Album Review GENRE ARCHIVES
Albums of the Year 2019 – Nathan Blackstone
So it’s time for my albums of the year. Between reviews and casual listening I listened to plenty this year which made picking just 10 tricky and ranking them impossible. So here, enjoy an un-ordered list of albums that I think were some of the best 2019 had to offer.
Albums of the year 2019 – Lizi Birt
Deputy editor Lizi here! I had a dig through my brain for my favourite albums released in 2019. Most of these are still on heavy rotation on my constantly expanding playlist. These are in no particular order and some won’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me.
Album Review: Bellevue Days – It Can’t Possibly Go Wrong Ever
Croydon rockers "Bellevue Days" released their long-awaited debut album, It Can't Possibly Go Wrong Ever on the 22nd November 2019, just in time for Christmas.
Stray From The Path – Internal Atomics
Political rabble rousers Stray From The Path return with their 9th album Internal Atomics. The hardcore four-piece from Long Island have come along way since their beginnings at the turn of the millennium, and this latest release sees them hit new heights.
Album review: ‘Nothing Left To Love’ by Counterparts
Counterparts new record has finally landed; another serving of in your face, aggressive hardcore tunes. 'Nothing Left To Love' is there sixth outing, and sees the band harnessing unashamedly their signature sound, with only mild deviations.
MSRY – Loss
Oxford isn’t just about boat races and inspector Morse, it has a music scene too, with hardcore quartet MSRY travelling the cobbled streets with their latest EP, “Loss”. Following on from the previous year’s “Safety First” EP, getting the guys in the Guardians best new music of 2019 and played on Iggy Pop’s BBC Radio 6 show.
Creeping Death – Wretched Illusions
Growing from the fertile metal pastures of Texas, Creeping Death are the latest arrivals in a burgeoning old school death metal scene. This is their debut full length album, after 2018s excellent Specter of War EP. This album does not do anything brand new, it doesn’t break any new ground. It does death metal, mixed with a sprinkling of hardcore, and it does it very well.
Alter Bridge – ‘Walk The Sky’ album review
Alter Bridge have established themselves in recent years as one of the most formiddable forces in rock. With frontman Myles Kennedy's soaring vocals that even landed him as vocalist for Slash, coupled with grungy and intricate guitars, there's a certain something Alter Bridge have got that other bands lack. The big question is, have they carried it on only new album 'Walk The Sky', which follows my own personal favourite AB full length 'The Last Hero'
Dream State – Primrose Path
Dream State's debut record 'Primrose Path' presents the band harnessing a very cinematic rock sound, grand arrangements creating a cacophony of sound and emotion. Opener 'Made Up Smile' exemplifies this sound, building up to crazy and catchy climactic choruses, and even sprinkling some wonderful little screams in there.
Can’t Swim – Foreign Language
New Jerseys Can’t Swim are back with six-track EP, Foreign Language released via Pure Noise Records. Foreign Language is my first foray into the music of Can’t Swim, I hear previous records Fail You Again and This Too Won’t Pass exploded their fan base around the U.S.
Issues – ‘Beautiful Oblivion’
Issues haven't completely shed the skin that is metalcore on new record 'Beautiful Oblivion', but they've certainly moisturised it with some extra glossy melodies that make the record more accessible to people outside of the scene
Swedish Death Candy- Are You Nervous?
London-based Swedish Death Candy feel like a band I should have discovered some time ago. The band make their own brand of fuzz drenched desert rock that is, on paper, certainly within my wheelhouse. The band released a self titled debut back in 2017 which, by their own admission, was very much a live/ jam based record. For their new album, Are You Nervous?, the band took a different approach. Songs were brought in more fully formed and arrangements focused in on. The effort certainly seems to have paid off.
Tides From Nebula – From Voodoo To Zen
This is the fifth full length release from Polish instrumental post rock trio Tides From Nebula. It sees the band delving into cinematic landscapes of swirling synthesizers and hypnotic rhythms. Instrumental music can be a very tricky thing to pull off, especially one based in such a minimalist sub-genre as post-rock. The ability to keep the listeners attention without a central focal point like a vocalist is challenge enough, without throwing the baby of traditional song structures out with the bath water.
‘How It Feels To Be Lost’ by Sleeping With Sirens review
The year is 2019 and, after much promise, Sleeping With Sirens have returned with their eagerly anticipated sixth studio effort. Following on from the poppier offerings of 2017's major label record 'Gossip', the band promised some heavier tunes more akin to 'Let's Cheers To This'.
Cultdreams – Things That Hurt
Formed in 2014 and previously known as Kamikaze Girls are Cultdreams, who in 2017 released their debut record Seafoam which received widespread praise for depicting life with depression and PTSD, whilst shining a light on harmful behaviour, sexual harassment and every-day misogyny in society. Nearly two years away from the studio to tour Seafoam in the UK/EU and across the Atlantic. Guitarist/vocalist Lucinda Livingstone and drummer Conor Dawson release a long-awaited second album, Things That Hurt via Big Scary Monsters.