#3 - Top of 2019

 Darkthrone - Old Star

Darkthrone really outdid themselves this time, that they did. As per their latest recipe, they mixed up equal bits of old metal and aggression and really came up with an excellent package of a release that puts the pedal on the metal and steps on it till there is no tomorrow. In previous albums like The Underground Resistance in 2013 (being a worthy addition to our EPIC Top), they showed some great heavy signs, which are not a surprise to anyone who has had a glimpse at  Fenriz's taste in music, but in 2019 they definitely pooled out their BEST and most EPIC riff, which is none other than the opening riff of the "The Hardship of the Scots! The whole thing really explodes once the first sounds of track are heard, getting better as the song progresses into an excellent mid-track tempo change, making you forget about the more mediocre (!) opening of the album ("I Muffle Your Inner Choir") and wanting to repeat the track until you hate it (a truly impossible possible task). From there onwards, the album keeps raising the stakes with awesome dark and gloomy tracks like the "Old Star" and "Alp Man", with some Candlemass-like vibes that add a doomy element. But do not fear, there are also more solid and classic Darkthrone tracks like "Duke of Gloat" which is a throwback to earlier Norse-forest-dwelling periods of the band and last but not least "The Key Is Inside the Wall" which is another blast from the past but with some awesome heavy riffs to wrap up the album (though you will probably listen to it in repeat-mode). The album's dark mood is summed up by the eerily great cover artwork by Chadwick Saint John which is the perfect fit for one of BEST 2019 releases and at the same time one of Darkthrone's best works!

97.5/100

Below is the music video for the song "The Hardship of the Scots".

#4 -Top of 2019

 Twisted Tower Dire - Wars in the Unknown (No Remorse Records)

It might have been a while since we last heard from the US heavy/power metallers Twisted Tower Dire but they have not lost their magic touch! With Jonny Aune taking over the lead vocals (since the 2011 Make It Dark) the album blasts its way in with "The Thundering" and its uplifting attitude. There are a lot of melodic additions including "True North" and the memorable "Tear You Apart" which are a great change from the more rough/heavy sounds. "Light the Swords on Fire" is without a doubt that one of the album's highlights and the catchiest track that make you think: "what can they do to top this up?", but the you listen to the "And the Sharks Came Then" which has some of the best guitar riffs in the mid-song interlude and you can hear that Twisted Tower Dire know what their doing when it comes to heavy metal! The album is full of surprises with different tones and styles, with examples like "A Howl in the Wind" which slows down the rhythm while succeeding in creating a more epic vibe with its awesome chorus! The final track "These Ghosts Can Never Leave" is the perfect heavy/power ending to a great release worthy of 2019's Top Tier Albums!

96.2/100

Below are the lyric videos for the songs "True North" and "Light the Swords on Fire".

#5 - Top of 2019

The Lord Weird Slough Feg -  New Organon (Cruz del Sur Music)

Every release from Heavy Metal underground heroes The Lord Weird Slough Feg is a celebration. This could not be more true for New Organon, arriving 5 years after their previous release (the longest the band has gone without new output since their early days).  The course of the band, from 1990 until today, has been lonely but on the other hand their sound hs been a unique old-school heavy metal, thanks to the amazing voice of Mike Scalzi. The restoration of "The Lord Weird" to the band's name signifies a small backtrack to a more heavy and esoteric music, but more hard rocking elements from the latest releases are also evident here, This is a highly addictive release, thanks to the proto-metal infusion with  interesting lyrical themes. Here, the theme of "New Organon" is a  beautifully crafted journey through the history of philosophical thought, ranging from ancient Greece to modernity. Scalzi was always inspired by philosophical quests in his concepts, but he usually clothed them with thinly veiled stories of space pirates. Here, the concepts stand bare and direct, cutting the middle man. The songs themselves, musically range from the more "blues rock feel" of "The Apology" to the metal thrashing of "Uncanny" and 70s rock trippiness of "Coming of Age in the Milky Way". This is an essential release for 2019 and possibly the best work of the band for more than a decade! 

