GHOST CULT'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Steve Tovey: Top 20 of 2019

2019 seems an odd year for me to be writing a post about my albums of year, and to have so many albums I want to name-check or mention. See, early in the year I stepped down from my role within Ghost Cult – nothing the Cult did wrong, just a question of life and balance. Stepping back from direct exposure to every rock, metal or alternative release should have meant I had fewer albums to care about, but, actually, it’s afforded me more time with each of the albums that I have connected with.

So, whereas in previous years I may have logged a list with albums I had not much more than a superficial affinity with, a glancing “Oh, that’s good” from a couple of December spins only – for example, I’ve only heard the Fit For An Autopsy once, and while I can tell it’s an absolute (tragic) beast I haven’t spent enough time with it to include it – this time I’ve been able to spend more time with fewer albums and it’s been all the better for me and my enjoyment of a breadth music, I have to say. Less really has been more.

via GIPHY

And in a surprising turn of events, 2019 has been the year that I accidentally rediscovered my love of Black Metal. Working late one night with Enslaved’s E and Moonsorrow’s V: Havitetty for company I was reminded of what good Black Metal can bring to the table, and so I began to delve into some of the newer releases from that most hypnotic and contradictory of sub-genre’s, a resumption of an immersive experience I had, with some exceptions, turned my back on over the last few years.

Anyway, enough of the waffle. I want to thank Keith and Ghost Cult for giving my AOTY post a home where more than 2 people may actually see it, but as with every year, I post this purely and only to share the love for things I like. This post isn’t meant to invite criticisms of albums I’ve omitted, or criticism of myself for omitting albums others may like, this is merely my favourite (note “favourite” not “best” – there’s nowt objective or critical here) albums of 2019.

Before I run through my Top 20, here are some albums that I really liked though haven’t really spent a whole lot of time with, but ones I do find myself coming back to and enjoying… (in alphabetical order)

Abbath Outstrider (Nuclear Blast) Spotify YouTube; Abigail Williams Walk Beyond The Dark (Blood) Spotify YouTube; Alcest Spiritual Instinct (Nuclear Blast) Spotify YouTube; Astronoid Astronoid (Blood) Spotify YouTube; Avantasia Moonglow (Nuclear Blast) Spotify YouTube; Cattle Decapitation Death Atlas (Metal Blade) Spotify YouTube; Fever 333 Strength In Numb333rs (Roadrunner) Spotify YouTube; In Flames I, The Mask (Nuclear Blast) Spotify YouTube; Insomnium Heart Like A Grave (Century Media) Spotify YouTube; Killswitch Engage Atonement (Metal Blade) Spotify YouTube; Lacuna Coil Black Anima (Century Media) Spotify YouTube; mgla Age Of Excuse (No Solace) Spotify YouTube; Sermon Birth Of The Marvellous (Prosthetic) Spotify YouTube; Soen Lotus (Silver Lining) Spotify YouTube; Sum 41 Order In Decline (Hopeless) Spotify YouTube; Vltimas Something Wicked Marches In (Season of Mist) Spotify YouTube; Vukari AEvum (Vendetta) Spotify YouTube; Whitechapel The Valley (Metal Blade) Spotify YouTube; Wilderun Veil of Imagination (self-released) Spotify YouTube; Yellow Eyes Rare Field Ceiling (Gilead) Spotify YouTube