Yes, I know it's been a while since I posted anything. In my defense I stay pretty busy between the day job and trying to write & edit so sue me! Instead of more self promo (I have several books coming out soon) I wanted to have a little fun and share something pretty damn important to me... MUSIC!
Since I know some of you reading this may not know me very well I will do a short preface here - So if you have known me for some time feel free to skip this part...
Okay, still here? For those who don't know I have been a metalhead since I was little. I was about 8 or 9 yrs old when I bought my first real album which was AC/DC's For Those About To Rock... We Salute You! Still an awesome classic album which sadly I no longer have. I quickly discovered Ozzy, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and, my first music love, Iron Maiden. I was a Maiden nut until I was about 15 and listened to Metallica's Master of Puppets for the first time. That album changed my musical taste forever. My teen years can be summed up pretty simply by saying if it wasn't thrash I wasn't interested. Over the years I garnered a pretty decent music collection for someone of modest means. Then when I was about 30 (give or take I don't remember exactly) I picked up Meshuggah's amazing album Nothing and my taste changed again. I had never been much of a death metal or "extreme" metal fan but that album opened that world up to me like no other. My music collection continued to grow and while I'm a metalhead I have a lot of different music in my collection from old blues like Skip James, Leadbelly and Howlin' Wolf to Irish Punk like Flogging Molly and The Tossers to odd/eclectic bands like Gogol Bordello or Oysterhead to even some country from the likes of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams III. So yeah I'm a music lover not simply a metalhead.
Things really changed a few years ago when I ran the website Thy Demons Be Scribblin with my friend Cult. We started doing album reviews for fun though it soon morphed into something more akin to a job. In doing so we got noticed by some different music promoters and indie labels who began sending us music to review. There was a point a couple years ago when I was being sent anywhere from 50-100 albums every week. Needless to say it was impossible to listen to all of it let alone review it. However, the good thing is I have a collection of somewhere between three or four thousand albums which I purge every so often to shed albums I never listen to. The reason that is a good thing is that without music I probably wouldn't have begun writing and without it I'd find it difficult to continue as well.
Every story I write shares its title with the song that helped inspire it and I often steal band member names for characters though I recombine and sometimes adjust male names to female. I do this to pay homage to the music that has given me so much in my life, I literally wouldn't be here without it, and to add little "wink & nod" references for any fellow metalheads who may happen upon my stories. I don't make these references blatant because I want non-metalheads to enjoy my work while bringing a smile to the faces of anyone who does get it like being on the inside of an inside joke. Now I'll move on to the reason I started this today.
Okay, still here? For those who don't know I have been a metalhead since I was little. I was about 8 or 9 yrs old when I bought my first real album which was AC/DC's For Those About To Rock... We Salute You! Still an awesome classic album which sadly I no longer have. I quickly discovered Ozzy, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and, my first music love, Iron Maiden. I was a Maiden nut until I was about 15 and listened to Metallica's Master of Puppets for the first time. That album changed my musical taste forever. My teen years can be summed up pretty simply by saying if it wasn't thrash I wasn't interested. Over the years I garnered a pretty decent music collection for someone of modest means. Then when I was about 30 (give or take I don't remember exactly) I picked up Meshuggah's amazing album Nothing and my taste changed again. I had never been much of a death metal or "extreme" metal fan but that album opened that world up to me like no other. My music collection continued to grow and while I'm a metalhead I have a lot of different music in my collection from old blues like Skip James, Leadbelly and Howlin' Wolf to Irish Punk like Flogging Molly and The Tossers to odd/eclectic bands like Gogol Bordello or Oysterhead to even some country from the likes of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams III. So yeah I'm a music lover not simply a metalhead.
Things really changed a few years ago when I ran the website Thy Demons Be Scribblin with my friend Cult. We started doing album reviews for fun though it soon morphed into something more akin to a job. In doing so we got noticed by some different music promoters and indie labels who began sending us music to review. There was a point a couple years ago when I was being sent anywhere from 50-100 albums every week. Needless to say it was impossible to listen to all of it let alone review it. However, the good thing is I have a collection of somewhere between three or four thousand albums which I purge every so often to shed albums I never listen to. The reason that is a good thing is that without music I probably wouldn't have begun writing and without it I'd find it difficult to continue as well.
Every story I write shares its title with the song that helped inspire it and I often steal band member names for characters though I recombine and sometimes adjust male names to female. I do this to pay homage to the music that has given me so much in my life, I literally wouldn't be here without it, and to add little "wink & nod" references for any fellow metalheads who may happen upon my stories. I don't make these references blatant because I want non-metalheads to enjoy my work while bringing a smile to the faces of anyone who does get it like being on the inside of an inside joke. Now I'll move on to the reason I started this today.
