Top 50 metal albums of 2019 by Agoraphobic News

 Ho, ho, ho! Agoraphobic News team wishes you Happy Holidays! Well, this year was stronger than we expected. Tons of great bands released their offspring this year. And as always, the main part is ranking.  I mean, he first 30 albums on the list are top notch stuff... There’s no way you can give all these great albums justice by ranking ’em! So if you haven’t checked out the albums from list, I suggest you do! So what is your favorite album of 2019? Did we miss anything? Do you agree with the ranking? Let us know in the comments down below! And don’t forget to hit LIKE & SHARE buttons! HAIL SA(N)TAN!

50) Flotsam and Jetsam – The End Chaos
(AFM Records)

This Doomsday for the Deciever part 2 artwork shouldn’t discourage you from listening to Flotsam and Jetsam’s The End Chaos. These guys are once again on the rightful path of thrash metal! The End Chaos is a skull-stomping thrash release! Pretty melodic, catchy and enjoyable release from the thrash veterans! And Iron Maiden fans will dig Eric A.K.’s vocals!  Could you ask for more? All hail FLOTSAM AND JETSAM!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flotsamandjetsamofficial/
Bandcamp: https://flotsamandjetsamlive.bandcamp.com/

49) Xentrix – Bury the Pain
(Listenable Records)

Oh boy! The thrashiest UK band is in the house! After 23 long, long years! Xentrix fans would surely dig new stuff! Bury the Pain is executed in a classic Xentrix fashion. I guess no one will be disapointed with this thrashing fury of an album! Galloping riffs, melodic takes, everything’s there! This album is an introduction to the new singer Jay Walsh who seems to be the perfect replacement for the original Xentrix singer Chris Astley. And Jay did his homework well!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xentrixmetal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xentrix_metal/

48) Phil Campbell – Old Lions Still Roar
(Nuclear Blast)

What do we have here? Phil Campbell’s solo album! As the album title suggests, Old Lions Still Roar proves that Phil can continue his musical legacy (no matter how much we all love Motorhead).  This album is a mix of rock, blues & metal so I assume everyone would dig the stuff on it.  And yeah, this album has numerous guest appearances – Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Danko Jones, Withfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe, Joe Satriani to name a few! Phil Campbell IS the leads lord and his bag of riffs never runs dry!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilCampbellATBS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phil_campbell_and_the_bs/

47) Sacred Reich – The Awakening
(Metal Blade Records)

Well…that’s another thrash comeback this year!  And after 23 years of waiting, we finally got to hear Sacred Reich’s latest album – The Awakening!  It seems that time cannot do anything to these guys! Sacred Reich is still thrashing supreme! Phil Rind’s vocals haven’t changed a bit. In the end, The Awakening put Sacred Reich back on the map of thrash metal. You push the play button and all of a sudden, it’s the 80s again!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sacredreichofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredreichofficial/
Bandcamp: https://sacredreichofficial.bandcamp.com/

46) Vaura – Sables
(Profound Lore Records)

Oh yes! Vaura have released their 3^rd studio album this year! And it is quite different from their previous album. Sables incorporates 80s synth, darkwave, with some melancholy driven, Depeche Mode-esque vibes. I guess this album is the soundtrack of the winter depression, eh? Besides, Kevin Hufnagel did an amazing job on this release. His guitars greatly contribute to the dark feel of the songs. Sables is definitely an album that stands out from most albums on this list. Maybe because of the emotions behind it. However, you should check this band out! Highly recommended!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VAURAofficial
Bandcamp: https://vaura.bandcamp.com/

45) Angel Witch -Angel of Light
(Metal Blade Records)

Another stellar NWOBHM release! Angel of Light is one of these albums we put on loop this year! I must say that their singer reminds me a lot of Overkill’s Bobby Blitz! And yeah, killer tracks, and even more killer vocals & riffs! The more you listen to it, the more these songs become a part of you!  The whole vibe of this album is quite unique!  Angel of Light is an inevitable NWOBHM release for those who like it old-school and heavy!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelwitchofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelwitchofficial/
Bandcamp: https://angelwitch.bandcamp.com/

44) Diamond Head – The Coffin Train
(Silver Lining Music)

Here we go! Probably the finest NWOBHM release on this list! This band is simply unstoppable in terms of making great songs! And they can never fail while in the process! The Coffin Train is truly an epic release that marked this year as one of the best albums within the waters of heavy metal! The riffs, the vocals, the production... everything’s there! Damn! This is actually a terribly underrated band in general! It surely needs more attention!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondHeadOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diamond_head_official/
Bandcamp: https://diamondhead.bandcamp.com/

