The usual
prologue would be that no one can say that have listened to almost everything
that was released during 2019. Everyone who claims that is wrong, so we will
speak just for our favourite releases and the albums we enjoyed most in 2019.
The "best" albums of 2019 according to Crystal Logic.
Everything you
will read below, are releases that can be found in physical format.
"Releases" that were available only online, are not included. LORD OF
LIGHT's "Morningstar" is going to be released physically in 2020 and
the Spotify or YouTube tracks won't be added as an album in 2019. When this
amazing album will be released, it will definitely be among the best of the year,
but we're going to talk about it shortly...
There were few
more great "releases" that can be found online but cannot considered
"equal" to what we are talking about. For example, you can find on
YouTube only (not even bandcamp) SMITH & SWANSON "Sanctuaries"
that consists of three amazing songs in the vein of SEAMOUNT, HOUR OF 13 and
BLACK SABBATH, while there is also the case of HRMÜLJA and MAGNABOLT, but as
mentioned, let's just stick to what we're talking about.
I believe that
you need to check the physical format so you will have the complete experience
of an album, and not just having a quick listen on social networks, downloads
or whatever. We love that. And we love lists. Any kind of lists. We are posting
later than most media and websites our list, because there were so many great
albums released during December or even November and we needed to have a proper
listening. 2019 was not just more interesting than 2018 but it was probably one
of the best years of the decade. Especially for fans of Doom Metal.
1. CRYPT SERMON
"The Ruins of Fading Light"
(Dark Descent
Records)
We have a
winner. Along with their previous album ("Out of the Garden", 2015) we have the
greatest epic doom metal albums of the decade. That's a bold statement, I know
it, but that's already a classic. Nothing more to add. Number 1 is number 1.
Pure perfection. Black iron gnosis.
Check also:
SMOULDER "Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring". The Canadians
fronted by sword woman Sarah Kitteringham, nailed it with an album that is
balanced between epic metal, doom metal and pure passion. Sometimes, being a
fan yourself, is the greatest element to create and perform passionate music.
2. ATLANTEAN
KODEX "The Course of Empire"
(Ván Records)
We've been there
for ATLANTEAN KODEX since day one; the very beginning. The first time I saw
them live was at Up The Hammers festival 2010 and since then, many more times
followed in Greece and Germany.
The first time I
did an interview with the band was in 2011, before the second ATLANTEAN KODEX
show in Athens, organized by No Remorse Records and Iron on Iron. That
interview was done with Manuel Trummer for Cloak & Dagger 'zine (that
exists no more, and was operated by Elina Kefala, that became one of the
biggest supporters and friends of KODEX, "who reads the pathways of the
stars").
Since that old
interview can't be found anywhere anymore (online or printed) allow me to bring
on surface a short part:
A.A.: Distant
echoes from early MANOWAR, the Asatru period of BATHORY and writings of R.E.
Howard, bound among others, the ATLANTEAN KODEX ethos. All this concept that
steams from the Hidden Folk, is something that is part of your personality and
your beliefs? How do you see the modern man?
M.T.: Well, I
actually sometimes feel a little lost in this modern world. I often think that
this isn‘t really my time and place. There‘s a huge lack of spirituality, of
traditional ways of living and of identity in the modern world. Everything has
to be as efficient and fast as possible. But this also makes things very
superficial. "The Hidden Folk" is actually a very romantic song in a
way. The longing for a better and distant past (which probably never existed)
and the will to leave this world behind can be a huge emotional and atmospheric
force, which can really take you away to a distant place, away from modernity‘s
shackles.
A.A.: You
believe that the history of Europe, is a history of immigration, right? So,
there has to be a cultural diffusion of many different ideas and diversity. An
acceptance for all the different people of Europe of today. So how important
are the roots and the traditions for the man of 2011? And where do you draw a
line of where these roots start?
