 | Blog author: Alex Stojanovic Another year (and decade), gone! First off, let's take a moment and reflect on what went on throughout the year, both the highs and the lows. First off, let's pay tribute to the talents we lost this year, which include Bruce Corbitt, Dick Dale, Bernie Torme, Ted McKenna, Paul Whaley, Paul Raymond, Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek, Morten Stutzer, Ginger Baker, Larry Junstrom and Timi Hansen just to name a few. R.I.P to all. |
This year opened a bunch of new doors for me personally. I ended up joining three bands this year. The first is an indie rock band called The Neverlies. We are in the process of recording our debut album, which is near completion, and we hope to have out sometime next year. Follow us on Facebook here. The second band is the hard rock band Xephyr. We've already played a few shows this year, including one in Pittsburgh, with more shows in the works. Writing for the next album has already begun. You can see our website here, follow us here (Facebook / Twitter / Instagram), and check out the music here (Spotify / iTunes / YouTube). I also fired the engines back up on my metal band Soul Sanctum, which I've had since high school. After putting together a new lineup, we're in the midst of writing material now, which is in the vein of traditional metal and thrash, so it will be a nice blend of heavy and melodic both in the music and the vocals. We're looking forward to sharing our music with you all. Look for more info to come soon.
I also got the opportunity to get a job with a music school for my drum teaching job. For the past four years, I've been teaching private drum lessons at my home, which I will continue to do, but this year, I got the opportunity to take the next step. Even though I may be busy with all the exciting stuff I have going on, I'm still fully committed to Metal Master Kingdom as well, and I look forward to many more years here. Here's to the future!
In the music world, like every year, there were a ton of big stories that made headlines this year. Some of them include Chris Adler leaving Lamb Of God, and Art Cruz replacing him. Art is a killer drummer, and I look forward to hearing the next Lamb Of God album, but in a live setting, it's going to be weird not seeing Chris up there. There was also James Hetfield of Metallica needing to re-enter rehab, which was completely unexpected. Wishing James all the best. Motley Crue came out of retirement just recently (don't get me started on that), as well as Megadeth needing to cancel all their live dates this year due to Dave Mustaine's throat cancer diagnosis. Just remember this though. If alcoholism and drugs couldn't defeat Dave in the past, cancer has no fucking chance. We're all pulling for you Dave! We also can't forget about Slayer calling it quits. Now that they finished the farewell tour, I hope they stay away permanently. Tom Araya has had enough and he deserves retirement.
Sorry for the long-winded essay above, I just had quite a bit to say. All in all, it was an eventful year to end the 2010s. At the same time, I can certainly say that it was also an eventful decade. As we look forward to entering the new year and new decade in 2020, it's that time of the year again to reflect and gather up the albums of the year that kicked our asses to the max. Down below are 10 of my favourite albums that came out this year, with a few honourable mentions as usual.
I also got the opportunity to get a job with a music school for my drum teaching job. For the past four years, I've been teaching private drum lessons at my home, which I will continue to do, but this year, I got the opportunity to take the next step. Even though I may be busy with all the exciting stuff I have going on, I'm still fully committed to Metal Master Kingdom as well, and I look forward to many more years here. Here's to the future!
In the music world, like every year, there were a ton of big stories that made headlines this year. Some of them include Chris Adler leaving Lamb Of God, and Art Cruz replacing him. Art is a killer drummer, and I look forward to hearing the next Lamb Of God album, but in a live setting, it's going to be weird not seeing Chris up there. There was also James Hetfield of Metallica needing to re-enter rehab, which was completely unexpected. Wishing James all the best. Motley Crue came out of retirement just recently (don't get me started on that), as well as Megadeth needing to cancel all their live dates this year due to Dave Mustaine's throat cancer diagnosis. Just remember this though. If alcoholism and drugs couldn't defeat Dave in the past, cancer has no fucking chance. We're all pulling for you Dave! We also can't forget about Slayer calling it quits. Now that they finished the farewell tour, I hope they stay away permanently. Tom Araya has had enough and he deserves retirement.