43) Candlemass – The Door to Doom
(Napalm Records)

Bring it! Doom metal veterans are back with yet another awesome album! This is the very first studio release to feature a new Candlemass singer, Johan Längquist. And he exceeded the expectations! Go figure yourself! Candlemass’ The Door to Doom is as evil sounding as the album title suggests! These mastodonic riffs are here to stay in your head & ears for years to come!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candlemass
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candlemassdoom/
Bandcamp: https://candlemass.bandcamp.com/

42) Exumer – Hostile Defiance
(Nuclear Blast)

Oh boy! Here it comes! Exumer’s Hostile Defiance is an essential Teutonic thrash metal release you shouldn’t skip! And the artwork says it all! These songs are full with force, ferocious, brutal, and aggressive enough to catch your attention within the first seconds of the listening session.  That guitar distortion will really get you hooked! Exumer did their homework for sure! This album should be an example of how thrash should sound like in 2019! Freakin’ A!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exumerofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exumerofficial/#
Bandcamp: https://exumerofficial.bandcamp.com/

41) Oblivion – Oblivion

Bay area death metal? I’M IN! Oblivion’s selftitled album is a technical death metal supersonic mastery at its best! Bay area is better known for its thrash scene. But Possessed and Oblivion are an exception to the rule! Oblivion’s third studio album will cast you into nothingness! These guys are not to be messed around with! This album is groovy, technical and simply put, BRUTAL! A technical riff splatter for the fans who like it more complicated!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OBLlVlON
Bandcamp: https://obtainoblivion.bandcamp.com/

40) Allegaeon – Apoptosis
(Metal Blade Records)

That bass! Allegaeon’s Apoptosis is one of those albums that blows you away on the first second of the listening session! Now this is some major technical stuff! Apoptosis is a killer, modern sounding US technical death metal! These guys are really talented musicians! No doubt about that! In every track they make, Allegaeon set their frets on fire! Apoptosis is one of those albums that surpass the „death metal“ moniker. Proggy influnces are strong in this one!  And that’s what makes this album so special! Not to mention those brilliant leads!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allegaeon/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allegaeonofficial/
Bandcamp: https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/

39) Opeth – In Cauda Venenum
(Moderbolaget Records)

Way to go! Opeth’s latest album – In Cauda Venenum is a time travelling tool to the 70s. And when Opeth is in question, every album is a story of its own. Mikael Akerfeldt keeps on rockin’. As always, he once again brought some jaw-dropping songs. In Cauda Venenum is a pretty lengthy album (1h 7 minutes of quality music). And not only that, you can actually listen to the songs in English or in Swedish which is a pretty cool thing!  The latest Opeth album is a glimpse of what it was like in the 70s, when progressive rock was at its peak! And therefore, expect a lot (I mean A LOT) of keyboards on this release!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opeth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialopeth/
Bandcamp: https://candlelightrecordsuk.bandcamp.com/album/orchid

38) King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Infest the Rats’ Nest
(Flightless Records)

Well, well, well…. King Gizzard & Тhe Lizard Wizard is back with another studio release! Infest The Rats’ Nest is a pretty raw album with a tons of live feel to it. You may have an impression as if you were listening to a band at a local gig (some of the songs ARE from the live shows but some are not!). This time the band spiced things up with thrash and heavy metal roots in vein of early 80s Voivod & 70s Motorhead & 60s psychedelic rock! A must listen for all old-school revival kind of folks! The album itself deals with ecological themes (shortly put it: „There is no Planet B!“). King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard>>>>Greta Van Fleet. Any day! Any time!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinggizzardandthelizardwizard/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinggizzard/
Bandcamp: https://kinggizzard.bandcamp.com/

37) Exhorder – Mourn the Southern Skies
(Nuclear Blast)

Comeback of the year! 29 years have passed since the release of the infamous Slaughter at the Vatican album. And Exhorder is back… in style! Those riffs will bring you to your knees! Exorder’s latest album Mourn the Southern Skies is one of the most notable thrash releases this year. This band has always had this thrash + groove (+ a bit of blues) formula that cannot fail!  Everything about this album is on spot – great songs, awesome production, cool artwork! And that’s why they got signed by Nuclear Blast. This band surely needs more attention!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExhorderNOLA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhordernola/

36) Entombed A.D. – Bowels of Earth
(Century Media Records)

