Top tracks of 2019
Highlights from the past 12 months
There’s been plenty of new releases to get excited about over the past year, so I’ve compiled a list of some of my favourite tracks from 2019 – I was originally going to go down the Spinal Tap route and go up to 11, but a late entry topped it up to a dozen. There seemed to be an especially high number of noteworthy releases in October this year!
Grave Lines – False Flame
Taken from ‘Beholden To The Flame’, the split EP that Grave Lines released with Dystopian Future Movies earlier this year, this is a slow-burning atmospheric track with a huge riff that might appeal to fans of ‘Draconian Times’-era Paradise Lost.
Available from https://gravelinesuk.bandcamp.com/album/beholden-to-the-flame-ep.
Jinjer – Teacher, Teacher!
I only heard this in October, months after its release, but I was hooked straight away, going back for daily listens of this. Taken from the ‘Micro’ EP.
Available from https://jinjer-jinjer.bandcamp.com/album/micro.
Inter Arma – Citadel
This colossal slice of metal, taken from the ‘Sulphur English’ album, is hard to pin down – the whole album combines elements of doom, death and progressive metal along with calmer folk moments. Would recommend to fans of Morbid Angel and Gojira.
Available from https://interarma.bandcamp.com/album/sulphur-english and other online retailers.
Skullfucked – Crowbong
The single-longest track released by the Herts trio so far, this is another track that combines mixed elements, with grindcore, death metal and slam all going into the pot.
Available from https://skullfuckedbgka.bandcamp.com/track/crowbong.
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – Fata Morgana
Psychedelic doom, taken from their third album ‘Yn Ol I Annwn’. MMWB have recently announced they they intend to release one more album next year then split, so catch them whilst you can.
Available from https://mammothweedwizardbastard.bandcamp.com/album/yn-ol-i-annwn and http://www.newheavysounds.com/digitalshop/.
Korn – You’ll Never Find Me
I’ve been a Korn fan since the beginning, so was hooked on this as soon as it came out. Taken from thirteenth studio album ‘The Nothing’.
Available from all digital stores and retailers – https://lnk.to/thenothingkorn.
Earthbound – Of Suffering
This Herts-based melo-death quintet has been receiving some positive reviews in the metal press since releasing this – this could be the start of something special for these guys. This is also the only song I’ve ever mentioned/will likely ever mention in three blog articles running. Taken from the ‘Desolate’ EP, out now.
Available from https://earthboundmusicuk.bandcamp.com/.
Elysian Divide – Street Spirit
Another metal act from Herts, UK, this is a cover of the Radiohead single. This features on the new EP, ‘Beast’, out now.
Available from https://elysiandivide.bandcamp.com/album/beast and at live gigs.
Brume – In The Pines
Another cover, from Seattle’s doom trio, the song AKA ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night?’ was originally recorded by Leadbelly and also famously covered by the likes of Nirvana and Mike Lanagan. Featured on the split EP ‘MMXIX’ with Witch Ripper.
Available from https://brumesf.bandcamp.com/album/split-mmxix and https://darkhedonisticunionrecords.bigcartel.com/.
Michael – Success
The debut album ‘Tell Your Friends’ will be out in the new year, but in the meantime Michael have made three tracks available, this being one of them. A hectic track from the doomy alt-rockers.
Available from https://michaelwebsite.bandcamp.com/ – full album release January 30 2020.
Black Smoke Trigger – You Could Have It All
I was actually introduced to this track via a YouTube advert (and judging by many of the comments on YT, so were many other people). A catchy tune, taken from the EP ‘Set It Off’, for fans of Soil and Disturbed.
Available from https://www.BlackSmokeTrigger.com/.
Mairu – Wild Darkened Eyes
A very late entry to this list, so late that I re-edited this list before publishing – a heavy slice of post-metal/doom from the Liverpool-based newcomers. This is taken from their forthcoming debut album, scheduled for release in 2020.
Available from https://mairu.bandcamp.com/.
Honourable mention must also go to these tracks – heard for the first time this year and been on heavy rotation as a result, but not actually released in 2019:
Skating Polly – Hail Mary
Meg Myers – Monster
Stone Temple Pilots – Only Dying
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – Les Paradis Artificiels
Wall Of Voodoo – Mexican Radio
Pictured above – Grave Lines, photo taken by me at their gig at The Black Heart, Camden, 09-02-19.
Contact:
Grave Lines – https://en-gb.facebook.com/gravelinesband/
Jinjer – http://jinjer-metal.com/
Inter Arma – https://www.facebook.com/INTERARMA/
Skullfucked – https://www.facebook.com/SxFxPissgrind/
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard – https://www.facebook.com/mammothweedwizardbastard/
Korn – https://www.kornofficial.com/
Earthbound – https://www.facebook.com/EarthboundMusicUK/
Elysian Divide – http://www.elysiandivide.com/
Brume – https://www.facebook.com/brumeband
Michael – https://www.facebook.com/MichaelWebsite/
Black Smoke Trigger – https://blacksmoketrigger.com/
Mairu – https://www.facebook.com/mairumetal
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