The year 2019 was different than previous ones have been. I
still bought records, but not so much new releases. It was hard to come up with
traditionally top ten list. There were few top notches and then something less
interesting. Here are the ones that finally found their way to my list:
1. Insomnium – Heart Like a Grave
This was my personal number one pick by any criteria I can think of. I
preferred this to the Winter’s Gate and over actually anything they’ve
released. Winter’s Gate was more original, but HLAG went directly under my
skin. That is what music is all about to me. Without any emotional attachment,
music is not worth listening and consuming time. HLAG, with those beautiful guitars
and melodies, and all those desperate lyrical themes made the listening to this
album a purifying trip to deep and dark emotions that every once in a while
should be let out or dealt with. I think that some changes in the line-up did
only good to Insomnium. Winter’s Gate was, in a way, some sort of pinnacle in
creativity. Like everything that could be done were done and things needed to
change. I really like the sound they’ve put out. The guitars just sound so
right compared to Omnium Gatherum. I saw both in live and in my book Insomnium
win hands down.
2. Candlemass – Door to Doom
Returning of the legend and returning of the voice! The era with Rob Lowe is
behind (some might say luckily), and reanimation of the genre-defining doom
band is ours to enjoy. I love the vibe in this album. It is crushingly heavy
and yet beautiful and one can sense the enjoyment of creating again the music
together. Doom is quite challenging genre. You won’t do well by just just
playing slow with distorted guitar tuning and singing about demons and stuff.
You need to be able to create the right atmosphere and this is where doom bands
either succeed or fail. Candlemass has an ability to paint such audible
environments that listening becomes a trip to another place and another reality.
The Door of Doom is an unbelievable album that would have won AOTY without
Insomnium’s bull’s eye release. I was completely blown away by Johan Langquist’s
live performance in Grasspop. This is a must-see should they perform in your
area!
3. Darkthrone – Old Star
Who said anything about old farts? This duo put out an album that many younger
black metal bands can only dream about doing in some day. A legend is a legend
for a reason I guess. I am a big fan of Darkthrone’s new stuff. I simply love
Arctic Thunder, but I wasn’t complaining when they announced that Old Star is a
step back toward their older style. Old Star is raw-sounding, harsh even.
Listening to this album makes your mind wander back in time to the time of
warriors, great battles and deep, wild forests. That’s pretty much, what you’d
expect from Norwegian black metal.
4. Death Angel – Humanicide
Another legend who show to younger generations how thrash is played and performed.
One of the best shows in 2019. Album itself is pretty good as well. As a whole,
Humanicide is more straightforward that the previous album, but some sort of
imbalance between songs is present. Some songs are top notch, but then some
felt like fillers. Humanicide is, however, catchy as hell and it has been
playing quite a lot during the year. Death Angel also performed the best single
gig I saw last year. I’m looking forward to see them again in club gig in February.
5. In Mourning – Garden of Storm
Apparently melodic death metal is still alive as this second MDM album in my
top 5 list. As a late-year release, GoS didn’t get the playtime it deserves. Luckily,
life goes on and I’m going to listening this many times in the future. GoS
practically revived this band for me and I went to see their live performance.
They actually were darn good and played one of the top gigs of last year. Keep
those albums coming and I’ll keep buying them!
After this, things get a bit trickier,
but here we go
6. King Diamond – Songs for the Dead Live
Yes, a live album found its way to my AOTY. This is long awaited live-DVD! album from King Diamond. Spotify version contains actually two gigs, one in Philadelphia and another from Grasspop. King's live performance is always top notch and this album is no exception. It contains many nice moments with songs that are beyond classics.
King was again pretty good in 2019 Grasspop and those teasers from oncoming studio album
were more than promising. I hope he’ll be able to put the studio record out
during this year, so I would have something to write about.
7. Blood Incantation – Hidden History of the Human Race
Late 2019 release took me by a surprise. I'm not even sure where I picked them up, but I'm happy I did that. One could try to describe their music as death metal meets Pink Floyd or something
alike. I have never heard stuff like this before and I found it oddly interesting. Their previous album turned
out to be great too, so I’ll be following them in the future.
8. Abbath – Outstider
What’s this, the old frog still makes good music? Yes indeed, so maybe
disbanding a band is sometimes good thing. Creativity needs changes and both
Immortal and Abbath have benefit from them.
9. Gatecreeper - Deserted
Every AOTY-list needs some surprise and Gatecreeper is another if mine for 2019. Another
late year release that didn’t get much playtime but there were something in
their music that made me return to this album. Gatecreeper plays mid-tempo old
school death metal that magically makes your head nod and your foot to tap from
song to song. They’re performing in Helsinki next August and that just become a
must see gig for me.
