From nature worship to screaming, Mawiza’s singer/guitarist shares the metal and Mapuche music that’s shaped him

Rat City Rockers TEE PEE

Mike Patton and the Avett Brothers join forces to create a work of immense beauty.

The New Delhi boys dished out some spicy nu metal – with a side order of Babymetal

Their ‘ecstatic black metal’ tag might split opinion, but the LA crew celebrated joy as an act of defiance

Featuring tributes to curry and fantasy battles involving… rats?! here are all the records our critics loved this year