2019 has proven that the worlds of rock, metal and alternative music are in a very good place as compiling a list of the top 20 albums of the year as been near impossible. There are countless albums I have had to omit from my list and it was very tough to do so. To those foolhardy people who say that there is no good new music I say please stop living in the past, get off your arses and get listening to some bands as there is a whole world of music out there now more accessible than ever. Anyway enough ranting (for once) here are the 20 albums that tickled my eardrums the best in 2019.
20 - In Mourning - Garden Of Storms
Sweden’s In Mourning are a band that bridge together melodic death metal and progressive metal in exquisite style sounding somewhat like a cross between Insomnium and Opeth but with their own unique stamp.
19 - Exhorder - Mourn The Southern Skies
After a 27 year gap New Orleans groove thrashers returned with an album and one that was well worth the wait. Imagine if Bay Area thrash meets NOLA groove and this album is the result.
18 - Twilight Force - Dawn Of The Dragonstar
The second Swedish entry and this time it is completely silly and over the top symphonic power metal. These guys know what they do is ridiculous but completely play up to that. A brilliantly ridiculous and fun album.
17 - Lacrimas Profundere - Bleeding The Stars
After years of mediocre gothic metal albums Germany’s Lacrimas Profundere finally got some inspiration and returned to their original death doom sound albeit mixed with a modern gothic metal sheen. Atmospheric and melancholic this is a great listen for those who like their music laden with misery.
16 - Swallow The Sun - When A Shadow Is Forced Into Light
Another album of sadness and melancholy Swallow The Sun delivered another fantastic album of their trademark FInnish misery and it was as mesmerizing as ever with some of the strongest material the band have ever released.
15 - Possessed - No More Room In Hell
2019 seemed to be a year of long awaited returns and this was one of the most anticipated by the old school death metallers and thrashers. 33 years since their last album and Bay Area death metal pioneers returned with an absolutely killer album of pure old school rage.
14 - Soilwork - Verklightenen
Three points for Sweden as Soilwork returned with their 11th album and one that seamlessly mixed their melodic death metal origins with their later streamlined alternative metal sound resulting in an album that was equally furious but catchy as hell.
13 - Nordjevel - Necrogenesis
This comment is going to ruffle the feathers of a good few black metal fans but I think black metal works best when there is an injection of melody into the sound and Nordjevel manage to do this such thing whilst never sacrificing the aggression of their music. An absolutely fantastic black metal album.
12 - Soen - Lotus
Featuring ex-Opeth drummer Martin Lopez Soen seem to get better and better with each release. Previous album Lykaia blew me away but Lotus managed to do the nigh on impossible and improve on it. A sublime album of progressive metal.
11 - Imperium Dekadenz - When We Are Forgotten
This is such a well rounded and multi-faceted black metal release that is deeply atmospheric and deeply melodic whilst stretching the genre in multiple directions. This blew me away when I first heard it and continues to do so. Easily the best album Imperium Dekadenz have done to date.
10 - Borknagar - True North
Album number 11 from these Norwegian progressive black metal legends see the band continue in the fine form established on previous album Winter Thrice and manage to surpass it. Colossally epic and deeply moving this is one of Borknagar’s finest albums.
9 - Evergrey - The Atlantic
Another point for Sweden for the 11th album by the dark melodic metallers. This album is a definite grower as I wasn’t completely enamoured on the first listen but after a second listen and I kept finding songs I constantly wanted to revisit. Following a divorce frontman Thomas Englund has put together some of the most heart wrenching songs that Evergrey have ever done.
8 - Insomnium - Heart Like A Grave
More Finnish misery with the 8th album by the melodic death metal band. Insomnium are a band that have never put a foot out of place with an incredibly strong back catalogue and Heart Like A Grave is no exception. A wonderful album of dark forlorn melodic death metal.
7 - Disillusion - The Liberation
Another band who made a long awaited return and after 13 years The Liberation was truly worth the wait. Prog heavy melodic death metal written and performed to a ridiculously high standard. This album had my jaw agape in wonder. Very much hoping I get to see Disillusion perform live in the near future.
