the Top 10 Sludge Albums of the Decade

Since the decade began before this blog was started , I can not just rely on sorting through previous reviews. This means two things. The first being this might not be the list of the heaviest sludge bands who cling to the crust punk roots of the past . The second thing is since  this is not something I can just thumb back through reviews for , I am just embedding video clips to support the reasoning for these albums to be listed as such, since I already did a best of the year list for each sub-genre. Any ways here are the Top 10 sludge albums of the  decade.


10- the Melvins - "A Walk With Love & Death"- 2017  







9-the Atlas Moth- "An Ache For the Distance" 2011







8-Fister- "No Spirit Within" 2018









6-King Woman- "Created in the Image of Suffering"2017








5-Tombs -"Path of Totality" 2011








4-Ilsa -"Corpse Fortress"2018






3- Amenra-"Mass VI" 2017 








2-Fistula- "Longing For Infection"2016








1- Kylesa - "Spiral Shadow"- 2012

the Top 10 Black Metal Albums of the Decade

At first it seemed knocking this list out would be the easiest sub-genre to knock out and give me the momentum to dig back into this. This turned out not to be the case since the decade began before this blog was started .I could not just rely on sorting through previous reviews. After 2010 really marked the year that black metal crossed over into the consciousness of  the main stream metal crowd. It was also when many of the  the elder artists had already began to  grow from the confines of black metal into more punk or symphonic forms depending on who it was.

This means two things. The first being this might not be the list of who the most cvlt artists were that adhered to the hard and fast definition of black metal that many of them had already helped create. Not that your typical blast beat ridden black metal is the kind I give much air time to begin with after all I have already felt the Transylvanian hunger, I have the album why do I need a recycled version of that.  The second thing being sine this is not something I can just thumb back through reviews for , I am just embedding video clips to support the reasoning for these albums to be listed as such, since I already did a best of the year list for each sub-genre. Any ways her are the top 10 black metal albums of the decade.



10- Inquisition- "Obscure Verses for the Multiverse" 2013  







9-Tombs-"the Gran Annihilation" 2017





8-Liturgy- "Aesthethica"








7-Mayhem-"Esoteric Warfare"








6-Darkthrone - "Circle the Wagons"2010









5 Totalselfhatred- "Apocalypse in Your Heart" 2011








4- Dimmu Borgir- "Abrahadabra"- 2010













3- Burzum -"Fallen" 2011





 





2-Agalloch - "Marrow of the Spirit" 2010





 



1- Watain- "Lawless Darkness" 2010

The Top 10 Albums of 2019

After sorting through  the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I compiled them into this list. o. Next month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; Especially when it comes to new artists. There are only 2 on this one. I am; giving a brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more.

After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list. There are  links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10  albums of 2019

10-Cold in Berlin -"Rituals of Surrender"


I had to go back and listen to their 2012 album "And Yet" to see if I was totally off base as remembering them as more of a post punk bank who is now  a doom band band. Almost  like a darker version of Devils Blood with more post punk influence. Their singer's pleading wail works against the crushing fuzzed out groove you can not help but head bang to. This one was really close . Here emotion crushes you even at it's most introspective, which puts it at number one for doom and 10th place overall.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/gothtober-cold-in-berlin-rituals-of.html

9- Pulchra Morte : "Divina Autem et Aniles" t


This album is focused and doesn't get carried away with atmosphere. The vocals seem very intentional and not just an after thought as does the addition of strings that seems to increase the deeper into the album you get . You would think it would be common sense for the focus to be on the songs rather than just beating you into submission. This album came out earlier in the year so it makes sense, I listened to it more since I had the time to simmer on it. Listened to it more since and there was time to simmer on it.This was the number one album for the death metal list and the over all metal list, so it beat out Cold In Berlin .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/02/pulchra-morte-divina-autem-et-aniles.html

8 Miley Cyrus- "She is Coming" 

The only draw back to this album is the fact the Ashley O  song was not on this. This was supposed to be one of three mini albums that was coming out.The "Slide Away single dropped then her music got hi jacked by the drama of her personal life. This could be the last token of what a song writer she is. Her role on "Black Mirror" gave a slight glimpse of what she might look like as a serious when showing the other side to her alter ego. These songs are dark and introspective questions regarding the fall out of Hollywood partings which is her at her most honest. This combined with the infectious nature of these songs elevates her to this place.  The song's "Mother's Daughter", "Unholy" and "D.R.E.A.M"  prove this point. She was the top pop album and finds her place here.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/06/report-to-dance-floor-miley-cyrus-she.html

7- Low Dose -'s/t" 

 The guys from Fight Amp have formed a new band with singer , guitarist Itarya Rosenberg, that owes more to 90s alternative than pumped up noise rock. Not that some of the more pounding angular bit are not there, along with punk influences, but they have more in common with rawer more punk influenced moments of 90s grunge. The reason this album is in the number one spot on the punk, is due to the range of their song writing and how dynamic it is.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/low-dose-st.html

