What Will Happen To The Whole Family If Margot Doesnã¢â‚¬â„¢t Register For The Work Camp?

2019 and Growing Old

I've been doing this since 2007 and I've watched every bit members have come and gone (some departures mode more welcome than others). I've also watched as my personal musical tastes have slowly separated from the Sputnik collective (they were never entirely in line to begin with), and that is no where more apparent than on this years' listing. As I created this listing I noticed a lot of the albums I really enjoyed this year either garnered very niggling interest or were direct shit on by the Sput masses. It doesn't really carp me because I'm e'er going to savour listening to what I'm going to enjoy listening to regardless of public opinion, but this list was merely a confirmation that I'one thousand rapidly aging out of the music scene. This was fabricated more obvious by the fact that a vast majority of what did make the list was by bands and genres I grew up on, with simply a handful of brand new artists.

In social club to confirm this, I went back through previous lists and found an obvious trend where each passing yr seemed to feature fewer and fewer new artists on my personal lists (a fact backed up by Last.fm listening statistics). Music was yet interesting to me, just I was returning to familiar bands and familiar albums… and so, I took a break. I didn't actually participate on Sputnik Music for a majority of 2019 in whatever obvious way, instead taking more than of an occasional behind the scenes role that was minimal and unreliable, at best. I as well immune myself for the first time ever to simply go back to those erstwhile familiar releases, and not really dive into new music unless I actually wanted to — another fact that concluded upwardly affecting what really made this final list since I didn't really 'get back into music' until some fourth dimension around September. Merely to be articulate, this isn't a "I'thou leaving the site" alphabetic character to Sputnik. If I go again it will exist the same way as final time, quietly and uneventfully… no lists or blog posts. For now, though, I am enjoying the site again and I am enjoying the attempt of trying to observe new music again and as long as it stays that way, I'll be here.

This year's list uses the same criteria as every other year-end list I've created. How much did I enjoy it and how often did I come back to it? Those were the merely questions that mattered. These albums aren't listed for their touch on any genre or for their originality or even for their overall popularity. The only criteria that mattered was enjoyment.

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30 – 21

30. Flotsam and Jetsam – The Cease of Chaos

Genre: Thrash // Review // Listen

** Don't be fooled past the atrocious cover art, this is pinnacle level Flotsam and Jetsam. They're not really moving out of their condolement zone a lot, only aggrandize on their sound and bring some new elements to the table. Sounds like a solid mix of Thrash, heavy metallic and some power metal with very catchy choruses and great instrumental piece of work. —vermillionZ

** These guys have always had garbage album art tbh — bloc

— I'yard non going to prevarication, my favorite Flotsam releases areWhen the Tempest Comes Down, Cuatro, Drift, and The Cold. I've never thought their thrash stuff was all that slap-up, just when they cut the fat and motility into a more mainstream metal sound I generally beloved it. Having said that, this album definitely isn't bad even though they've gone back to a direct-ahead thrash sound. The production onThe Cease of Chaos is impeccable and the riffs, solos, and drums are much better than well-nigh annihilation else they've done on one of their thrash-oriented releases. Eric A.K.'south vocals are still the coolest affair well-nigh this release, equally is the case on most Flotsam releases… and, yes, the album cover is terrible—

29. Velvet Acid Christ – Ora Oblivionis

Genre: Electro/Industrial // Album Page // Listen

— This album really plays like a 'best of' release. There's some dance floor-friendly old school electro-industrial, there's guitar driven tracks, and there's some of the more melodic atmospheric stuff. Essentially, Ora Oblivionis covers Velvet Acrid Christ's entire discography and should exist a welcome improver for any fan. The best runway on here is hands "Adventures In Babysitting The Antichrist", simply the drove of more than melodic stuff ("The Colors Of My Sadness" and "Trash") are definitely shut seconds. —

