Really in 2019 there wasn't going to be any argument, In Cauda Venenum is a majestic album from a band who have reinvented themselves into one of the most inventive acts on the current music scene. Released in both English and their native Swedish I would urge you listen to the album in Swedish first as this is how it was meant to be heard. Promoted by an extensive tour and glorious headline set at Damnation, In Cauda Venenum is the culmination of the Opeth transition that will see them headlining several festivals next year.
2. Wilderun - Veil Of Imagination
If you do miss the 'older' sound of Opeth though you could always check out Veil Of Imagination by Wilderun. A band who started out as folk metal act not too dissimilar to Amon Amarth, they really stepped up to another level on their third full length. Intensely progressive, devastatingly heavy and full of folk, jazz interludes, incredible vocals (those gorgeous clean/growl changes) it's everything you want Opeth to still be...if you don't like the new direction too much.
3. Dead Shed Jokers - All The Seasons
All The Seasons, the third album from Welsh wonders Dead Shed Jokers is probably their finest work, born out of mental health struggles, addiction, marital breakdown that may have ended most bands. DSJ channels these challenges into an album that is part Soundgarden, part Pearl Jam, part Kyuss with the introspection of Nick Cave but with a style all of it's own All The Seasons is the most emotive album of the year hands down.
All The Seasons, the third album from Welsh wonders Dead Shed Jokers is probably their finest work, born out of mental health struggles, addiction, marital breakdown that may have ended most bands. DSJ channels these challenges into an album that is part Soundgarden, part Pearl Jam, part Kyuss with the introspection of Nick Cave but with a style all of it's own All The Seasons is the most emotive album of the year hands down.
4. Wheel - Moving Backwards
One of the major surprises of the year was the debut of Wheel, yet again a prog band but full of heavy grooves. In a year where Tool finally released an album, the almost hypnotic nature of Moving Backwards not only reminds me of Tool, but to me does what they do far better. Live they bewitched us both at BOA and Damnation and hopefully they will do so again in Bristol in February. Where all of Moving Backwards will excite again.
5. Rotting Christ - The Heretics
The Greek black metal legends enter their 30th year with an album that blows the mediocre Rituals out of the war with the bands epic, vicious, well honed and defiant extreme metal sound the most focussed it's ever been. The Heretics is the sound of band who have never conformed at all still standing high above any others who would lay claim to their throne. Non Servium!
One of the major surprises of the year was the debut of Wheel, yet again a prog band but full of heavy grooves. In a year where Tool finally released an album, the almost hypnotic nature of Moving Backwards not only reminds me of Tool, but to me does what they do far better. Live they bewitched us both at BOA and Damnation and hopefully they will do so again in Bristol in February. Where all of Moving Backwards will excite again.
5. Rotting Christ - The Heretics
The Greek black metal legends enter their 30th year with an album that blows the mediocre Rituals out of the war with the bands epic, vicious, well honed and defiant extreme metal sound the most focussed it's ever been. The Heretics is the sound of band who have never conformed at all still standing high above any others who would lay claim to their throne. Non Servium!
6. Lord Dying - Mysterium Tremendum
Mysterium Tremendum serves as Portland psychedelic doom metal act Lord Dying's third album takes their sound into hyperspace, the four piece have sludge, stoner, doom and psych all wrapped up with space rock vibes, impressive soaring guitar solos and great vocals.
Mysterium Tremendum serves as Portland psychedelic doom metal act Lord Dying's third album takes their sound into hyperspace, the four piece have sludge, stoner, doom and psych all wrapped up with space rock vibes, impressive soaring guitar solos and great vocals.
7. The Offering - Home
I made no bones about why I loved this record. it sounds like Nevermore. A band who are one of my favourite bands ever, perfect vocals, gothic, heavy riffs and emotion throughout, Home reminds me of all the things I loved about Warrell Dane and Jeff Loomis' progressive metal mastery, yes they have their own style of course but it's the warmth they put in my heart why I love this band.
8. Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - Yn Ol I Annwn
Having been a supporter of the North Walian purveyors of all things heavy from their debut record, their 2019 effort is the most accomplished to date, adding layers of 80's synths on top of the crushing doom metal they have always done, it's the most accessible record to date but still melts your brain with every listen.
