Today we’re happy to publish the results of the 5th annual Listener’s Choice poll, hosted by the Post-rock Facebook page, which has reached out to the fans and returned with an overview of what most compelled them this year. It should be pointed out that this is not an attempt to place artists in competition with one another, but simply to compile a strong list of releases in one place, giving readers the opportunity to both revel in their favorites and discover material they may have missed to this point.

Readers may notice that not all of the artists on this list are strictly post-rock. Instead, the polls are run to broaden our view to musicians who feature post-rock elements and therefore may have an appeal for fans of the genre.

You may notice three themes while combing through this list. First, as is to be expected, the more established artists receive a large share of the votes. Easy as it may be to roll one’s eyes at this, what it does is help to give an indicator of which well-known acts put their best foot forward with their newest material. Second, there are bands who have been around for a while that took major strides forward in 2016 – bands like Lost in Kiev, Meniscus, Pray For Sound and more have certainly made a case this year that they deserve to be in the conversation when it comes to top-of-the-line bands. Third, there are new artists who made significant statements right out of the gate. In particular, you’ll find that both Signal From Europa and Tom’s Story got their feet in their door in emphatic fashion, with their first LPs both landing in the 20’s.

Huge thanks to the Post-rock Facebook page and 14,374 fans who took part in this process, for supporting the kinds of compelling alternative music that we cover here at Arctic Drones. We hope you enjoy The 50 Best Releases of 2016, and that it leads you on a path to even more discoveries.

Words by David Zeidler

(1) RUSSIAN CIRCLES – GUIDANCE

Guidance by Russian Circles



HOME TOWN: Chicago, Illinois, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 2266 votesHOME TOWN: Chicago, Illinois, United StatesMORE INFO:

(2) IF THESE TREES COULD TALK – THE BONES OF A DYING WORLD

The Bones of a Dying World by If These Trees Could Talk



HOME TOWN: Akron, Ohio, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 2212 votesHOME TOWN: Akron, Ohio, United StatesMORE INFO:

(3) EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY – THE WILDERNESS

The Wilderness by Explosions in the Sky



HOME TOWN: Austin, Texas, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 2204 votesHOME TOWN: Austin, Texas, United StatesMORE INFO:

(4) MOGWAI – ATOMIC

Atomic by Mogwai



HOME TOWN: Glasgow, Scotland

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1971 votesHOME TOWN: Glasgow, ScotlandMORE INFO:

(5) MONO – REQUIEM FOR HELL

Requiem For Hell by MONO



HOME TOWN: Tokyo, Japan

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1937 votesHOME TOWN: Tokyo, JapanMORE INFO:

(6) SWANS – THE GLOWING MAN

The Glowing Man by Swans



HOME TOWN: New York, New York, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1615 votesHOME TOWN: New York, New York, United StatesMORE INFO:

(7) 65DAYSOFSTATIC – NO MAN’S SKY: MUSIC FOR AN INFINITE UNIVERSE



HOME TOWN: Sheffield, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Soundcloud || Facebook 1327 votesHOME TOWN: Sheffield, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(8) CULT OF LUNA & JULIE CHRISTMAS – MARINER

Mariner by Cult Of Luna & Julie Christmas



HOME TOWN: Umeå, Sweden

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1268 votesHOME TOWN: Umeå, SwedenMORE INFO:

(9) YNDI HALDA – UNDER SUMMER

Under Summer by yndi halda



HOME TOWN: Canterbury, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1167 votesHOME TOWN: Canterbury, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(10) TIDES FROM NEBULA – SAFEHAVEN

Safehaven by Tides From Nebula



HOME TOWN: Warsaw, Poland

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1009 votesHOME TOWN: Warsaw, PolandMORE INFO:

(11) ALCEST – KODAMA

Kodama by Alcest



HOME TOWN: Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 1002 votesHOME TOWN: Bagnols-sur-Cèze, FranceMORE INFO:

(12) CASPIAN – CASTLES HIGH, MARBLE BRIGHT

Castles High, Marble Bright by Caspian



HOME TOWN: Beverly, Massachusetts, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 998 votesHOME TOWN: Beverly, Massachusetts, United StatesMORE INFO:

