2019 - Voivod's pseudo-random safari
Well, it's that time of the year again folks :-). Rated or not, all albums listed are considered to be at least 3.4, meaning they're work checking out at least once, imho that is. Feel free to check anything out and drop a comment like whenever. List will progressively be filled with more noteworthy 2019 releases. Supplemental lists will follow as the end of this year approaches. |
| 1 |  | Eternity's End
Unyielding
3.7 - power/progressive metal of international origin.
Melodic (as in heavy/power/progressive) metal is back on the rise in Europe, and Eternity's End debut album a couple of years back, is merely one of an ever increasing array of compelling signs that justify such a claim. Their sophomore album is different from its predecessor in that it has shed all the somewhat experimental elements (extreme/groove metal) evidenced therein. Therefore it uniformly relies, sound/arrangements-wise, on Euro heavy/power metal and much much less on more extreme metal genres (the thrashy "Necromantic Worship" and "Beyond the Gates of Salvation"), bearing no real standout songs whatsoever. That said, the perceived instrumental prowess is impeccable, while new singer is just as good as Ian Parry, who fronted in The Fire Within. Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_eternitys-end__album_unyielding.html |
| 2 |  | Legion of the Damned
Slaves Of The Shadow Realm
3.4 - thrash/death metal from the Netherlands.
The thrash/death metal of this Dutch outfit, reminded me of a genre classic, namely the Under The Blade album by Defleshed, and that's only a good thing. Although the wheel is not reinvented at all, the vigour with which the band operates throughout the album, is enough to spin it from start to finish and have a good time while at it. Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_legion-of-the-damned__album_slaves-of-the-shadow-realm.html |
| 3 |  | Lugnet
Nightwalker
3.8 - '70s/vintage hard rock from Sweden.
Stop waiting for Whitesnake to release a new album, these Swedes are more than cutting it already, even though Nightwalker distances itself from the band's aforementioned core influence, and doubles down into the swinging '60-'70s. Excellent sound work, ear drum crushing vocals, and an ever shape shifting set of arrangements, make for an album with a lasting impression for time to come. Favourite track: Die For You. |
| 4 |  | Telumehtar
The Well
3.6 - black metal from France.
The shortest way to reference this album is to recall the sound of Ulver in Nattens Madrigal; Telumehtar's debut album can be easily filed under the "raw black metal" label, however there are some traits that set this one man affair relatively apart. The rhythm section is blast beating all the time, however it is skilled in a way that's found in tech metal outfits only; the guitars have this bass-like texture while they distance themselves from the traditional tremolo picking, while along with the vocals, they grant the whole recording a distinct punk coat of paint. The above said, it is difficult to pick one or more songs from the lot, but the album as a whole has a dependable replay value. Stream: http://telumehtar.bandcamp.com/album/the-well-2 |
| 5 |  | Magnabolt
Magnabolt
3.4 - US heavy/power metal from Portland, Oregon.
Magnabolt's namesake debut is a strong pledge for better US heavy/power metal to arrive in future releases, if the band decides to persist in time, that is. For the time being, what can be inferred with certainty is the band's musical proficiency, especially the guitars. Music itself does not reinvent the wheel, but it treads on established ground nonetheless, ergo it's inherently engaging. As for the vocals, they could be better mixed and coached during the recording sessions, albeit the delivery is adequately convincing overall. Stream: http://magnabolt.bandcamp.com/album/magnabolt |
| 6 |  | Birdstone
Seer
4.0 - heavy/blues rock from France.
Ok, this is the best heavy (and I mean heavy af!!!)/blues rock that has rubbed my ears in a very long time. Birdstone's debut full-length album is a win-win on every sector; from the sound work which is an oasis in today's plastic/compressed wasteland, to the arrangements that carry a progressive rock scent that spices things even more, to the vocalist's French accent which colours the music only so much, as to further distinguish the music from everything else out there. Keep calm, buy this, go to the band's concerts and stream this as much as you can: http://birdstoneband.bandcamp.com/album/seer |
| 7 |  | Blood Youth
Starve
3.6 - nu-metal from the UK.
