1. Seax – Fallout Rituals
To these ears, the perfect blend of black and thrash resulting in a definitive speed metal album
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11275
2. Atlantean Kodex – The Course of Empire
An album that will always live in the shadow of its predecessor, the sublime The White Goddess. I maintain that if you heard this album without ever hearing another Atlantean Kodex album, you’d be blown away
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11417
3. Arch/Matheos – Winter Ethereal
Original Fates Warning vocalist and current guitarist release a near-perfect follow up to their classic 80s output
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11218
4. Arctos – Beyond the Grasp of Mortal Hands
A rising star in the cold, wind-swept epic black metal scene
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11465
5. & 6. Tie between Weapon U.K. – Ghosts of War and Diamond Head – The Coffin Train
Two venerable bands still in top form after 40 years in the business, reminding everyone it was called the New Wave of British Heavy METAL for a reason
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11387
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11228
7. Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross
More black/thrash/SPEED metal done right and a band the kills live
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11175
8. Stormwarrior – Norsemen
Power metal is one of those genres that can perhaps get stale a bit easier than some others but Stormwarrior defy that with axes, spears and hammers on their sixth album
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11575
9. Booze Control – Forgotten Lands
Disregard the odd name and enjoy this new band’s take on classic 80s heavy metal
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=11268
10. & 11. Tie between Ancient Bards – Origine – The Black Crystal Sword Saga Part 2 and Crystal Viper – Tales of Fire and Ice
Both bands have been consistently releasing albums that have been a notch or two below their career highs, but both are back to form with their 2019 releases
HEAVY METAL
Atlantean Kodex - The Course of Empire
Traveler - Traveler
Riot City - Burn the Night
Terminus - A Single Point of Light
RAM - The Throne Within
Assassin's Blade - Gather Darkness
Ravensire - A Stone Engraved in Red
Idle Hands - Mana
Screamer - Highway of Heroes
Sanhedrin - The Poisoner
POWER METAL
Freedom Call - M.E.T.A.L.
Eternity’s End - Unyielding
Galneryus - Into the Purgatory
Gladenfold - When Gods Descend
Frozen Crown - Crowned in Frost
Warrior Path - Warrior Path
Paladin - Ascension
Paragon - Controlled Demolition
Elvenking - Reader of the Runes - Divination
Sabaton - The Great War
DEATH METAL
Blood Incantation - Hidden History of the Human Race
Aephanemer - Prokopton
Schammasch - Hearts Of No Light
Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion
Gatecreeper - Deserted
Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance
Insomnium - Heart like a Grave
Hate - Auric Gates of Veles
Xoth - Interdimensional Invocations
In Mourning - Garden of Storms
BLACK METAL
Borknagar - True North (ok, not black, but where the hell should I put this?!)
Deathspell Omega - The Furnaces of Palingenesia
Mizmor - Cairn
Wormwood - Nattarvet
Blut Aus Nord - Hallucinogen
Mgla - Age Of Excuse
Saor - Forgotten Paths
Vanum - Ageless Fire
Kampfar - Ofidians Manifest
Black Flame - Necrogenesis: Chants from the Grave
THRASH METAL
Protector - Summon the Hordes
Critical Defiance - Misconception
Inculter - Fatal Visions
Nocturnal Breed - We Only Came for the Violence
Legion of the Damned - Slaves of the Shadow Realm
Widower - Cataclysmic Sorcery
Algebra - Pulse
War Curse - Erradication
Exumer - Hostile Defiance
Suicidal Angels - Years of Aggression
DOOM METAL
Funeral Fukk - Carnal Confessions
Crypt Sermon - The Ruins of Fading Light
Swallow the Sun - When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light
Sun O ))) - Life Metal
Runemagick - Into Desolate Realms
Officium Triste - The Death of Gaia
Monasterium - Church of Bones
Spirit Adrift - Divided by Darkness
Isole - Dystopia
Architects of Aeon - Koloss
PROG METAL
Wilderun - Veil of Imagination
Arch/Matheos - Winter Ethereal
Vanden Plas - The Ghost Xperiment - Awakening
Soen - Lotus
Myrath - Shehili
Leprous - Pitfalls
Devin Townsend - Empath
Alcest - Spiritual Instinct
Evergrey - The Atlantic
Tanagra - Meridiem
BRAZIL ALBUMS
Hellish War - Wine of Gods
Mystifier - Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia
Pagan Throne - The Way to the Northern Gates
Warpath - A Hell to Behold
Dark Tower - Obedientia
Grey Wolf - The Last Journey of an Old Viking
Stress - Devastação
Yuri Fulone - Fernão Dias Paes
Nervochaos - Ablaze
Axecuter - Surrounded by Decay