Way to go! Entombed A.D.’s Bowels of Earth is some raw-sounding Scandinavian death metal with no rust whatsoever. The band keeps on delivering! That chainsaw-sounding distortion is brutal enough to give this album dozens of listens and a proper ranking on the list! And not to mention Lars Petrov’s ghoulish vocals! The machine keeps on grinding! Entombed A.D.’s Bowels of Earth is one of those 2019 albums that every death metal freak should have in their collection!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EntombedAD
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhordernola/

35) Saint Vitus – Saint Vitus
(Season of Mist)

It’s DOOM time! Well… what can be said about this album that you don’t know already? This album has an awesomely dark vibe that surrounds it from the beginning to the end. Saint Vitus merged traditional doom metal riffs with feedback noise that will burst out your ear drums!  Saint Vitus’ self-titled is a mastodonic release that will make the cultists satisfied! It seems that their singer is heavily influenced by Joy Division, which can’t be a bad thing! The guy just knows how to balance things out in terms of doominess that surrounds this album! Saint Vitus is actually one of those doom metal albums that I like quite a bit!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintvitusofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintvitusofficial/
Bandcamp: https://saintvitus.bandcamp.com/

34) Whitechapel – The Valley
(Metal Blade Records)

Bring it! The seventh Whitechapel studio release The Valley is our favorite deathcore album of this year! What I like about Whitechapel is the way they perfectly balance things out; or to be more precise, the way how they switch from 1000 miles per hour outbursts of brutality to calm, melancholic parts with clean guitars & clean vocals. This really brings dynamics to the song and a breath of fresh air to the whole album. We heard the new songs live at Exit festival and I must say that Whitechapel absolutely nailed them live!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitechapelmetal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitechapelband/
Bandcamp:https://whitechapelmetal.bandcamp.com/

33) Rammstein – Untitled
(Universal)

MAN! Gotta love everything Rammstein does! And their Untitled album is no exception!  Probably the best song from the album is Deutschland. The video for this song is absolutely brilliant! They also did a killer video for the song Auslander and Radio.  And as always, it’s up to you to decide what’s better, Rammstein’s music or the videos themselves.  We’d go with both!  But one of the songs that stand out from the rest is „Puppe”! Till Lindemann’s vocals in this one are absolutely WICKED! Rammstein haven’t sounded that angry in a while!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rammstein/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rammsteinofficial/

32) Paganizer – The Tower of the Morbid
(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Damn right! It’s time for some Swedish death metal! Paganizer have released their 11th studio album this year, titled The Tower of The Morbid. Expect nothing but pure, Swedish death metal! Their vocalist Rogga Johanson may remind you of Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth. Tower of the Morbid is  an inevitable release for all of those who like thick, gigantic death metal sound.  This album is highly recommended for both old school and new school fans! These tracks deliver some major pounding!  And btw, I must say that Dan Seagrave NAILED that album cover!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paganizersweden/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paganizerswe/
Bandcamp: https://paganizer.bandcamp.com/music

31) Sunn O))) – Life Metal
(Southern Lord Recordings)

Who would have guessed it? A band with 2 studio releases and 19 (that’s right, nineteen!) live albums.  We listened to both Life Metal and Pyroclastic albums, but we give advantage to the former. Life Metal is a sonic experience similar to the one when Frodo enters the void by using the Ring. Everything around becomes blurry, but your hearing becomes consumed by the wall of noise that surrounds you. This is one of those albums that you should blast while being on top of a mountain! The amount of feedback & noise that’s leaking out of your stereo in Life Metal album is unmatched! However, this release actually has some killer female vocals that contribute greatly to this release! Life Metal is drone to the bone! And if you crave for more noisy approach, give Pyroclastic a listen!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUNNthebandOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnofficial/
Bandcamp: https://sunn.bandcamp.com/

30)Jinjer – Macro
(Napalm Records)

Ladies and djentlemen!!! Simply put, a gigantic release! As always, Jinjer brings some major dissonant grooves on the table along with some jazzy and even reggae elements (in one ocasion)! Tatiana Shmailyuk is on top of her game! Her vocals range shifts  from soothing & gentle to beastly aggressive! Macro is one of these albums that you’ll surely enjoy if you’re a fan of groovy/progressive/djent metal. With every release, Jinjer keeps on slaying! The latest album is pure DJENTALITY!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JinjerOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/jinjer_official/
Bandcamp: https://jinjer-jinjer.bandcamp.com/

29) Hate – Auric Gates of Veles
(Metal Blade Records)

Now that’s some pure black/death metal carnage! Poland-based legion Hate raised the bar of brutality with this album! Auric Gates of Veles is an album for letting out your steam!  These songs are bone-crushing!  Gotta love those Eastern style riffs & those drums which are mercilessly beaten by drumsticks over and over again! Auric Gates of Veles is one of those albums coming straight out of the freakin’ 9^th circle of Hell! And it seems that the band hasn’t slowed down a bit throughout the whole record! Those tracks are like molten lava, devouring everything on its path of total destruction!