We're nearly halfway through 2019 and while I haven't been listening to the enormous amount of new music I used to I still listen to a ton. It's been a slow year for me actually since I've only picked up about 100 new albums and some of those were re-issues of old albums I had either lost or never had from back in the day (namely a few Iron Maiden albums I lost years ago). You should also now that I love pretty much all genres of metal except black metal, I've tried but outside of a few bands I just can't get into it. Anyway I'm told people like lists so you can tell me how much my taste in music sucks but I should warn you before you waste your time doing such a silly thing... I really don't give a fuck. I'm 46. I like what I like and forcing your opinion down my throat won't change that. However, feel free to make suggestions but know that I own a literal fuckton of music so I'm probably hip to what your telling me already, LOL
So if you're still here... I present my Top Ten albums of 2019... so far. Aside from my top couple picks these really aren't in order but ten just seemed like a good number especially since the year got off to a pretty slow start. For those interested these are my favorites so far... I promise to keep it short.
#10 Swallow The Sun - When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light
Released: January 25, 2019
Label: Century Media Records
Released: January 25, 2019
Label: Century Media Records
This album is excellent if you're looking to sit back, relax and get lost in some great music. Swallow The Sun are nothing if unpredictable. It's been nearly 4 years since the triple album awesomeness of Songs From The North which was typical StS. Swallow The Sun mix numerous genres into their sound combining doom, sludge, death, black and, on Songs From The North, acoustic metal. This album stayed completely unpredictable by being extremely mellow and melodic. Those elements have been present in the past but never for a full album but on When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light they do it to bloody perfection!
Favorite Track: The Crimson Crown or Firelights - they are equally awesome examples of what you get on this album.
#9 Allegaeon - Apoptosis
Released: April 19, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
Released: April 19, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
Allegaeon continue on Apoptosis to be one of the best tech death bands working today. I have tech death bands who I'm a bigger fan of but these guys kick some major ass. This is also my favorite album of theirs to date thus landing in the tops of the year so far. When I want hard and heavy tech death is generally what I turn to and Apoptosis has been at the top of the list this year. Where many tech death bands add in a lot of progressive elements Allegaeon for the most part just kick your ass from beginning to end and their guitar solos are truly amazing! I'd say the only complaint I would have about this album, and I could say the same about a million other albums, is that it suffers a little bit of sameness. In other words there sometimes isn't enough diversity to differentiate each song. However, these songs are all great so who really cares!
Favorite Tracks: Interphase/Meiosis, The Secular Age and Stellar Tidal Disruption
#8 Fractal Universe - Rhizomes of Insanity
Released: April 19, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
Released: April 19, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
I've been a fan and following Fractal Universe since before their first Ep saw release a couple of years ago. Through my old website I reviewed an album on a whim from a band called Scarred. They weren't a huge band and thoroughly enjoyed the review and exposure. While not an official member of the band, guitarist Vince Wilquin played live shows for Scarred intermittenly so when he began his own band Fractal Universe he reached out to me for an interview and review. That Ep was fantastic and I've followed the band ever since. FU's last album Engram of Decline is one of the best progressive tech death albums you can listen to and Rhizomes of Insanity follows down that same path. If you enjoy progressive death metal with tons of technical flare then Fractal Universe is a band you should love. This album is awesome and may move higher on this list by the end of the year after I've listened to it another 1000 times.
Favorite Tracks: Flashes of Potentialities, Parabola of Silence and Fundamental Dividing Principle
#7 Lord Vicar - The Black Powder
Released: May 3, 2019
Label: The Church Within Records
Released: May 3, 2019
Label: The Church Within Records
The Black Powder is the fourth album from Finnish/Swedish doomsters Lord Vicar but it's my first time listening to them or, at least, I think so. I hear a lot of things without buying an album so it's possible I've heard all or part of one of their other albums. Anyway, I only speak for this album which is completely fucking awesome. This is traditional doom (Sabbath style doom) at its absolute best. If you're into bands like Saint Vitus, Orchid or even Electric Wizard you should definitely check them out. The opening 17 minute track, Sulphur, Charcoal and Saltpetre (the ingredients for gunpowder) sets the tone for the entire album and that's one fantastic tone. The Black Powder, like most good doom albums, is an exploration on the journey to death but unlike many others Lord Vicar manage to keep the album fresh with some faster tempo tracks like Descent and the acoustic song Nightmare. This album is a true gem from start to finish. With time it may also end up higher on this list. This is an album I'd recommend to any metal lover.
