It's an eclectic week of surprise drops as Hayley Williams' second solo release and Loathe's experimental ambient project are put under the microscope along with UK punks Drones, it's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominee Time, and Album Club turns to Nile's Annihilation of the Wicked for an ancient Egyptian masterclass.

It's a massive show as Foo Fighters top the album reviews along with Cult of Luna and The Ruins of Beverast, Album Club ponders whether Mindless Self Indulgence are the godfathers of crunkcore, we address the Marilyn Manson abuse allegations story along with happier news elsewhere, and the new That's Not Metal Patreon is launched and outlined at patreon.com/thatsnotmetal. This show has always and will always be for you. Thank you for coming with us.

Weezer's OK Human arrives in album reviews along with praise for Tribulation and Portrayal of Guilt, we book an imagined returning Ghostfest, and Album Club explores the greater depth and dexterity of Evanescence's overlooked second album The Open Door.

TNM weighs up what the cancellation of Glastonbury 2021 might mean for the UK festival calendar, Frank Iero and the Future Violence, Asphyx, and Bloody Hammers are up in reviews, and Album Club looks at pop punk superstars' moment of maturity with Blink-182's untitled record.

It's the first reviews week of 2021. Power metal bands are in open rebellion against the US government. The Dirty Nil, Frozen Soul, and You Me At Six are up in reviews, there are new AFI singles to talk about, and Album Club explores what made Alexi Laiho such a one-off with Children of Bodom's Hatebreeder.

We close our 2021 preview with the metal, tackling:

Architects
While She Sleeps
Gojira
Mastodon
Iron Maiden
System of a Down
Cradle of Filth
At the Gates
Cannibal Corpse
Carcass
Deafheaven
Cult of Luna
Employed to Serve
Conjurer
Venom Prison
Vein
Spiritbox
Bleeding Through
Rammstein
Fear Factory
Megadeth
Kreator
Rob Zombie
King Diamond/Mercyful Fate
Jinjer
Converge
Machine Head
Nails
& more

We look forward to 2021 with the first part of our rock & metal preview, discussing some of the following bands:

Ghost
A Day to Remember
Every Time I Die
Foo Fighters
Weezer
Against Me!
Greta Van Fleet
Turnstile
Red Hot Chili Peppers
AFI
Nine Inch Nails
Evanescence
Papa Roach
Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes
Beartooth
Black Veil Brides
Halestorm
Billy Talent
Rise Against
The Interrupters
Marmozets
The Xcerts
Black Peaks
Holding Absence
Salem/Creeper
Perturbator
VV
Guns N Roses
My Chemical Romance

It's Christmas, so Perran, Sam & Alec take a sit back for a more casual episode running through your questions, festive, musical, or comical.

The TNM Awards are back for 2020 with:
Most Improved Band
Song of the Year
Worst Song of the Year
Hero of the Year
Villain of the Year
Best New Band
Most Disappointing Album
Gig of the Year / Livestream of the Year
EP of the Year
Artwork of the Year
Movie of the Year
Comeback of the Year
Surprise of the Year
Outstanding Achievement
Worst Band of the Year
Unsung Heroes
Story of the Year
Band of the Year

The Album of the Year celebrations roll on as Perran is joined by two new That's Not Metal co-hosts.