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HATEOFFICIAL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hateofficial/
Bandcamp: https://hate.bandcamp.com/music

28)Devourment – Obscene Majesty 
(Relapse Records)

Nasty. Dirty. Gutteral! Devourment’s Obscene Majesty is one of the slimiest death metal albums of this year! Obscene Maesty is an album that will quench your thirst for rawest & most brutal riffs. The band’s vocalist sounds as a hellish devourer! His gutterals are unmatched on this list!  Devourment’s latest album is slamming carnage you shouldn’t skip!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevourmentOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devourmentofficial/
Bandcamp: https://devourment.bandcamp.com/

27) Rotting Christ – The Heretics
(Season of Mist)

Now that’s some epic sounding album! Rotting Christ’s The Heretics is truly an gem! All these choral elements and the drums-of-war will get you fired up with every listen! Greek extreme metal pioneers did their homework with this release! And as always, Rotting Christ is not afraid of stepping out of the black metal shoes. The band pushes the envelope!  They are the heretics within their own genre and they do it with style!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Bandcamp: https://rottingchrist.bandcamp.com/

26) Darkthrone – Old Star
(Peaceville Records)

Norwegian black metal veterans are on the slay after all these years! If you’re up for some pure black metal, Darkthrone’s Old Star is the way to go. Fenriz and the boys are as consistent as always. Darkthrone again manages to bring some stellar songs to the table for all you trve kids out there.  If we’re limited to two words to describe this album, that would be: GRIM AND CATCHY!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Darkthrone-101075189934422/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkthroneofficial/
Bandcamp: https://peaceville.com/bands/darkthrone/

25) Thy Art is Murder – Human Target
(Nuclear Blast)

BWAAAAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!!  It’s deathcore time!  Man, that artwork is so on point! Human Target is a pretty damn brutal album! You’ll burn some calories just by listening to it! It’s that intense! I must confess that Death Squad Anthem is THE most shocking video of the year! It clearly sums up the ongoing madness in this world. That aside, this time Thy Art is Murder bring forth some of the finest deathcore songs imbued by the force of groundshaking breakdowns & gunfire riffage! I guess that the song Chemical Christ is one of the strongest ones from this album. Final impressions? Human Target is a bullseye!

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/thyartismurder
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thyartinstagram/

24) Abbath – The Outstrider
(Season of Mist)

Good old Abbath! He is keeping it trve after all these years! The Outstrider comes with a dozen of hellbent, pure evil sounding riffs! This is actually the 2^nd Abbath’s album, and I must say it’s better than the previous one! These songs may remind you of old Bathory material a lot! And that’s the reason why Abbath covered Bathory’s “Pace ‘Till Death“… I guess. The Outstrider is an intense Norwegian album that enters our pick of this year’s black metal releases. These songs will give no mercy to your ears! Abbath’s vocals have never been that ghoulish if you ask me! The Outstrider is a must listen for everyone who is even slightly into this genre!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbathband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbath_official/
Bandcamp: https://abbath.bandcamp.com/

23) Misery Index – Rituals of Power
(Season of Mist)

Jesus! Now this is some pure grinding death metal! Rituals of Power is full-speed ahead album for all of you who love it fast & brutal! I guess that double-bass counter would explode by the end of the album! Misery Index made really catchy and memorable songs that are here to stay! I guess that this release is already on the playlists of all the death metal/grindcore lovers but for those of you who haven’t listened to it, you won’t be disappointed at all! In fact, you’ll get hooked in a matter of minutes!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiseryIndex
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miseryindex.official/
Bandcamp: https://miseryindex.bandcamp.com/

22) Malevolent Creation – The 13^th Beast
(Century Media Records)

Watch out! New Malevolent Creation album kills! This is their first studio album with the new lineup! The 13^th Beast is a must hear for all death metal fans! The 13^th Beast is a pretty straight forward, full-speed-ahead Floridian death metal release that will surely not leave you indifferent! All this aggression coming from the bone-melting riffs & machine gun fire drumming will simply blow you into million pieces! The production on this release is just amazing! Everything is clear. Even the bass is loud enough! The 13^th Beast comes with eleven tremendous tracks that are still in our daily playlist!  Blood & Gore lovers will not get enough of this album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malevolentcreation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malevolentcreationband/
Bandcamp: https://malevolent-creation.bandcamp.com/album/the-13th-beast