9. Idle Hands - Mana
I mentioned in the review of Mana that Idle Hands remind me of In Solitude and much like them Idle Hands merge sexy goth rock with NWOBHM galloping to brilliant effect, it's dark brooding but full of anthems, it''ll have you dancing until midnight.
10. High Command - Beyond The Wall Of Desolation
It takes a lot for me to put a thrash album in my top 20. Unlike a lot of my colleagues it's not a genre I've ever been a huge fan of however for me High Command's Beyond The Wall Of Desolation is probably one of the best thrash albums of the year with it's unrelenting mix of speedy crossover and bouncing metal riffage, it begs for pits!
It takes a lot for me to put a thrash album in my top 20. Unlike a lot of my colleagues it's not a genre I've ever been a huge fan of however for me High Command's Beyond The Wall Of Desolation is probably one of the best thrash albums of the year with it's unrelenting mix of speedy crossover and bouncing metal riffage, it begs for pits!
11. Eternal Storm - Come The Tide
Spanish progressive death metal act Eternal Storm brought the fury, swathes of orchestration bolster the blistering death metal sound for an album that has a cinematic scope to it. It knocked me for six as soon as I heard it, the album flows into itself perfectly with conceptual feel to it.
12. SiXforNinE - Parallel Universe
A change for Greek metal SiXforNinE who adapted their style into a more American-influenced metal style, adding massive chorus hooks and chunky riffs to the prog/classic rock sound on their debut. It took me a few listens to get into this record but once I did I found myself singing along on repeated listens.
13. Paladin - Ascension
If you love guitar wankery then buy Ascension by Paladin. It's galloping power metal played at lightspeed, the twin axe attack is unleashed on every song making for an album that just pips the new Dragonforce record for sheer silliness mainly due to the use of clean/harsh vocals and a heavier sound.
14. Krysthla - Worldwide Negative
The third album from heaviest band in the UK, saw them evolving into a band that opened the mainstage of BOA with a record that brought (gasp) clean vocals on top of the skull crushing riffs that they always have. With this record under their belt 2020 could be a big year.
15. The Neptune Power Federation - Memoirs Of A Rat Queen
Psychedelic cosmic blues rocking that merges AC/DC with Ghost while being fronted by Janis Joplin, it's wild, raucous and oh so trippy Memoirs Of A Rat Queen is whirling dervish of heavy rock riffs and rough and ready rock n roll.
16. Year Of The Goat - Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis
Something that stays in the occult realms is the latest from Year Of The Goat, a few years in the making this sinister, gothic masterpiece of an album. As Ghost were called the best metal act of the decade I'd argue that Year Of The Goat are probably more authentic to the gothic hard sound of BOC and Pentagram than the Tobias Forge etc. Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis proves this, as a hint play it on a full moon for full effect.
17. Wille & The Bandits - Paths
One of the first release reviewed in 2019 was one that hardly stayed off the music player since. An eclectic enticing mix of sounds that range from country, blues, grunge rock Wille & The Bandits put a lot of effort in their music with Wille Edwards raw Cornell-like voice and furious slide playing makes Paths a record I will keep going back to even into 2020, waiting with baited breath for a follow up.
18. Dragonforce - Extreme Power Metal
Extreme Power Metal is everything Dragonforce is known for, insanely fast playing, high pitched vocals, blast beats galore and lyrics based around video games and fantasy. It's probably the best album they have released with Marc Hudson on the vocals, it's Dragonforce embracing their musical past while looking forward to the future without giving a shit about fashions or detractors.
19. Stonecast - I, Earther
I, Earther is the third record from French metal band Stonecast and sounds so much like Blind Guardian it's untrue, from the vocals to the speed metal riffs I, Earther could be a lost BG album, though it's not a shameless pastiche but a very good metal album for any fans of the speed metal. One of the trad metal albums of 2019 and my favourite for sure.
20. Smoulder - Times Of Obscene Evil And Wild Daring
Epic doomsters Smolder are about as retro as it comes, songs of fantasy and warfare, powerful vocals and epic doom riffs. It smells of denim and leather so grab your broadsword and your dragon for Times Of Obscene Evil And Wild Daring.
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