As the year comes to a close, it’s important to look back at all the wonderful music we’ve been blessed with this year. But first, I’d like to address a few disappointments and a few honorable mentions as well. I’ve been writing constantly for three days now so fuck an intro, let’s DO THIS!

The Disappointments
The ones that didn’t do much for me.

• 

Kublai Khan – Absolute (Metalcore/Hardcore)
A few words: Some of my friends like this band. I don’t really understand why. This is some of the most typical angry guy hardcore I’ve ever heard. Yeah, there are a couple decent tracks like “The Truest Love” that I might come back to, but I just wasn’t feeling this at all. The bands they try to emulate are all worth your time more than anything off this album.

• 

The Devil Wears Prada – The Act (Metalcore/Alternative Rock)
A few words: A looooot of hype about this one. Not everybody liked it, but everyone who did was realllllly hyping this up. Do you like Biffy Clyro but think they don’t go hard enough? Then you’ll probably find things to enjoy about this new TDWP album. Personally, I like my Biffy Clyro the way it is, but I commend TDWP for at least trying something different. “The Thread” is a major banger of a track and “Chemicals” is a catchy radio-friendly jam. It’s a decent album, but definitely not as good as people say it is. TDWP doesn’t really do anything special on here, and it’s not all that memorable either. Maybe next time, guys.

Favorite EPs
They’re short but oh so sweet.

Lim Kim – Generasian
Short Review: Without any knowledge of her K-Pop past, I went into this new album after hearing the single “Yellow”: a simultaneously satirical take at westerners’ perceptions of Asian music and an Asian female empowerment anthem. Despite the artist having a past in K-Pop, this EP shows her diving into hip-hop while absolutely killing it with her fierce delivery and slick flow. Despite the intro and outro tracks being rather forgettable, I personally wish the entire thing were a bit longer. I hope Lim Kim continues in this direction on future albums.
Fav track: “YELLOW”
Least fave: “MINJOKYO (ENTRANCE)”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5S3sPpkd8w

Meteor King – Samhain We Reign
A few words: I gotta shout out the boys! Though I’m not a big fan of the album artwork (sorry, boys), my previous band has put out a very fun horror punk record that trumps everything they’ve done so far musically. My boys are maturing quite fine and I can’t wait to see what they put out next.
Fave track: “Samhain We Reign”
Least Fave Track: “Xaos” (If I had to choose, because I personally like this track too and think you guys should expand on the ideas you put in this song)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7v5uRmbeew

Eastdear Park – Cascade EP
A few words: Now for my other boys, Eastdear Park also put out their best release yet in the form of Cascade. On their newest release, the band has decided to create their most technically challenging work yet with songs that both flow effortlessly and test the members’ musicianship. Lead single “Sephiroth” was a perfect example showing what the band had in store for us and showcases just how much more professional their songwriting has become since their debut LP over half a decade ago. They’ve even started experimenting in new sounds such as on “Resurfaced”, which has a more pop-punk/emo direction that feels incredibly fresh and new for the band, not to mention well executed. Although I admittedly wasn’t much of a fan of the last EP they put out, this new album has me feeling so proud of them and everything they’ve accomplished up to this point. If you guys continue like this, I have no doubts in my mind you’re going to go places fast. An amazing listen from front to back, I cannot wait to play this again after I finish putting out this long ass list. So proud of you guys. So goddamn proud.
Fave track: “Cascade”
Least fave track: “Low Moon”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfINN8QACpE

Top 40 Albums of 2019
And here are my top picks of music released in 2019. I hope you find some of your faves in here too and that I can turn you onto some albums and artists you might have not known about.

40. Yeule – Serotonin II (Dream Pop/Electronic)
Review: Singaporean singer/songwriter Yeule showcases fun beats and sweet sounds to get lost in on her latest album, Serotonin II. I’m honestly not very well-versed in the world of dream pop, but Yeule caught my attention with single “Pixel Affection” which led to me listening to the entire record. While her voice tends to get a little too lost in the music and mix during some points of the album, the pretty lyricism and pink-soaked production on this record make it an absolute joy for the ears. This album has only grown on me with time and I find myself listening to it more and more often, causing it to land here at the bottom of my top 40 albums of 2019.
Top 3 Fave Tracks: “Pixel Affection”, “Pocky Boy”, “Blue Butterfly”
Least fave: “Nuclear War Post IV”
Listen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arfse3z5YzQ

39. Men I Trust – Oncle Jazz (Ambient Indie Pop/Alternative Rock)
Review: What I can only describe as “if Akira Yamaoka started a band and made all the music based off the band tracks from early Silent Hill games with a dash of indie flavor,” Men I Trust has put out an eerie, atmospheric, and unique work of ambient indie. While there are plenty of songs on here that I can recommend to those who are interested, the album as a whole is far too long for its own good. Most songs aren’t very long but it starts to become a tedious listen at 24 tracks with some of them sounding pretty similar to other songs. If you are interested in something like this or are a fan of the Silent Hill 2 soundtrack, check out the link below and let your curiosities expand from there. But a whole package, listening can get tedious so be warned.
Top 3 Faves: “Show Me How”, “I Hope to be Around”, “You Deserve This”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZRYzH0Q0pU

38. Russian Girlfriends – In The Parlance of our Times (Punk/Alternative)
Review: A good punk/alternative record that while consistent in its quality doesn’t have many standout moments. These guys are likely to get better as time goes on so check a track or two from this and maybe jam others from there. Despite being one of the weaker entries on this list, I can recommend this album to anyone wanting something not too hardcore but will absolutely kick their ass with high tension execution and raw performances.
Top 3 Faves: “Angry Bong Rips”, “Antidote”, “White Guilt White Heat”
Least Fave: “Lbc”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zKajhjK7aU

37. Angelo de Augustine – Tomb (Folk/Acoustic/Indie)
Review: The first new record I listened to this year, this album also served as my introduction to Angelo de Augustine. I’m not going to talk much about it because admittedly, I didn’t spend as much time with it as I should have. Because of that, it’s landing lower on my list, but don’t let that make you think this record isn’t worth a listen. Every lyric feels personally delivered from a melancholic place wrapped in tears and hope while a thick feeling of gloom hangs over most of the tracks. Angelo’s writing will likely appeal to fans of depressive folk artists such as Elliot Smith. While Elliot Smith may be the better artist, Tomb should sit right at home with fans of Elliot’s softer recordings.
Top 3 Fave Tracks: “You Needed Love, I Needed You”, “Wanderer”, “Bird Has Flown”
Least Fave: “Tide”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuENBIADcfo

36. Tool – Fear Inoculum (Progressive Metal/Hard Rock)
Review: Truth be told, this should probably be lower than the last two records listed. While I enjoy all the songs of those albums, I don’t enjoy all the songs here to the same degree. However, the performances on the songs that do work are absolutely phenomenal. I already wrote about this record in an earlier review so I won’t say much here. However, Tool’s latest album is (while a little undercooked) still worth your time to taste and savor what amazing flavors it can offer.
Top 3 Faves: “Pneuma”, “Descending”, “7empest”
Least Fave: “Mockingbeat”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ClCaPmAA7s

35. Sparrows – Failed Gods (Metalcore)
I didn’t write anything for this by accident and I’m rushing… Oops. It’s a good album! A very good metalcore album. Just not quite up to par with everything else higher on this list… Yup!

34. Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind (Nu-Metal/Hard Rock)
Review: After releasing two lackluster efforts in a row, Slipknot have come back with a vengeance on their latest record. While still not quite up to the quality of their first two records (admittedly, the first one’s charm is starting to die for me), We Are Not Your Kind comes damn close to the quality of 2004’s Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses, especially in terms of accessibility. However, this is probably the first time since their inception that the band has decided to actually try and work outside of their comfort zone to surprising results. Songs like “Spiders” end up not feeling out of place for the band, proving that they can do more than write angry riffs and dark, sometimes cheesy ballads. The album starts to feel a little long after a while, but if you were ever a fan of Slipknot or still are, this is worth giving a shot simply because of how it separates itself from its predecessors.
Top 3 Faves: “Critical Darling”, “Nero Forte”, “Solway Firth”
Least fave: “Unsainted”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGNqvH9ykfA

33. KOHH – Untitled (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Review: Most people know KOHH for either his Dirt record (a shamelessly abrasive collection of trap bangers that I actually really love) or being the guy to spit the sick verse at the end of Korean rapper Keith Ape’s 2015 viral hit “It G Ma” (aka. the “arigatou” guy). However, his latest record Untitled is a much more personal affair compared to his previous outings. While he’s all but hung up his massive trap beats and aggressive flows, Untitled shows KOHH going a little further outside of his comfort zone through employing sung vocals, ambience in some of his instrumentals, and bigger production. The previously heard rock influence on KOHH’s last record Dirt II resurfaces in the single “I Want A Billion” which features Taku of One OK Rock (who arguably is the bigger star of the song). The songs “ひとつ” (“Hitotsu”/”One”), “Leave Me Alone”, and “I’m Gone” are more reserved and atmospheric than most of KOHH’s past material where KOHH sings more than he raps but nailing a very emotional delivery. “Imma Do It” and “Fame” are more of the standard KOHH fare as the album’s trap bangers while closer “ロープ” (“Rope”) not only delivers a heavy instrumental but also some of KOHH’s strongest lyrics and delivery to date. There are some weaker tracks that KOHH could have tried to do more on such as “まーしょうがない” (“Maa Shouganai”/”Well, It Doesn’t Matter”), but there are still parts that will likely get stuck in your head. The only song that doesn’t do anything for me is “Okachimachi” which not only feels sloppy and lazy, but is the only song I think completely fails. Despite this, Untitled is one of my favorite rap records of the year. KOHH’s latest is so close to being his greatest. It makes me very excited to see what his next outing will be like.
Top 3 Faves: “Hitotsu”, “Fame”, “Rope”
Least fave: “Okachimachi”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNazv8FFJZ0

32. Devin Townsend – Empath (Progressive Metal/New Age)
Review: [Warning: This review is longer than every other review on here because it also serves as the conclusion to my Devy marathon from mid-2019. If you have no interest in my deeper opinions on the record, then TLDR; it’s a great album weighed down by overproduction and a little bit of over-ambition.]
Day 24 of 24 Days of Devy. It is totally still July 2019. It is totally not long after I last reviewed the previous Devin Townsend record, Transcendence by Devin Townsend Project. This is totally not a last ditch effort to finally close the Devy marathon that should have finished approximately a little over 5 months ago. I totally put this off on purpose. Now that I have your understanding that this was all totally intentional and I am not making excuses for the sake of making excuses, allow me to dive into the most recent project of the man who practically ruled a full quarter of my entire year. Following the release of 2016’s Transcendence, the man decided to disband the 8-year long Devin Townsend Project in 2017 following a tour where they played through all of his solo project’s magnum opus, Ocean Machine. When it was finally announced the next record would be the first solo effort not related to the Ziltoid series since 2007, it had everyone’s interest piqued, including my own. The thing about Devin’s projects is that they typically possess certain qualities that differ them from each other. This alone had me looking forward to listening to this year’s Empath and sadly, I don’t think it does much to distinguish itself from what DTP were doing on their most recent three records. Don’t get me wrong, Empath is still a great record that deserves your attention. This is made clear from the song “Genesis” that follows the intro to the album. “Genesis” features immense choirs, crazy riffs, triumphant operatic vocals from HevyDevy and his choir, and almost Prince-like zaniness towards the middle of the track. What makes Empath so special amongst the ranks of the esteemed Devin Townsend discography is how it feels like a glimpse back at all of his previous records with the sensibilities he has employed on his recent records. The choir-backed “Spirits Will Collide” is a powerful anthem of positivity and not losing sight of who you are. The catchy “Borderlands” comes later in the album along with the blisteringly heavy “Hear Me”, proving Devy is still far from losing his touch on songwriting even so late into his career. The closer “Singularity” is a 20-minute prog epic that on its own could be considered everything musical about Devin Townsend that could ever require explanation to a non-fan. It twists and turns down many sonic hallways and staircases leading to different parts of Devy’s musical career and shatters the minds of his biggest fans as a direct love letter from the man himself to us. However, for those who don’t remember my reviews from the marathon, one thing I longed for following the most recent Devy releases was for the man to let go of his choir (or at least chill out on their inclusion) and try creating more down to earth music again like on older masterpieces Ocean Machine and Terria, or really any of his solo records that aren’t related to Ziltoid. To my dismay, Devin refuses to let go of his background singers and continues using them tenfold on this album. It doesn’t help either that the production is through the roof in terms of how clean it can be to almost the point of exhaustion. It’s here that certain songs like “Sprite” don’t hold much appeal for me. But I think Devy did accomplish a lot of what he really wanted to on this album and it can be a comforting listen at the times it doesn’t want to explode in your face with all of its different quirks. Devy did not create a new magnum opus with Empath (sorry to the 40% of Devy Shitstormposting who think he did), but he did create something special to him that at its best moments translates perfectly to his fans’ hearts. Though not a perfect record, it is a testament to what brought Devy to become the person he is today, and for that I wish it many more years of listening. And with that I say goodbye to the Devy marathon. Until the next record, whenever that may be.
Top 3 Faves: “Spirits Will Collide”, “Hear Me”, “Singularity”
Least Fave: “Sprite”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHJurX0yVA

31. Denzel Curry – ZUU (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Review: Denzel is back!!! I was surprised that he released an album just a year after TA13OO, which was both my favorite rap album of last year and my favorite record that Denzel has put out so far. I was a little worried going into this that the quality wouldn’t measure up to that of his last record, but then I realized that aspect doesn’t really matter with ZUU. Unlike TA13OO and Imperial, ZUU is not necessarily a serious record. Denzel set out on this album to make an album that reminded him of the southern hip-hop that he grew up with and I think he succeeded with flying colors. Instead of addressing serious topics such as politics and life in modern America like on his last album, ZUU is full of fun bangers that you can put on any time of day and just jam out to. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, Denzel’s latest is a quick burst of southern hip-hop flavor that will have you starting the record again immediately after it finishes.
Top 3 Faves: “RICKY”, “CAROLMART FEAT. ICE BILLION BERG”, “BIRDZ FEAT. RICK ROSS”
Least Fave: “SHAKE 88 FEAT. SAM SNEAK” (seriously, why didn’t he just get a female rapper for the chorus?)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WHm6tfvKlk

30. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Fishing For Fishies (Indie/Dance/Alternative)
Review: As someone who was late to the King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard train, I started this year following my friend’s recommendations of Nonagon Infinity, Flying Microtonal Banana, Polygondwanaland, and Murder of the Universe. For all who are unfamiliar with these records, I can sum up the transition between them and Fishing for Fishies as being jarring. King Gizzard is a band that seems to change their style with every album and Fishing for Fishies is probably the biggest change they’ve made so far. Where the other albums for the most part could be summed up as insane psychedelic rock with the occasional outside influence from some other genre, Fishing for Fishies is much more laid back and focuses more on funky melodies rather than incredible jams and building on existing grooves until they’re ready to explode in your face. While I prefer the other records over this record, there are still plenty of great jams to be found here on Fishing for Fishies. “Cyboogie” is probably my favorite on the record being a funky futuristic groove with robot vocals that are sure to get you dancing. “This Thing” is similar in its funky nature yet possesses some psychedelic qualities that wouldn’t be out of place on a 70s rock record. “Boogieman Sam” sees the band fully embracing that 70s sound with harmonicas, grand keyboards, and catchy group vocals. I suppose the record does feel very 70s overall now that I’m writing about it. Fishing for Fishies is a great album to jam out while driving or maybe when you’re at home with friends enjoying drinks and each other’s company. However, King Gizzard released another record this year that would topple this one in terms of quality and saw the band changing their sound yet again. An album that may appear later on this list…
Top 3 Faves: “Cyboogie”, “This Thing”, “Acarine”
Least Fave: “The Bird Song:
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyOCKLbCm5g

29. Alcest – Spiritual Instinct (Shoegaze/Black Metal)
Review: Although their previous record is an overall stronger outing, Alcest’s latest record Spiritual Instinct still has a lot to love. The band is still on their top form with songwriting on single “Protection” which is one of my top 10 favorite songs of the year and will likely go down as being one of the band’s most memorable. Although maybe not aiming quite as high with songwriting as their previous record, Spiritual Instinct is a solid collection of songs with very little to fault it for. The title track is easily one of the band’s most epic tracks filled with soaring ambience and pounding drums, though some songs towards the middle feel like they lack some of the usual Alcest inspiration. As an Alcest fan, Spiritual Instinct is very much worth your time. However, while there are some songs that could bring in new fans, someone who doesn’t know their music is likely better off starting with either the band’s last record Kodama or Ecailles de Lune.
Top 3 Faves: “Protection” “Le Miroir”, “Spiritual Instinct”
Least Fave: “Sapphire”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn7wvu8R4Wk

28. Air Review – How We Got By (Synthpop/Electronic)
Review: Losing a family member is never easy, especially when they are taken from you by forces beyond your control. How We Got By details the loss of the foster child that vocalist Doug Hale and his wife were taking care of before the child was forcibly removed from them by Child Services to go live with extended family deemed unfit to care for the boy. The first four lines on the song “You Won’t Be Coming Home” alone give you a great idea of what to expect lyrically from this record: “Will you walk away never knowing, How I cry every day still every day, How the silence breaks my heart, I know you won’t be coming home.” However, since this is a synthpop record, although every song on this album is loaded with the heartbreak and other complex emotions, most of the music is very groovy and makes for great jams despite the melancholic content. As an introduction to Air Review, How We Got By served as a great starting point and an engaging listen from front to back. Although some tracks towards the back end tend to sometimes lose themselves in atmosphere a bit too much, this is a great synthpop record that deserves your attention.
Top 3 Faves: “You Won’t Be Coming Home”, “Bobby”, “Threads”
Least Fave: “Love|Loss”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmDu4xi6JvY

27. Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs (Indie Rock)
Review: Easily one of the best feminist records of the year, Stella Donnelly brings a musically fun indie record with biting lyrics that aren’t afraid to attack the social patriarchy on Beware of the Dogs. When I first listened to it, I thought it was good but it didn’t stand out to me much. However, going back to it for this list had me rethinking my initial opinions as Stella’s charming and bold lyrics accompany sweet indie melodies that are bound to get stuck in your head. Even though the lyrics are socially charged, their messages don’t feel unnatural on top of the lighter instrumentals. While the record could have done more to stand out from its contemporaries, it’s a step forward for Stella and her band with cuts like “Old Man”, “Mosquito”, “Tricks”, “Boys Will Be Boys”, and the title track. Beware of the Dogs has me excited to see how Stella will continue to evolve from this point onward.
Top 3 Faves: “Tricks”, “Boys Will Be Boys”, “Beware of the Dogs”
Least Fave: “Die”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcD9EKeCtIY

26. BROCKHAMPTON – GINGER (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Review: This is another album I forgot to write a review for, but I think I can write something out really quickly to sum up my feelings towards this record. GINGER is a major departure from the style that BROCKHAMPTON has been known for up to this point. Their first three albums consisted of major bangers and indie rock-influenced soft tracks, but their fourth record Iridescence was a very mixed bag in terms of both style and quality. Coming off of losing core member Ameer Vann, the self-proclaimed boy band seemed at a loss on how to progress, something that appeared evident by their last album’s spotty nature. However, I am proud to say that GINGER is the return to form that BROCKHAMPTON so desperately needed. While this album is likely to turn off fans of the older material with its more toned down and melody-based approach, it acts as a great step of maturity for the band’s sound and lyrics. The band gets incredibly introspective on this album as they delve into many personal issues amongst themselves and those around them, like on the opener “NO HALO”. However, the biggest standout moment has to come during the song “DEARLY DEPARTED” when member Dom Mclennon delivers a showstopping and chilling verse calling out previous member Ameer for his actions both against friends of the band and in his own personal life that led to his ejection from the group. While GINGER is unlikely to resonate with fans of the loud, abrasive nature of BROCKHAMPTON’s first three records, it’s bound to change the minds of those who dismissed those records as being immature with the bold evolution found in this album.
Top 3 Faves: “NO HALO”, “DEARLY DEPARTED”, “ST. PERCY”
Least Fave: “GINGER”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfYUUB2uZLA