21) Lindemann – F & M
(Universal/Vertigo Berlin)

Damn. The very 2^nd album by Rammstein’s frontman Till Lindemann, with the legendary Peter Tartgren of Hypocrisy & Pain on guitars. Frau und Mann is a logical continuation of the Lindemann project!  These kinds of superstar collaborations tend to fail, but here’s an exception to the rule! The songs can be described as a great mix of industrial & rock elements with a bunch of keyboards/effects that contribute to the sonic flavor of the whole thing. And yeah, the previous album Skills in Pills was in English but this one is in German! Lindeman’s F & M is a truly enjoyable experience. The songs are catchy and easy to listen.  A lot of clean guitars subscribe to that!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lindemann/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindemannofficial/

20) Amon Amarth – Berserker
(Metal Blade Records)

And they’re back! Amon Amarth have released their eleventh studio album Berserker.  That artwork is friggin’ awesome!  And yeah, as the album title suggests, the lyrical content is about the Vikings and Norse mythology.  Metalheads couldn’t have asked for more, right? Berserker is a more than solid melodic death metal release (and probably the only one on this list). That being said, Berserker is a pretty enjoyable and easy-to-listen album. Jonah Hegg’s vocals are beyond brutal after all these years of growling like a beast! So, all you history & metal geeks, look no further than Berserker! This release is Swedish melodic death metal par excellence! And yeah, you’ll get premium access to Valhalla just by listening to this album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amonamarth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amonamarth/
Bandcamp: https://amonamarth.bandcamp.com/music

19) Destruction – Born to Perish
(Nuclear Blast)

OH geez! Destruction’s latest album Born to Perish is as heavy as it gets! Teutonic thrash metal veterans are raising some hell on this release for you, the headbangers! Schmier still sounds angry as hell! And Mike delivered some jawdropping leads, as always! This is actually the first Destruction album in years with 4 band members. Let’s face it, 2 guitars = more heaviness. The artwork with a twin-headed carrion looks pretty damn cool if you ask me! German thrash metal legends keep the unstoppable force going!  Born to Perish is way heavier than a couple of previous Destruction releases combined! So if you’re up for some hellfire-driven thrash release, look no further! This is the thing for ya!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destruction
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destruction_official/

18) Blut Aus Nord – Hallucinogen
(Debemur Morti Productions)

That album title explains the creative process of Blut Aus Nord. A lot! Gotta love that album! Hallucinogen is yet another terrific sonic experience from the band’s catalogue! This release is like a mish mash of post-rock & extreme metal influences packed into 48 minutes of music material. Blut Aus Nord this time brought some Eastern influences, Dick Dale style as well! Those melodies will haunt you for a few years, let me tell you that! Hallucinogen is quite an easy to listen album! That may be attributed to these beautiful choral elements added here and there and due to the fact that the emphasis is not put on growls. The guitars are crying out these melancholic, yet stunning parts that you’ll fall in love with!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vindsval.official
Bandcamp: https://blutausnord.bandcamp.com/

17) Hatriot – From Days Unto Darkness
(Massacre Records)

Holy Molly! Now that’s some gigantic thrashterpiece! Hatriot’s third album From Days Unto Darkness conquered us in a matter of seconds! By my beard! I haven’t heard a young thrash metal band raging so hard in years! For a moment I thought that Steve Souza of Exodus is singing on this album. His son, Cody Souza sings the way his father does. And really, you couldn’t tell the difference if you didn’t check the lineup! The album includes some death growls as well which makes the music even more brutal & aggressive! Hatriot keeps on evolving! The songs sound more mature. You can actually hear progress in the band’s musicianship. Make no mistake, Hatriot is currently one of the best Bay Area thrash metal bands as we speak!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hatriot?fref=ts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hatriot_official/

16) Cannabis Corpse – Nug So Vile
(Season of Mist)

Hell Yeah! The very 6^th Cannabis Copse album Nug So Vile is bonecrushing! This time, they parodied the name of the cult 1996 death metal album – Cryptopsy’s None So Vile. And the tracks themselves are parodied version of the following bands:  Krisiun, Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Cryptopsy, Carcass, Immolation, Napalm Death & Vader. Nug So Vile is a straight forward, death metal assault that will destroy both your ears & stereo. What you get with this album is 35 minutes of blunt chopping riffs! And yeah, Dawn of Weed Possession music video just made my day! Gotta love that 80s horror vibe going on in that video! Nug So Vile is an album that will surely weed out the weak!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CannabisCorpse-104903899597371/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannabiscorpse_official/
Bandcamp:  https://cannabiscorpseofficial.bandcamp.com/

