10. Artist – Yossarian Yo
AWITW – Looking Back

9. Art Direction and Graphic Design – George Gold Design
3D Illustration – 3am_Render
Nightcrawler – Visionary 

8. Artist – Eyebodega
Eyeliner – BUY NOW (Deluxe Edition)

7. Artist – Master Boot Record
Master Boot Record – Floppy Disk Overdrive

6. Artist – Brouemaster Visual Decay
Baldocaster/Traveler CS – Exodus/Solare (Double LP)

5. Artist – Atom Cyber
DEADLIFE – City of Eternal Rain

4. Artist: Com Truise
Com Truise – In Decay, Too

3. Artist – STRNGR / Andrew Tremblay
STRNGR – Bumping Uglies

2. Artist – Luca Carey
Dan Terminus – Last Call For All Passengers

1. Artist – Andrew Walker / @designsince86
Hotel Pools – Still

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 Sythnwave Album Art of 2020

This is one of the heaviest albums I’ve heard in some time, with Gregorio Franco’s signature blend of synthmetal and darksynth turned up to 11. with some of the most intense tracks he’s ever produced, Gregorio Franco is now easily rivaling many current hardcore metal acts.

“JUDGEMENT” sounds like weaponized hatred, fueled with distilled hellfire and malice. It’s as oppressive as a ethereal hydraulic press on your soul. Whatever Gregorio Franco has been drinking would kill a hundred normal men. If you’re a fan of MASTER BOOT RECORD, or IRVING FORCE – this album is for you.

Grab a listen here now!

The “VirtuaVerse OST” differs from MBR’s main albums, of course, as it is an OST. Some who might find MBR’s main body of work to be a bit overwhelming will likely love the “VirtuaVerse OST,” which dials down the intensity a bit in favor of a more lush, cinematic sound.

In spite of this, the tracks here are still filled with many of the fantastic aspects of his full-length album releases. The ability to change gears while still staying true to his expertly cultivated sound is a testament to MBR’s musicianship, and just like “Floppy Disc Overdrive,” The VirtuaVerse OST” is not a release you want to miss!

Grab VirtuaVerse Here on Steam  – or Grab it here on Gog!

Listen to the VirtuaVerse OST here now!

“FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE” is an exercise in sheer brilliance, providing an evolution of the MBR sound into a more robust and well rounded aesthetic than ever before.

By combining MBR’s signature synth guitar and crunched chiptune sound with new clean synth guitars, a mixture of baroque, romantic, and bay area thrash influences, “FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE” has achieved a truly fantastic and innovative sound that is pushing the envelope of the metal genre and simultaneously darksynth and cyberpunk genres to their limit. This combination of influences makes for a very hard listen that never becomes tedious or grating.

With more variation in track length and progressive composition, MBR has also shattered the circuit board ceiling he had been pressing against with his previous, shorter but also amazing release “INTERNET PROTOCOL.”

In short, “FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE” is one of those rare albums which acts to permanently change the state current musical achievement – setting the bar a little higher than ever before in truly grandiose fashion.

Listen here now!

It is also worth noting that MBR has another project coming up in the form of the soundtrack to a retro-futuristic cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game entitled “VirtuaVerse.” Out May 12th! 

*** “A resident of Italy, MBR has recently been in the midst of one of the most severe outbreaks of COVID-19.  With this terrible situation as a backdrop, “FLOPPY DISK OVERDRIVE” was released, adding another certain historical context for this record we would be remiss overlook. While we at NRW do not endorse any particular charity, if it within your power to do so, please try to find a way you’re personally comfortable with to donate to the victims of this ongoing crisis.”  – Andrew Zistler

Every week on Friday afternoon we will be bringing you five of our favorite recent synth tracks. From outrun to darksynth, we have your weekend covered with our Weekly Selection! Check out our first picks below, in no particular order:

Michael Oakley – Left Behind



Florida Skyline – Turning 10 Again

OSC – Boys on Boards

Boys On Boards by OSC

Master Boot Record – IRC

INTERNET PROTOCOL by MASTER BOOT RECORD

Kalax – Out of Time

What really sets “INTERNET PROTOCOL” apart is the pure virtuosity of the musicianship – some of these melodies and interludes would feel more familiar placed in one of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos than on a next-generation metal album. There are also wider, slower, more ambient sections of tracks that work perfectly in counterpoint. The result is incredible.

The only downside to this album is the length – which left me thirsting for more.

Grab a listen here now!

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