238 distinctive releases. 27 overlong lists. 10 collective favorites. And 1 annoyed compiler on the heart of all of it.

Utilizing forgotten witchcraft and complicated algebra,¹ and having negotiated unreliable contributors making an attempt to break again into The Corridor whereas drunk on hobo wine and spoiled eggnog, I’m proud to have compiled and now to current our grand finale to the 2019 checklist season: the AngryMetalGuy.com Meta List. My private views apart, the positioning has broadly acknowledged this as an awesome yr for our hallowed style, a yr which has featured noteworthy releases from bands each established and contemporary, and starting from the cheesiest energy metallic to probably the most crushing doom. It’s the latter of these two which seemingly received the yr, taking residence the coveted high spot and one other two locations within the high six. However take word of all of these releases and put together to splash your Christmas money as failure to achieve this means you’ve missed the releases which most happy the AMG crowd.

Nonetheless, I’m duty-bound to register the displeasure of a vocal minority inside our ranks; a minority which is horrified that the number one beneath is, actually, the number one. Its relative simplicity, and similarity to bands which existed 35 years in the past, lends credence to the notion that that is finally an train in uncovering a listing of lowest frequent denominators. This checklist rewards albums with broad attraction throughout our sizable community of writers, slightly than the novel outliers.² I additionally need to make a bemused shout-out to Blood Incantation, Insomnium and Black Websites, all of whom accrued 5 or extra checklist alternatives however, as a result of they had been bottom-end alternatives, didn’t even get close to the aggregated checklist. Examine this with our aggregated selections for 7, Eight and 10 beneath, all of which solely hit 5 lists however had been rated far more extremely. Higher luck subsequent yr lads. – El Cuervo

10. Soen // Lotus – [#2, #3, #4, #7 #HM] – Soen‘s progressive opus Lotus hit early within the yr and has remained in rotation over the following 11 months to hit no fewer than 5 of our lists. At the beginning highlighting the unbelievable vocals of Joel Ekelöf, Huck N’ Roll famous again in January that “Ekelöf is now not ‘simply’ a singer; he has matured into the band’s focus, and a real power.” In the meantime, Offended Metallic Man elucidates that “Lotus finds Soen delivering on their imaginative and prescient utterly and rising as writers alongside the way in which. Not solely is the album brilliantly produced – even the crushed grasp sounds good, [and] the vinyl grasp is divine – however the songwriting exhibits that Soen is maturing earlier than our eyes and it’s gratifying to see.” Nice vocals, song-writing and manufacturing – what extra might you need?

9. Devourment // Obscene Majesty – [#1, #2, #6, #9, #10, #HM] – Boldly proclaiming that “Obscene Majesty is the heaviest album ever,”³Kronos was one of a quantity of writers who liked Devourment‘s newest. Crossing the (imperceptible, to my ears) line between brutal loss of life metallic and slam, the vocals are described by our Ferrous Beuller as “tectonic,” whereas the manufacturing is “inhospitable,” and the riffs “comprehensively obliterated” his physique, thoughts and soul. Solely with metallic might a file be a “bone-rattling torrent of filth” and likewise Report o’ the Yr however such is the case for Kronos. The two writers cited on this blurb are the resident loss of life metallic extremists so regard their authority by buying Obscene Majesty.

8. White Ward // Love Alternate Failure – [#2, #4, #5, #6, #7] – Representing by far probably the most fascinating atmospheric/post-black metallic within the current previous, “Love Alternate Failure is a brooding and melancholic but romantic examination of modernity, using shimmering guitars, lonely pianos, and a easy saxophone. It by no means fairly explodes however the creeping pressure and ominous crescendos consolidate it as probably the most hypnotic and emotionally affecting launch of 2019″ (El Cuervo). Defying straightforward categorization, White Ward have solid a sound which is one way or the other musically pristine however tonally gritty, laying jazz over its commentary on metropolis life. TheKenWord explains this distinction: “it’s extremely troublesome to mix the sleek character of a saxophone with the icy malice of black metallic, however thanks to a sturdy infrastructure and sumptuous stream, this file makes probably the most of its constituent parts. And like the most effective issues in life, it will get higher with age.” That is the sound of black metallic in 2019.

7. Firelink // The Inveterate Hearth – [#2, #3, #5, #6, #7] – Opening in alarming vogue, Eldritch Elitist shouts that “The Inveterate Hearth is so good that it makes me fucking offended. Firelink is simply two guys recording music in a tiny bed room with programmed drums. The Inveterate Hearth shouldn’t be one of the most effective – and best-sounding – releases of the yr, and but it indisputably is.” Additional combing via the precise qualities boasted by Firelink, L. Saunders highlights that “epic shredding, soulful melodies, and thrashy, skinflaying aggression shine on The Inveterate Hearth, coalescing into a fully ripping platter of proggy, blackened melodeath, that’s contemporary, thrilling, and completely vicious.” And do not forget that that is only a debut; simply think about the place subsequent yr’s sophomore work might take us.