M.T.: This is an
interesting, but also a very difficult question. Where to draw the line? Let me
start like this: yes, the history of Europe is of course a history of
immigration. Everyone but the Basques, who were the first modern humans to
conquer Europe, 35.000 years ago, is an immigrant in these lands. Speaking of
Germany, the last 4000 years saw the last Stone Age people, they were driven to
the hills and forests by the Indo-European Celtic tribes. The Celts were
conquered by Roman troops, who dominated German lands from the Alps to the
North Sea coast for almost 300 years. Then again the Romans were driven back by
the barbarous Germanic tribes. Of course there were also the Slavs, who played
a lead role in medieval times in eastern Germany... Each of these tribes left
their marks on us as modern Germans, as well genetically, but most of all
culturally. I guess this shows how shallow and how short-sighted concepts like
"nation" or "race" really are. I consider myself a
European, looking back on 10000 years of European heritage, sharing history,
culture, genes and religion with my fellow Europeans from the boiling geysers
of Thule to the walls of Hagar Q‘im, from Albion‘s shores to Attica‘s white
temples. In a globalizing age, traditions are more important than ever. They
provide us with a means of orientation in these fast-moving and confusing
times. Family, home region ("Heimat" in German) and our European
heritage is what defines us, tradition is what unites us.
Manuel visited
more times Athens, not only for live shows. "The White Goddess" was
released, more live shows followed, Europe and society changes and eight years
later from that interview, I reached one more time Manuel and ATLANTEAN KODEX,
this time for an interview for Metal Hammer magazine (Greece). It is always a
pleasure to listen and read what bands like ATLANTEAN KODEX have to say about a
new album, music, the lack of knowledge in modern society, social media, and
tradition.
"The Course
of Empire" is a triumph. A classic album. And ATLANTEAN KODEX is a unique
band. It is not just about the music, but also the lyrics, the artworks, the
aesthetics, the atmosphere, the symbols and metaphors they use to transmute the
world.
3. IDLE HANDS
"Mana"
(Eisenwald)
From the first
moment I listened to IDLE HANDS when they privately released "Don't Waste
Your Time" EP, I was sure that this band is going to be huge. It is still
early, but after their first full-length album "Mana", it seems that
they can DO IT. They played nearly 100 gigs since the release of that EP and
that's a huge achievement. Actually it is a miracle, if you will think about it
deeper. "Mana" is a diverse album that sounds addictive, fresh and
original. A highlight of 2019. A highlight of the decade. Hopefully, this is
the beginning of a legend. Gabriel, prove me right!
Check also:
LUNAR SHADOW "The Smokeless Fires", ENFORCER "Zenith",
TANITH "In Another Time" and MOON CHAMBER "Lore of the
Land".
Diversity is the
magic word for the latest albums of LUNAR SHADOW and ENFORCER, but both of them
combine different elements.
Three years ago,
I did an interview with Max, guitarist and main composer of LUNAR SHADOW for
Iron Fist (UK) and he said, "We play epic and melancholic heavy metal with
tons of twin guitar leads. A strange amalgam of DISSECTION, WISHBONE ASH, old
IN FLAMES and JUDAS PRIEST", when he was asked to describe his music to
someone that is not familiar with the band. But his music is more than that.
JUDAS PRIEST brought him into heavy metal, but his music is something more,
something more personal. Loss, struggle, downfall... And then, you have the new
album.
"The
Smokeless Fires are our passions. The things that drive us one, deep within
ourselves. All the love, hate, ambition, sorrow, joy and despair. That’s what
all the songs on this album are about, in one way or another. It’s up to you to
find out in which ways", said Max at Metal Squadron (an excellent
interview you can read HERE). "The Smokeless Fires" is a personal album,
created at a period where Max was looking for something else than
"traditional heavy metal" and he came up with a diverse, emotional
and great album. And even if he doesn't really like IDLE HANDS,
"Roses" might be a song that connects these bands.
ENFORCER did
something different. They added more melody in their traditional heavy metal
and that worked really great. However, it seems that many fans didn't accept
that change, but the album has few amazing songs like "Zenith of the Black
Sun" (reminding Dio-era BLACK SABBATH), "The End of the
Universe" and "Forever We Worship the Dark". You can't write
similar songs every day...