(13) PG.LOST – VERSUS

Ikaros by pg.lost



HOME TOWN: Norrköping, Sweden

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 978 votesHOME TOWN: Norrköping, SwedenMORE INFO:

(14) NEUROSIS – FIRES WITHIN FIRES

Fires Within Fires by Neurosis



HOME TOWN: Oakland, California

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 974 votesHOME TOWN: Oakland, CaliforniaMORE INFO:

(15) HAMMOCK – EVERYTHING AND NOTHING

Everything and Nothing by Hammock



HOME TOWN: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 925 votesHOME TOWN: Nashville, Tennessee, United StatesMORE INFO:

(16) LOST IN KIEV – NUIT NOIRE

Nuit Noire by Lost In Kiev



HOME TOWN: Paris, France

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 896 votesHOME TOWN: Paris, FranceMORE INFO:

(17) JAMBINAI – A HERMITAGE

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HOME TOWN: Seoul, South Korea

MORE INFO: Itunes || Facebook 873 votesHOME TOWN: Seoul, South KoreaMORE INFO:

(18) TOTORRO – COME TO MEXICO

Come To Mexico by Totorro



HOME TOWN: Rennes, France

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 836 votesHOME TOWN: Rennes, FranceMORE INFO:

(19) SUMAC – WHAT ONE BECOMES

What One Becomes by SUMAC



HOME TOWN: PNW, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 800 votesHOME TOWN: PNW, United StatesMORE INFO:

(20) MENISCUS – REFRACTIONS

Refractions by meniscus



HOME TOWN: Sydney, Australia

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 776 votesHOME TOWN: Sydney, AustraliaMORE INFO:

(21) BLUENECK – THE OUTPOST

The Outpost by Blueneck



HOME TOWN: Bristol, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 770 votesHOME TOWN: Bristol, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(22) ENEMIES – VALUABLES

Valuables by Enemies



HOME TOWN: Wicklow, Ireland

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 748 votesHOME TOWN: Wicklow, IrelandMORE INFO:

(23) TORTOISE – THE CATASTROPHIST

The Catastrophist by Tortoise



HOME TOWN: Chicago, Illinois, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 716 votesHOME TOWN: Chicago, Illinois, United StatesMORE INFO:

(24) INDIGNU [LAT.] – OPHELIA

Ophelia by indignu [lat.]



HOME TOWN: Barcelos, Portugal

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 702 votesHOME TOWN: Barcelos, PortugalMORE INFO:

(25) PRAY FOR SOUND – EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL

Everything Is Beautiful by Pray for Sound



HOME TOWN: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 688 votesHOME TOWN: Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesMORE INFO:

(26) SIGNAL FROM EUROPA – DUSTY MONUMENTS

Dusty Monuments by Signal From Europa



HOME TOWN: Gdańsk, Poland

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 656 votesHOME TOWN: Gdańsk, PolandMORE INFO:

(27) TOM’S STORY – TOM’S STORY

Tom’s Story by Tom’s Story



HOME TOWN: Manila, Philippines

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 620 votesHOME TOWN: Manila, PhilippinesMORE INFO:

(28) SLEEP DEALER – AURORA

Aurora by Sleep Dealer



HOME TOWN: Moscow, Russia

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 592 votesHOME TOWN: Moscow, RussiaMORE INFO:

(29) OVERHEAD, THE ALBATROSS – LEARNING TO GROWL

Learning To Growl by Overhead, The Albatross



HOME TOWN: Dublin, Ireland

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 577 votesHOME TOWN: Dublin, IrelandMORE INFO:

(30) LITE – CUBIC

Cubic (5th Album) by LITE



HOME TOWN: Tokyo, Japan

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 561 votesHOME TOWN: Tokyo, JapanMORE INFO:

(31) JARDÍN DE LA CROIX – CIRCADIA

Circadia by Jardín de la Croix



HOME TOWN: Madrid, Spain

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 554 votesHOME TOWN: Madrid, SpainMORE INFO:

