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10. Steve Balsamo – Chimpan A

Steve has such a smooth voice that it’s impossible not to pay attention. Add to that the other vocalists, Kirstie Roberts, Christina Booth, and Angharad Brinn, and Chimpan A’s latest becomes layered with terrific vocalists harmonizing and answering one another. On top of that, spoken word from Tony Dallas and Richard Mylan pours emotion over the whole experience.

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9. Jan Henrik Ohme – Gazpacho

Jan has an iconic voice. I honestly can’t think of anyone else who sounds like he does. I felt like his delivery was particularly fiery on Magic 8-Ball, hitting the right fervor and vibrancy needed for each track.

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8. Teresa Marraco – Antinoë

Teresa’s vocals are extremely warm and immersive, almost disappearing into the music at times. In that way, her vocals pull you under into the stream of consciousness that runs like a river through her new album The Fold.

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7. Marc Atkinson – Moon Halo

Marc’s voice is like honey for the soul, quite honestly. His performance on Moon Halo’s latest is both impressive and soothing, authentic as ever.

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6. Mariusz Duda – Lunatic Soul

Mariusz has long been one of my favorite vocalists, and I particularly liked his performance on the ballads strewn throughout The World Under Unsun. He has a way of drawing emotion out of every word.

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5. Cammie Beverly – solo

Everyone knows Cammie has a fantastic voice, and her debut solo record showcased it with extra emotion and potency. Telling her own stories added even more authenticity to her performance.

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4. Łukasz Dumara – Sublunar

Łukasz’s vocals are a major highlight on Sublunar’s latest. He has such artistic flair, but not too much. He is incredibly articulate, too, but without sounding rigid. It’s the little extra flourishes and slightly different pronunciations that really make his performance memorable.

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3. Sara Bianchin – Messa

Sara’s voice is larger-than-life at times. With the doomy darkness of Messa, her voice becomes a lighthouse, bright and soaring. Her upper range is truly haunting.

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2. Heike Langhans – Remina

Heike isn’t a flashy singer, but instead provides hovering melody and soulful intelligence. She absolutely is capable of technical feats, but Remina benefits greatly from her choice to remain melancholic, yet commanding; powerful, yet vulnerable.

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1. Lindsay Rose – Primrose Path

Lindsay was the top of this list before I even started making it. Her ability to provide both astonishing clean vocals and burning harsh vox makes for music that has all the grit, emotion, and heaviness we need. Towering above the darkness, almost theatrical but thoroughly grunge, Lindsay’s vocals are everything I look for in a metal singer.

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