25. 100 gecs – 1000 gecs (Noise Pop/Experimental/Hip-Hop)
Review: Uh, yeah. This is the best scene music that isn’t scene music. If this had come out back when being scene was more of a thing, scene kids would have been all over this. This is a pretty unconventional electronic pop record with elements of noise, glitch, hip-hop, trance, dubstep, punk, ska, and there’s even a 2000s scene deathcore band-style breakdown on one song complete with screaming, guitars, bass, and drums. If I could describe this album in one word, it’s OCD. But it’s that lack of identity and the overblown production that make this album a surprisingly catchy and interesting listen. You could easily blow your speakers out if you put this on too loud and your chances get especially raised if you set the bass boost up. This album is without a doubt not for everybody and will likely turn many listeners off as soon as its first track. But for those of you looking for something incredibly fresh and over-the-top, this album will sit right at home with you. It might take repeat listens to fully appreciate it for what it is (it certainly did for me), but luckily the album is pretty short with a 23-minute runtime so its over rather quickly. I had to ask myself at first whether this was either something really awesome or a piece of shit. Well, I seeing as how it’s sitting here on my list, I guess that answers your question. Give it a shot. You’ll probably hate it, but there’s always that chance you’ll start loving it like I did.
Top 3 Faves: ” xXXi_wud_nvrstøp_ÜXXx “, “ringtone”, “hand crushed by mallet”
Least Fave: “gecgecgec”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z97qLNXeAMQ

24) Alex Cameron – Miami Memory (Soft Rock/Pop)
Review: Albeit not quite as memorable as his previous record, Forced Witness, the latest record from Alex Cameron shows the singer expanding upon the sound of his previous record with a very strong sophomore outing. Although there aren’t as many songs on this album that get stuck in my head like “Stranger’s Kiss”, “Runnin’ Outta Luck”, or “True Lies”, Miami Memory overall could be considered more consistent than its predecessor. Alex Cameron still refuses to shy away from unique subject matter with songs like “Stepdad” being about Alex’s feelings on becoming a new stepfather and “Far From Born Again” being a funky pro-sex work anthem. “Bad For The Boys” is a song about removing yourself from nostalgia and “Divorce” being about, well, divorce. On Miami Memory, Alex Cameron has continued to make a name for himself in the soft rock community, one that I’m sure will only grow in years to come.
Top 3 Faves: “Stepdad”, “Far From Born Again”, “Bad For The Boys”
Least Fave: “Gaslight”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQdj2A4yN0A

23. Counterparts – Nothing Left To Love (Metalcore/Melodic Hardcore)
Review: After missing out on their last record two years ago, my introduction to Counterparts came in the form of Nothing Left to Love. Many people were raving about this record saying that it could be the number one metalcore release of the year. When I first listened to it, I was inclined to agree. The balance between melodic hardcore and metalcore is so sound that the band has their style nailed down to the core, and the emotional delivery of their frontman is done in a way that compliments both styles well. The lyrics are deep and impactful, whether it be the emotional cries of “Will you love me when there’s nothing left to love?” found on the opener and closer of this record, or the enraged bellows of “No man but me can disfigure my creation, I will absolve you of your sins and hurl you into Hell myself” on the track “Your Own Knife”. However, despite the high-quality lyrics and well-structured music, the second half of the record starts to feel a little too same-y to me after a while. A lot of the melodic guitars felt not quite as varied as some other releases this year. Still, if this were the only metalcore release you looked into last year, I wouldn’t hold it against you. It’s an incredibly quality record that will keep you coming back time and time again to be struck with its heaviness.
Top 3 Faves: “Wings of Nightmares”, “Your Own Knife”, “Cherished”
Least Fave: “Imprints”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ifYxkUcj4

22. Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts (Deathcore/Metalcore)
Review: As someone who didn’t enjoy the band back when they started and didn’t hear a single peep from them until this album, color me impressed. This album is an example of a deathcore record done right. The heights it reaches through heavy melodic riffing and unrelenting breakdowns alone is enough to warrant it praise. A typical deathcore record likes to lose itself in the feeling of anger, but this album displays a range of emotions that the music perfectly compliments instead of drowning the listener in sludgy breakdowns paired with crappy Slayer riffs. The last several songs on the album did start losing me a little bit (especially “Warfare”), but a majority of this album is absolutely worth your time. Strong performances from all members make each song impactful and the barrage every riff brings will leave your ears reeling. Definitely give it a listen.
Top 3 Faves: “The Sea of Tragic Beasts”, “Mirrors”, “Unloved”
Least Fave: “Warfare”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLT81QYpTzw

21) Opeth – In Cauda Venenum (Progressive Rock/Progressive Metal)
Review: Without a doubt the best album thus far in their prog rock era, In Cauda Venenum shows the band almost fully rekindling the fire that was somewhat lost with the start of their shift in sound with 2011’s Heritage. While Heritage and the albums that followed were not bad by any means, there was undeniably a certain magic lacking in the songwriting that made every album prior so much more special. On this new record, Opeth have started shedding their prog rock inspirations from their sleeves and created a record that feels truer to a vision the band conjured up themselves. The band has not sounded this ghostly since, well, 2005’s Ghost Reveries. While a few ideas fail to stick their landing as hard as the band might have hoped, a majority of the tracklist shows the band in a return to form as they interweave technical grooves with dark prog rock melodies, creating one of their most challenging works to date. Two versions of the album exist with one being in English and the other being in the band’s mother tongue of Swedish. The Swedish version is the way the band intended their album to sound but the English language still works spectacularly with the music. Regardless of which version of the album you choose to listen to, Opeth is proving more and more that they can make their new prog rock sound work without needing to rely on old tricks to keep fans entertained.
Top 3 Faves: “The Garrator/Banemannen”, “Dignity/Svekets Prins”, “All Things Will Pass/Allting Tar Slut”
Least Fave: “Next of Kin/ De närmast sörjande”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF5FXYmBrc4

20. Knocked Loose – A Different Shade of Blue (Hardcore/Metalcore)
Review: Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Collin, you gave Counterparts shit for having same-y riffs towards the back end of the record. Why is Knocked Loose higher on this list?” Well, there are a couple reasons why. First, this album came into my life at the perfect time. After getting my shit stolen in September, this album was the perfect catharsis. Second reason is this album possesses a balance of raw aggression and unique ideas to its genre that Kublai Khan WISHES they had (or maybe they don’t care). The band’s previous effort Laugh Tracks was decent but it felt lacking in some areas. On A Different Shade of Blue, the band takes massive steps towards accomplishing that feat of bringing to the table heavier riffs with even death metal tendencies at times, memorable features especially in the forms of Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die and Emma Boster of Dying Wish, and the most crushing breakdowns of this entire year. There has been some criticism saying that most of the riffs sound similar, but I don’t hear that at all. Knocked Loose have produced one of the most cathartic releases of the year and proven themselves to be a very capable metalcore/hardcore outfit with every intention of staying around to shred your face off for years to come.
Top 3 Faves: “Bellville”, “A Serpent’s Touch (feat. Emma Boster)”, “Forget Your Name (feat. Keith Buckley)”
Least Fave: “Road 23”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou0TdTwLhbQ