15) Mgla – Age of Excuse
(Northern Heritage Records)

That album artwork is stunning! Just wow! We were lucky enough to hear some of their new stuff live in Belgrade a couple of months ago! And Mgla killed it! The audience was completely consumed by the power of their surgically precise live performance. Besides that, their latest album Age of Excuse is simply breathtaking! Mgla is really at the forefront of Polish black metal. The biggest impression that Age of Excuse left on me is the drumming. JEEZ! Darkside brought forth some pretty unorthodox approach to black metal if you ask me, especially when it comes to the number of the cymbals used. His drumming sounds like a sabre dance of some sort! And this rattling blown us to pieces after the live concert. You have NO excuses when it comes to Age of Excuse! Must listen!  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mglaofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mglaofficial/?hl=es
Bandcamp: https://no-solace.bandcamp.com/

14) Baroness – Gold & Grey
(Abraxan Hymns)

Just press the play button and bow to your senses! Baroness’ Gold & Grey is such a delightful album! Gold & Grey is 1 hour of high quality music! Gotta love that loud bass! Production wise, this release is flawless! Gold & Grey is surely yet another magnificent piece of art coming from Baroness.  And as always, their art is beautifully portrayed through their easily recognizable album covers! This album creates a soothing atmosphere that will consume your senses! Downsides? Well, a 1-hour session demands a lot of attention.  But that shouldn’t discourage you from listening to this magnificent album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourBaroness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbaroness/
Bandcamp: https://baroness.bandcamp.com/

13) Blood Incantation – Hidden History of the Human Race
(Dark Descent Records)

Bring it! Hidden History of the Human Race is sonic filth from outer space! These guys keep on delivering some bone-breaking stuff! This is Blood Incantation’s 2^nd album and I must say that there’s visible progress involved! What I love about this album is the way it transcends brutal death metal standards by incorporating the magnificently executed Eastern melodies in the whole picture. The album itself shifts from 250 BPM madness to slower, masterfully executed parts. Hidden History of the Human Race is an iconic death metal release, no matter what parameters are involved! 4 songs, 36 minutes… Press play and let the carnage begin! And yeah, that brilliant artwork is the work of Bruce Pennington. P.S. THOSE EARS! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astralnecrosis/
Instagram: https://bloodincantation.bandcamp.com/

12) Nocturnus AD – Paradox
(Profound Lore Records)

Oh boy! Who says that Tampa Florida is not making death metal masterpieces anymore?  That being said, Paradox is an album that stands shoulder to shoulder with the 1990 masterpiece – The Key! Literally! Who would have guessed that Nocturnus AD would pull out such a tremendous release? Mike Browning’ vocals & drumming are still as good as in the old days! And man! Those technical & dissonant riffs are one big sonic blow straight to the head! Not to mention the evil sounding keyboards that contribute perfectly to the whole thing!  Nocturnus AD’s Paradox is a gateway to the otherworldliness! I must say that the new lineup is beyond awesome! You have to give these guys a credit for creating a true death metal masterpiece!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NocturnusAD/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nocturnusad/
Bandcamp: https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/paradox

11) Full of Hell – Wheeping Choir
(Relapse Records)

It’s GRINDCORE TIME! With Full ff Hell’s new album – Wheeping Choir, you get 24 minutes of absolute grinding violence! The band sounds tighter that ever before! Dylan Walker’s ghoulish energy mounts the tension to the extreme! He is the NAZGUL of metal if you ask me!  And as always, Spencer Hazard brought forth a merciless, imploding riff storm. Every fan of death metal/grindcore should dig this stuff!  And yeah, the band yet again mixed death metal with grindcore and some over-the-top noisy & dissonant effects that give an eerie vibe to the whole release. We wish the band good luck with getting their stolen equipment back! You can donate to their cause here! Wheeping Choir is a sonic counterpart of a black hole turned upside-down!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fullofhell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullofhell/
Bandcamp: https://fullofhell.bandcamp.com/

10) Possessed – Revelations of Oblivion
(Nuclear Blast)

The fathers of death metal are back! It took us 33 years to get a new Possessed album! And the wait was worth it! The latest Possessed album Revelations of Oblivion is a magnificent comeback album! Who would tell that the death metal veterans would sound stronger than ever, after all these years of breakup! Jeff Becerra’s vocals still possess the brutality this band craves! He surely is the heart, the brain & the soul of Possessed! The new lineup worked things out really well! Revelations of Oblivion is a tale of chaos, transmuted through the sound of old school death metal! The nameless evil lurks within these riffs!  Make no mistake, Revelations of Oblivion is THE comeback album of the year!  Let’s face it, half the bands on this list wouldn’t exist without Possessed! All hail the fathers of death metal!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/possessedofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/possessed_official/