Most traditional metalheads regard nu-metal and the affiliated genres as an addition of no avail to the fold. There are times though, where elaborate arrangements and melody and traditional styles, simply cannot satisfy the momentary need for primal groove to flow through the speakers and just jostle you away with its raw energy. As a whole, Blood Youth's sophomore album succeeds big in that respect, even though almost no cut stands off the lot. |
| 8 |  | Overkill
The Wings Of War
3.5 - thrash metal from New Jersey.
19th Overkill album is a textbook case of a great album in which the drummer spurs the rest of the band in terms of urgency; Jason Bittner is fuckin' killing it behind the drum kit. Overall, New Jersey natives are solid enough to allow their prospective audience to listen to the album from start to finish, but they are running on gas fumes for some time now... Favourite track: the punky Welcome to the Garden State, Batshitcrazy, Hole In My Soul. Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_overkill__album_the-wings-of-war.html |
| 9 |  | The Treatment
Power Crazy
3.4 - hard rock from the UK.
The Treatment won't reinvent the wheel of hard/boogie rock, they sure know however, how to spin it gracefully. Power Crazy leans confidently on AC/DC, Tesla, Mr. Big, The Cult, Thunderhead etc, but at the same time, it keeps a perceivable distance from blatant rehashing thereof. Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_the-treatment__album_power-crazy.html |
| 10 |  | Shrapnel (UK)
Decade Of Decimation
3.6 - thrash metal from the UK.
Spot on title, it's as though it describes the downward spiral of the revival thrash movement from the late naughts to the present; yeah, looking for top tier new thrash nowadays is like searching for empathetic humans with Diogenes' torch. Within the described environment, Shrapnel sound like the equivalent of an oasis in the genre's scorching desert. Maintaining their elaborate heavy/speed metal course set by their sophomore full-length, they attack the moderate ailments of the sound work therein, ending up with a triad of neck-breaking new material, plus an awesome reprise of "No Saviours" from the namesake EP. Keep it up lads!!! |
| 11 |  | Midnight Spell
Between the Eyes (Demo)
3.4 - heavy metal from Miami, Florida.
Midnight Spells' hard rocking metal is highly reminiscent of the style's heyday in the early '80s and with outfits like Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, and Hellion (of the namesake EP) etc. The missteps of their singer are perceivable yet non-critical, while instrumentally the band gives some sort of a pledge for better material in releases to come. Stream: http://midnightspell.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 12 |  | Forgjord
Ilmestykset
4.0 - black metal from Finland.
Although several of the band's traits from previous albums persist in the new one, nothing can prepare the prospective listener for the tectonic shift in paradigm that Ilmestykset brings forth. The lo-fi black metal sound work is still here, but a great deal of melody has been added to form a contrast that works throughout. With its turn, black metal has receded so as for progressive/hard rock to infiltrate Forgjord's idiosyncratic-by-design way of composing music. As a result, the listener can safely play the album back-to-back or keep any isolated track on repeat for as long as he/she desires. Favorite track: Maailma Palaa. Stream: http://werewolfrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ilmestykset |
| 13 |  | Vaura
Sables
3.7 - gothic/post punk/experimental from Brooklyn, New York.
During the time that elapsed, it became all the more evident from a listener's perspective that the triumph of The Missing would be almost impossible to match in releases to come; so, it only makes sense that Vaura, whose members are seasoned in conquering one summit after the other in their numerous projects, wisely refrained from such an endeavor. Instead, they boldly shed their metal elements, filtered '80s darkwave/gothic rock through their custom artistry, polished their sound to perfection, and came with an expansion of the mentioned genres, that could weather further exploration in the future. Favorite track: The Ruins (Hymne). Stream: http://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/sables |
| 15 |  | Feeble Minded
Collapsing Existence
3.4 - death metal from Czechia.