96.2/100

Below is the audio for "Headhunter"

#6 - Top of 2019

 Myrath - Shehili (earMUSIC)

It is true that while their previous album "Legacy" nearly missed our top choices for 2016, we were really looking forward to the next work of Myrath. Tunisia's best-known metal band picks up from where its predecessor left off, this time injecting a greater amount of  straightforward and radio-friendly elements into their music while at the same time (A) honouring their influences (Pain of Salvation, Dream Theater and most importantly Symphony X) and (B) as always incorporating elements of Arabic culture in their music and lyrics. The Tunisians continue diligently in the sound they have chosen and  has now become their trademark: progressive metal full of traditional music from their country, a mix that is even more exciting than the sum of its parts when examined up close. Good examples of the excellent quality of music found in this record are the instant hit "Dance",  the awesome "Wicked Dice", the emotional "Monster In My Closet",  the majestic "No Holding Back",  the oriental proggy journey of "Lili Twil", the sweet melancholy of "Stardust" and the metallic heart of the eponymous track. However, as is almost always the case, it is really worth to listen the album in its entirety to fully appreciate what Myrath did here.  With  flawless production values and a cinematic feel that is rarely felt by contemporary bands, backed by a new company that seems to believe in them and helped put this album in many more people's ears and hearts, the band seem to be on an upward track, with excellent momentum. Now, if you excuse me I am going to press play once more!

96/100

Below are the official music videos for "Dance" and "Not Holding Back"

#7 - Top of 2019

 Atlantean Kodex -The Course of the Empire (Ván Records)

Atlantean Kodex know the secret of Epic Heavy metal and their 3rd full length album adds an EPIC touch to the top and 2019 overall. Their first 2010 release, The Golden Bough, previously seen in the Best of Epic Metal Top, showed that they have the potential for great things from the beginning! The Course of the Empire shines from the amazing intro "The Alpha and the Occident" which transitions into the awesome 9-minute journey that is "People of the Moon", the album is packed with HEAVY guitar riffs, great drumming and interesting clear vocals with a touch of roughness that is exactly what is needed for this epic ride through history! There are different changes across the record between symphonic heaviness (like in "Chariots") and doom gloominess (which can be heard in "A Secret Byzantium") without losing in epicness with some tracks bringing memories of Bathory. When even the shorter transition tracks like the slow-paced "The Innermost Light" and the eerie "Spell of the Western Sea" are that EPIC it is hard to choose a highlight from the album, though the melodic "He Who Walks Behind the Years" with its melancholic vibe would be a worthy candidate. Finally, the massive "The Course of Empire" perfectly compliments the epic intro with its amazing mid-song changes with the 6minute mark being made for sing-alongs! This a solid 1-hour release in the age of barely 40minute heavy metal albums which does not drag out but instead each track adds something different making this worthy of the 6 year wait!

 

95.6/100

Below is the official video for the song "People Of The Moon (Dawn Of Creation)".

#8 - Top of 2019

Rotting Christ - The Heretics (Season of Mist)

Rotting Christ have continued evolving and improving their sound since the beginning of their career, never settling on one style and releasing interesting works like their 2013 release Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού and this year's The Heretics which marks their 13th full length album. Right from the beginning of the album "In the Name of God" sets an awesome heavy and eerie atmosphere exploring the antithesis to a variety of political religious topics. This is a theme that is strongly resonating throughout this record. There are some intriguing guests across different tracks with some examples including Irina Zybina's guest (known from the Russian folk band Грай) in her native Russian in "Ветры злые" and Melechesh Ashmedi's guest in Arabic (known from Melechesh) in "The Voice of the Universe". The band also make some bold moves including the choice to narrate the Orthodox statement of belief over pure black metal sounds in "Πιστεύω" and the adaptation of Poe's "The Raven" as the album's closing track. But do not worry! There are a number of tracks that are oozing the familiar Rotting Christ sound like "Heaven and Hell and Fire" and "Dies Irae" which blend perfectly imposing, heavy and surprisingly catchy sounds. Thanks to Sakis Toli's rough vocals and melodic guitar riffs ("Fire, God and Fear" has by far the best guitar mid-track interlude), with a touch of  orchestral choruses that add to the menacing feeling. Overall, a very strong and unique release showing that Rotting Christ have still a lot to show and never cease to surprise by experimenting with new sounds while maintaining their identity!

95.5/100

Below is the official animated video for the song "In the Name of God".

#9 - Top of 2019

Beast in Black - From Hell with Love (Nuclear Blast)

With the second full length release of Beast in Black with Yannis Papadopoulos, they cement their name as one of the hottest names on the European power metal scene. "From Hell With Love" essentially continues on the same vein as its equally good predecessor "Berserker", while at the same time dipping its toes a little bit on new things: Uplifting songs written for party, disco / power / hard rock mixes and the well-known "pop" epic approach, as a cherry on top. The album starts with the ingenious mainstream riff of "Cry Out For A Hero" and a chorus that puts you "in the mood" in the best possible way. Then come the first "disco metal" references with the titular song followed by the "Sweet True Lies" single with clear references to Bon Jovi. The very clever idea to throw the hits one after the other works well here, with the second awesome single "Die By The Blade" in short order. The first ballad  "Oceandeep", is a wonderful elegiac piece sounding like a lost song from one of the best Nightwish albums. This is  followed by back-to-back heavier tracks "Unlimited Sin" and "True Believer", with the former honouring 80s melodic rock bands ad the latter having an extremely infectious synth intro. The ending of the album is as loud as the beginning, with the heavy-as-fuck (pardon the expression) "No Surrender". In conclusion, Beast In Black are able to do what few other bands can: offer a few moments of guilt-free enjoyment to all those who are afraid to say that they hear anything but heavy metal, having  no shortage of talent in composing hits  "the '80s way", long may they continue to do so!

