10. Clyde Shelton – Spending Spirit

9. Dan Terminus – Last Call For All Passengers

8. A.L.I.S.O.N – Éternité

7. Droid Bishop – Music

6. Hotel Pools – Still

5. The Midnight – Monsters

4. Various Artists – Magnatron III

3. W O L F C L U B – Runaways

2. Com Truise – In Decay Too

1. DEADLIFE – City of Eternal Rain

(Very) Honorable Mentions

Daniel Deluxe – Ghostrunner (Original Soundtrack)

Baldocaster/Traveler CS – Exodus/Solare

Molchat Doma – Monument

Master Boot Record – Floppy Disk Overdrive

Yota – Hazy Paradise
Top 10 Retrowave Albums 202

View our other Best of 2020 lists here!

Like our lists? Check out our Top 10’s from previous years:
Top 10 Retrowave Albums of 2019
Top Ten Retrowave Albums of 2018
Best of 2019

Top 10 Synthwave Albums of 2020

We had heard some fantastic singles ahead of release from Waveshaper, Wice, and Powerglove with PYLOT, and I am pleased to report that the rest of the album stacks up against their quality. Easily the best in the trilogy, each artist on this magnificent compilation has truly brought their A-game, contributing some new instant-favorites to Magnatron 3.

It really is not exaggeration to say that “Magnatron 3” hits harder than ever before. Each track feels bigger, more epic, more intense, with each artist giving the series a fitting finale.
Each previous Magnatron release has had sci-fi themes, but with Magnatron III the sci-fi synth leads seem to blend more with nostalgic tones such as in “Tyrael” from Tokyo Rose, or in “Grit Rewired” from DEADLIFE.

The combination of more nostalgia with the retro futurist themes, heavy basslines and danceable kicks really makes “Magnatron III” stand out more than ever before as the best synthwave in the scene. Easily the best in the trilogy! At the time of this writing there is still some physical merch left – but it’s sure to be gone soon!

Click here for physical merch from Bandcamp – Click here for other streaming services.

Dropping next Friday, July 24th, “Magnatron III” is jam-packed with absolute fire tracks from some of the best hand-picked artists in the retro synthwave scene. Just listening to the gleaming production of first three singles (Waveshaper – Vivid Stars/ Wice – Interstellar / Power Glove & PYLOT – AEON) is proof-in-pudding that Magnatron III is going to be an absolute banger! With genres ranging from dreamwave to synthwave to darksynth and everything in-between, This synthwave compilation is set to be stuffed with a track for everyone.

Initial pre-sales of rare bundles are already sold out – but fear not! We’re adding more to the store at 9:30AM EST tomorrow via NRW Records. This will include standalone items in larger amounts and different colorways. – https://NRWRecords.lnk.to/MagnatronIII

Tracklist:

1. Wice – Interstellar
2. Waveshaper – Vivid Stars
3. Zombie Hyperdrive – Ghostwalker
4. Absolute Valentine – Magnatron Engaged
5. STRAPLOCKED – Active Aggression
6. ALEX – SAMUS ARAN
7. Power Glove & PYLOT – AEON
8. Tonebox – Pulsar Blast
9. TOKYO ROSE – Tyrael
10. F.O.O.L – The Truth
11. Daniel Deluxe – Frontier
12. Sandman – Destiny Unknown
13. Donbor – Brume
14. DEADLIFE – Grit Rewired
15.Turboslash – Phantom
16. ORAX – Shelter
17. Kick Puncher – Last Resolve
18. Volkor X – Aftermath

Magnatron / Magnatron III / Magnatron 3

Pre-Save the 2nd Magnatron III single today: https://NRWRecords.lnk.to/AEON

Listen to the first single here.

Feast your eyes on the visuals below. Animated by Blood+Chrome and releasing on June 22nd, along with the single. Prepare for greatness.