In case old or new (before becoming too "new" for almost everybody's liking) Suffocation are sorely missed, the fourth album of this Czech outfit is a strong painkiller by means of its excellent production and its fair musicianship and arrangements. Stream: http://bizarreleprous.bandcamp.com/album/collapsing-existence |
| 16 |  | Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
Bandana
3.7 - hip hop from San Francisco, California.
If it weren't from the infinite-replay-value "Giannis" single due to its superficial reference to the Greek Freak, I wouldn't come across this album... As a gangsta hip-hop release, the album stands out due to Madlib's ingenious placement of instrumentals/samples/what have you, along with Gibbs' one-dimensional perhaps, yet always gritty delivery. And yeah, guest artists give the album extra points, while the respective tracks - Education, especially - happen to be the best of the lot. Favorite tracks: Palmolive, Giannis, Education. Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_freddie-gibbs-and-madlib__album_bandana.html |
| 17 |  | Sacred Reich
Awakening
3.4 - thrash metal from Phoenix, Arizona.
Sacred Reich's come-back album sounds like what Independent should have sounded like in the first place. Stream: http://sacredreichofficial.bandcamp.com/album/awakening |
| 18 |  | Molten Chains
In the Antechamber Below
3.4 - heavy metal from Vienna, Austria.
Analogous to a handful of classic heavy metal bands having allowed extreme metal to infiltrate their default style, Molten Chains play this kind of atavistic, dark heavy metal, with sludgy riffs adeptly adapting to the band's shapeshifting whims song-writing-wise. Being a debut album and in view of its more-than-welcome crude/experimental sound, most of the inefficiencies of In The Antechamber Below can be more or less ignored, except for the [male] vocalist who has a large margin for improvement to fill in future releases. Stream: http://moltenchains.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-antechamber-below
Edit: a previous version of this soundoff mentioned that the band's vocalist is female. The error is regretted. |
| 19 |  | Exhorder
Mourn the Southern Skies
4.0 - thrash/death metal from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Prepare to be blown away! Stream: http://musicmp3.ru/artist_exhorder__album_mourn-the-southern-skies.html |
| 20 |  | Soilwork
Verkligheten
Melodic death metal from Sweden.
Stream: https://musicmp3.ru/artist_legion-of-the-damned__album_slaves-of-the-shadow-realm.html |
| 22 |  | Plague Pit
Topheth Ablaze
Death/black metal from Dublin, Ireland.
Stream: https://plaguepit.bandcamp.com/album/topheth-ablaze |
| 23 |  | Cloudbreaker
Confinement Is Finite
Progressive/melodic death metal from Germany.
Stream: https://cloudbreaker.bandcamp.com/ |
| 24 |  | Hussar
No Victor
Death/doom metal from Canada.
Stream: https://hussarofficial.bandcamp.com/album/no-victor |
| 25 |  | Through the Canopy
Descension
Post/progressive/psychedelic metal from Norway.
Stream: https://throughthecanopy.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 26 |  | Noctambulist
Atmospheres of Desolation
death/black metal from Denver, Colorado.
Stream: https://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/atmospheres-of-desolation |
| 27 |  | Flotsam and Jetsam
The End of Chaos
Power/thrash metal from Phoenix, Arizona.
Stream: https://musicmp3.ru/artist_flotsam-and-jetsam__album_the-end-of-chaos.html |
| 28 |  | Akantha
Baptism In Psychical Analects
Black metal from Greece.
Stream: https://akantha.bandcamp.com/album/baptism-in-psychical-analects |
| 29 |  | The Love Dimension
Dream Decibels
Psychedelic/grunge rock from from San Francisco, California.
Stream: https://thelovedimension.bandcamp.com/album/dream-decibels |
| 30 |  | Helium Horse Fly
Hollowed
Experimental/atmospheric rock from Belgium.
Stream: https://heliumhorsefly.bandcamp.com/album/hollowed |
| 31 |  | Imha Tarikat
Kara Ihlas
Black metal from Germany.