95.5/100

Below are a number of music videos from the new album!

#10 - Top of 2019

Tanith - In Another Time (Metal Blade)

Stylistically, Tanith have the unique ability and flexibility to go through the full cycle of folk, hard rock, classical heavy metal and epic metal without acrobatics, and that in on itself is a great honour. In addition, the individual references, although quite a few, are very harmoniously intertwined, so much so, that the result looks like an exciting fifty-year journey, where the landscape consists of the covers of immersive and excellent records. After all, this is a time when true innovation is considered almost impossible. Thus, the creation of a new blend of familiar materials, where the proportions are just right and the execution is passionate, then the  result is exquisite exactly like the full-length debut of the quartet, "In Another Time". The male and female vocal mix, the two guitars, the warm production, the epic wonderous storytelling along with a mixture of amazing melodies and finally the dominant riffs , are the main ingredients that Tanith's offer, wrapped in the magical artwork of Roger Dean. The album kicks off with the best song of the album "Citadel" with a magical chorus part and a solo directly reminiscent of "Don't Fear The Ripper",  while in "Book Of Changes" some of the finest moments of Budgie are prevalent.  Throughout the record, there are times when the songs speak to your heart, making you feel the music and rendering any further musical "analysis" pretty pointless, given that emotions cannot be truly be put into words.

95.45/100

Below you can hear the official audio for Citadel.

#11 - Top of 2019

Risen Prophecy - Voices from the Dust (Metal on Metal Records)

Risen Prophecy have risen from the English countryside and have mastered an interesting blend between rough heavy metal tunes and true touches of epicness that makes them sound unique and memorable. They have evolved their sound across their three releases while developing their own musical identity. Masterful melodic guitar riffs are blended with rough but at the same time clear vocals by the lead vocalist (Dan Tyrens) who captures the attention with his performance at every track by mixing singing with epic narration. From heavier and slow-paced tracks like the menacing "The Waters" oozing a Manowar-like feeling of grandiosity and "The Ancient Curse" with its EPIC Bathory-like intro to the more quick-paced and theatrical "The Tower in Shinar" with its blasting drumming & guitar interludes, the band keeps surprising the listener without hesitating to shift between styles and speed! The best example of their true heavy metal sound is the memorable "The Eye of Hades" which has an awesome chorus daring to focus primarily on clear vocals. The band has further added a couple of breathers in the form of instrumental interludes which despite being short, succeed in binding together all the tracks from the simple/quick-paced ones to the more grandiose epics, like the incredible magnum opus "Voices from the Dust", which breaks the ten minute mark! Risen Prophecy are one of those bands that are worthy representatives of real heavy metal music that fans  are always on the lookout for!

95.4/100

Below is the audio track for the song "The Eye of Hades".

#12 - Top of 2019

Opeth - In Cauda Venenum (Nuclear Blast)

Once again, Opeth release one of the best albums of the year, this time with a twist, as In Cauda Venenum came in two versions, one in English and an additional one in the band's native Swedish. It has been more than eleven years since the Swedes touched anything related to death metal, a period long enough for them to be able to unfold their talent in a genre very different from where they started in. Opeth records up to "Watershed" worked extremely well, even as  background music. Now, however, the complexity they developed has reached a point where each song requires the audience's full dedication. This is also the case in "In Cauda Venenum", where you have to drop everything you do in order to assimilate its "rich" music. "Progressiveness" has been and still is the driving force in the Opeth engine, the constant on which they build their compositions. Following that train of thought, there was bound to be evolution here from 2016's "Sorceress" and this is achieved by (a) a seamless integration of the Swedish lyrics and (b) a greater emphasis on the melodic side of prog which way more prominent here than on previous endeavours of the band. The tracks presented here draw influences from all major scenes of the prog rock tapestry ranging from folk interludes and Steven Wilson to the grandiose 70s prog epics.

On the 13th album of Opeth, their new identity seems to be clearly defined; complex parts are combined to create something much more approachable. The vocals have points made to be sung-along. The success of the band here is managing to make more mature, more complete compositions while maintaining the style they like to play in their current phase.

95.1/100

Below is the official Music Video for "Universal Truth".