MOON CHAMBER's
debut album was created by Marta Gabriel of CRYSTAL VIPER on vocals (and bass
on recordings) and Rob Bendelow of SARACEN on guitar and songwriting. In
addition to Marta and Rob, keyboard duties are handled by Paul Bradder of
SARACEN, and the driving percussion comes courtesy of PAGAN ALTAR’s Andy Green.
In "Lore of the Land", you can listen 10 songs deeply rooted in the classic
rock and heavy metal of the '70s and '80s, whilst drawing inspiration from the
wealth of English folklore, history and legend. "Only" is probably
the most beautiful song of 2019, while "Knight Errant (My Son)" is an
amazing epic track.
As for TANITH,
their debut album "In Another Time" is a passionate vintage hard rock
that harks back to the glory days of THIN LIZZY and URIAH HEEP. However, while
such influences resonate through the band’s music, TANITH never derivative,
having a strong musical identity and forging their own sound.
4. ARCH / MATHEOS
"Winter Ethereal"
(Metal Blade
Records)
Oh that voice!
When I saw for the first time John Arch performing live at the stage of Keep It
True festival in 2012, I couldn’t believe that this guy hasn’t sung live since
ages and yet, he nailed it! What a performance! Eight years since the debut
ARCH / MATHEOS album “Sympathetic Resonance”, the guys we love returned with an
even better album! Can you imagine that? Songs like "Wanderlust ", "Pitch
Black Prism" and "Kindred Spirits" are standing among the
highlights of the FATES WARNING legacy & "family". Soul, passion,
variety and very well-written lyrics (something that is missing from metal
nowadays). As for Jim Matheos, I can’t really add much about his amazing
songwriting skills, and while we are waiting for the
next FATES WARNING album, I hope there will be also another ARCH / MATHEOS
album in the future…
Check also:
HORIZON'S END "Skeleton Keys", ZONDER / WEHRKAMP "If It's
Real".
5. RIOT CITY
"Burn the Night"
(No Remorse
Records)
Screaming heavy
metal from Canada cannot fail. Album of the month in Deaf Forever magazine from
Germany and one of the absolute highlights of 2019. These guys combine all the
elements we love and they definitely "play on 10". Just imagine the
most important influences a new traditional metal band must have and add the
energy of passionate fans and professional musicians. Then you have “Burn the
Night”. And the best is yet to come…
Check also: HAUNT
"If Icarus Could Fly", SABÏRE "Gates Ajar", TRAVELER
"Traveler".
Singer and
guitarist Trevor William Church, does something really amazing with HAUNT. He
has worked on 3 albums and few EPs in just 3 years and looks unstoppable! On
the other hand, Scarlett Monastyrski of SABÏRE was creating his acid metal
slowly over the years, until that day of late December 2018 where he unleashed
those songs on bandcamp. It was a matter of time for a proper release and
shortly, the sound of true resistance was properly available on CD (via Skol Records)
and vinyl (via No Remorse Records). SABÏRE from Australia, were also invited to
perform few shows in Europe during 2019 and "Rise to the Top" sounds
like the ultimate ‘80s retro metal song! And then, you have TRAVELER, the mates
of RIOT CITY from Canada, releasing their debut album, full of anthemic songs,
metal passion, blazing riffs and one of the best voices of our times. JUDAS
PRIEST must be proud of their legacy.
6. GÉVAUDAN
"Iter"
(Private
release)
Privately
released, this came to my attention by luck, but thank God it did! You need to
be patient with music, so while the first 10-minute track was OK, someone who
listens to music like visiting a burger house fast food could switch to
something else. I didn’t. And then, you have two of the best doom metal tracks
of 2019: "Maelstrom" and "The Great Heathen Army". CANDLEMASS
might have Astorolus, the Great Octopus, but GÉVAUDAN have the Lords of the
ocean, the Great Demons of the sea. So, who do you think will swallow the
Earth? This private release is amazing and having Mike Exeter producing, is
another highlight since Mike has worked with Tony Iommi and BLACK SABBATH, and
that huge sound is present.
