I always find these articles both fun and difficult to write. On the one hand, I love making lists and talking about what new music I’ve been listening to over the course of the year. At the same time however, it’s very difficult as the challenge of picking favourites gets harder every year. This year is no different with the standard of both albums and live shows being incredibly high.
It’s been somewhat of an interesting year for me as well. I ended up taking a step back from the site for some time to help cure a burn out that I had after going full throttle for a long time. I’m still kind of technically on a ‘break’ until my personal life slows down a bit. Hopefully come this time next year I’ll have been able to contribute some more. Anyway, I should stop yakking and start the list.
Albums
I swear that every year this gets even more challenging. With some of my favourite bands releasing phenomenal albums this year, compiling this list has become so damn difficult. After a long period of deliberation, and making lots of lists, I’ve settled on the following albums:
- Heart Like a Grave – Insomnium
- Death Atlas – Cattle Decapitation
- Shaped By Fire – As I Lay Dying
- Drowned By Humanity – Deserted Fear
- Verklieghten – Soilwork
- Empath – Devin Townsend
- The Valley – Whitechapel
- In Caude Venenum – Opeth
- The Great War – Sabaton
- Mass Worship – Mass Worship
Honourable mentions: True North – Borknagar, Simulacrum – Hideous Divinity, Victorious – Skillet.
Songs
In a break from tradition (and also because there so many good albums), I’m going to include my top 10 songs of the year. This a tad easier to pick than albums as you’re only referring to one song and not an album as a whole. So, here’s my top 10 songs:
- “Take What’s Left” – As I Lay Dying
- “Stålfågel” – Soilwork
- “Brimstone” – Whitechapel
- “Lead Wings” – Dawn of Solace
- “The Signal Fire” – Killswitch Engage
- “Banemannen” – Opeth
- “And Bells They Toll” – Insomnium
- “Age of Excuse II” – MGLA
- “New Salem” – Misery Index
- “Viper King” – Dream Theater
Best Live Shows
I’ve not been to many shows this year, mainly owing to moving to York and it being a bit of a trek to get to either Manchester or London for concerts. That being said, I did attend a few and managed to arrange it into a list of ones which I really enjoyed.
- Devin Townsend / Haken – Albert Hall, Manchester (10th December 2019)
- Damnation Festival 2019 – Leeds University Student Union (2nd November 2019)
- HRH Metal III – O2 Academy, Birmingham (16th-17th February 2019)
Best new band
This is a tough one as there’s been so many good bands that have come my way in the past few months. I’m probably going to have to give it to Mass Worship however. Their debut album is monstrous and there’s no doubt that this band is going to do really well over the next few years.
Best thing that happened
Quite possibly the best thing that happened, for me personally, was meeting Devin Townsend at the Empath documentary event in London. It was so nice to finally get to meet him in person and he’s every bit as lovely as everyone says he is.
Worst thing that happened
Probably Slayer calling it a day. I know that a lot of people will probably put this in their end of year things but not having Slayer is really going to cause a shift in the scene.
Overall view of the year
Overall, this year has been a bit of a mixed bag for myself. Moving to York has resulted in me having to travel more for gigs and led to me covering fewer gigs than planned. I also took a step back from the site for a bit to recharge my batteries which I’d not done for a long time.
In of the metal scene however, it is clear that it’s still going strong and there continues to be an increase in the number of bands not afraid to experiment. That is really awesome to see and, in my opinion, shows that the scene is going to be around for many more years to come.
Things I’m looking forward to next year
- Dawn Of Solace’s new album
- The rumoured UK tour from Skillet
- Potentially attending Bloodstock 2020. It’s been a few years since I’ve been and the lineup looks particularly awesome for next year.
- More amazing music and concerts which are yet to be announced.
Thanks
- Iain, Ross, Katie and the Moshville Times Team
- Tristan & Donnay at the Noise Cartel
- Tuomas from Wolfheart
- Freddy from InsideOut
- Claire & Joe at Nuclear Blast
- Michelle and Kirsten at Cosa Nostra PR
- Andy at PalmerTurnerOverdrive
- You, the reader. I know I say it every year [mainly because you pinched it from me, the person who started that tradition – Ross] but without you there would be no Moshville Times. So go and have a cookie. You deserve it.
