Aesop Rock - Skelethon

The chorus sums up why Skelethon sits comfortably with his best albums: "Take the brain out / Leave the heart in."
These beats are bespoke. The rapping has never been better either, with the music tailored to wring maximum tension out of each bar.

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Staggering record from the legends. Geddy Lee's vocals are fantastic throughout, and the playing, of course, is unparalleled in monster musicianship.
How do these guys do it? And Carnies is a wicked song; I don't care what anyone says. "A Wheel of Fate, A Game of CHANCE!" WAH WAH WAH wah wah ... and that thunderous drum groove. Peart's steampunk sci-fi world and the lyrics are fantastic, as well. I'm gonna get my nerd on and get the novel by Keven J. Anderson in September, fer sure.

Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage

If you like raw, emotional and technical metal, it does not come close to as good as this. I can't stop listening to it. I can imagine it would be even more impressive live...