Sorry for the long-winded essay above, I just had quite a bit to say. All in all, it was an eventful year to end the 2010s. At the same time, I can certainly say that it was also an eventful decade. As we look forward to entering the new year and new decade in 2020, it's that time of the year again to reflect and gather up the albums of the year that kicked our asses to the max. Down below are 10 of my favourite albums that came out this year, with a few honourable mentions as usual.
10. DEATH ANGEL - Humanicide
I know that I said that the new Death Angel album Humanicide didn't grab me like the previous three albums did, and I gave it a not-too-good score. However, over the last seven months since it came out, there was plenty of time to let it grow on me. It took a little longer than usual, but somehow, my stance on it managed to change, and I felt it was worthy of being included in my 10 picks for this year. Aside from that, the title track, "Aggressor", "I Came For Blood", "Immortal Behated", "Alive & Screaming" and "Revelation Song" are some of the best tracks here. The album also earned Death Angel their first-ever Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for the title track. Even though this album managed to sneak its way into this list, I still consider it my least favourite Death Angel album from the current lineup. The cover artwork is sick though!
I know that I said that the new Death Angel album Humanicide didn't grab me like the previous three albums did, and I gave it a not-too-good score. However, over the last seven months since it came out, there was plenty of time to let it grow on me. It took a little longer than usual, but somehow, my stance on it managed to change, and I felt it was worthy of being included in my 10 picks for this year. Aside from that, the title track, "Aggressor", "I Came For Blood", "Immortal Behated", "Alive & Screaming" and "Revelation Song" are some of the best tracks here. The album also earned Death Angel their first-ever Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for the title track. Even though this album managed to sneak its way into this list, I still consider it my least favourite Death Angel album from the current lineup. The cover artwork is sick though!
09. AMON AMARTH - Berserker
I've been listening to Amon Amarth since Surtur Rising. Now even though all the albums that they released between Twilight Of The Thunder God and Jomsviking were all great, they never ended up cracking into any of my previous Top 10s, but they were honourable mentions. However, the band's new album Berserker is the first one to crack my top 10. This album is full of pure metal glory, with many fans calling this the band's strongest material since Twilight Of The Thunder God. When the band called this album Amon Amarth 2.0, they weren't kidding, especially with tracks like "Fafner's Gold", "Raven's Flight", "Mjolner, Hammer Of Thor", "Crack The Sky", "Ironside" and "Shield Wall". The amazing signature growl of Johan Hegg, the gut-punching riffs and victorious harmonies between Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Soderberg, it's all here! Raise your horns!
I've been listening to Amon Amarth since Surtur Rising. Now even though all the albums that they released between Twilight Of The Thunder God and Jomsviking were all great, they never ended up cracking into any of my previous Top 10s, but they were honourable mentions. However, the band's new album Berserker is the first one to crack my top 10. This album is full of pure metal glory, with many fans calling this the band's strongest material since Twilight Of The Thunder God. When the band called this album Amon Amarth 2.0, they weren't kidding, especially with tracks like "Fafner's Gold", "Raven's Flight", "Mjolner, Hammer Of Thor", "Crack The Sky", "Ironside" and "Shield Wall". The amazing signature growl of Johan Hegg, the gut-punching riffs and victorious harmonies between Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Soderberg, it's all here! Raise your horns!
08. MESHIAAK - Mask Of All Misery
Following up an incredible debut like Alliance Of Thieves is no easy task, but Meshiaak delivered in spades with their sophomore album Mask Of All Misery. Dialing back on the thrash element, they delivered a record that is a lot more melodic and more groove-oriented, but it's still just as heavy. Danny Camilleri puts his melodic voice to good use on this record, and he ends up creating some very memorable vocal lines. Of course, the guitar playing between Camilleri and Dean Wells is exceptional. With two incredible records under their belt so far, we are already looking forward to what Meshiaak have coming next when it comes time for album #3. There's world class songwriting all over this album.
Following up an incredible debut like Alliance Of Thieves is no easy task, but Meshiaak delivered in spades with their sophomore album Mask Of All Misery. Dialing back on the thrash element, they delivered a record that is a lot more melodic and more groove-oriented, but it's still just as heavy. Danny Camilleri puts his melodic voice to good use on this record, and he ends up creating some very memorable vocal lines. Of course, the guitar playing between Camilleri and Dean Wells is exceptional. With two incredible records under their belt so far, we are already looking forward to what Meshiaak have coming next when it comes time for album #3. There's world class songwriting all over this album.