Check also:
ALUNAH from England released their fifth album, "Violet Hour". Mesmerized
performance by singer Siân Greenaway, hypnotized and heavy, this is definitely
an album under the spell of the Iommic Magick.
It’s been a
while since the mighty "Epicurean Mass" album of 2003 and ORODRUIN from the United
States returned with "Ruins of Eternity", a bold statement in the current
traditional doom metal scene. Solid, heavy and emotional, I only hope the next
album won’t be released around 2035.
DOOMSTRESS hailing
also from the United States and the album "Sleep Among the Dead" has "Your God Is Blind", one of the most catchy and addictive songs of 2019; one of
the best songs of the year.
7. GOTHIC STONE
"Haereticus Empyreum"
(Black Widow
Records)
The voice of
DOOMSWORD’s debut album, Italy, spooky atmosphere and organs, epic doom metal,
and a lyric "You will die in the eve of Candlemass". You had me from "hello".
GOTHIC STONE’s debut album passed unnoticed but do yourself a favor and check
it as soon as possible. These guys managed to mix things that can sound
familiar, with a very inspired way.
Check also: IRON
GRIFFIN "Curse of the Sky", THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG "New
Organon"
8. CHEMIKILL
"Edge of Wasteland"
(Tonalite
Records)
Formed in late ‘80s,
it took them "a while" to release an album, but CHEMIKILL did
everything on their own and finally, an album titled “Edge of Wasteland”
reached us! Somewhere between myth and reality, the album was recorded sometime
in the ‘00s but the master tapes were lost and no recordings were saved. So
here, you have all those tracks finally recorded and released. Classic US power
metal with solid riffs and everything you love from American power metal.
Check also:
ASSASSIN'S BLADE "Gather Darkness", QUEENSRŸCHE "The
Verdict"
9. FVNERAL FVKK
"Carnal Confessions"
(Solitude
Productions / Bleeding Heart Nihilist)
You might laugh
with the band’s name but you won’t laugh with the music itself. And you will
definitely won’t laugh with the concept and imagery of FVNERAL FVKK’s ideas and
songs. If you are into doom metal, here you have your next obsession. A dark
doomy gospel forged in the crimes and atrocities of the people of the church. A
bold and sinister album that cannot have commercial success. But who cares?
Just listen to those carnal confessions.
Check also: LORD
VICAR returned with "The Black Powder", so doom metal is alive and
well, even if it smells rotten at times. Featuring members that performed or
performing with bands like REVEREND BIZARRE, COUNT RAVEN and ORNE, this is pure
traditional doom metal, dark, magickal and… slow. Just like it should be. And
next to that, THRONEHAMMER released "Usurper of the Oaken Throne".
These albums are not for the faint of heart. Enter the cave of doom metal with
your own will, but be sure that if the demon of doom will possess you, it will be with
you forever.
10. TWISTED
TOWER DIRE "Wars in the Unknown"
(No Remorse
Records)
This is a great
comeback! We were expecting a new TWISTED TOWER DIRE album for a long time and
they didn't fail us. Actually they never did, but their last studio album
"Make It Dark" (2011) was considered as a disappointment by many,
that also didn't really like WALYPRGUS' "Walpyrgus Nights", released
in 2017 featuring TWISTED TOWER DIRE members. We like all of them, but "Wars
in the Unknown" stands above them. This band is a true legend of the '90s
and '00s underground metal and stood on their feet despite difficult times.
Check also:
RAVENSIRE "A Stone Engraved in Red", TERMINUS "A Single Point of
Light", WARRIOR PATH "Warrior Path".
RAVENSIRE hold
the banner of underground metal high. And they will do until the end of times.
