Well it’s been another amazing year for music with a whole host of superb albums having been released. Given the quality on offer this was a particularly difficult top 10 to pick. Therefore, it’s only right to give a shout out to the likes of Monolord, Everest Queen, Torche, Latitudes, Workshed, Gevaudan, Crypt Sermon, Dark Throne and Tides From Nebula who all also released absolute bangers this year.
So with no further ado, here are my top 10 albums of the year in reverse order – enjoy!
10 – Gatecreeper – Deserted
There’s seems to me to be a real resurgence in death metal at the moment and Arizona’s Gatecreeper are right at the forefront of this! On Deserted Gatecreeper have developed their sound further from their superb debut album Sonoran Depravation, introducing more variety and a bit more melody in the process. UK tour dates cannot come quick enough!
9 – Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – Yn Ol L Annwn
MWWB continue to get better with every release! Building on the superb tracks that appeared on their Totems split with Slomatics, their third album and final part of the trilogy continues their sonic progression in fine style. The now familiar huge riffs are now complemented even more so by the atmospheric synth/keyboards provided by Jessica, to provide superb moments of cosmic light and shade throughout. The magnificent Katyusha is one of my fave tracks of the year and I can’t wait to see how they evolve on album number 4!
8 – Spirit Adrift – Divided by Darkness
Moving further away from their doom roots and introducing more NWOBHM and thrash influences, Divided by Darkness is Spirit Adrift’s most complete and accessible work to date. Whilst there are nods throughout to legends such as Metallica, Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, Divided By Darkness sounds like a thoroughly modern heavy metal record that rightfully deserves all the plaudits that it’s receiving. I look forward with baited breath to their appearance at Desertfest in London next year.
7 – Curse These Metal Hands – Curse These Metal Hands
How could a group consisting of members of the mighty Conjurer and Pijn not be anything but fantastic?! Initially formed for a one-off set at ArcTanGent in 2018, CTMH’s offer up four tracks of anthemic metal brilliance. Whilst comparisons have rightly been made to the likes of Baroness and Mastodon, this record has far more to offer than that and as an overall piece of work is a gorgeous slab of post metal splendour.
6 – Ithaca – The Language of Injury
Ithaca’s debut album is a furious slab of political hardcore fury. Released on the renowned Holy Roar Records, The Language of Injury is just reward for the hard work put in by the band to date on 2 EP’s and countless live dates. Rather than a straight-up HC album, what Ithaca serve up here is a refreshing blend of vicious mathy metal, melodic hardcore, punk rage and so much more. Without a doubt this is the debut album of the year.
5 – Pelican – Nighttime Stories
Six years after the release of previous album Forever Becoming, Pelican have well and truly reclaimed their throne as kings of the riff on Nighttime Stories. From the off this album is a noticeably heavier and darker affair than its predecessor, which is no surprise given the tragic event that influenced its writing. The closing double whammy of Arteries of Blacktop and Full Moon, Black Water showcase Pelican at their best and are 2 more of my fave tracks of the year. Having seen Pelican play most of this album live in October, it was great to see that the songs translated superbly well in the live environment too.
4 – Employed To Serve – Eternal Forward Motion
A lot was expected from ETS on their debut album for Spinefarm Records and it’s fair to say that they did not disappoint! Eternal Forward Motion is chock full of memorable moments and riffs, whilst introducing a new injection of groove amongst the hardcore fury. This is most definitely a record for the current time and having just seen ETS play a blinder whilst supporting Bury Tomorrow at the Camden Roundhouse it’s apparent that their upward trajectory will continue apace!
3 – Cult of Luna – A Dawn To Fear
CoL are one of my favourite bands so I always look forward to the release of a new album with a slight sense of trepidation. However, as always I had nothing to fear as A Dawn To Fear (their first for Metal Blade Records) is another post metal masterpiece. Clocking in at an epic 79 minutes long, the 8 tracks on this record are CoL’s most ambitious and progressive to date. CoL have an uncanny ability to create both beautiful and devastatingly brutal cinematic soundscapes, which this album perfectly exemplifies. Their recent sold out gig at the Electric Ballroom in Camden was one of the gigs of the year with new tracks such as Nightwalkers and Lights on the Hill being absolute highlights of the set.
2 – Slomatics – Canyons
2019 marked 15 years since Slomatics were formed in Belfast. In that time the threesome of Marty (drums and vocals), Chris and Dave (both guitars) have released an impressive array of 7 inch singles, EP’s and albums on labels such as Black Bow Records, Head of Crom and Burning World records. Canyons is an incredibly worthy anniversary release that follows on the more expansive path laid by their Totems split with MWWB. In particular the increased use of synths is a great juxtaposition to their now customary crushing downtuned riffs, which gives the album an overall space rock feel at times. This is undoubtedly Slomatics best release to date and one that the band should be suitably proud of! They also just happen to be 3 of the nicest guys that you could meet!
1 – Russian Circles – Blood Year
The sign of a great album is one that you find yourself returning back to time and time again. Since the release of Blood Year in August this has been my go to record on a frequent basis and has kept me company on many a train journey to and from work. Whilst Blood Year comes across as a heavier and moodier album overall, it includes Russian Circle’s usual expansive and ethereal sound that progressively builds as each track unfolds. The production on this album is superb and allows each instrument to shine at the right time. Closing track Quartered is the heaviest track on the album and an absolute piece de resistance that rounds off things in perfect riff drenched manner.
Jules Throne 