You can read about my music tastes here, if those match yours, then you may agree with my choices. Let me know in the comments.
My 'Best Rock & Metal Albums of 2019' playlist is here on Spotify.
Flotsam and Jetsam The End of Chaos
This album, released early in the year, remained and remains possibly my favourite album of the year.I noticed the band and became a fan when Jason Newstead left the band to join Metallica. I bought their first album, Doomsday for the Deceiver, loved it then and still love it.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
King Diamond - Songs for the Dead : Live at Graspop
I rarely enjoy live albums as much as studio albums, but once in a while the performances and sound are so good that you can enjoy the album over and over for its own sake rather than acceptable renditions of the studio tracks with added audience sounds.King Diamond is an extraordinary performer and he can pull it off live as well as in the studio. This is a performance of the entire Abigail album with some classic Mercyful Fate and King D thrown in.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Witchlords - Demons in the Dark
The sound of this album is a bit thin but it is independently-produced. You could see the tinny sound as reminiscent of the bands and time that Witchlords hark back to. But that's made up for with the quality of the songs. Musically it's fast old-school heavy metal / thrash metal with savage vocals.It's a bit of a maverick but I love it and can't wait for a better-produced second album.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Traveler - Traveler
This is a must-have for fans of true, old-school heavy metal.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Amon Amarth - Berserker
Amon Amarth probably do Viking metal the best. They work hard and their live shows have good production value.I'm not sure whether this album is as good as the previous alum, Jomsviking, but it certainly belongs in this list.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Paragon - Controlled Demolition
A new band to me although this German band have been around for a few years.Not unlike a speedier version of Kreator.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Candlemass - The Door to Doom
As the name suggests, this Swedish band's music veers towards doom but it often has a bit of melody and groove too. A great mix.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Diamond Head The Coffin Train
UK Veterans Diamond Head need no introduction. This album rocks.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Gloryfull - Cult of Sedna
This is Great German heavy metal with hooky choruses and a suggestive cover.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Invicta - Halls of Extinction
Melodic thrash with growled vocals. First full-length album from this so-far unsigned Canadian band.Not to be confused with Invictus who have a similar logo and are also excellent.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Riot City - Burn the Night
Good old-fashioned heavy metal which really drives along digging its hooks deep. For me this is in the top three of 2019 and hasn't paled after repeated listening.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Kryptos - Afterburner
melodic metal from India, fast in places, with growly vocals.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Vader - Thy Messenger
It helps that I saw Vader twice in 2018 or 2019 (with Testament and Annihilator. What a line-up) and really enjoyed their performance. They remind me very much of Venom without quite such a focus on Satan.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Paladin - Genesis
Very much in the mould of Priest / Maiden etc. Some growled vocals but mostly sung, and sung well with harmonies.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Asomvel - World Shaker
This band could easily do a Motorhead tribute act, they sound and even dress the part, but to their credit the material is original and very good.Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Anthrocene - Nucleation
Another debut full-length from a Seattle heavy / power metal band. A mix of clean and growled vocals, story-based songs.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
Hellfire-Mania
Good old-fashioned heavy metal / thrashRead the reviews and buy on Amazon
Destruction - Born to Perish
There's more than a passing resemblance to Kreator and that's not a bad thing. Also from Germany, also on Nuclear Blast.
Read the reviews and buy on Amazon
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