28. Mayhem – Daemon

Genre: Black Metal // Review // Listen

** Boy if 2 people with "666" in their names give this a 4 then yous know it's quality! — Xenophanes

** Among Daemon's many virtues is its high echo value, like an old house, where every corner has a story to tell and small details that we only observe when we look more closely. — TheNotrap

— My favorite Mayhem anthology isOne thousand Announcement of War and my favorite Commotion guitarist was Blasphemer. He always seemed to throw at least a little fleck of a curveball into Mayhem's 'truthful' blackness metal sound. Teloch and Ghul seem more than inclined to play no-frills onetime school black metal, merely ifDaemon is any indication, that's not necessarily a bad thing.Daemon is almost entirely no-frills black metallic, but the atmosphere that'southward created forth with the few bits of outside-the-box ideas are enough to keep this interesting from get-go to cease, fifty-fifty later on multiple listens. —

27. Lacuna Coil – Black Anima

Genre: Modernistic Metallic // Album Page // Mind

** There are some nice highlight tracks and there is definitely some energy in that location, but I have to agree with those who say that it suffers from a lot of trudging sameness throughout. —CriticalMyth

— I'm a big fan of Lacuna Coil, but there's no denying the fact that they've ever seemed to chase the trends, and they've ever been just a niggling belatedly to the political party. This time, though, it feels similar they're nigh on time. This time the trend Lacuna Coil are post-obit is djent-influenced metallic with their ain twist. The male person vocals are nigh entirely growled, the riffs are easily some of the heaviest of the band'south career, and the rhythm department is dominating. Of course, the main draw is nonetheless the vocals of Cristina Scabbia, which are first-class equally usual. If there's a drawback toBlackness Anima it's that the band are pretty much a i-trick pony which causes the album to sound pretty damn like from starting time to terminate. —

26. Aenimus – Dreamcatcher

Genre: Technical Death Metal // Album Page // Heed

** This is some great progressive deathcore correct hither. It reminds me of heavy Contortionist level quality, but less spacey, and with more than riffs and tasty shredding. —Dmax28

— This is a shredfest from the kickoff notes of "Before The Eons" to the final moments of moments of "Dreamcatcher." Despite the chaotic riffs and rhythms,Dreamcatcher stands out for beingness super memorable thanks to some well-done dynamic shifts as well equally diverseness well-crafted melodies. The bass player is worth mentioning on this, too. —

25. The Future Sound of London – Yage 2019

Genre: Electronic/Ambient // Album Page // Listen

— The original vocal, "Yage," was a role of The Future Sound of London's breakout releaseDead Cities. It was a near-perfect soundscape that told part of a larger story throughout the anthology's runtime. While I don't know what prompted the guys to craft an entire album around the twenty-three twelvemonth former song, I'm glad they did. The album takes everything that was good virtuallyDead Cities and creates a most-perfect sequel. The feeling of traveling desolate, almost haunted, alien landscapes has returned for the new millennium makingYage 2019 the all-time matter the band take done in decades. —

24. Vintersea – Illuminated

Genre: Progressive Expiry Metal // Album Page // Listen

** This tin can no longer be labeled equally plain old soft melodeath, this is an extreme form of progressive metal with black and decease metal elements. Just take the opening track. When it starts, y'all are under the impression that you listen to a blackness metal anthology. You only realize that this is more that when yous achieve the the brusque, tedious keyboard office. Avienne Low is a terrific vocalist. Her make clean vocals are good, reminiscent of Aleah Starbridge (specially her lower range) but her harsh vocals are the real highlight.—ManiacBlasphemer

— At its core,Illuminated is a mixture of blackness metal and melodic decease metal featuring the cute Avienne in vocals (seriously, go bank check her out), but it's also more than that. Interspersed through out the death and blackness metal are elements of progressive metal, post metal, and mail black metallic, to name a few. Avienne capably handles every genre shift with black metallic rasps, death metal growls, and even ethereal clean singing.Illuminated also benefits from a collection of songs that never really start to feel familiar, with each kind of having its ain personality. Definitely worth a mind. —