Stream: https://imhatarikat.bandcamp.com/album/kara-ihlas |
| 32 |  | Analizator
Čovečanstveno Sranje
Grindcore from Serbia.
Stream: https://analizatorgrind.bandcamp.com/album/ove-anstveno-sranje |
| 33 |  | Defacement
Deviant
Death/black metal from the Netherlands.
Stream: https://defacementofficial.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 34 |  | Failed Treatment
Spread Of Infection
Grindcore from Ukraine.
Stream: https://failedtreatment.bandcamp.com/album/spread-of-infection |
| 35 |  | Obskkvlt
Blackarhats
Industrial/death metal from Spain.
Stream: https://obskkvlt.bandcamp.com/ |
| 36 |  | Inner Altar
Vol. III
Psychedelid/doom/hard rock from Kansas City, Missouri.
Stream: https://inneraltar.bandcamp.com/album/vol-iii |
| 37 |  | Two People
First Body
Electronic/dream pop from Melbourne, Australia.
Stream: https://twopeoplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/first-body |
| 38 |  | Grusig
Dr Ahfang vor Misäärä
Black metal from Switzerland.
Stream: https://grusig.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 39 |  | Somn
The All-Devouring
Post/black metal from Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
Stream: https://somnband.bandcamp.com/album/the-all-devouring |
| 40 |  | Strange Passage
Shouldn't Be Too Long
Indie pop/post punk from Somerville, Massachusetts.
Stream: https://strangepassage.bandcamp.com/album/shouldnt-be-too-long |
| 41 |  | Proceus
Heaven of Northern Ice
Epic black metal from Indonesia.
Stream: https://proceus.bandcamp.com/album/heaven-of-northern-ice |
| 42 |  | Syu
Vorvados
Heavy/power/progressive/neo-classical metal from Japan.
Stream: https://musicmp3.ru/artist_syu__album_vorvados.html |
| 43 |  | Heaume Mortal
Solstices
Black metal from France.
Stream: https://heaumemortal.bandcamp.com/album/solstices-2 |
| 44 |  | Extirpation
A Damnation's Stairway to the Altar of Failure
Black/thrash metal from Italy.
Stream: https://extirpation.bandcamp.com/album/a-damnations-stairway-to-the-altar-of-failure |
| 45 |  | Uluru
Acrophilia
Psychedelic/heavy rock from Istanbul, Turkey.
Stream: https://ulurutrio.bandcamp.com/album/acrophilia |
| 46 |  | Veiled (DE)
In Blinding Presence
Black metal from Germany.
Stream: https://thetrueveiled.bandcamp.com/album/in-blinding-presence |
| 47 |  | The Ossuary
Southern Funeral
Hard n' heavy/doom rock from Italy.
Stream: https://scrmetal.bandcamp.com/album/southern-funeral |
| 48 |  | Unsu
Daily Grind
Grindcore from France.
Stream: https://unsugrindcore.bandcamp.com/album/daily-grind |
| 49 |  | Hexenbrett
Erste Beschwörung
Blackened heavy metal from Germany.
Stream: https://hexenbrett.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 50 |  | Revolve
Dragged Into Extinction
Metallic Hardcore from the UK.
Stream: https://revolveglasgow.bandcamp.com/album/dragged-into-extinction |
| 51 |  | Tribe Of Pazuzu
Heretical Uprising
Tech death metal of international origin.
Stream: https://tribeofpazuzu.bandcamp.com/ |
| 52 |  | The Ghost Next Door
A Feast For the Sixth Sense
Progressive/doom/alternative metal from the States.
Stream: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-feast-for-the-sixth-sense |
| 53 |  | Zloslut
Sahar
Black metal from Serbia.
Stream: https://zloslut.bandcamp.com/album/sahar |
| 54 |  | Critical Defiance
Misconception
Thrash metal from Chile.