19. Rammstein – Untitled (Industrial Metal/Neue Deutsche Härte)
Review: The German godfathers of Neue Deutsche Härte have returned from a 10 year period of not releasing any new material with one of their best records to date. Untitled shows the band trying some new things with their sound while simultaneously maintaining the signature brand of metal attributed they’re known for. “Radio” is one of the band’s catchiest singles to date while “Deutschland” (“Germany”) is essentially the band’s “This is America” with the lyrics casting dark and bitter shadows over their homeland coupled with a pulsing beat and dance-y synths. While “Ausländer” (“Outsider”) and “Halloman” (“Announcer”) are also tracks with mentioning, the highlight of the record has to be the song “Puppe” (“Doll”). “Puppe” is possibly the band’s darkest song to date: the ominous and unsettling guitar line during the verse with the rest of the band softly providing accompnaying ambience careens back and forth into an explosive chorus featuring frontman Till Lindemann at his most unhinged vocal performance to date. The disturbing lyrics detail a young boy being forced to sit inside a closet clinging to his doll while watching his prostitute sister be murdered by a client. While Untitled is unlikely to change many minds about Rammstein, I still encourage checking this record out. It’s probably their most accessible record to date. If you have to check out any song off this album, either watch the “Deutschland” music video (linked below) or listen to “Puppe”.
Top 3 Faves: “Deutschland”, “Ausländer”, “Puppe”
Least Fave: “Sex”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeQM1c-XCDc

18. Rapsody – Eve (Rap/Hip-Hop)
Review: Having missed out on Rapsody’s last album, I went into Eve curious as to what I’d get. Ladies and gentlemen, Rapsody is easily one of the best new rappers out there right now and this record alone is proof of that. While it might overwhelm some listeners with its message and some of the messages present in this record don’t always land their mark, this album features seminal hip-hop production, air-tight flows and poetry that won’t let go of you until the final word is uttered. Every song on this album is named after a famous historical black woman which is done to help emphasize the overall message of black woman empowerment. Most of the guest spots on here are very well done with Queen Latifah being the absolute highlight coming in and killing it with an amazing verse, proving that she hasn’t lost her touch even this late into her career. If you are a fan of hip-hop and haven’t given this album a listen, what are you waiting for?? Come meet one of the next great hip-hop MCs on her sophomore record and then go back and peep the first one.
Top 3 Faves: “Nina”, “Hatshepsut (feat. Queen Latifah)”, “Cleo”
Least Fave: “Oprah (feat. Leikeli47)”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54yOD994ors

17. Norma Jean – All Hail (Metalcore)
Review: Despite having missed the last two records (only catching songs here and there), I was quite aware of Norma Jean’s development over the past decade. Their evolution from being a band who wore their Botch influence on their sleeve to becoming a beast of their own in the metalcore scene may have started around Wrongdoers, but their newest release, All hail, cements them as one of the top-runners in their genre currently. While the production on All Hail isn’t quite as dirty or raw as their more hardcore-influenced counterparts (HAH!), the songwriting is solid and packed with emotional ammunition fired as the listener through raging guitars, throat-shredding screams, and heavy drumming. If you are a fan of metalcore or are looking for a record that might give you a better opinion of the band, All Hail is a more than worthy stop for you.
Top 3 Faves: “[Mind over Mind]”, “Translational”, “If [Loss] Then [Leader]”
Least Fave: “Volunteer Tooth Filing”
Listen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntfCjgZO2aQ

16. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Review: I cannot wait for you all to bring on the hate. Not being in the States at the time of this album’s release was probably the best circumstance for me to have been in. Almost every American I asked about this record kept telling me the same thing: “Meh. Doesn’t live up to the hype.” Well, as someone who wasn’t near the hype when it was circulating and found out about the record via word of mouth, Billie Eilish’s debut is a breath of fresh air for American pop music. While the record is unbalanced by its indecision of whether or not it wants to be dark like its artwork, it is packed with memorable pop songs that have kept me humming throughout the year. The production on the record is half of what makes these tracks so addicting to which I give mad props to Billie’s brother who handled all production. Though Billies still has room to grow as a singer (she’s still a kid, after all), her hushed vocals offer a dark moodiness to the record that enhances the characteristics of tracks like “bad guy”, “you should see me in a crown”, and “bury a friend”. But that’s not to say that Billie doesn’t have moments where she gets a little louder. The funky “my strange addiction” and the emotional “i love you” are two such examples of this. Admittedly, the vocal style has started bothering me a bit more after recent listens, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that pop singers could learn a thing or two from Billie’s darker, more personally exposed style of pop music.

Top 3 Faves: “you should see me in a crown”, “bury a friend”, “i love you”

Least Fave: “when the party’s over”

Listen here: https://youtu.be/Ah0Ys50CqO8

15. Joliette – Luz Devora (Screamo/Post-Hardcore)
Review: The foreign skramz bands absolutely killed it this year. What’s a State Faults?  Why do you keep asking me about them? They’re not on this list? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyways, as I was saying, Joliette is a post-hardcore/skramz band straight out of Mexico who have crafted a ferocious screamo record that is absolutely worth your time. Luz Devora (Devoid of Light) is an auditory assault that will stay lodged in your memory days after you’ve finished listening to it. While the lyrics are all extremely impassioned and well-delivered, there is a language barrier to all non-Spanish speaking listeners out there. However, I feel that the intense melodies, harsh riffs, and the occasional odd time signature will provide enough listening pleasure for even pickier listeners. As one of the more unknown releases of 2019, I recommend giving this record a shot if you are into emotional rock with an intense edge. Monoliths like “Jupiter Jovial” and “El Alphabiotista” are perfect for giving you an idea of what you’re getting into as both possess that visceral intensity that the band is so skilled at. Another favorite of mine would have to be “Futuras Campanas” which features more melodically driven guitars with some of the most intense drumming on the record. Even as I type this and try to move on to writing about another album, I’m still listening to this album. Easily one of the biggest surprises of the year, Luz Devora should not go missed. It will make you want to pick up an old Spanish textbook and- I’m sorry? State Faults again? Sorry, still don’t know what you’re talking about.
Top 3 Faves: “Jupiter Jovial”, “El Alphabiotista”, “Futuras Campanas”
Least Fave: “Pudre Infante” (if I had to choose)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m93YyQsPsIY

14. White Ward – Love Exchange Failure (Black Metal/Jazz/Ambient)
Review: Another album that seemed to go mostly unnoticed this year, Love Exchange Failure is what you get when you mix jazz, black metal, and post-hardcore into one bag and shake it really hard. The opening title track alone tells you exactly what you’re in for from this Ukrainian band. Going from a soft, smooth jazz intro into ferocious guitars and flurrying double bass, this is in my opinion what Deafheaven’s last album should have been like. The cold atmosphere of the record sucks you in and keeps you focused on the band’s performance. The fusion of these genres isn’t perfect just yet but the record comes damn close to achieving its goal showing that black metal is a genre filled with untapped potential often held back by elitists. However, while this is not the greatest achievement from black metal this year (more on that later), if you are looking for something fresh in metal then you should definitely give this album your attention. Just by the first track alone you will know if this record is for you. I highly urge you to check this record out and see what black metal has been missing and what you have been missing as well.
Top 3 Faves: “Love Exchange Failure”, “Dead Heart Confession”, “No Cure For Pain”
Least Fave: “Shelter” (If I had to choose)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXQnEfPRcVU

13. Periphery – P4: Hail Stan (Metalcore/Progressive Metal)
Review: So I already wrote a review earlier in 2019 regarding my thoughts on this album so I won’t say too much, but this album still holds up very well many months later. “Reptile” and “Satellites” are still my two new favorite Periphery songs and aside from “Crush”, I think this album is filled with quality. Periphery’s best record so far, check it out.
Top 3 Faves: “Reptile”, “Satellites”, “Only Smiles”
Least Fave: “Crush”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQQxhyhdg-w

12. clipping. – There Existed An Addiction To Blood (Hip-Hop/Experimental/Noise)
Review: Noise rap outfit Clipping have created a horrorcore record. Well, it’s horrorcore and it’s not horrorcore. It is horrorcore in the sense that every lyric detail a horror movie scenario in terrifying detail and the music is dark to reflect that. It’s not horrorcore in the sense that it lacks all the goofiness and misogyny of other horrorcore acts like Insane Clown Posse. However, don’t get it twisted: Clipping have not removed themselves from their noise roots. If anything, the noise elements only elevate the foreboding atmosphere hanging over the album. “He Dead” especially shows this as the instrumental is just ambience, harrowing organs, coughing, and the sound of bells while rapper Daveed Diggs raps about disappearances caused by a mysterious force that is unidentifiable but is killing everything it touches. The best songs on the album are the ones that really embrace the horror imagery without making it feel forced. Singles “Nothing Is Safe” and “La Mala Ordina” are especially great examples of this. If you listen to those and don’t enjoy them, this album will likely not be for you. However, this might be my favorite Clipping album to date and strongly urge you to listen to this on a late-night drive home to feel its full effects.
Top 3 Faves: “Nothing Is Safe”, “La Mala Ordina”, “Run For Your Life”
Least Fave: “Piano Burning”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRIT-neg3Rg

11. VI SOM ÄLSKADE VARANDRA SÅ MYCKET – Det Onda. Det Goda. Det Vackra. Det Fula. (Screamo/Punk/Hardcore/Ambient)
Review: As stated earlier, the foreign skramz bands have been killing it this year. What’s that? State Faults again? Sorry, still no clue who that is. Anyways, this is a Swedish skramz band that I happened upon just this month who massively impressed me with their latest release. While Joliette plays music that’s much faster and technically intense, Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket (such a long name) looks to make music that’s as impactful emotionally as it is raw and visceral. The main thing that put this band at a higher pedestal for me than Joliette was just how memorable every single song on here is. While Joliette had a couple songs that didn’t fare as well when compared with others, every song on Det Onda. Det Goda. Det Vackra. Det Fula. (“The Ugly. The Beautiful. The Smart. The Stupid.”) hits their mark hard. While there is a language barrier present yet again due to every song being in Swedish, the passion that pours out from this band’s vocalist cuts through like a knife. Fans of more ambient skramz bands like Pianos Become The Teeth, Funeral Diner, and Envy will find a lot to enjoy about Vi Som. Despite this only being their second album, Vi Som has crafted one of the best skramz albums of the year and seems very far from running out of steam. This album is such a gift. I am beyond excited to see what the band will concoct next.
Top 3 Faves: “Kärleken Är Död”, “Sioux City”, “Dumskallarnas Sammsansvärjning”
Least Fave: “Ensamhet Urholkar Själen” (If I had to choose)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_biV4uUxDY

10. black midi – Schlagenheim (Noise Rock/Experimental/Math Rock)
Review: One of the most unique projects to come out this year, black midi have made their musical debut with an incredibly challenging record in the form of Schlagenheim. While vocalist Geordie Greep’s singing is not for everybody, the band’s musical ability is inarguably incredible. Their experimentation goes in so many different directions on this album such as on songs like “bmbmbm” which is mainly just a single rhythm looped over and over again with screaming and other loud noises in the background while the band occasionally breaks loose and lets the hinges fly off the door in intense catastrophe. As the song progresses, it continuously gets louder and louder until it all finally calms down at the very end. The band enjoys dialing their music from 1 to 100 at a second’s notice and making it seem effortless, blowing the lid off any expectations that you the listener may have. It’s difficult to label black midi’s music as anything other than experimental rock because it’s so unhinged and all over the place while still feeling like a very cohesive product. This type of raw intensity is difficult for any type of musician to replicate and the technical prowess the band demonstrates in the midst of this is mind-blowing. I would have probably put this higher had I spent more time with the record as I didn’t discover them until late November. I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys being thrown into a wall by the music they listen to. Geordie’s vocals likely won’t sit well with many as they carry a very strange tone to them, but the musicianship alone is worth the price of admission. You may even grow to enjoy the vocals on repeat listens like I did. Don’t exit 2019 without hearing the craziest rock record of possibly the entire decade with Schlagenheim.
Top 3 Faves: “Reggae”, “bmbmbm”, “Ducter”
Least Fave: “Years Ago”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga8K_diGviw

9. American Football – LP3 (Emo/Math Rock/Post-Rock)
Review: Going into the third album from legendary emo outfit American Football had many listeners a little worried, myself included. The band’s debut album from the late-90s is still heralded by almost all fans of the genre as a masterpiece to this day, a sentiment which I whole-heartedly agree with. However, the group’s return after a hiatus of nearly 20 years in 2017 with comeback album LP2 (all their records are titled American Football so this is how I’m distinguishing them) was viewed by many to be lackluster as the band tried to drum up the same sort of songs their debut made them known for to mixed results. While not a bad record, LP2 left fans disappointed feeling that the band truly might have lost their spark after so many years of being inactive. This is what makes LP3 such a triumphant return to form for the band. They are no longer in their early 20s like they were when they released LP1 and have come to terms that they cannot find inspiration in the same types of ideas they employed nearly two decades ago. LP3 not only showcases the band aiming for a more grand ambient sound in their music but they have dropped many of the math-y elements of the first record in pursuit of something that resounds more with the emotions they are dealing with this late into their lives. The opener “Silhouettes” features thick ambient melodies and urgent drums underneath vocalist Mike Kinsella’s mournful vocals detailing two lovers discussing an act of infidelity and serves as a perfect opener to the album. The following track “Every Wave to Ever Rise” is breathtakingly gorgeous and nostalgic featuring twinkling guitars and a smooth 6/8 groove from the bass and drums, and feels as if you are coasting on the clouds above a sunset from many years ago. Elizabeth Powell of the indie band Land of Talk is also on this song, and is only just one of several features on this album. The song “Uncomfortably Numb” features Paramore singer Hayley Williams and lyrics about the confusion and difficulties one faces when they grow up, including Mike Kinsella’s strange feelings towards becoming a father. The more upbeat rhythms employed on this song make it one of the band’s most accessible tracks to date and is likely a good starting point for those who might be turned off by something from the band’s earlier releases. Every song on here is brilliantly crafted making it the band’s most mature work to date. I could go on and on talking about how much I love this record, but I have other records I must attend to. Although I feel LP1 is the best starting point for not just anyone trying to get into American Football but one of the best starting points for getting into emo in general, LP3 bears little to no offenses over its 8-track runtime and is a wonderful time from front to back. You can’t really go wrong with anything on this record, though “Doom in Full Bloom” may be its one weak point.
Top 3 Faves: “Sillhouettes”, “Uncomfortably Numb (feat. Hayley Williams)”, “Every Wave To Ever Rise”
Least Fave: “Doom in Full Bloom”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCP2Lh2L5Ac

8. JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs (Hip-Hop/Experimental)
Reviews: : As someone who hadn’t listened to Peggy up to this point, I didn’t realize how different this record was from his debut album, Veteran. Now that I’ve listened to both, it’s hard to say which one I like more. While Veteran was definitely darker, All My Heroes Are Cornballs is much more varied in its overall sound. Not a single track on this album sounds like each other and every track has some sort of transition during the song that makes the unpredictability factor of where Peggy will take his music next rise higher than every other hip-hop release that I’ve heard this year. While I could probably do without the instrumental tracks on here since they don’t particularly add much to the overall album, JPEGMAFIA has cemented his place as one of the most interesting rappers in the game right now with this record. It would take so long to describe tracks on this thing because they’re so layered and schizophrenic so I’ll leave your ears to do the deciding of whether or not you like this album. However, I will say that while the whole album feels like the ADD of modern internet culture summed up into one musical package, that works into being one of its charms. Peggy’s flow and witty lyricism also helps him stand out amongst his contemporaries. Check this album out if you want to be exposed to one of the most unique minds in modern hip hop.
Top 3 Faves: “Jesus, Forgive Me, I Am A Thot”, “Grimy Waifu”, “PTSD”
Least Fave: “JPEGMAFIA TYPE BEAT” (If I had to choose)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IbYFvj73BM

7. Jambinai – ONDA (Post-Rock/Post-Hardcore/Experimental Rock)
Review: This is the band who closed out the Pyeongchang 2017 Winter Olympics. And wow, they’re easily one of my new favorite bands. Jambinai is a South Korean post-rock/noise rock outfit who combines traditional Korean instruments unconventionally alongside intense and serene ambience to an amazing effect. The best comparison I can give that still isn’t quite accurate would be Godspeed You! Black Emperor meets Swans. Their latest album, ONDA, took me by surprise in the middle of the year and dominated my Spotify for a while. The band effortlessly drifts between ethereal sonic assaults and noisy outbursts that wouldn’t be unwelcome on a Swans album. The only criticism I have is that I wish the production was a little bit better, especially since the drums feel like they should hit harder, but this is easily one of my favorites of the year and you should give this band a listen because outside of K-Pop, there isn’t enough Korean music getting proper attention.
Top 3 Faves: “Square Wave”, “Sun. Tears. Red.”, “Small Consolation”
Least Fave: “ONDA Prelude” (If I had to choose one)
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn5HLTcMxE4

6. Otoboke Beaver – Itekoma Hits (Hardcore Punk/Noise Rock)
Review: Aw yeah, my number one punk record of the entire year goes to non other than Osaka’s Otoboke Beaver! This band’s quirky yet unrelenting style of punk rock music will smash your face in to the back of your skull before gracefully tip-toe dancing around your stunned figure. Yeah, that kind of “what the fuck did I just read” that you probably uttered aloud to yourself is going to be a similar reaction to what you might feel when listening to Otoboke Beaver’s music. It’s not too out there for the conventional punk fan but it does plenty to appeal to even the fans of more unconventional styles. One second, the band could be employing the most ferocious, face-ripping riff of your life and the next second suddenly sway into a polka-style rhythm before diving into a surf-punk beat (Yes, that actually happens on the song “大殺界” (“Dai Sakkai”/”Bad Luck”). The lyrics all detail various social issues with Japanese culture such as women’s rights and overwork, but certain listeners might find themselves turned off by the language barrier. However, fear not: there is still English scattered throughout the record that is used in very memorable ways that fit the context of the music and not the typical ‘throw in English for the sake of it’ you might find in some other Japanese songs. The angry screaming and whispered chanting of “GO TO HELL” comes to mind from the song “Don’t Light My Fire”. This album is an incredibly addicting listen and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Every track rips and roars its way into your ears without a single weak spot on the entire record. The quality remains consistent throughout this 30-something minute album and is guaranteed to be a fun time to those looking for something loud, crazy, and unconventional.
Top 3 Faves: “脱・日陰の女” (“Datsu, Hikage no Onna”), “家族に紹介して” (“Introduce Me To Your Family”), “週6はきつい” (“6 Day Working Week is a Pain”)
Least Fave: I really can’t choose. Lol
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkWfFXnLpYg

5. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Infest the Rats’ Nest (Thrash Metal/Stoner Metal)
Review: Easily one of the best thrash metal records I’ve heard in recent memory, Infest the Rats’ Nest is an entirely different beast from the other record King Gizzard released earlier this year, Fishing for Fishies. Ditching 70s groove rock for the harsh sound of thrash metal, Infest the Rat’s Nest is 30-something minutes of pure lo-fi aggression that comes packed with lyrics detailing the destruction and rape of our mother Earth caused by the rich’s desire to over-industrialize. From the get-go, opener “Planet B” presents harrowing imagery of the death of civilization and there being “no Planet B” for the human race to move to once the Earth is gone. Vocalist Stu Mackenzie channels his inner James Hetfield while thrashing guitars pummel the listener with relentless triplets, perfectly setting up the bleak atmosphere of the record. The following track, “Mars for the Rich”, gets even darker with lyrics about the rich moving to Mars to soak it up for all it’s worth while the poor are left to suffer on the now dead Earth. However, not all the lyrics are necessarily about the environment. Stoner metal jam “Superbug” dials the speed down with crushingly sludge riffs while Stu sings of the human resistance to prescription drugs becoming so high that our bodies eventually won’t be able to combat disease. However, most of the album seems to focus in particular on the environmental destruction of Earth and humanity’s need to travel to a new planet becoming more and more apparent, such as on “Perihelion” and both “Venusian” tracks. Despite the closest King Gizzard coming to the metal sound having only been present on the previously mentioned Murder of the Universe back in my Fishing for Fishies review, they’ve always had a wild edge about them that would have suggested that they could pull it off. Infest the Rats’ Nest not only proves that they can succeed at a more metal sound, but even excel at it better than many of their contemporaries. Ignoring this album would be doing any metal fan a great disservice. I strongly urge any metal fan to check this record out. Even if you haven’t listened to any other King Gizzard records, this is still a fantastic starting point and easily one of the group’s best to date. As one of the best thrash metal records of the decade, this album easily makes my top 10.
Top 3 Faves: “Planet B”, “Mars for the Rich”, “Superbug”
Least Fave: “Organ Farmer”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtTi_uyYynA