9) Death Angel – Humanicide
(Nuclear Blast)

Damn! Gotta love this band! Death Angel is one of the few Bay Area thrash metal bands that actually released an album this year… These guys are consistent in making some fantastic thrash metal. Humanicide incorporates these thrashy & melodic elements. These melodic riffs are actually Death Angel’s biggest trademark.  Rob Cavestany is a freakin’ riff machine! And his lead work on this release is quite astonishing! The way Death Angel blends pure aggression with melodies and Mark Osegueda’s singing is surreal! You can even hear some blast beats going on, which raises the bar of brutality on the tracks. This band keeps getting better and better with every release they make! Humanicide is an easy-to-listen Bay Area thrash metal masterpiece that will be on our playlists for years to come!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deathangel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deathangelofficial/

8) Dysrhythmia -Terminal Threshold
(Profound Lore Records)

A band that never ceases to amaze us! Dysrhythmia’s 8^th album Terminal Threshold is as wicked as the album artwork suggests! The main difference this time is the way Dysrhythmia added 80s thrash/speed metal elements into the whole picture (Terminal Thrashold, eh?). The songs are still technical but also contain these laid-back riffs that don’t require your brain working 2000 mph when it comes to both playing and listening to these tracks. However, the band maintained technicality on an envious level. The tracks are still proggy and dissonant enough to blow you away! The overall dynamic of the tracks are astonishing to say the least! And the fact that we are talking about a trio just adds more awesomeness to this band! Kevin Hufnagel, Colin Marston & Jeff Ebber are the masters of their craft. This is surely #1 progressive metal release of this year on our list! The chaos embodied through these songs perfectly catch the ongoing madness in the world that surrounds us. And we are completely hooked!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dysrhythmia/
Bandcamp: https://dysrhythmia.bandcamp.com/

7) Vltimas – Something Wicked Marches In
(Season of Mist)

Goddamn! It has been almost a year since Vltimas released their debut album! Something Wicked Marches In is a band with David Vincent (I Am Morbid, ex-Morbid Angel) on bass & vocals, Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy) on the drums and Rune „Blasphemer“ Eriksen (ex-Mayhem) on the guitars. And this is no fancy supergroup but a real band! Something Wicked Marches In perfectly merges all the finest aspects of these musicians. And this album is here to stay! Once you hear it, there is no turning back! Something Wicked Marches In sophistically balances between the realms of death and black metal. This is surely an album that will be listed among the classic ones in 20 years.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VLTIMAS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/
Bandcamp: https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/releases

6) Vitriol – To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice
(Century Media Records)

DAMN! Well this is definitely the most DISSONANT death metal release in 2019! Vitriol’s very first album – To Bathe From the Throat of Cowardice is a must hear, gigantic piece of art! Their music is a vortex of orchestrated noise that can be parred only by few. Listening to these songs is the closest you can get to the apocalypse! This is the way death metal should sound in 2019! All these schizophrenic madness coming out from the stereo may trigger a heart attack among the weak! So, weaklings beware! The band’s name is an old word for sulfate. And yeah, those tracks are the embodiment of the deadly chemical that would change your state of matter. Rabid guitars, wicked vocals, and the overall tremendous musicianship is what makes this album one of the finest death metal releases this year! This band will surely enter our next list of the best dissonant death metal bands vol. 2!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vitriolwarfare/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitriolwarfare/
Bandcamp: https://vitriolwarfare.bandcamp.com/

5) Deathspell Omega – The Furnaces of Palingenesia
(Norma Evangelium Diaboli)

Arguably the most dissonant release of the year 2019 along with Vitriol’ To Bathe From the Throat of Cowardice.  Deathspell Omega’s 7^th studio album The Furnaces of Palingenesia is yet another magnificent release from the band’s opus. And it’s way better than the previous one, The Synarchy of Molten Bones. The songs on The Furnaces of Palingenesia album have better production and are more colorful than its predecessor. The band’s easily recognizable dissonant formula keeps on evolving! The band brought in some non-black metal influences into the whole picture (Joy Division per say). And as always, Deathspell Omega manages to outdo the heaviness of most metal bands without down tuning to A.  The band’s music sounds like it was forged in the darkest corners of Barad Dur. Deathspell Omega’s The Furnaces of Palingenesia is an atom-splitting butchery you shouldn’t come across!