Favorite Tracks: Sulphur, Charcoal and Saltpetre, The Temple In The Bedrock and Nightmare
#6 Misery Index - Rituals of Power
Released: March 8, 2019
Label: Season of Mist
Released: March 8, 2019
Label: Season of Mist
Misery Index have been kicking ass since about 2002 with their style of death metal that adds in some elements of grind that only make their sound even heavier. Their last album, The Killing Gods, is an absolute heavy metal masterpiece so instead of trying to top it like most bands tend to do Misery Index just put out a simple kick-ass death metal album. Every track on this album is a good song to break some shit to if you're feeling a little hostile and need to blow off some steam. Sometimes that's all a good death metal album has to be and this one is beyond just good. Misery Index aren't breaking any new ground on Rituals of Power, the album is simply a statement that they are a band at the top of their game so everyone else needs to catch the fuck up or get steamrolled over!
Favorite Tracks: Hammer The Nails, Rituals of Power and the extremely fast & catchy New Salem!
#5 Soen - Lotus
Released: February 1, 2019
Label: Silver Lining Music
Released: February 1, 2019
Label: Silver Lining Music
Well here we go from one of the best death metal bands working today to one of the best prog metal bands working today. Soen began as Tool disciples but over their last few albums have really found their own sound thanks to help from some former Opeth members joining the band. There is still no denying the Tool and Opeth influences but with every album those influences that becomes less and less of a distraction. Soen's last album, Lykaia, was in my Top 5 of 2017 and Lotus is heading in the same direction. What really sets Soen apart from the pack, for me, is the amazing vocal talent of Joel Ekelöf. Without Joel's amazing voice Soen may be just another Tool knock off quickly swept aside but his voice coupled with excellent songwriting sets Soen above the pack. Lotus once again proves Soen are an excellent band who don't seem to be capable of putting out a bad album.
Favorite Tracks: Opponent, Martyrs, Lotus and the incredibly beautiful River
#4 Spirit Adrift - Divided By Darkness
Released: May 10, 2019
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Released: May 10, 2019
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Spirit Adrift are another band I've been able to hear evolve from the very beginning. A few years ago (2016) I was sent a very early copy of Spirit Adrift's debut Ep Behind-Beyond which was a 2 song Ep still weighing in at nearly 30 minutes of awesomeness. That Ep was full on doom and I f'ing loved it and still do! I was sent that 2 song Ep almost 6 months early with a promise of a full length later in 2016. Their debut album, Chained To Oblivion, didn't disappoint though their sound had already evolved adding in a heavy dose of psychedelia. Then in 2017 Spirit Adrift unleashed Curse of Conception evolving their sound even further adding in elements of thrash and NWOBHM (you metalheads know what that is!) and now they drop Divided By Darkness which puts all that in a blender with a big helping of Sabbath (if you have any doubt about that just watch the video below) and maybe a little Judas Priest. In other words, Spirit Adrift's sound continues to evolve while every album is just fucking amazing as they do. I'm just a metalhead not some "tastemaker" working for Rolling Stone or something but I'm telling you, Spirit Adrift have the makings of a band that should be fucking huge. They started as an above average doom band and have evolved into a kick ass metal band with broad appeal. Get on the train now before it runs you over!
Favorite Tracks: Born Into Fire, The Way of Return and Angel & Abyss
#3 The Moth Gatherer - Esoteric Oppression
Released: February 22, 2019
Label: Agonia Records
Released: February 22, 2019
Label: Agonia Records
This album was a pleasant surprise as it was suggested to me by John C. of my old friends at The Metalheads Podcast. I had heard of The Moth Gatherer before but I had never listened to them and, as John told me, this album is amazing! I can speak for their previous albums but on Esoteric Oppression, The Moth Gatherer sound like a perfect mash-up of The Atlas Moth and Cult of Luna who happened to be a couple of my favorite bands. This is heavy progressive post metal at its absolute finest. There are elements of doom and black metal thrown in to keep everything interesting and interesting is a major understatement. Esoteric Oppression is an album that takes you on a journey that you never want to end. I truly hate the term "post metal" but it's a term that has stuck for better or worse. If you're a fan of Cult of Luna (who are supposed to have an album out this year too) or The Atlas Moth then you will love this album. I think it's fantastic!
