The following features my top 10 favorite Metal albums of 2019 listed in descending order from my tenth favorite album to the number one album of the year. The LookOut is a one person operation so it is very likely I may have missed one of the records you feel deserves a spot in this list.
#10) Torche–Admission
The Miami sludge metal quartet known as Torche strikes back with a vengeance on their fifth and latest LP. Admission serves as the group’s first release since 2015’s Restarter and illustrates a brighter, refined version of their signature sound.
Scattered throughout the album’s eleven-track run, newfound influences of Shoegazing and Dream Pop (reminiscent of acts such as My Bloody Valentine, Lush or Ride) can be found seamlessly mixed with Torche’s standard usage of barbaric, pummeling riffage. Not many modern bands can pull off such contrasting soundscapes but with Admission, Torche illustrates sheer mastery of such a formula and continue to stand out like a sore thumb in an endless sea of Sabbath worshippers.
#9) Clouds Collide–They Don’t Sleep Anymore
Allentown, Pennsylvanian multi-instrumentalist Chris Pandolfo adds yet another emotionally explosive LP to his already stellar repertoire. Performing all vocals and instrumentals under the Clouds Collide alias, Pandolfo crafts lush, blackened atmospheric post rock blended with a throwback 90’s emo sound comparable to Sunny Day Real Estate or Mineral.
They Don’t Sleep Anymore demonstrates an almost “Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde” type of call and response in its songwriting. Each track constantly yet efficiently switches between calming yet emotionally charged smoother sections and agony-filled screams that graciously float above the more abrasive instrumental moments.
#8) Fange–Punir
Sometimes, just looking at an album’s artwork can paint a precise portrait of how devastatingly brutal it sounds. Such is the case for Punir-the third and latest LP from the French death metal quartet known as Fange.
Punir packs one hell of a horrifying punch throughout its seven track run illustrating a classic, old school death metal sound along the lines of Entombed or Bolt Thrower whilst calling upon the powers of harsh noise and pummeling sludgy riffage.
#7) Faerie Ring–The Clearing
Indiana stoner rockers Faerie Ring bind the powers of early ‘70s era blues rock (Black Sabbath) with the desert rock sounds of the late ‘80s/early ‘90 (exemplified by acts such as Kyuss or Fu Manchu) in eternal matrimony. The Clearing maintains the perfect balance of tope-tapping groove and crushing riffage that fans of classic and modern rock are sure to enjoy.
Prepare yourself for an absolute blast of a listening experience and get ready to bang your head to The Clearing.
#6) Inter Arma–Sulphur English
Richmond, Virginia’s Inter Arma returns with a gargantuan fourth full length LP that stands tall alongside the three other towering monoliths present in their back catalogue. Sulphur English flawlessly encapsulates the quintent’s unwavering desire to grow and expand on their formula by unmasking their darkest, most sinister writing yet.
Despite being debatably one of the heaviest releases from Inter Arma thus far, the group’s fourth record begins to toy with sounds of psychedelic folk in a tasteful, natural way. If you like intense, extreme metal in any way, you absolutely must check out Sulphur English.
#5) Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard–Yn OI I Anywnn
Despite the obviously frivolous project name, the tunes crafted by UK-based Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard are anything but. 2016’s Y Proffwyd Dwyll showcased a dazzling, unexpected relationship with an ethereal, Cocteau Twins-esque vocal performance and crushing doom as its instrumental backdrop and its follow up strives to push the boundaries further.
Enter Yn OI I Anywnn-a sonic plunge into the deepest depths of the vast cosmos and a fitting conclusion to Mammoth’s trilogy that began with 2015’s Noeth Ac Anoeth. This record introduces a more theatrical, space rock sound with one mighty foot placed in their signature, sludgy sound.
#4) Alcest-Spiritual Instinct
While many credit the current state of the “Blackgaze” genre to the success of Deafheaven’s Sunbather, I would argue that the credit belongs to Escailles de Lune by the French post metal duo known as Alcest. Spiritual Instinct arrives nine years later and serves as the two piece’s sixth LP.
Despite being in a completely different place in their career sonically, multi-instrumentalist Stephane (“Neige”) Paut is again at the helm and expertly crafts one of the most riff-oriented LPs of his almost twenty career. While atmosphere and world-building has generally been the central focus of Alcest’s music, Spiritual Instinct boasts a more straight-forward, upbeat take that may take fans a few listens to process but ultimately feels more appropriate and rewarding with each spin.
#3) Cult of Luna-A Dawn to Fear
Swedish post metal legends Cult of Luna turn heads with what could unexpectedly be their most refined opus in their twenty year career. Known for helping to pioneer the post metal genre as we know it, Cult of Luna has slowly perfected their massive, theatrical sound with louder and more explosive compositions present than ever before. A Dawn to Fear functions as the eighth and latest full length release from the six piece and contains some of the most well written and structured movements present in the band’s catalogue thus far.
#2) He is Legend-White Bat
He is Legend is yet another example of a band helplessly pigeonholed into the “Alternative Youth Group Scene” alongside most of their label mates at Tooth & Nail/Solid State Records. Known primarily for their 2004 hot topic opus known as I Am Hollywood, the North Carolina-based outfit has shown no signs of slowing as they relentlessly pump out quality stoner rock albums on a consistent basis (despite sadly falling off the radar of relevance). Now in 2019, White Bat acts as a stunning achievement the previous five records had been working towards.
I have always loved He is Legend and have successfully managed to follow each release over the course of the past 15 years. It became apparent (starting with 2009’s It Hates You) that the quartet had hit a creative plateau and despite maintaining a strong discography, seemed to perpetuate a pretty consistent sound for the majority of the 2010’s. Despite this lull, White Bat closes the decade with a reignited sense of purpose and extraordinary songwriting.
Think Motorhead meets Rob Zombie meets Alice in Chains with frontman Schuyler Croom’s signature tongue-in-cheek lyricism and vocal performance. This record is an absolute blast of a ride and I can’t wait for you to experience it.
#1) Seizures–Reverie of the Revolving Diamond
Every so often, one has the humble privilege of experiencing a piece of art that absolutely shatters your expectations and pushes every single boundary you never imagined could be breached. When such an event occurs with music as the method of artistic expression, it simply has to snag the coveted number one spot on your end list. This is precisely my feelings towards the third and latest LP from Orange County’s Seizures.
Reverie of the Revolving Diamond somehow flawlessly combines elements of complex, technical math metal (such as Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan and Candiria) with elements of jazz, shoegaze, dream pop, and prog metal. Its songwriting approach proves to be leaps and bounds past their previous two LPs successfully melding intricate, precise song structures with lush, aquatic soundscapes, and lightning-paced ferocity.