Top Ten Albums of 2019 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

I remember at the start of 2019 saying that this would be a great year for metal. Actually, I think that this year even took me by surprise with how many quality releases came out. Looking at a lot of the albums I considered to be the year's best, a majority of them are debut albums, so that tells you the talent right now amongst your younger rock and metal acts is extremely impressive. Due to the strong year we had here in 2019, I am already predicting that 2020 is going to bring us even more killer albums full of headbanging glory. So, read and enjoy this top ten list along with the Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards. Maybe leave a comment at the bottom if there are albums you thought stood out this year, or nominate people for an award you think should be given



10. Decoherence “Ekpyrosis”

If you want some high quality extreme music, then a band that is on Sentient Ruin is always a prime choice. Decoherence proved that they know how to construct abysmal sounding landscapes filled with terrifying blackened sounding compositions. The entire release is a nonstop ride into dark dimensions where malevolent forces lurk with sinister ambitions. Overall, a blistering album recorded in such an unapologetic fashion that I can’t speak enough about.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/11/decoherence-ekpyrosis.html


9. Malfet “The Way to Avalon”

Taking the Arthurian legend and constructing a soundtrack to lead listeners through a world of epic fantasy, Malfet proved to show tremendous talent on this debut release. Dungeon synth is a style of music I find to be extremely cathartic and this release is a vibrant sounding offering that can put your mind at ease as you drift into the magnificent musical world created by this one-man band.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/malfet-way-to-avalon.html


8. Pale Cremation “Grimoire”

Sometimes it only takes one man to make a killer doom album, and sure enough Matt from Pale Cremation did just that on his debut release. I really dig the riffs and overall songwriting style, because this is the type of doom metal that kicks you right in the balls with a blast of reverb and a smack of heavy grooving rhythms. A total psychedelic doom avalanche of reverb to drown your mind and blow out your speakers.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/11/pale-cremation-grimoire.html


7. Nucleus “Entity”

All these people who are tripping over Blood Incantation’s new album need to understand that Nucleus had the technical science fiction death metal style down earlier this year. I found Nucleus “Entity” to be an amazing release where the technically came across so crisp and perfectly complimented the overall songwriting approach. These guys knew how to write an album that flowed with brutality, yet also offered these magnificent progressive elements to create an atmosphere of galactic death metal splendor.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/04/nucleus-entity.html


6. Mournful Cries “Bad Taste”

This doom metal trio from Santa Rosa, CA did not miss the mark when they released their debut full-length album. After releasing a few demos to get people acquainted with their brand of heavy grooving bone chilling doom, the band put out an album that was bad ass from top to bottom. Solid songs that contain monumental sounding riffs and instrumental compositions for you to just float into a smoke filled land of epic doom.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/07/mournful-cries-bad-taste.html


5. Saint Vitus “Self-Titled”

The doom metal icons really did a great job on their 2019 self-titled release. Also, this was the first Saint Vitus release to feature original singer Scott Reagers since “Die Healing” which came out in 1995. I felt like the band sounded tight and the overall production was another high point. Dave lays down some wicked sounding riffs and solos, while Scott narrates these haunting tales of terror.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/05/review-saint-vitus-self-titled-2019.html


4. Nocturnus AD “Paradox”

Mike Browning told me when I interviewed him a few years back that he wanted to continue where the, “The Key,” left often by bringing together some extremely talented musicians and keeping the Nocturnus legacy alive. I believe Nocturnus AD did an excellent job pulling all those elements together that made, “The Key,” one of death metal’s most ambitious releases and then writing some wicked new material. I really enjoy the guitar compositions on this album along with how the keyboard creates these unconventional sounding noises to make a truly malevolent science fiction death metal themed release.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/nocturnus-ad-paradox.html

3. Pathetic “Rat King”

Sometimes I don’t want a band to baffle me with technical structures and claim to be the future of death metal. Personally, I just want some straightforward vicious brutality that hits you like hammer to the face. Pathetic is a trio that does not mess around by writing some thunderous death metal tracks that also convey some doom and speed elements to give you one HEAVY release. “Rat King,” is an entire package full of great headbanging moments, so you need to check it out if you have not.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/pathetic-rat-king.html


2. Venom Prison “Samsara”

I think Venom Prison redeemed themselves after I listened to their debut album, which was not horrible, but did not do much for me when I listened to it. Most bands that do not impress me with their debut release tend to fade away, however, Venom Prison “Samsara” was an unbelievable album. The guitar riffs, vocal delivery and musicianship all around was dialed upon to an insane level of unforgiving energy. From start to finish I can’t find one issue