(32) THE ILLS – ORNAMENTAL OR MENTAL

Ornamental Or Mental by The Ills



HOME TOWN: Bratislava, Slovakia

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 549 votesHOME TOWN: Bratislava, SlovakiaMORE INFO:

(33) SHINIGAMI – THE GREEN EP



HOME TOWN: Japan

MORE INFO: Itunes || Facebook 547 votesHOME TOWN: JapanMORE INFO:

(34) FALL OF MESSIAH – EMPTY COLORS

EMPTY COLORS by FALL OF MESSIAH



HOME TOWN: Saint Jans Cappel, France

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 526 votesHOME TOWN: Saint Jans Cappel, FranceMORE INFO:

(35) PEOPLE AS PLACES AS PEOPLE – FOR THE TIME BEING

For the Time Being by People As Places As People



HOME TOWN: Halifax, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 518 votesHOME TOWN: Halifax, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(36) SAGOR SOM LEDER MOT SLUTET – SAGOR SOM LEDER MOT SLUTET

Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet by Sagor Som Leder Mot Slutet



HOME TOWN: Malmö, Sweden

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 505 votesHOME TOWN: Malmö, SwedenMORE INFO:

(37) AU REVOIR – VELES

Veles by Au Revoir



HOME TOWN: New Jersey, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 481 votesHOME TOWN: New Jersey, United StatesMORE INFO:

(38) SHIPWRECK KARPATHOS – BRING DOWN THE SKY

Bring Down The Sky by Shipwreck Karpathos



HOME TOWN: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 463 votesHOME TOWN: Indianapolis, Indiana, United StatesMORE INFO:

(39) KOKOMO – MONOCHROME NOISE LOVE

Monochrome Noise Love by kokomo



HOME TOWN: Duisburg, Germany

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 445 votesHOME TOWN: Duisburg, GermanyMORE INFO:

(40) SEAS OF YEARS – THE EVER SHIFTING FIELDS

The Ever Shifting Fields by Seas of Years



HOME TOWN: Stockholm, Sweden

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 443 votesHOME TOWN: Stockholm, SwedenMORE INFO:

(41) THREE TRAPPED TIGERS – SILENT EARTHLING



HOME TOWN: London, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 424 votesHOME TOWN: London, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(42) MOUTH OF THE ARCHITECT – PATH OF EIGHT

Path of Eight by Mouth of the Architect



HOME TOWN: Dayton, Ohio, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 420 votesHOME TOWN: Dayton, Ohio, United StatesMORE INFO:

(43) SHOW ME A DINOSAUR – SHOW ME A DINOSAUR

Show Me A Dinosaur by Show Me A Dinosaur



HOME TOWN: Saint Petersburg, Russia

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 402 votesHOME TOWN: Saint Petersburg, RussiaMORE INFO:

(44) COASTLANDS – TO BE FOUND

To be found by Coastlands



HOME TOWN: Portland, Oregon, United States

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 400 votesHOME TOWN: Portland, Oregon, United StatesMORE INFO:

(45) WANG WEN – SWEET HOME, GO!

Sweet Home, Go by Wang Weng



HOME TOWN: Dalian, China

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 391 votesHOME TOWN: Dalian, ChinaMORE INFO:

(46) IMMANU EL – HIBERNATION



HOME TOWN: Stockholm, Sweden

MORE INFO: Website || Facebook 375 votesHOME TOWN: Stockholm, SwedenMORE INFO:

(47) BOSSK – AUDIO NOIR

Audio Noir by Bossk



HOME TOWN: Ashford, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 359 votesHOME TOWN: Ashford, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(48) TE’ – 『閾』



HOME TOWN: Tokyo, Japan

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 359 votesHOME TOWN: Tokyo, JapanMORE INFO:

(49) CODE I – PHOSPHENIA

Phosphenia by Code I



HOME TOWN: Nottingham, United Kingdom

MORE INFO: Bandcamp || Facebook 351 votesHOME TOWN: Nottingham, United KingdomMORE INFO:

(50) WE WERE HEADING NORTH – WE WERE HEADING NORTH

we were heading north by we were heading north