Stream: https://unspeakableaxerecords.bandcamp.com/album/misconception |
| 55 |  | Voidnaut
Nadir
Groove metal from Greece.
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/5RXyzdCgl1ERrT1hqYxcs2 |
| 56 |  | Zordah
Fury
Black metal from Hungary. |
| 57 |  | Meka
Ending My Life to Destroy Yours
Noise/black metal from Toledo, Ohio.
Stream: https://mekaoh.bandcamp.com/album/ending-my-life-to-destroy-yours-2 |
| 58 |  | Sordide
Hier Déjà Mort
Black metal from France.
Stream: https://sordide.bandcamp.com/album/hier-d-j-mort |
| 59 |  | Obturate
The Bleeding Mask of Dread
Death metal from France.
Stream: https://obturate.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 60 |  | Ruin Lust
Sacrifice
Death/black metal from New York City.
Stream: https://ruinlust.bandcamp.com/album/sacrifice |
| 61 |  | Walls of Blood
Imperium
Power/thrash metal of international origin.
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4ijx5JBovsgDTD8FmhB7pY |
| 62 |  | Mortanius
Till Death Do Us Part
Power/progressive metal from Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
Stream: https://mortanius.bandcamp.com/album/till-death-do-us-part |
| 63 |  | Mean Machine (ESP)
Rock 'N' Roll Up Your Ass
Speed/thrash metal from Spain.
Stream: https://meanmachinernr.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-up-your-ass |
| 64 |  | Owls Woods Graves
Citizenship of the Abyss
Blackened punk/hardcore from Poland.
Stream: https://malignantvoices.bandcamp.com/album/citizenship-of-the-abyss |
| 65 |  | Demon Head
Hellfire Ocean Void
Occult/doom/hard n' heavy rock from Denmark.
Stream: https://demonhead.bandcamp.com/album/hellfire-ocean-void |
| 66 |  | Maestus
Deliquesce
Blackened doom metal from Eugene, Oregon.
Stream: https://maestus.bandcamp.com/album/deliquesce |
| 67 |  | Cavem3n
The Stalefield Incident
Hard rock from Sweden.
Stream: https://cavem3n.bandcamp.com/album/the-stalefield-incident |
| 68 |  | Jessica Pratt
Quiet Signs
Psychedelic/folk rock from Los Angeles, California.
Stream: https://jessicapratt.bandcamp.com/album/quiet-signs |
| 69 |  | Sanhedrin (USA-NY)
The Poisoner
Heavy metal from Brooklyn, New York.
Stream: https://thesanhedrin.bandcamp.com/album/the-poisoner |
| 70 |  | Diabolic Rites
Litanies Of The Lecherous
Black metal from Australia.
Stream: https://diabolicrites.bandcamp.com/album/litanies-of-the-lecherous |
| 71 |  | Witchers Creed
Awakened From the Tomb
Heavy/doom rock from Sweden.
Stream: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/awakened-from-the-tomb |
| 72 |  | Traveler (CAN)
Traveler
Heavy metal from Canada.
Stream: https://travelermetal.bandcamp.com/album/traveler |
| 73 |  | Endorphins Lost
Seclusions
Grindcore from Seattle, Washington.
Stream: https://endorphinviolence.bandcamp.com/album/seclusions |
| 74 |  | Anima Mortuum
Goat Destruction
Black metal from Chile.
Stream: https://animamortuum.bandcamp.com/album/goat-destruction |
| 75 |  | Knchna
Habit to Exist
Grindcore/death metal from Russia.
Stream: https://knchna.bandcamp.com/album/habit-to-exist |
| 76 |  | Boy Harsher
Careful
Electro/coldwave from Northampton, Massachusetts.
Stream: https://boyharsher.bandcamp.com/album/careful |
| 77 |  | Ifernach
V. Wastow
Black metal from Canada.
Stream: https://ifernach.bandcamp.com/album/v-wastow |
| 78 |  | Downcross
Mysteries of Left Path
Black metal from Minsk, Belarus.