6. Sluggish // VI – Dantalion – [#2, #3, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #HM] – Typically I’ve to work arduous to write these abstract blurbs. Typically my job could be very straightforward. I’ll let GardensTale inform the story of Sluggish‘s crushing slab of funeral doom: “VI is a large, attractive piece of symphonic-infused doom that strikes like a glacier and hits like an avalanche. Layer upon layer is stacked, slowly grinding guitars joined by strings and keys subtly constructing into an emotionally complicated construction that weighs as a lot as a neutron star. Should you ever needed to know what it’s like to be floor up beneath a tectonic plate whereas a number of orchestras play appropriately dramatic music at you, right here’s your likelihood”. ‘Nuff mentioned.

5. The Drowning // The Radiant Darkish – [#1, #1, #2, #3, #7, #ish] – Instantly contextualizing The Drowning and The Radiant Darkish, Grasp of Muppets declares “lengthy have I liked the Peaceville Three, and but by no means have I felt that anybody album ever managed to totally grasp the courageous new doomscape that the legendary meeting helped to forge – till now. Weeping guitars, pummeling drums, powerfully plodding tempos and the very voice of Hell adorn this gem in expertly nuanced doses.” Not solely was it his #1 for 2019, it was additionally that of TheKenWord, describing this as “the simplest [list-related] alternative I made. Say what you’ll concerning the drum efficiency (which is okay, shut up) or the blending (okay that wanted work) or another unjustified third factor,⁴ no one wrote higher songs than these Brits in 2019″. Sturdy phrases for a robust file which is strongly liked.

4. Aephanemer // Prokopton – [#1, #1, #3, #4, #5, #ish, #HM] – Taking the melodeath crown for 2019, Prokopton fuses nifty, memorable riffs with artificial strings, claiming their high spots and forging what Sentynel calls “an exceptional file precision-crafted to press all my buttons” and what Dr. Wvrm calls “some of probably the most deliciously catchy melodies you’ve ever had poured down your throat.” The Wvrm goes on to comment that “Prokopton is one of the strongest markers within the style that I’ve heard in since beginning right here. No caveats: no 120-minute runtime; no gimmicky joke monitor; no residing up to glories previous; simply pure, unfiltered greatness”. Should you don’t like pure, unfiltered greatness then I assume you shouldn’t hassle with Prokopton. I additional guess that even for those who don’t like pure, unfiltered greatness you’ll most likely get pleasure from it.

3. Idle Fingers // Mana – [#2, #3, #3, #3, #4, #6. #6, #9, #ish, #ish] – Although Idle Fingers garnered no RotY awards, it nonetheless swept up suggestions throughout checklist season like no one’s enterprise. Whereas it isn’t thoroughbred metallic, Mr Huck N’ Roll characterizes Mana as a “cool-when-it-shouldn’t-be model of metallic meets goth meets new wave” and that “entrance to again, this album is a blast to spin, with nary a single weak monitor.” Likewise, Metal Druhm observes that “each track is catchy and hyper-memorable, from the Overkill-adjacent velocity of “Give Me to the Evening” to the traditional goth anthem, “Jackie,” you may’t shake these tunes out of your head as soon as they’ve laid eggs”. You’d do effectively to pay attention to the Druhm and Huck; not simply because they’re outdated(e) and smart(ish), however as a result of they’re completely proper.

2. Wilderun // Veil of Creativeness – [#1, #1, #1, #2, #6, #8, #9, #10, #HM, #HM] – There are inadequate superlatives to precisely describe what has been achieved right here. El Cuervo tried to encapsulate the part parts by commenting that “Veil of Creativeness is a symphonic, progressive, deathy, blackened, folksy triumph, from its dizzying, behemothic opener to the equally huge and delicate finale.” Clearly there was some settlement over this as Wilderun picked up Three high awards and seven different checklist mentions. The elusive Dr. Fisting concurs that “Wilderun has raised the bar in nearly each facet possible. Veil of Creativeness is extremely complicated musically, with some emotionally highly effective moments all through.” I’ll let Offended Metallic Man Himself wrap this one up: “it’s information like this one which remind us all of the energy of the full-length album as an artwork type.” Such albums remind us to step again to recognize what music might be.

1. Fvneral Fvkk // Carnal Confessions – [#1, #1, #1, #3, #3, #5, #7, #7, #10, #ish, #HM, #HM] – With over 20% extra voting factors than its nearest competitor,⁵ the godawfully-named Fvneral Fvkk, and their debut launch regarding the atrocities perpetrated in opposition to kids by the Catholic Church, cantered residence with the highest award. No fewer than six high 5 alternatives and three #1s facilitated this win. Understandably, our writers tended towards the emotional influence of Carnal Confessions. Cherd of Doom describes it as “masterfully despondent,” whereas the ever-eloquent L. Saunders notes that it’s “a compelling, disturbing and heart-wrenching slab of epic doom […] depressive however extremely addictive, Carnal Confessions managed to ship chills down my backbone, make my eyes effectively, and head bang in unison, a uncommon high quality certainly.” In abstract, and within the phrases of drunken simian Metal Druhm, “that is palms down the most effective doom album of the yr in addition to the most effective general metallic album.”