23. BATS – Change Nature

Genre: Post Hardcore/Alt. Prog // Review // Listen

** Definitely feels like the weakest of the 3 bats albums nosotros have now buy its nevertheless a bang-up record Call of cthulhu and Dyson sphere are highlights for me —Morpha

** thats a fucking ill helmet, i could definitely encounter some of the users around here being prescribed i of those badboys — Lord(e)Po)))ts

— I'm a huge fan of BATS and their quirky alt. prog sound. To me they've always reminded me of what Voivod could have done if they had retained their balls afterwardsNothingfaceinstead of releasing the streamlined and neuteredAngel Rat. Alter Natureseems to choice up whereThe Sleep of Reason left off except it is even more than abrasive and less catchy. Granted, that waysChange Nature is going to accept longer to finally click, but it is well worth the effort. Underneath all the angular rhythms, screamed vocals, and abrasive sounds is another excellent BATS release. —

22. Russian Circles – Blood Year

Genre: Post Rock/Instrumental Metallic // Review // Mind

** These guys are stuck on autopilot. Information technology sounds practiced, they have tight formulas, only I feel similar I'm listening to the same songs every three years lately —Raul Stanciu

** Cracking, well-written and well produced, the boom beats and blackened experience do add a dainty bear upon, but overall they did not wow me this fourth dimension. —dedex

— I've never really bothered with Russian Circles before. I mean, I've definitely listened to their previous albums a few times, but I've never come back to them similar I accept this ane. That ways, the complaints most these guys being on autopilot or whatever don't really bear upon me considering I don't really take anything to compare this to. What I do know is these guys make memorable post rock that really is more metal than rock and they definitely bring some black metal influence as well. The thing is, despiteBlood Year existence entirely instrumental, it notwithstanding manages to be memorable and entertaining, something about post rock does non do for me. —

21. Infected Rain – Endorphin

Genre: Metalcore/Extreme Metal // Album Page // Listen

** I hated the first single. — BallsToTheWall

— These guys get a lot of hate on this site. I'chiliad not going to lie and say I don't see where it comes from, but I will say I don't concord with it. Infected Rain plays a kind of metalcore that borrows liberally from Nu Metal (although not so much on this release), featuring angsty lyrics, and raspy female shouts that really are an acquired taste (along with excellent clean singing). The thing is, if you lot can go past the raspy vocals (information technology did have me awhile) and only take the lyrics for what they are, Endorphin is really pretty damn practiced; fifty-fifty if information technology's nothing original or special. Lena's clean singing is powerful and makes from some really catchy choruses, and the ring's employ of electronics and keyboards aid to set them autonomously from bands similar The Agonist or Jinjer. —

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twenty – xi

20. Killswitch Engage – Atonement

Genre: Metalcore // Review // Mind

** Solid, dependable, relatable core which plays safely to the bands strengths. I really enjoy it —Gfunk839

** The Signal Fire and The Crownless King are cool jams simply about everything else is simply been-at that place-done-that metalcore. Nothing atrocious other than the fact that KSE are stuck in their ain complacency —Toondude

— I've ever been a fan of Jesse Leech-fronted Killswitch Engage. What people seem to forget is that Alive or Simply Breathing was pretty ground breaking when it came out style back in 2002. Granted, the band take evolved very little since those initial steps, just they've ever been excellent (With Jesse, at least). To me,Atonement most reminds me of a collection of metalcore ability ballads. Every song is dominated past clean vocals, ballsy choruses, and melodic guitar leads which makes the anthology experience more attainable and tame than it actually is. There are notwithstanding guttural growls and piercing shrieks also equally fast-paced tempos and shredding riffs, but at the end of the day the nigh memorable thing is all the tune and clean singing. While non exactly a new direction for the band, they're actually doing information technology improve than always before. —

