above The Waves". This track has everything that you would want from a track like this; It has absurdly catchy pop-punk hook that sticks with you for days, it has one of the catchiest choruses of the year by far, and it perfectly combines the standard that they set with their first ep and amplifies to a whole new level. This band was one of 2020's best kept secrets and if this band had seen a much bigger following back in the summer then this record and this track would have seen massive success. It's a fun early 2000's esque pop-punk track that should have been on everyone's pop-punk playlists.

9: Idle Threat - 'Cement' COURTESY OF TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS

One of the most overlooked releases of the year was Idle Threat's "Nothing Is Broken For Good" and the track that's featured on the list 'Cement' should have been so much bigger than it was. Taking elements of the emo-grunge scene with bands like Citizen, Microwave, Basement; while adding their own unique flare to the sound and creating something new and serene. 'Cement' is a beautiful 90's influenced grunge track that has everything that people love about the genre and the band's that inhabit it while also paving it's own road into creating an emotional experience. This track should have gotten more love but alas it seems like people either forgot about it or just never listened to it. Do yourself a favor and listen to this madness of a track.

8: Vagrants - 'Wither' COURTESY OF EQUAL VISION RECORDS

In the midst of the spike in early 2000's esque post-hardcore and that sounds resurgence Vagrants have been a huge standout in the scene and their track 'Wither' is a perfect example of the sound done right and the directions that they take to make the sound their own. 'Wither' is everything that the band is good at and then some; taking queues from the likes of Thursday, Underoath, Emery etc. and expanding on the core sound and making something grandiose and memorable. 'Wither' is an excellent track that has everything that one could love from a post-hardcore track; it's an underrated gem from the year and it should have been on everyone's radar.

7: ForeverAtLast - 'Holy Ghost' COURTESY OF FOREVERATLAST/INDEPENDENT

Another one for the record books is ForeverAtLast's heavy comeback single 'Holy Ghost'. A pummeling moment that cranks everything to 11. The female led band have become a force to be reckon with in the scene and with this comeback single we see the band taking up elements of post-hardcore and metalcore and combining it with their core punk rock sound and mastering it with one of the best tracks of the year and a perfect example of adding new sounds to your core sound and making it feel flawless. How this track didn't become an instant hit with rock fans is mind blowing.

6: Peabod - 'Big Feelings (ft. Aklesso)' COURTESY OF CENTRICITY MUSIC

One of the best projects of the year has to be from the mind of Peabod. His brilliant "Growing Up Pt.1" houses some of the rapper's best material and the biggest stand out of them all is easily 'Big Feelings'; The track featured a much darker more alternative hip-hop lane for the rapper and he excelled at the sound of the most poignant lyrics of the year. Peabod's flows on the track are flawless and with the added energy from Aklesso made this one of the most hype tracks of the year. How this track was not bigger is mind boggling.

5: I Am Empire - 'Clever Nightmare' COURTESY OF TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS

One of the most shocking comebacks of the year had to be from I Am Empire with their fantastic comeback ep "Another Man's Treasure" a collection of re-recorded songs from earlier writing sessions; with the biggest standout being the filthy 'Clever Nightmare' a eerily nasty rocker that kicks everything to 11 in a full throttle race of aggressive guitars and emo angst. the hard rocker exceeds all expectations while managing to pave it's own way on the ep, combining the elements that we saw on both "Kings" and "Anchors" and expanding upon it making this one of the best unknown rockers of the year and one of the best tracks that 2020 had to offer.

4: As Lions And Lambs - 'No Return' COURTESY OF AS LIONS AND LAMBS/INDEPENDENT

The nightmarish As Lions And Lambs made quite possibly one of the heaviest pieces of the year with 'No Return'. A brutal taste of hellish deathcore with gnarly screams, disgusting riffs, and an overall sense of pure destruction that keeps you disgusted and enthralled with every listen. A masterclass in all out deathcore; the band keeps you in suspense throughout the whole track with tone changes and even a little bit of beatdown hardcore in there for good measure. The track is easily one of the most brutal tracks of the year and it gets even more bonkers with each listen. Seriously all deathcore fans should give this track some love. As Lions And Lambs are doing some amazing things in the scene and should get more exposure and more love.

3: I The Breather/Breather - 'Prey' COURTESY OF BREATHER/INDEPENDENT

2020 was saw the return of so many bands coming back to music and one of those being I The Breather. The metalcore band returned as Breather and released by far one of the best tracks in metalcore 'Prey'. Now 'Prey' could be considered to be a turning point in 2020 because it was not only the change of the band's title but it was also a turning point in the band's vision and sound; the track is heavy and it combines everything that the band are good at and then some. The metalcore genre had such an incredible year this year that it was a force to be reckon with and I The Breather is amongst them with djenty riffs, superb vocals, and a sense of unease combining that with their core sound that made them so popular from back in the day, and are still alive and kicking. I The Breather are back and there's no way that they are turning back.

2: Beloved - 'Like A Song' COURTESY OF BELOVED/INDEPENDENT

In a bizarre turn of events with bands seemingly coming back from out of nowhere we saw the return of the post-hardcore band Beloved with a cover song of all things. This being the soulful punk energy song 'Like A Song' which was originally by the post-punk pioneers U2 from their classic album "War". The band's cover of 'Like A Song' is something beautiful with some soulful and poignant vocals, emo/punk energy that permeates throughout the track, and an overall sense of peace throughout the track. It's an incredible cover song of an already incredible punk track and in some ways succeeds over the original track. Between the coronavirus pandemic, social, political and racial unrest, and the sense of the unknown; A song like this was needed especially in these dark times. It's an incredible punk leaning cover and although it didn't have the usual heaviness that fans would expect from Beloved; this cover didn't need to be heavy to get it's message across and that message being that even in the darkest of times all that we can rely on is each other and loving the people around and taking anything for granted. It's a fantastic track that should have blown up given it's message and the fact that this is a band that hasn't made music in almost 20 years but all honesty it didn't need to be. It's an underrated track that you spin some time with and listen to it over and over again.

1: World Divided - 'Dispirit' COURTESY OF WORLD DIVIDED/INDEPENDENT

And finally the most underrated track that has been on repeat ever since it's release is none other than World Divided's 'Dispirit'; a track that not only packs one of the heaviest punches that the metal scene had to offer but it also became one of the best examples of nu-metalcore done right. It's a great example of well produced metalcore with nu-metal, post-hardcore, and electronic music and expands on it tenfold. The band keeps the hype up for the entire track and fills an entire room with mosh worthy energy and an intensity worthy of an all out brawl. The song immediately gets you involved and makes you feel like turning up and letting loose; while spin kicks and arm throwing ensues. 'Dispirit' is a fun track that has been on repeat ever sense it's release and it has to be the most underrated track of the year. Not many people know of World Divided but hopefully this list helps you get into them and the other bands on this list. 'Dispirit' is a criminally underrated track that should get all of the praise that can be mustarded. Thank you to the guys in World Divided for this insanity of a track, you have outdone yourselves.

WRITERS - Samuel C. & Sydney T.