Here's my top list of stuff you've likely not heard most of yet from this year (aside from Dance Gavin Dance of course) Lol
Not in order, although the first one is currently my favorite:
Warbringer- Weapons of Tomorrow. One hell of a thrash album with a couple of black metal-tinged epics on it.
Traveler- Termination Shock. Trad Heavy Metal from Calgary. Current favorite band, and this album is a big step in a cool direction compared to last year.
Solicitor- Spectral Devastation. One of my favorite female vocal performances ever. A blend of legit Speed and heavy metal.
Raider- Guardian of the Fire. Quite a punishing thrash metal record. Not far out of the stylings of Warbringer, but also maybe not as good as Warbringer overall.
Bone Church- Acid Communion. For fans of early Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi called and wants his riffs back! Also, he says to stop one-upping each riff! lol
Dance Gavin Dance- Afterburner. As expected, this one grew on me a lot, just like all the other later releases that didn't strike me as amazing on first few listens.
Ambush- Infidel. Another great Trad heavy metal record. Extremely basic drumming and overall songwriting approach, but it's sure a lot of fun.
Ironsword- Servants of Steel. This is a powerhouse of a barbarian themed heavy metal record. True metal for fans of Manilla Road.
Defeated Sanity- The Sanguinary Impetus. Probably the only technical brutal death metal record I'll put on my list. Drumming and riffing is mind-numbingly awesome.
Ripped to Shreds- Luan. Do you like old Entombed and other early Swedish original death metal bands, with a touch of early Death? Get it!
King Witch- Body of Light. My pick for best clean vocal performance of the year so far. She has a godly powerful voice.
Cirith Ungol- Forever Black. Admittedly, I hoped for more out of this record, but it's still a damn good trad/doom metal album with the band staying true to form.