We have many solid artist line ups right now but do not want to reveal to much. The first official single from the album is set for release this Friday, 5/8/2020. Pre-save link here: https://NRWRecords.lnk.to/Interstellar 

More MAJOR info to come soon. #StayRetro

10. Molchat Doma – S Krish Nashih Domov

This Molchat Doma sound is a virtuoso mix of Alphaville, New Order and The Cure. almost every track on this album feels iconic in a familiar, but also foreign way. Although it is sung entirely in Slavic, the sad, nostalgic themes still resonate deeply.

9. Kalax – Kalax

A new, enhanced retro feel makes this truly dreamy dreamwave feel much more nostalgic than the previous releases from Kalax – almost wistful at times. The result is an astounding release of synthwave that bears a beautiful cinematic quality like Kavinsky or College.

8. Mega Drive – The Grid

This dark and futuristic album perfectly embodies cyberpunk. The dense, uptempo tracks meld perfectly with ambient features on this album, creating a complete soundscape for some mysterious dystopian city.

7. ALEX & Tokyo Rose – AKUMA

ALEX and Tokyo Rose perfectly compliment one another’s style on this groundbreaking darkwave/outrun album.  In spite of being dark, “Akuma’s” melodies feel more retro than it’s contemporaries, creating a rare form of nostalgia.

6. FM attack – Stellar

While his previous albums drew heavily from disco and had a more upbeat and dance feel, “Stellar” is steeped in postpunk and new wave vibes. This updated sound is unique and fantastic, creating a more wistful and nostalgic feel to the signature FM Attack sound.

5. HOME – Resting State

This interesting album is comprised of an astounding 35 demo tracks. In spite of this, they manage to be just as interesting and full-bodied as much of his more fleshed out work. If these are just demos, we can’t wait to hear whats coming next!

4. Various Artists – Magnatron 2.0

Powerful and dark, this compilation manages to be cohesive in spite of containing 16 very different and monstrously amazing artists.

3. Com Truise – Iteration

“Iteration” signals a tonal shift from Haley’s previous work. It feels more lachrymose and less hard sci-fi than his previous releases. This does not feel arrived at by way of nostalgia but instead from melancholy and heartbreak – a fitting end to a long journey.

2. Dan Terminus – Automated Refrains

This album is one of the darkest, most complex we’ve heard all year. Dan Terminus manages to elicit complex nostalgic melodies and a pitch-perfect retro-futuristic vibe through HEAVY synths – an accomplishment to be lauded. Top it off with a couple lighter, almost ambient tracks and you have a well rounded and well deserved top spot for “Automated Refrains.”

 

1. Lazerhawk – Dreamride

The synthwave demigod has returned in full force. Dreamrider suffuses Lazerhawk’s years of producer expertise and creates a thoroughly complete body of work that is in every way more than the sum of its parts. Lazerhawk’s mastery of the form is undeniable.

Special Mentions

Master Boot Record  – INTERRUPT REQUEST

Meteor – Inner Demon

Magnatron 2.0

Magnatron 2.0 is OUT NOW! Download and/ or Stream it today!

The brightest stars in the synthwave galaxy align on the monumental Magnatron 2.0! Featuring contributions from the likes of Waveshaper, Daniel Deluxe, ALEX, and Tokyo Rose, this 16-track compilation features the new sound of synth music that will define the genre for years to come. This is your ticket to the frontier of NewRetroWave, so strap yourself in and prepare for a euphoric voyage across Magnatron 2.0’s diverse and captivating soundscapes.

Directed by Mykola Dosenko, who has also worked with Major Lazer, Snoop Lion (:p), Kanye West and more.

Feast your eyes on the introduction of Magnatron

EPIC SCREENSHOTS 

FULL VIDEO

We are absolutely blown away by this piece and couldn’t have asked for more!! Expect an EPIC album + more lovely surprises retro lovers!! More pieces to this complex puzzle will be revealed as we get closer to the album release date.

Pre-orders for Magnatron go online tomorrow (June 15th) and will include the first single we have been teasing you with! 😉 Expect a quality record that will truly inspire you. 

Also we have heard all of your calls and will finally answer them. Magnatron will be available in Vinyl and CD formats, as well as digital! Get ready!

Stay Retro!