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/03/venom-prison-samsara.html

1. Iron Griffin “Curse of the Sky”

Iron Griffin’s sophomore release, “Curse of the Sky,” is a classic metal sounding tale of glorious vintage sounding riffs and captivating vocals. Arguably one of the best vocal performances I heard on an album in a long time, singer Maija Tiljander is able to inject such raw emotion into the triumphant sounding instrumentals. Unlike those classic metal acts who end up sounding gimmicky and write the same damn song over and over again, Iron Griffin displayed a bold confidence throughout this album. I cannot think of one dull moment when listening to this album, because the songwriting is simply majestic sounding. Definitely a group that needs to keep the ball rolling and forging more epic sounding releases down the road here.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/02/iron-griffin-curse-of-sky.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards 

Best EP/Demo Release of the Year: Chthonic Deity “Reassembled in Pain”

Best Split of the Year: Black Fucking Cancer / Gloam “Boundless Arcane Invokations”

Best Hardcore Punk Release: Jackal (Self-titled 7”)

Best Live Performance: Unlucky Theta at the Lister Bar in SF

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Enshrouded

Most Ridiculous Announcement: Mötley Crüe coming out and saying they will tour again after promising all of us they were done…

Review: Saint Vitus "Self-titled" (2019)

    In the world of doom metal, Saint Vitus is without question one of the most iconic and recognized acts around. The band’s music has inspired so many young up and coming artists, however, no one will ever be able to truly capture that distinct sound which Saint Vitus is able to conjure up on their recordings.

    With Scott Reagers returning to the band after not appearing on a studio album since Die Healing, this new self-titled release was well overdue. In all fairness, the contributions by vocalist Scott “Wino” Weinrich are not to be ignored. Wino played an important role in the band’s history and sang on some really great albums. When Reagers left in 1986 Wino brought a very raw and unapologetic style to the band and I consider both singers to be exceptional frontmen. I just feel that having Reagers back in the band allows for Saint Vitus to pick up where they left off on Die Healing, which is one of my favorite releases in the band’s discography.

    The new album maintains that very raw and haunting doom sound which fans will notice right away. Drummer Henry Vasquez has done a solid job behind the kit ever since he replaced the late Armando Acosta. Henry plays with tremendous feel and you can definitely hear it on this album when he hammers out those heavy thunderous rhythms. Bassist Pat Bruders also sounds tight on this album and helps strengthen the rhythm section by providing some devastating bass lines. For me though Dave Chandler’s guitar work throughout this album steals the show. Dave’s distinct style and sound matched with Reagers' delivery on the songs creates these dark and haunting tracks which revisits that old chemistry established during the early days of the band.

    Opening the album with a nasty burst of reverb is the song, “Remains.” The band dives into a heavy sounding riff that packs a mighty punch of doom to kickoff the album. Track number two, “A Prelude to…” is a haunting tale of terror and despair which Reagers tells over a bone chilling atmosphere. After the song ends the band unleashes the next song, “Bloodshed,” in complete unapologetic fashion and the riffs come at you like an axe wielding maniac on LSD.

    Song number four, “12 Years in the Tomb,” is another sinister offering of doom containing some crushing guitar riffs and plenty of feverish solos. “Wormhole” and “Hourglass,” keep the album moving in a strong direction and are well written pieces of music. If you pay attention to the lyrics in, “Wormhole,” you hear references to old Vitus songs which I thought was a clever idea. The song, “City Park,” is a unique track and reminds me of something you would hear at the beginning of a classic horror movie. Also, Dave provides some spooky narration over the ominous arrangement which I think works quite well.

    The final two songs, “Last Breath” and “Useless,” are solid choices to conclude this new release. “Last Breath,” is a slower and HEAVY sounding track full of savage guitar work and bombastic drumming. Changing up the tempo to finish the album, “Useless,” takes on a more classic hardcore punk style with an intense composition bringing listeners back to the old days when the band first released, “Hollows Victim.”

    Saint Vitus proves that no matter what year it is, their brand of music is eternal and the band continues to demonstrate tremendous songwriting skills. Honestly, the person who recorded this album did a great job keeping the Vitus sounding alive and capturing this band’s legendary doom making talents. This is a release you don’t want to miss if you are a fan of doom metal. For anyone who has ever had someone talk about their length of hair, or the out of date cloths they wear, you should know this… Saint Vitus has your back!





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