TERMINUS are no longer a live act and their debut album, "The Reaper's
Spiral" (2015) was a masterpiece. The latest album, "A Single Point of Light", is a
grower and in the times of fast food, fast posts on social media and fast forward
"listening" to an album, you really need to LISTEN.
The Best, the
Rest and More - 2019 Unmasked
Heavy, Epic,
Power Metal Rites: ANCIENT EMPIRE "Wings of the Fallen", BLAZON STONE
"Hymns of Triumph and Death", CHEVALIER "Destiny Calls",
DARKLON "Rise from Death", GATEKEEPER "Grey Maiden", GRAND
MAGUS "Wolf God", IRONSWORD "In The Coils Of Set", LEGENDRY
"The Wizard and the Tower Keep", MANOWAR "The Final Battle
I", MIRROR "Pyramid of Terror", MYSTIK "Mystik",
RHODIUM "Sea of the Dead", SANHEDRIN "The Poisoner",
SANGREAL "Sangreal", SAVAGE MASTER "Myth, Magic and Steel",
SKELATOR "Cyber Metal", SOLICITOR "Sölicitör", STARBORN
"Savage Peace", STORMBURNER "Shadow Rising", THE NIGHT
ETERNAL "The Night Eternal", VULTURE "Ghastly Waves &
Battered Graves", VULTURES VENGEANCE "The Knightlore".
Under the
Sabbathian Spell and the Iommic Magick: ALTAR OF OBLIVION "The Seven
Spirits", CANDLEMASS "The Door to Doom", CAPILLA ARDIENTE
"The Siege", CARONTE "Wolves of Thelema", GREEN LUNG
"Woodland Rites", IN AEVUM AGERE
"Canto III", ISOLE "Dystopia", OGRE "Thrice as
Strong", MAGIC CIRCLE "Departed Souls", MONASTERIUM "Church
of Bones", SCARECROW "Scarecrow", SPIRIT ADRIFT "Divided By
Darkness", THE SABBATHIAN "Latum Alterum", TROLL "Legend
Master".
Melodic Lines:
ECLIPSE "Paradigm", FOREVER "Forever", FORTUNE
"II", GATHERING OF KINGS "First Mission", WHITESNAKE
"Flesh & Blood", WORK OF ART "Exhibits".
Thrashing
Maniacs and Screams from Hell: ACID DEATH "Primal Energies",
AGGRESSIVE PERFECTOR "Havoc at the Midnight Hour", BLOOD INCANTATION
"Hidden History of the Human Race", DEATH ANGEL
"Humanicide", DIABOLIC NIGHT "Beyond the Realm", EXUMER
"Hostile Defiance", FLOTSAM & JETSAM "The Age of
Chaos", NILE "Vile Nilotic Rites", POSSESSED "Revelations
of Oblivion", SACRED REICH "Awakening", SUICIDAL ANGELS
"Years of Aggression", TOMB MOLD "Planetary Clairvoyance",
WHITE WARD "Love Exchange Failure", XENTRIX "Bury the
Pain".
What do we
expect from 2020?
The studio
return of KING DIAMOND with the album "The Institute" is something
we're looking forward to! That's a huge thing and King never dissapoints.
2020 will be the
year of Epic Metal since DOOMSWORD might be back and ETERNAL CHAMPION will
unleash their second, mythical, studio album. And if "mythical" is
something that sounds "too much" for a new release, then an official
release by the underground Epic Metal legend of BLACK SWORD THUNDER ATTACK,
will shake the depths of underground metal.
If you want to
go to the "surface", PSYCHOTIC WALTZ are already on the way, ERIC CLAYTON AND THE NINE are currently in the studio recording the album "A
Thousand Scars" with Devon Graves of PSYCHOTIC WALTZ producing, SUMERLANDS
are working on new songs, and HITTMAN will finally return with a new album.
In few days, we
will have in our hands OZZY OSBOURNE's new album, "Ordinary Man", and
even if you find it too mainstream or modern, OZZY will always be the Prince of
Darkness.