Favorite Tracks: All 5 of 'em! The Drone Kingdom and Utopia are probably my most favorite though
#2 Whitechapel - The Valley
Released: March 29, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
Released: March 29, 2019
Label: Metal Blade Records
If you had asked me about ten years ago what my thoughts on Whitechapel were I would have said they are just another generic deathcore band when there seemed to be a million of 'em who sounded pretty much all the same. Loud guitars, screamed - mostly incoherent - vocals with plenty of blast beats and too many breakdowns or what is known as deathcore. However, Whitechapel began to change, separate themselves from the deathcore pack, with their self-titled album in 2012. On that album they began adding in catchy rhythms and cleaner vocals, they were moving beyond deathcore becoming an awesome metal band with loads of talent. They continued to progress through their next few albums trying to shed the deathcore label they had been pigeon-holed with but weren't quite able to do so. Then they dropped The Valley and if you think you're getting a deathcore album you're gonna be extremely disappointed. Sure Whitechapel keep some of the deathcore elements in their sound but they have evolved so much that I think they've finally broken the shackles of the deathcore label. If you have any doubt then listen to Hickory Creek which is as close as you'll get to a ballad with excellent clean vocals from Phil Bozeman who also takes his songwriting skills to a whole other level on The Valley. The Valley is Phil purging his demons from growing up with a mentally ill & drug addicted mother. The deeper meanings are for Phil but he uses some of his mother's insane journal entries along with his own lyrics to give the album a deeper meaning than any of us will ever understand. Don't let Hickory Creek fool you though, Whitechapel have not gone "soft" and if you need evidence of that all you have to do is listen to the very next track, Black Bear, which will chew you up and spit you out just like getting attacked by a real black bear. Whitechapel's core sound is and probably will always be deathcore but there is so much more there now that keeps every song unique. The Valley is one of the best metal albums of 2019 so far but, for me, will be one of the best albums in my collection for years into the future.
Favorite Tracks: Hickory Creek, Black Bear and Brimstone
Finally you made it to the end and I definitely saved the best for last! We're only halfway through the year so the odds that this album will stay in my top spot are slim since Tool, my favorite band of all-time, have a new album finally coming out in August! Make no mistake even if this album gets knocked off my #1 spot it will take one helluva album to do it! So without further ado...
here is the best album of the year so far!
here is the best album of the year so far!
#1 Lord Dying - Mysterium Tremendum
Released: April 26, 2019
Label: E-One Music (Entertainment One)
Released: April 26, 2019
Label: E-One Music (Entertainment One)
I knew this album was coming but it couldn't have thrown me for a bigger loop. Prior to this album Lord Dying's first two albums were excellent but not what I would call masterpieces and they were basically a sludge band in the vein of early 2000's Crowbar. A compliment for sure but not something that ever had them breaking into my Top 5 in previous years. Mysterium Tremendum is a giant musical leap from this band and caught me completely by surprise. I was expecting another really good sludge album but this album isn't even in that genre. Mysterium Tremendum is probably the best progressive heavy metal album you're likely to hear. Gone is the down-tuned chugging that defines sludge and in it's place you get soaring guitar solos that you're more likely to hear in tech death or thrash and the mix of harsh and clean vocals from Erik Olson are just amazeballs! You'll think there must be two different singers but it's all Olson. Mysterium Tremendum is a progressive album without delving into more flowery territory like many tend to do. The soundscape created here is nothing short of awesome but it's 100% metal from start to finish, imagine Yes doing a balls out metal album while staying progressive and that's what Lord Dying has provided on Mysterium Tremendum. The album theme is a journey from death to the afterlife and those left behind to deal with the loss, not an uncommon theme in heavy metal but you aren't likely to hear it done more beautifully than this. This truly rivals Yob's Our Raw Heart from last year in the beautiful music department and if you know how much I love Yob then you know that is about as high a praise as I can give. If you consider yourself a metal lover then you don't want this album, YOU NEED THIS ALBUM!
Favorite Tracks: Trust me there isn't a bad one in the bunch, however, I do have some favs. It's hard to pick here but... Nearing The End Of The Curling Worm, Saying Goodbye To Physical Form, Envy The End and my personal favorite is The End Of Experience
And because I do love the album so much here is the entire thing. Feel free to pick yourself up a copy. I mean seriously get yourself a copy!
So there you have it my fiends. I won't likely do many pure album reviews here because I've been down that road and it leads to doing reviews and little else and I just don't have time. I will likely do one once I have the new Tool album in my grubby little hands but that's a couple months away. I do have some books being released here in the next couple of weeks and I'm truly in the home stretch on the novel, finally, so hopefully I can have that out by the end of year too! Fingers crossed! So until next time enjoy the metal...
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