Bandcamp: https://deathspellomega.bandcamp.com/

4) Mayhem – Daemon
(Century Media Records)

Jeez! Mayhem brought forth some serious evil upon the ears of millions of listeners with their latest album – Daemon. Trve Norwegian black metal veterans just can’t fail! This album has overall superb tracks. Everything about Daemon is miles above the average when it comes to this genre!  Mayhem really made an album which is surely going to be the considered band’s classic in the years to come! Perfect production, eerie atmosphere and godlike riffage is what makes this album so damn good! Not to mention the vocal range of Attila Csihar, who can switch between ghoulish sounding screams and operatic approach whenever he feels like doing it! Necrobutcher delivered some killer bass lines that contribute to the dark atmosphere on this release greatly. Best songs? Well if we have to single out some that would be: „The Dying False King“ „Agenda Ignis“, „Falsified and Hated“, „Malum“ , „Worthless Abominations Destroyed“... I mean, this album literally is one of the finest coming from the black metal genre. Not just this year, but in past 20 years!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetruemayhem/
Bandcamp: https://mayhemofficial.bandcamp.com/

3) Nile – Vile Nilotic Rites
(Nuclear Blast)

*Bow to the gods!* This year, Nile released their 9^th studio album – Vile Nilotic Rites. Despite the lineup change, Nile managed to create an album worthy of the ancient ones! For every technical death metal fan, Vile Nilotic Rites is a must listen! Karl Sanders’ riffage sandstorm mixed with George Kollias’ implosive drumming is something you can’t get enough of with every listen! Those tracks lay waste upon the fretboard and the ears of the listeners! Nile also brought some exotic, experimental elements that contribute greatly to the freshness of this masterpiece, especially when it comes to those choral parts. And as always, the Eastern vibe is there. That feature alone makes Nile sound so unique when compared  to most death metal bands out there. Vile Nilotic Rites will make you feel 10 feet tall! And the riffs are to blame for that!  Any last words? Well, Nile’s Vile Nilotic Rites is a masterful album that enters our 2019 pantheon ranked 3^rd! Let’s face it! We are talking about godlike death metal!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nilecatacombs
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nile_official/
Bandcamp: 

2)Cattle Decapitation – Death Atlas
(Metal Blade Records)

Cattle Decapitation never cease to amaze me!  What can be said about this brilliant album? Well, what drew my attention from the start are Travis Ryan’s lyrics which deal with present day ecological crisis. Man, it made me feel as if it’s the 80s again, when all these thrash metal bands were talking about the ecological destruction that took place at the time. Death Atlas is probably the most political Cattle Decapitation album to this date (even more than Anthropocene Extinction, even though both albums touch the same subjects) AND the most political album on this list! The overall lyrical content reminds me of Graveyard’s The 6^th Extinction (you better check these guys out!) Music-wise, Death Atlas itself perfectly incorporates the finest aspects of grindcore, death metal & black metal! This album stands shoulder to shoulder with Monolith of Inhumanity! Travis Ryan’s vocals give the whole thing a new level of heaviness! Death Atlas is pretty lengthy album. 55 minutes to be precise. And you won’t get bored for a second!  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cattledecapitation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cattledecapitation/
Bandcamp: https://cattledecapitation.bandcamp.com/

1) Overkill – The Wings of War
(Nuclear Blast)

Who would have guessed? WE HAVE A WINNER! ! As we stated in our review, The Wings of War is the best Overkill album since Ironbound!  And damn right it is! The Wings of War  an absolute winner of Agoraphobic News’ best album of 2019! Congrats to the band! East Coast thrash veterans never ceases to amaze us. Overkill is pushing the envelope further with every album they make!  I mean, for a band that’s alive and well since 1980, you gotta admit that these guys sound as if they are in their 20s again! Besides, this is the very first Overkill album to feature their new drummer, Jason Bittner. The sheer energy coming from the Bobby Blitz’s vocals & the apocalyptic grooves brought to you by Dave Linsk & Derek Tailer’s guitar assault is unmatched! Not to mention D.D. Verni’s rattling bass & Jason Bittner’s drum pounding!  East coast thrash metal veterans surpassed every thrash release that we checked out this year! The Wings of War is simply a more than enjoyable album! And after dozens of listens, these songs keep getting better and better! Overkill managed to make catchy, yet deadly and brutal enough thrash anthems. When it comes to thrash, East Coast took the lead this year!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OverkillWreckingCrew
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overkillofficial/