2019, the year that closes the decade and with it a lot of interesting releases in the Heavy Metal world. In this article, you’ll get to see my top 20 favorite albums of the year. It was no easy task to choose just 20, a lot of talented bands released quality stuff this year, but I believe these are the ones that close the decade on a high note and gives us hope for more in the future.
Tag Archives: prog
CONCERT REVIEW: Immortal Bird – Glorious Depravity – Concussion: Live at Union Pool
12/11/19, Union Pool, Brooklyn NY
Union Pool is a short train ride from my spot in Brooklyn, but admittedly I don’t get there often. I am not super cool and Ghost Cult is not “hipster important” enough in the Brooklyn music scene to have any kind of clout to get us invited to stuff there. Still, when a band as important as Immortal Bird comes through town, I get my ass to the place on time. Not only that the band is touring behind their amazing recent album Thrive On Neglect, out now on one of the premier labels in 2019, 20 Buck Spin. Coupled with the strong openers Glorious Depravity and Concussion, it meant it was going to be a sick time in an intimate venue. Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Sleep Token – Sundowning
The advent of Sundowning (Spinefarm Records), the debut album from London-based shoegazer Sleep Token, goes back over a year: so its release, ahead of a major US tour, has seen a level of furore largely unknown in Metal circles. Hiding identity under a cloak a la Ghost, there’s an added mystique here from an embracing of spiritual and somnolent values (the album’s title is the term given to the daily crash of dementia, for example), while melody is to the fore of the core sound. Continue reading
Elder Announces Lineup Change, New Album for 2020
Desert Fest NYC, The Well, Brooklyn NY.
According to a published report by The Obelisk, Prog Rock giants Elder has commenced recording their new album, the fifth full-length in their career, due for release in 2020. The band also announced their new drummer Georg Edert, replacing founding member Matt Couto. Edert is familiar with the band already since he sits behind the drum kit for Elder side project Gold and Silver. The new album will be the follow up to the widely acclaimed album Reflections of a Floating World (Stickman Records/Armageddon). The band has already been announced for Hellfest 2020, with many more tour dates and festivals likely to be announced soon. Continue reading
With Our Arms To The Sun Surprise Drop Their New Album “The Mogollon Monster”
Arizona Progressive Metal band With Our Arms To The Sun has released its brand new album The Mogollon Monster. The band has been teasing the album to their fans for a few weeks and dropped the album at midnight. Fully funded with a Kickstarter campaign, the band also has a Patreon and a Podcast worth checking out. The new album is the follow up to the bands’ acclaimed last album Orenda. Purchase and jam out to the full album stream now! Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Anacrusis Reissues – Manic Impressions and Screams and Whispers
After re-releasing their first two albums back in September, Metal Blade have now moved onto the remastered and repackaged third and fourth albums from St. Louis progressive thrash act Anacrusis. Continue reading
FESTIVAL REVIEW: Badgerfest 2019 Live at The Breadshed, Manchester
2019 see’s the third installment of what’s becoming an important event in the calendar for the discerning Heavy Metal connoisseur, BadgerFest. The brainchild of the undeniably hardest working man in the Manchester metal scene John Badger, If any qualification of that were needed, aside from it being reiterated by every band of the weekend, as well as their gratitude as to the smooth running, he’s also running the Drumming up Change in November whereby he’ll be playing the drums for the full sets of all ten bands. There’s hard-working and then there’s John Badger. Continue reading