xix. Hypno5e – A Distant (Night) Source

Genre: Prog/Post Metal // Album Page // Heed

— Hypno5e are frustrating for a few dissimilar reasons. Their make of ballsy, atmospheric, postal service metal/djent/prog is so damn good as well as pretty unique, just they've been doing the same thing for multiple albums with little alter. Rather than brand any kind of huge musical jump, Hypno5e are content to just continue making pocket-sized incremental changes, which makes every one of their albums simply sound like upgrades to the previous ones. Worse, the few things they should drib (such every bit all the spoken word sections) just go along getting dragged back into every new release. Having said that, A Distant (Dark) Source is definitely their best release. Its product is better, the songs are more memorable, the melodies are better crafted, the furnishings are more than tastefully done, and the spoken word sections have been drawn down a little. On its own,A Afar (Dark) Source is an excellent release… I only wish they'd kickoff to diversify a trivial more. —

xviii. Hatchie – Keepsake

Genre: Indie Pop // Review // Listen

** Similar Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, Ride, and Galaxie 500 decided to take an orgy in 2019 —AmericanFlagAsh

** Initially had information technology at 3.5 only afterward a few more than listens, information technology'due south definitely worthy of (at to the lowest degree) 4.0. The run of the commencement iv tracks is insanely good —tectactoe

— On Keepsake,Hatchie delivers a nice hybrid of indie pop and dream pop, only with plenty free energy to go along her listeners from falling asleep. Likewise, the choruses onKeepsake are super tricky and capably delivered in a layered, harmonized, style making them sound bigger than they really are. I hear a lot of Chapterhouse'south breakout releaseBlood Music on this album despite Chapterhouse being fronted past a dude. They both dabble with danceable beats and energetic tempos while yet maintaining a nice dream pop undercurrent. —

17. New Model Army – From Here

Genre: Mail service Punk/Culling // Album Page // Heed

— Enhance your hand if you only know who New Model Army are because of Anacrusis' encompass of their song "I Love the World". At present enhance your mitt if you don't know who either of those bands are. If you are in that boat, I'll relieve Anacrusis for another fourth dimension, but nosotros'll striking up New Model Army at present. New Model Army take always reminded me of a nice hybrid ofWish-era The Cure and the self titled 1980 Killing Joke release. Always since New Model Army started in 1984, the band have delivered rhythmic protest anthems that are driven by cyclical bass guitar rhythms and folky, almost spoken-give-and-take, vocals. The problem is they kind of lost their way somewhere effectually the late 90s. That'south what makesFrom Here so special, because the band have come from out of nowhere with their best release sinceThunder and Consolation in 1989. The bass guitar-driven songs are back and better than always, and the accompanying music is the all-time it'due south been in a decade or more than. The vocals are more urgent and memorable than they've been in a long time, too. —

16. Allegaeon – Apoptosis

Genre: Technical Death Metal // Review // Listen

** Apoptosis is all that tin can be expected from Allegaeon, a tech grooving death metal attack, which rests on the same rather distinctive well-known formula of the ring'south previous albums, and although the band never really go out of their condolement zone, Apoptosis is more stimulating and less exhausting than Proponent For Sentience, despite having xi songs and more than 55 minutes, revealing a more focused and effective songwriting. Personal highlights: Extremophiles (B and A), Metaphobia, Stellar Tidal Disruption and the title runway. —TheNotrap

— That fucking bass histrion. His performance is probably 1 of my favorite things well-nigh this album, just he isn't on his own hither. Allegaeon evangelize a relentless drove of riffs, shredding solos, and guttural growls that likewise take simply plenty melody and groove to stick in your caput, even on first listen. This is what technical decease metal should sound similar. —

xv. Babymetal – Metallic Galaxy

Genre: Metal/J-Pop/Electronic // Review // Listen

** I don't like it as much as Metal Resistance, but they manage to pack so much weird shit in here that I can forgive it. —Mitch