Stream: https://downcross.bandcamp.com/album/mysteries-of-left-path |
| 79 |  | Trespasser (UA)
Чому не вийшло?
Black metal from Ukraine.
Stream: https://trespasserxvi.bandcamp.com/album/- |
| 80 |  | Witchgoat
Egregors Of The Black Faith
Black/thrash metal from El Salvador.
Stream: https://morbidskull.bandcamp.com/album/egregors-of-the-black-faith |
| 81 |  | Sandstorm
Time To Strike
Hard n' heavy rock from Canada.
Stream: https://hotrockinsandstorm.bandcamp.com/releases |
| 82 |  | Fange
Punir
Sludge/doom/industrial metal from France.
Stream: https://fange.bandcamp.com/album/punir |
| 83 |  | Drastus
La Croix de Sang
Black metal from France.
Stream: https://drastus.bandcamp.com/album/la-croix-de-sang |
| 84 |  | Sores
Sores
Black metal from Greece.
Stream: https://soresbm.bandcamp.com/album/sores |
| 85 |  | The Dead Ends
Distant Shores
Psychedelic rock from Kavala, Greece.
Stream: https://thedeadends3.bandcamp.com/album/distant-shores |
| 86 |  | Sinmara
Hvísl Stjarnanna
Black metal from Iceland.
Stream: https://sinmara.bandcamp.com/album/hv-sl-stjarnanna |
| 87 |  | Ataraxie
Résignés
Doom/death metal from France.
Stream: https://xenokorp.bandcamp.com/album/r-sign-s |
| 88 |  | Katechon
Sanger Fra Auschwitz
Death/black metal from Norway.
Stream: https://katechonor.bandcamp.com |
| 89 |  | Witnesses
To Disappear and to Be Nothing
Atmospheric doom metal from New York City.
Stream: https://witnesses-nyc.bandcamp.com/album/to-disappear-and-to-be-nothing |
| 90 |  | Nostromo (CHE)
Narrenschiff
Grind/hardcore from Switzerland.
Stream: https://nostromogva.bandcamp.com/album/narrenschiff |
| 91 |  | Mu Cephei
Mantras of the Uninformed Minds
Drone/doom metal from Ireland.
Stream: https://mu-cepheidoom.bandcamp.com/album/mantras-of-the-uninformed-mind |
| 92 |  | Tempel (NO)
Tempel
Hard n' heavy/metallic/noise rock from Norway.
Stream: https://tempelmusikk.bandcamp.com/album/tempel |
| 93 |  | Shabti
Trembling and Shorn
Progressive/death/black metal band from Maine.
Stream: https://shabti.bandcamp.com/album/trembling-and-shorn |
| 94 |  | Gjendod
Krigsdøger
Folk/black metal from Norway.
Stream: https://hellthrasherproductions.bandcamp.com/album/krigsd-ger |
| 95 |  | Flykt
Charnel Heart
Black metal from Sweden.
Stream: https://flykt.bandcamp.com/album/charnel-heart |
| 96 |  | Green Lung
Woodland Rites
Heavy/doom rock from London, UK.
Stream: https://greenlung.bandcamp.com/album/woodland-rites |
| 97 |  | Bible of the Devil
Feel It
Hard n' heavy rock from Chicago, Illinois.
Stream: https://bibleofthedevil.bandcamp.com/album/feel-it |
| 98 |  | Phoenix Again
Friends Of Spirit
Folk/progressive rock from Italy.
Stream: https://phoenixagain.bandcamp.com/album/friends-of-spirit-2 |
| 99 |  | Poste 942
Long Replay
Blues/hard rock from France.
Stream: https://poste942.bandcamp.com/album/long-replay |
| 100 |  | Motley Crue
The Dirt Soundtrack
Hard rocking heavy metal from Los Angeles, California.
Stream: https://musicmp3.ru/artist_motley-crue__album_the-dirt-soundtrack.html |
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