6 - Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear
I took me a little while to fully appreciate Cult Of Luna but now that I am finally there I can easily say that A Dawn To Fear is one of their finest works. Dark and atmospheric with an almost cinematic scale in sound this is a truly wondrous piece of music.
20 - In Mourning - Garden Of Storms
Sweden’s In Mourning are a band that bridge together melodic death metal and progressive metal in exquisite style sounding somewhat like a cross between Insomnium and Opeth but with their own unique stamp.
19 - Exhorder - Mourn The Southern Skies
After a 27 year gap New Orleans groove thrashers returned with an album and one that was well worth the wait. Imagine if Bay Area thrash meets NOLA groove and this album is the result.
18 - Twilight Force - Dawn Of The Dragonstar
The second Swedish entry and this time it is completely silly and over the top symphonic power metal. These guys know what they do is ridiculous but completely play up to that. A brilliantly ridiculous and fun album.
17 - Lacrimas Profundere - Bleeding The Stars
After years of mediocre gothic metal albums Germany’s Lacrimas Profundere finally got some inspiration and returned to their original death doom sound albeit mixed with a modern gothic metal sheen. Atmospheric and melancholic this is a great listen for those who like their music laden with misery.
16 - Swallow The Sun - When A Shadow Is Forced Into Light
Another album of sadness and melancholy Swallow The Sun delivered another fantastic album of their trademark FInnish misery and it was as mesmerizing as ever with some of the strongest material the band have ever released.
15 - Possessed - No More Room In Hell
2019 seemed to be a year of long awaited returns and this was one of the most anticipated by the old school death metallers and thrashers. 33 years since their last album and Bay Area death metal pioneers returned with an absolutely killer album of pure old school rage.
14 - Soilwork - Verklightenen
Three points for Sweden as Soilwork returned with their 11th album and one that seamlessly mixed their melodic death metal origins with their later streamlined alternative metal sound resulting in an album that was equally furious but catchy as hell.
13 - Nordjevel - Necrogenesis
This comment is going to ruffle the feathers of a good few black metal fans but I think black metal works best when there is an injection of melody into the sound and Nordjevel manage to do this such thing whilst never sacrificing the aggression of their music. An absolutely fantastic black metal album.
12 - Soen - Lotus
Featuring ex-Opeth drummer Martin Lopez Soen seem to get better and better with each release. Previous album Lykaia blew me away but Lotus managed to do the nigh on impossible and improve on it. A sublime album of progressive metal.
11 - Imperium Dekadenz - When We Are Forgotten
This is such a well rounded and multi-faceted black metal release that is deeply atmospheric and deeply melodic whilst stretching the genre in multiple directions. This blew me away when I first heard it and continues to do so. Easily the best album Imperium Dekadenz have done to date.
10 - Borknagar - True North
Album number 11 from these Norwegian progressive black metal legends see the band continue in the fine form established on previous album Winter Thrice and manage to surpass it. Colossally epic and deeply moving this is one of Borknagar’s finest albums.
9 - Evergrey - The Atlantic
Another point for Sweden for the 11th album by the dark melodic metallers. This album is a definite grower as I wasn’t completely enamoured on the first listen but after a second listen and I kept finding songs I constantly wanted to revisit. Following a divorce frontman Thomas Englund has put together some of the most heart wrenching songs that Evergrey have ever done.
8 - Insomnium - Heart Like A Grave
More Finnish misery with the 8th album by the melodic death metal band. Insomnium are a band that have never put a foot out of place with an incredibly strong back catalogue and Heart Like A Grave is no exception. A wonderful album of dark forlorn melodic death metal.
7 - Disillusion - The Liberation
Another band who made a long awaited return and after 13 years The Liberation was truly worth the wait. Prog heavy melodic death metal written and performed to a ridiculously high standard. This album had my jaw agape in wonder. Very much hoping I get to see Disillusion perform live in the near future.
6 - Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear
I took me a little while to fully appreciate Cult Of Luna but now that I am finally there I can easily say that A Dawn To Fear is one of their finest works. Dark and atmospheric with an almost cinematic scale in sound this is a truly wondrous piece of music.