07. TOOL - Fear Inoculum
I'm pretty sure a lot of people have Tool's long awaited new album Fear Inoculum as part of their year-end top 10 lists. If you think that I'm just including Fear Inoculum on this list because so many other people are doing it, and that I'm going to get shit if I don't, you are wrong. I'm including it because it's an amazing record, and without a doubt, the most anticipated album of this entire decade. They managed to just slide in right before the door closed on the decade. Heavy riffs, syncopated beats, odd time signatures, long songs, everything that you expect from Tool is here, and they took it all to the next level. Not that I care that much about it, but it was pretty hilarious to see all the memes that surfaced online when this album knocked Taylor Swift off the #1 spot on the Billboard charts, and seeing all her fans get pissed off about it. That was awesome!
I'm pretty sure a lot of people have Tool's long awaited new album Fear Inoculum as part of their year-end top 10 lists. If you think that I'm just including Fear Inoculum on this list because so many other people are doing it, and that I'm going to get shit if I don't, you are wrong. I'm including it because it's an amazing record, and without a doubt, the most anticipated album of this entire decade. They managed to just slide in right before the door closed on the decade. Heavy riffs, syncopated beats, odd time signatures, long songs, everything that you expect from Tool is here, and they took it all to the next level. Not that I care that much about it, but it was pretty hilarious to see all the memes that surfaced online when this album knocked Taylor Swift off the #1 spot on the Billboard charts, and seeing all her fans get pissed off about it. That was awesome!
06. PRETTY MAIDS - Undress Your Madness
Pretty Maids have been on a tear since releasing Pandemonium back in 2010, which featured some of their best material since Jump The Gun. The next three records that followed: Motherland (2013), Kingmaker (2016), and the brand new album Undress Your Madness, all continue that winning streak that was started by Pandemonium. If you were a fan of those album, you'll love this album just as much. Songs like "Undress Your Madness", "Will You Still Kiss Me (If I See You In Heaven)", "Runaway World", "Shadowlands" and "Black Thunder" are all tracks that help secure this album a spot in this list. We also want to keep Ronnie Atkins in our thoughts as he goes through his treatments for his recent lung cancer diagnosis. Get better soon, and FUCK CANCER!
Pretty Maids have been on a tear since releasing Pandemonium back in 2010, which featured some of their best material since Jump The Gun. The next three records that followed: Motherland (2013), Kingmaker (2016), and the brand new album Undress Your Madness, all continue that winning streak that was started by Pandemonium. If you were a fan of those album, you'll love this album just as much. Songs like "Undress Your Madness", "Will You Still Kiss Me (If I See You In Heaven)", "Runaway World", "Shadowlands" and "Black Thunder" are all tracks that help secure this album a spot in this list. We also want to keep Ronnie Atkins in our thoughts as he goes through his treatments for his recent lung cancer diagnosis. Get better soon, and FUCK CANCER!
05. MARK MORTON - Anesthetic
Mark Morton of Lamb Of God has been working on a solo album for a few years, and he finally put it out this year. With a bunch of special guests on this album, it shows many different sides to Mark's musical arsenal. It goes without saying that the biggest selling point of Anesthetic is that it features the late great Chester Bennington on the opening track "Cross Off". Aside from that, there's an impressive list of guest singers and musicians on this record as well like David Ellefson, Paolo Gregoletto, Alex Bent, Jacoby Shaddix, Chuck Billy, Jake Oni, Alissa White-Gluz, Randy Blythe, Myles Kennedy and Roy Mayorga just to name a few. Mark also has a decent singing voice, which can be heard on the track "Imaginary Days". A really great first solo effort.
Mark Morton of Lamb Of God has been working on a solo album for a few years, and he finally put it out this year. With a bunch of special guests on this album, it shows many different sides to Mark's musical arsenal. It goes without saying that the biggest selling point of Anesthetic is that it features the late great Chester Bennington on the opening track "Cross Off". Aside from that, there's an impressive list of guest singers and musicians on this record as well like David Ellefson, Paolo Gregoletto, Alex Bent, Jacoby Shaddix, Chuck Billy, Jake Oni, Alissa White-Gluz, Randy Blythe, Myles Kennedy and Roy Mayorga just to name a few. Mark also has a decent singing voice, which can be heard on the track "Imaginary Days". A really great first solo effort.