** How about DA DA DO —Max Pigott

** How about DA DA DON'T —Doofy

— Babymetal were supposed to fade away every bit rapidly as they arrived on the scene. Their blend of J-popular, electronics, thrash, death metal, and power metallic was never meant to last. In one case the novelty wore off, the ring were supposed to exist through. Instead, Babymetal have toured the globe and sold out stadiums everywhere they've gone, and they're as well on their third release,Metal Galaxy.If their debut was a hodge-podge of dissimilar sounds and ideas without any clear management, and their second release was the ring playing it safe and homogenous,Metal Galaxy is Babymetal doing any the hell they want with confidence. In that location's djent, power metal, hip-hop, J-pop, salsa, and even shitty pirate metallic… and it all sounds like it belongs on the same album.Metal Galaxy is hands the band'south most diverse and confident release so far. I personally can't wait to see what comes next. —

xiv. Bat For Lashes – Lost Girls

Genre: Indie Popular // Review // Listen

** Moments of brilliance, but a lot of songs don't know when to finish. Makes the moments a whole lot less memorable. Opening and endmost tracks are peachy though —Mathias

— Bat For Lashes' lush, chill, electronic pop has always caught my attending. Of course, the star of the show is Natasha Khan and her breathy expressive vocals. It feels similar this time she has really stepped upward the lush atmospheres while dialing down the tempos and placing more accent on memorable choruses. On the other hand, it feels like each song is a little more 'musical' than in the past. It'southward kind of strange, and I'm not really too certain how to explain information technology… I only know it's really proficient. —

xiii. Astronoid – Astronoid

Genre: Post Black Metal/Alternative // Review // Listen

** I don't know what the fuck dream thrash is, merely I know this anthology slaps, Early on contender for AOTY —ExhaleTheLight

** musical asexuality…Barbie/Ken metal: music that'southward smooth down there… —Der Geist, der stets verneint

— The criticism I've seen of this anthology is that the everything starts to audio the same by the mid-point of the album, and that despite the tempos, double bass, and blackness metal influences, Astronoid's 2nd release has no balls. The outset consequence I don't agree with, but the second one I practise.Astronoid is admittedly the most neutered post black metal release I've ever heard, which is kind of crazy because it besides has plenty of black metal/metallic influences floating around. It'southward too 1 of the big reasons I similar it. The shoegazey ethereal vocals floating over galloping pulsate beats and black metal-ish leads are an awesome contrast, and it doesn't thing that somehow they've managed to remove any hint of assailment from the music. It's actually kind of impressive that they did. —

12. Pino – Pino

Genre: Indie Pop // Album Page // Heed

— Pine remind me of a mixture of classic Slowdive mixed with a little bit of The Cure and a mod alternative rock edge. The music itself runs between riffy alt. stone and mellow ethereal melodies and features the capable vocals ofDarlene Deschamps. It well-nigh reminds me of what modern This night Alive might audio similar with an ethereal edge, and more than of a morose outlook on life. —

xi. Cult of Luna – A Dawn to Fear

Genre: Post Metal // Review // Listen

** Dense and crushing while maintaining the smoggy sensibilities I loved so much on Vertikal, this record is 1 heed-bravado crescendo after the other. —ellagos

** the moon cult writes an album about fearing the dawn? shocker —i desire to mort.

— Most mail metal drives me crazy because in that location are parts that are and then good, only they're separated by large sections of plodding minimalism.A Dawn to Fear cuts out a vast majority of the sparse mail service metal influences and just consistently jumps correct into what makes postal service metal then damn practiced; ballsy crushing crescendos, visceral vocals, abrasive melodies, and oppressive atmospheres. Even the longer songs such equally "The Silent Human being," "Lights on the Colina," and "The Fall" manage to go along the momentum going, and they don't waste whatsoever portion of their extended runtimes. —