5 - Cellar Darling - The Spell
Featuring ex-members of Eluveitie, Swiss band Cellar Darling perform a mesmerising mix of folk and progressive metal. Their debut album was great but they have really come into their own on second album The Spell which is a concept album about falling in love with the embodiment of death. Truly brilliant stuff and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
4 - The Offering - Home
Like many I was gutted when Nevermore called it a day but along have come a band that have the spirit of Nevermore but with an ever more eclectic sound. I give you The Offering and their debut album Home. There is so much going on throughout this album and so many different sound and influences that it shouldn’t work but The Offering manage to pull all these different elements together to produce a masterclass in heavy music.
3 - Equilibrium - Renegades
This is truly an album that has divided a fanbase. Equilibrium are known for being a folk metal band but on Renegades they have gone a different direction and produced a very contemporary sound metal release with elements of industrial, melodic death metal and alternative metal. I thought it was a brave move with marvellous payoff. I have the unpopular opinion that this is one of the best albums they have done. Whether this is a one off experiment or the direction the band will take now remains to be seen.
2 - Beast In Black - From Hell With Love
This album is fucking fun. So much fun. Power metal meets classic pop music meets the Rocky IV soundtrack. It is silly, over the top but so much fucking fun. These songs are utterly addictive and have been a frequent part of my playlist since the albums release. If you think heavy metal is all doom and gloom you seriously need to hear this. A heavy metal party soundtrack.
1 - Devin Townsend - Empath
There was only one clear winner and that had to be Heavy Devy and his quite frankly bonkers album Empath. Devin has taken the concept of genre and smashed it to pieces with an album which is all over the place yet completely cohesive and totally genius. This album allows Dev to fully retain his crown as the mad professor of metal.
Afterword
Narrowing the top albums of the year to a Top 20 list was an absolute bastard and there are some glaring omissions. I simply had to side with the albums which I have wanted to revisit the most. Some special mentions have to go to the bands who just narrowly missed the list - so apologies to Alcest, Blazon Stone, Candlemass, Leprous, Malevolent Creation, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Opeth and Thenighttimeproject. You were so damn close!
Featuring ex-members of Eluveitie, Swiss band Cellar Darling perform a mesmerising mix of folk and progressive metal. Their debut album was great but they have really come into their own on second album The Spell which is a concept album about falling in love with the embodiment of death. Truly brilliant stuff and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
4 - The Offering - Home
Like many I was gutted when Nevermore called it a day but along have come a band that have the spirit of Nevermore but with an ever more eclectic sound. I give you The Offering and their debut album Home. There is so much going on throughout this album and so many different sound and influences that it shouldn’t work but The Offering manage to pull all these different elements together to produce a masterclass in heavy music.
3 - Equilibrium - Renegades
This is truly an album that has divided a fanbase. Equilibrium are known for being a folk metal band but on Renegades they have gone a different direction and produced a very contemporary sound metal release with elements of industrial, melodic death metal and alternative metal. I thought it was a brave move with marvellous payoff. I have the unpopular opinion that this is one of the best albums they have done. Whether this is a one off experiment or the direction the band will take now remains to be seen.
2 - Beast In Black - From Hell With Love
This album is fucking fun. So much fun. Power metal meets classic pop music meets the Rocky IV soundtrack. It is silly, over the top but so much fucking fun. These songs are utterly addictive and have been a frequent part of my playlist since the albums release. If you think heavy metal is all doom and gloom you seriously need to hear this. A heavy metal party soundtrack.
1 - Devin Townsend - Empath
There was only one clear winner and that had to be Heavy Devy and his quite frankly bonkers album Empath. Devin has taken the concept of genre and smashed it to pieces with an album which is all over the place yet completely cohesive and totally genius. This album allows Dev to fully retain his crown as the mad professor of metal.
Afterword
Narrowing the top albums of the year to a Top 20 list was an absolute bastard and there are some glaring omissions. I simply had to side with the albums which I have wanted to revisit the most. Some special mentions have to go to the bands who just narrowly missed the list - so apologies to Alcest, Blazon Stone, Candlemass, Leprous, Malevolent Creation, Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Opeth and Thenighttimeproject. You were so damn close!