04. ECLIPSE - Paradigm
When it comes to creating hooks, Erik Martensson and Magnus Henriksson surely know how to create memorable ones. The only downside is that with all the bands that Martensson is involved with outside of Eclipse (Nordic Union, W.E.T., Ammunition), he pretty much seems to rehash the same 6 or 7 riffs and melodies in each band. It can get pretty predictable sometimes, but then again, Kerry King loves to rehash the "zero notes" for Slayer. It's one thing to rehash the same types of riffs in one band, but when you have two, three, four other bands, and you bring the same types of riffs that you use in your primary band into all your side bands, the listener then tends to think what the point is. I wonder that sometimes, but you can't deny that once you hear those riffs and melodies, that they get stuck in your head, and you just want to repeat them over and over again. The new Eclipse album Paradigm isn't an evolution from the last album Monumentum, but it's just another collection of some solid melodic hard rock songs that have a great uplifting vibe for turning your shitty day around. For example "Viva La Victoria", "Shelter Me", "United", "When The Winter Ends", "38 Or 44" and "The Masquerade" are some of the album's highlights with great hooks, great vocals, and just that overall feel-good rock 'n roll vibe.
When it comes to creating hooks, Erik Martensson and Magnus Henriksson surely know how to create memorable ones. The only downside is that with all the bands that Martensson is involved with outside of Eclipse (Nordic Union, W.E.T., Ammunition), he pretty much seems to rehash the same 6 or 7 riffs and melodies in each band. It can get pretty predictable sometimes, but then again, Kerry King loves to rehash the "zero notes" for Slayer. It's one thing to rehash the same types of riffs in one band, but when you have two, three, four other bands, and you bring the same types of riffs that you use in your primary band into all your side bands, the listener then tends to think what the point is. I wonder that sometimes, but you can't deny that once you hear those riffs and melodies, that they get stuck in your head, and you just want to repeat them over and over again. The new Eclipse album Paradigm isn't an evolution from the last album Monumentum, but it's just another collection of some solid melodic hard rock songs that have a great uplifting vibe for turning your shitty day around. For example "Viva La Victoria", "Shelter Me", "United", "When The Winter Ends", "38 Or 44" and "The Masquerade" are some of the album's highlights with great hooks, great vocals, and just that overall feel-good rock 'n roll vibe.
03. SACRED REICH - Awakening
2019 saw three legendary bands release very long awaited new studio albums: Tool with Fear Inoculum, Possessed with Revelations Of Oblivion, and this album right here: Awakening by Sacred Reich. There might be some others I missed, but these came to mind right away. The last time Sacred Reich released an album was 1996 with Heal. I think the new album exceeded everyone's expectations. Don't judge the album just because it's not the original lineup, but you still have Phil Rind and Wiley Arnett. The album is a successful amalgamation of all the best ingredients that were featured on Ignorance, The American Way and Independent. Phil Rind's vocals are in top form, and with incredible tracks like "Awakening", "Salvation", "Manifest Reality", "Death Valley" and "Revolution", it's hard to ignore this album as one of the best of the year. Awakening is without a doubt one of the best comeback albums of 2019! I'm already looking forward to the next album!
2019 saw three legendary bands release very long awaited new studio albums: Tool with Fear Inoculum, Possessed with Revelations Of Oblivion, and this album right here: Awakening by Sacred Reich. There might be some others I missed, but these came to mind right away. The last time Sacred Reich released an album was 1996 with Heal. I think the new album exceeded everyone's expectations. Don't judge the album just because it's not the original lineup, but you still have Phil Rind and Wiley Arnett. The album is a successful amalgamation of all the best ingredients that were featured on Ignorance, The American Way and Independent. Phil Rind's vocals are in top form, and with incredible tracks like "Awakening", "Salvation", "Manifest Reality", "Death Valley" and "Revolution", it's hard to ignore this album as one of the best of the year. Awakening is without a doubt one of the best comeback albums of 2019! I'm already looking forward to the next album!