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x – 1

x. Periphery – Periphery Four: Hail Stan

Genre: Progressive Metallic/Metalcore // Review // Listen

** they really fucking made this the anthology title jesus christ — bands that are not music l a dis puddle ute

** If Periphery III and "The Walk" brutally hate-fucked behind a dumpster at Hooters with no protection. — Scott

— I'one thousand only vaguely familiar with Periphery's discography. I've heard theJuggernautreleases andSelect Difficulty, simply the but songs I really bothered to come back to were "22 Faces" and "Marigolds"… until this anthology. Despite another stupid album title, the music onHail Stan is the best I've ever heard from the band. The starting time iii tracks are simply amazing. From the 16-minute opener to the aggressive "Blood Hawkeye" to the even more aggressive "CHVRCH BVRNER" it's a phenomenal way to open the album. Later that, the quality is dialed down a niggling as they kind of go in a few different directions, but overall this is i crawly release. —

9. Aurora – A Different Kind Of Human being – Step 2

Genre: Eccentric Indie Pop // Anthology Page // Listen

** "Daydreamer" is one of the virtually beautiful songs I've heard this year or any recent year in retention. The album is pretty uplifting and beautiful overall, it'southward striving for greatness but misses the mark just a fleck with a few lackluster tracks. However, nothing on this album is "bad" by any means, just some average tracks that pull the anthology downwards a peg or 2. —TheForbiddenFool

— Is Aurora the Norwegian version of Bjork? I call back information technology might exist a fiddling besides shortly to make her with that honor, and her quirkiness seems a little besides forced at times, simply in that location'due south no doubtfulness she delivers a pretty unique brand of electronic pop. While her debut anthology was more than of a moody collection of indie/electronic songs,A Dissimilar Kind of Human – Footstep 2 is a super uplifting drove of songs that are nearly entirely driven past electronics and programmed beats. This, of course, takes the edge off Aurora's music and makes it a little less challenging to become into, merely in that location'south no incertitude the quality is however just as high as always. —

eight. Sadistik – Haunted Gardens

Genre: Hip-Hop // Album Page // Listen

** Very well rapped and emotionally resonate with some beautiful instrumentals. I've probably listened to this album more than than annihilation else this twelvemonth. —klondikethebear

** This album is a squeamish experience, because although the temper is quite nighttime and sad as we ofttimes discover in this manner, sadistik has a particular mode of making information technology feel and live differently. On the other mitt, despite the' short format, although the anthology keeps a super homogeneity, we sometimes have the impression that it repeats itself —Doublez38

— I've been a fan of Sadistik's brand of chill, atmospheric hip-hop sinceThe Balancing Act, but information technology wasn't untilAltarsthat a full album of his really grabbed me. I loved the dark, moody sounds that came from the album, and how he jumped fully into the twisted atmospheres that were simply hinted at before.Haunted Gardens drops a lot of the dark musical shades, simply otherwise picks upwards whereAltarsleft off. It'southward still a super chill hip hop release that is but cached in atmosphere, over which Sadistik delivers his unique vocal take on the genre with his acrobatic give-and-take play. —

7. Promise Drone – Void Lustre

Genre: Doom/Black Metal // Review // Listen

** this rules albeit information technology's lacking standout moments like their last album — trilo

** Actually liked some of this/was just totally indifferent to some of this — Slex

— There are definitely bands that do more with an extended runtime; more than ideas, more dynamics, more styles… simply that's not Promise Drone's matter. Hope Drone basically work within a limited formula consisting of raw black metal, funeral doom (or drone… I'k not familiar with drone, so I hear doom), and crushingly oppressive atmospheres. The thing is, they use this formula to great issue. Every track is an epic journey through morose atmospheres, throat-shredding rasps (reminds me of old schoolhouse At the Gates), blistering blackness metallic leads/melodies, and two basic tempos: really fast and really slow. Also, despite the extended song lengths, each track seems to end so quick, never outstaying its welcome. —