4. Charli XCX – Charli (Pop)
Review: What has been described as being the sound of the future of all mainstream pop music (no track shows this better than “2099”), Charli XCX proves on her latest record that she is an artist to be taken seriously. Not a single song on this album aside from “Shake It” feels detached from the artist. The mood of the tracklist also has more depth to it than what one might typically suspect from a mainstream pop record. “Gone” is one of my most listened to songs this year simply because the lyrics feel like they’re coming from an honest place of dissatisfaction with one’s own surroundings and the music is high tension and bouncy so that it can simultaneously lift your spirits up. The best songs on this album for me have to be the bouncier ones, like “Blame It On Your Love” which features a fun verse from Lizzo, as well as “1999” which is a major nostalgia jam for those from Charli and I’s generation. “White Mercedes” might be one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard this year. It details a relationship with someone that Charli feels is too good for her and while this person is truly good to her and she really loves them, she still feels like she doesn’t deserve them because they’re too beautiful, like a white Mercedes. “Official” is another track that’s really pretty and talks about Charli’s desire to take the relationship she has with her partner to the level of making things official. However, it’s the way she describes it that really makes it not only feel deep, but relatable to anyone who has ever had a fling with someone they ended up liking more than they intended. It’s because of this that some of the latter half of the record can get a little boring depending on your mood. That said, every track on here is so well done and even though I don’t care for “Shake It”, CupcakKe’s verse on that song is pretty great. Charli is probably the best pop record of the entire year and one of the best of the decade. Charli XCX has never been on the level she is now and putting this out in 2019 was the perfect way to close out this decade. While a strange comparison, I liken this album to being similar to how Depeche Mode entered the 90s with Violator; a record that simultaneously saw the group ditching a lot of the 80s tendencies of their previous albums with a record of songs that began the new decade perfectly. The sounds of Violator fit in perfectly with all the sounds that came along with the rest of the 90s despite being released at the beginning of the decade, and Charli will likely do the same for the mainstream pop of the new decade to come.
Top 3 Faves: “Cross You Out (feat. Sky Ferreria)”, “White Mercedes”, “2099 (feat. Troye Sivan)”
Least Fave: “Shake It (feat. Big Freedia, Cupcakke, Brooke Candy, and Pabllo Vittar)”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKBCLHAq1do

3. Tyler, the Creator – IGOR (Rap/Hip-Hop/R&B)
Review: After releasing his most mature work to date with 2017’s Flower Boy, Tyler has dived further into some of the ideas he used on that album with this year’s IGOR, particularly the more R&B side of the record. You will not find rap bangers from the last album like “Who Dat Boy” and “I Ain’t Got Time” on IGOR. The production has also been handled differently moving from more raw instrumentation to a greater emphasis on synths and minimalism. To some, this might be considered a step back for Tyler considering how much of a step forward Flower Boy was production-wise. However, I think IGOR takes what it’s been made with and uses it to its fullest extent creating what might be my favorite Tyler record to date. Don’t get me wrong, Flower Boy is an amazing record and could even beat this record easily for some. However, Flower Boy was much more disjointed and not as consistent as IGOR which is one of the things that I faulted it for back in 2017. IGOR as a whole is a smooth listening experience with each track seamlessly moving into each other. This could also have something to do with this being the second concept record that Tyler has made since 2013’s Wolf. However, while Wolf lost sight of its concept pretty early on, IGOR rides its story of a love triangle falling apart to the very end. The narrator of the lyrics (assumed to be Tyler or maybe a fabricated character based on Tyler and his personal experiences) is in a love triangle with a boy he loves and the boy’s ex who seems to have a majority of the boy’s attention. The lyrics can get really personal and relatable to anyone who has ever been through a heartbreak, making this album potentially one of the best break-up albums of the decade. If you enjoyed Tyler’s more R&B-inspired songs off the previous album, you will absolutely fall in love with IGOR. I still can’t get enough of this record more than 6 months after its release.
Top 3 Faves: “EARFQUAKE (feat. Playboi Carti)”, “A BOY IS A GUN”, “GONE, GONE/THANK YOU”
Least Fave: “EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmAsUQEFYGI

2. Lingua Ignota – Caligula (Industrial/Noise/Classical)
Review: This record is haunting. It’s so incredibly haunting. If every song on this album were as good as “DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR”, then this would be my number one album of the year and likely in the top ten of the entire decade. Kristin Hayter (aka. Lingua Ignota) has constructed an album that tests the listener’s emotions and tolerance with a record that is as unconventional as it is hellish. Described as being a “literal trip to Hell and back,” Kristen sings, croons, chants, whispers, and screams both her and others’ confrontations with life’s ugliest demons over piano mixed with various other instrumentation for what might be one of the most chilling listens of your year and decade. The lyricism on this is as dark as hell’s pits with Kristen’s desire for violence against her abusers feeling almost tangible with how raw her delivery is. With lyrics such as “My friends all wear your colors, Your flag flies above every door, But bitch, I smell you bleeding, And I know where you sleep,” it’s impossible to not feel the hatred that burns beneath her skin for those who wronged her. The lyrics often have a biblical theme to them to emphasize the desire for divine punishment against these demons: “For I have learned that all men are brothers, And brothers only love one another. Brothers in arms, Brothers in each other’s arms, All the love God would allow, But all God’s love means nothing now.” I cannot recommend listening to this album while reading along with the lyrics enough. In fact, I urge you to lock yourself inside your room just listening to this album with the lyrics either opened up on your phone or printed out next to you and just follow along. Close Facebook and Twitter and everything else; remove all distractions and focus on this for a single hour. If you give up before the hour is over, this album likely isn’t for you. It’s demanding of its listeners and the music itself isn’t easy to listen to, let alone Kristen’s pained screams and broken but beautiful operatic singing. However, for those of you who make it through the hour, I’m sure you’ll come out of this having been shook as hard as I was. Although there are some things Kristin could have done to make the album better and more powerful, the final product as it is makes such a statement both lyrically and musically that it cannot be faulted too much.
Top 3 Faves: “DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR”, “MAY FAILURE BE YOUR NOOSE”, “IF THE POISON WON’T TAKE YOU MY DOGS WILL”
Least Fave: “FUCKING DEATHDEALER”
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ZweG__q-w

1. Liturgy – HAQQ (Black Metal/Avant-Garde/Experimental)
   Review: What might be the biggest triumph of black metal this year (Deathspell Omega got rejected from this list due to their vocalist having ties to NSBM), the same guys you were laughing at back in 2011 have come together and put out a record that taps into much of what black metal is missing nowadays. The sheer amount of genre layering on this record is absolutely insane. Pulling from jazz, classical, hymnals, noise, glitch, film scores, and other genres entirely separate of metal, the self-proclaimed inventors of “transcendental black metal” have released the most challenging metal album of the entire year and one of the best metal releases of the decade. The raw energy flowing from each members’ performances, the use of a great variety of instruments unconventional to black metal, songs with unpredictable structures that manage to come off sounding entirely natural, winding passages pushing the band’s technical abilities, this album has everything a music lover should be looking for. Say what you will about the pretentiousness of the band (singer/guitarist Hunt-Hendrix in particular); this is an album that future artists will look to as an inspiration when they are at a loss of what to do with their music and could well be a turning point for the black metal genre.
   Top 3 Faves: “HAJJ”, “Virginity”, “God of Love”
   Least Fave: “…”
   Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dNmymSI8uQ