02. THE RAVEN AGE - Conspiracy
The elements that always attract me to bands are amazing vocals, great guitar, bass and drum tones and performances, and above all, quality songwriting. When I first heard The Raven Age's debut album Darkness Will Rise, I knew that they had something special that I didn't hear in a lot of modern metal bands. When I heard the band's new album Conspiracy earlier this year, I could tell that they really elevated their songwriting skills from the last album exponentially. The comparison between the two albums is almost night and day. Just listen to tracks like "Betrayal Of The Mind", "The Day The World Stood Still", "The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships", "Forgotten World", "Fleur De Lis" and "Grave Of The Fireflies" for proof. The Raven Age have a bright future ahead of them, and they already opened and continue to open for many big bands. Catch them on tour!
The elements that always attract me to bands are amazing vocals, great guitar, bass and drum tones and performances, and above all, quality songwriting. When I first heard The Raven Age's debut album Darkness Will Rise, I knew that they had something special that I didn't hear in a lot of modern metal bands. When I heard the band's new album Conspiracy earlier this year, I could tell that they really elevated their songwriting skills from the last album exponentially. The comparison between the two albums is almost night and day. Just listen to tracks like "Betrayal Of The Mind", "The Day The World Stood Still", "The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships", "Forgotten World", "Fleur De Lis" and "Grave Of The Fireflies" for proof. The Raven Age have a bright future ahead of them, and they already opened and continue to open for many big bands. Catch them on tour!
01. SAVAGE MESSIAH - Demons
With the release of their fifth studio album Demons earlier this year, my boys in Savage Messiah have done it again! This marks the second time that a Savage Messiah album has made the #1 spot for my album picks of the year after The Fateful Dark in 2014. It still doesn't beat The Fateful Dark (that album is incredibly hard to top) but it's up there. Despite the personnel changes the band was going through during the making of this album, they managed to flesh out another incredibly strong album, and one that brings back the band's thrashier roots from Insurrection Rising, after going in a more straightforward metal direction on Hands Of Fate. I honestly had no idea that "Parachute" was a Chris Stapleton cover until a couple of months later. To me, with such strong heavy tracks like "Virtue Signal", "Heretic In The Modern World", "Under No Illusions", "Down & Out", "The Bitter Truth" and "Rise Then Fall", and even some slower songs like "The Lights Are Going Out" and "Until The Shadows Fall", I consider Demons to be Insurrection Rising 2.0. Job well done once again, boys! Now get your asses over to North America!
With the release of their fifth studio album Demons earlier this year, my boys in Savage Messiah have done it again! This marks the second time that a Savage Messiah album has made the #1 spot for my album picks of the year after The Fateful Dark in 2014. It still doesn't beat The Fateful Dark (that album is incredibly hard to top) but it's up there. Despite the personnel changes the band was going through during the making of this album, they managed to flesh out another incredibly strong album, and one that brings back the band's thrashier roots from Insurrection Rising, after going in a more straightforward metal direction on Hands Of Fate. I honestly had no idea that "Parachute" was a Chris Stapleton cover until a couple of months later. To me, with such strong heavy tracks like "Virtue Signal", "Heretic In The Modern World", "Under No Illusions", "Down & Out", "The Bitter Truth" and "Rise Then Fall", and even some slower songs like "The Lights Are Going Out" and "Until The Shadows Fall", I consider Demons to be Insurrection Rising 2.0. Job well done once again, boys! Now get your asses over to North America!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS (No Order)
| DESTRUCTION Born To Perish | KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Atonement | SABATON The Great War |
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| VOLBEAT Rewind, Replay, Rebound | SODOM Out Of The Frontline Trench | POSSESSED Revelations Of Oblivion |
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| HATRIOT From Days Unto Darkness | DRAGONFORCE Extreme Power Metal | SOILWORK Verkligheten |
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With all that said, it has been another fantastic year for releases, and a great way to close out this decade! Wishing all our readers a safe and happy holiday season, and we look forward to what the new year and new decade holds in store! With all the tours and releases already announced for the new year, it's already shaping up to be a monstrous start to the new decade! Horns high!
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