6. Queensryche – The Verdict

Genre: Progressive Metal // Review // Listen

** With the third attempt the new Queensryche gets closer to a archetype Ryche swagger, but something is notwithstanding missing and that affair is classy songwriting. It would however be incommunicable to negate the efforts presented. The singles were not peculiarly promising, just as it turns out this really is the most interesting "Toddryche" anthology yet, equally the band promised. Extended melodic soloing, more than urgent vocal commitment and proggier structures make this a curt and sweet album that for now doesn't tire me even after a few complete listens.rSongs like Inside Out (urgent chorus a la NM 156), Bent / Launder the Conscience (not linear in structure) and the closer Portrait (more than laid back and with somewhat of a Chasing Blue Heaven experience) make for valid additions to the Queensryche canon. —Sabrutin

— It wasn't too long ago when information technology looked like Queensryche were through. If their plodding releases didn't kill them, Geoff'south shitty interactions with both fans and the other band members would. Even after the ring cut out the cancer, their success was anything but assured. Replacing a vocalist is never a sure thing, and replacing an icon like Geoff Tate is fifty-fifty more precarious. Somehow it concluded upward working out for them. It has to be noted that, at this bespeak, there are only two original members left in the ring, but other than Chris Degarmo's classy songwriting, nothing feels out of place.The Verdictis easily Queensryche's most progressive and metal release featuring riff subsequently riff, harmonized guitar solos, and pounding percussion. Really, the only affair that might cease a Queensryche fan from enjoying the band'south resurgence is an inability to accept that sometimes band members change. Dude, daddy isn't coming dorsum and projecting your luggage onto your favorite bands won't change that. —

v. Soen – Lotus

Genre: Progressive Metal // Review // Listen

** This ring has the recurring habit of creating practiced songs and, equally expected, Lotus keeps the tradition alive. It'southward truthful that they rarely get out of their comfort zone, but I wouldn't take it whatsoever other fashion. —TheNotrap

** Apparently 2019 is the year of boring progressive dad metal — butt.

— Looking at this feature, information technology's hard to deny the fact that I take more than a few bands that could autumn under the description of 'dad prog', especially in my top 10, but I wouldn't telephone call them tiresome (apparently). Maybe it's my historic period showing, but to me it feels like quite a few of these bands are releasing some of their all-time work or at to the lowest degree making a pretty compelling resurgence. Soen falls into that first category. It has taken multiple albums, butLotus finally finds the band dropping the overt reliance on their influences and delivering the most original (and best sounding) release of their career. Whether that makes information technology their all-time release is up to individual interpretation, but I'd say information technology does.Lotus features some of the ring'southward catchiest songs as well as some of my favorite Soen riffs, along with the e'er exceptional rhythm section. The standout rail is definitely "Martyrs" featuring an crawly opening riff, a powerful harmonized chorus, a chill mellow breakdown in the middle, and some bang-up vocals through the verses. —

4. Leprous – Pitfalls

Genre: Progressive Metallic // Review // Heed

** Einar Solberg's leading role in Pitfalls is all also evident, to the point that it tin can almost be considered a solo anthology. This is usually a sign that the band may be reaching a breaking indicate, merely if nosotros ignore the touchy bug between musicians, Pitfalls' artistic quality is undeniable. —TheNotrap

—Pitfalls took me a long fourth dimension to get into. When I get-go received the promo, I wasn't sure I fifty-fifty liked it enough to write something well-nigh it. I wasn't a fan of the overwhelming amount of Einar Solberg at the expense of the rest of the band, merely I kept listening. Eventually, something strange started to happen. The things that made me want to initially pass upPitfalls became the strongest and about compelling selling points. Einar's emotive and powerful vocals dominate every track, as does his keys, programming, and electronics. On acme of that, just near every song is congenital on some sort of dance/pop undercurrent (and often it's not just an undercurrent). This is a pretty drastic modify from previous albums, but 1 that makes this i of my favorites due to just how different and well-executed the ideas are; you but take to give the album a chance. Information technology doesn't injure that Einar's vocals are positively massive and flawless, as should be expected. —

3. Medeia – Xenosis

Genre: Semi-Technical Atmospheric Death Metal // Album Page // Listen

— Why is this ring and then unknown? Peradventure it'due south because Medeia sit in a gray kind of middle basis betwixt technical expiry metal, atmospheric metal, and even a little scrap of metalcore without fully committing to one mode that makes them not really appeal to a larger crowd. Yes, there are definitely technical death metal aspects to the anthology, and it really is the dominating feature, only they never really have the technicality or anarchy to the level of some of their peers. There's also a strong undercurrent of atmospheric metallic in the subtle use of keyboards, some of the slower tempos, and the overall feel of just well-nigh every song, but again, they don't fully commit to that being their thing. The Metalcore, that'south more of a minor influence in some of the riffs and leads as well equally the occasional shouted song delivery, and I'yard glad they haven't decided to commit to that fashion because while working in small doses, it's not what makes the ring or this anthology so slap-up. Personally, though, I dearest the fact thatXenosis(and the band's discography, in general) doesn't commit to ane mode or even permit i aspect overwhelm any of the others. Doing that leaves an album that takes the best of both worlds, doing both styles really well. If yous sentry the video linked above, you'll also see they don't take themselves too seriously despite the serious and aggressive nature of the music. —

2. Dream Theater – Distance Over Time

Genre: Progressive Metal // Review // Listen

** If all the Dream Theater albums from the past 15 or so years had a big orgy, fused into one, cloned itself, screwed the clone and made a single entity, this would be it. —Xenorazr

** This has the same amount of cheese as riffs and tight execution. —DDDeftoneDDD

— Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy has been a directionless mess. It really felt like all the personality left with Mike and what we were left with was a group of music nerds that could arts and crafts a squeamish term paper on the nuances of musical masturbation, but that couldn't write an interesting song if their virginity depended on it. It didn't help that new drummer Mike Mangini'south was as boring and uninteresting equally I've e'er seen from a prog band; nearly like the Shawn Drover of the progressive metal world. That's whyAltitude Over Time is such a surprise, because they've somehow managed to release one their best and most consistent albums sinceScenes From a Retention. Easily shitting all over whatever other post-Mike Portnoy release,Distance Over Time non only manages to brand Dream Theater interesting, information technology also manages to make the songs themselves the main focus with musicianship beingness a secondary driver (while still abundantly present). This results in an entire anthology full of bodily songs that just so happens to feature some astounding musicianship. The simply thing it couldn't do is make Mike Mangini's playing interesting. —

1. Borknagar – Truthful North

Genre: Progressive Metallic/Black Metal // Review // Listen

** Really, actually enjoyed this. Has fashion more staying power than the last anthology, which I lost interest in after a few listens — Essence

** However loving this. Favorite Borknagar since Olden. The weird thing is that a ton of the melodies and vocal hooks and whatnot are actually sticking with me on this album, which wasn't the instance with enough of the previous records. — Thalassic

— Near as equally surprising every bit Dream Theater'south latest release was the release ofTruthful North by Borknagar. Fifty-fifty with Vintersorg on vocals, Borknagar have never actually made a spectacular album that had whatever real staying power, but with ICS Vortex their albums were even less convincing. That's why this album is such a surprise. Instead of delivering some other album of blackness metal with occasional prog influences, but with ICS Vortex's questionable vocals,True North is essentially a Prog album with a strong black metal foundation — and ICS Vortex and Lars Nedland both deliver career defining vocals. Not but that onlyTruthful Northward also features some of the strongest and most various music of the band'southward career, delivering an awesome blend of progressive metal and black metal without letting either genre overwhelm the other. Perhaps nigh surprising, though, are the powerful vocal melodies that dominate just about every song. Each track features an abundance of memorable and well-washed clean singing with ICS and Lars often trading vocal parts and fifty-fifty harmonizing together with the black metal vocals used sparingly. The ring definitely stepped outside their comfort zone on this one and they managed to hit a abode run. —

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Honorable Mentions

Honorable-Mention

Apple Music Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/2019-best-of/pl.u-vkx3UA9qJJ