6- Lana Del Rey- "Norman Fucking Rockwell" 

This might be a step away from retro pop and closer to folk owing more to Joni Mitchell than Amy Winehouse. For her to beat out Chelsea Wolfe for the top spot means two things. "the Birth of Violence" is not Wolfe's most finely tuned a-game and Lana is on her's . Her songwriting is absolutely dialed in for this. This deservedly elevated her into an even brighter spot light , while being true to who she is.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/lana-del-ray-norman-fucking-rockwell.html

5- Sturgill  Simpson - "Sound & Fury"


 If you think this is just a country album you are wrong. It owes as much to ZZ Top as it does Pink Floyd. The vocals are really the only thing that is constantly country. The drums might sound like they are from 90s Alt Rock radio before you are hit with a  funky bass line from out of nowhere. Futuristic and retro at the same time, the songwriting is the glue. This gave him the number one spot on the rock list, but falls behind four albums that clocked in more time.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/sturgill-simpson-sound-fury.html

 4- My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult- "the House of Strange Affairs" 

 I am very happy to hear the first song on their 14th album is a return to darkness rather than the disco they dipped into with "Sex on Wheels". When I interviewed Groovy Mann, he said this album was made pretending that "Sexplosion" did not exist and they were picking up where they left off, and that feels very true. Darker is always better , when you pair it with their song writing skills how could they not take the number one spot.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/01/my-life-with-thrill-kill-kult-in-house.html

3-Pleasure Leftists - 'the Gate"


 This album became the years best post-punk album by not trying to be post-punk. There is a more rock n roll touch, but the odd quirky tension is just a part of who they . The singer has greatly improved at crafted hooky melodies. There are still rough rough edges . They made no attempt top shine this up for public consumption and that add to the charm. The album grew on me with each listen. It took the number one spot for post-punk this year and  and I found it competing on best of the year lists i was for other sites.

2- Bon Iver- "i,i:

I knew this album was great when I first heard it but it gets better with each listen. Hey Ma" might be the strongest song on here, but it has some competition. There are  organic instruments intermingling with the electronic elements similar to what Peter Gabriel has done in the past. If this album is being compared to Peter Gabriel then there should be no question why it took the number one spot on the electronic list. It gave the number one album a close race. .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/bon-iver-ii.html

 1- Morrissey - "California Son" 

 Only in 2019 can a gay man cover Dionne Warwick with a Latino band and get called a racist. You can't cancel Morrissey . He doesn't give up and then shoves the fact the is still the best in your face. His voice sounds great and he made these songs his own. He is the god father of indie rock and , no one is capable of taking this crown.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/05/morrissey-california-son.html

the Top 10 Thrash Albums of 2019

It's that time of year again, to sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, then use them, to compile the top 10 albums of the year. Next month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; Especially when it comes to new artists. There are only 3 on this one.  but Thrash is a sub-genre that is rooted in the 80s.  I am; giving a brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more.


After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list. There are links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Thrash albums of 2019.

10-Indestructible Noise Command-"Terrible Things"  


hese guys are a band whose name I remember from the 80s , but don't recall every actually hearing them. They are very high energy like a more hard-core version of Testament. They use a catchy yet repetitive formula most of the time . Would not say they are cutting edge in terms or originality the energy and precision they put into these songs is impressive. This earned them a spot here.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/indestructible-noise-command-terrible.html

9-Sacred Reich -"Awakening"


This classic thrash band from Arizona Two members of this line up played on "Ignorance". The drummer played on "Independent" . As far as bands reforming I guess that is pretty acceptable. Their sound has both changed and stayed the same. I think some of it is Rind's vocals are smoother in some places where they used to be gritty. This gives it a more rock n roll feel than thrash. A similar change as say Metal Church, who made the transition a little more gracefully in terms of songwriting. Not as aggressive glory days, it does grow on me.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/sacred-reich-awakening.html

8-Overkill- the Wings of War"

 I used to love these guys in the late 80s. The opener finds the bands returning where I left off with them in the early 90s before the coming of grunge threw thrash bands a curve ball along with them scrambling to make their own "Black Album".It might not be as good as there classic material which this album made me want to go and search for , but far far as post "Horrorscope" albums go it fits nicely. Recalling more of their classic sound than Sacred Reich's latest did.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/overkill-wings-of-war.html

7-Metal Church-"Damned if You Do"

 Mike Howe and Kurdt Vanderhoof are the only members from the "Blessing In Disguise" era of the band, which is not the original line up, but a great incarnation of the band that I accept . Howe's voice sounds just as great as it did on "XI". There is a darker and more melodic tone, their song writing might not be as aggressive as it once was but Howe's vocals give them the ability to do more than Overkill

.https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/12/metal-church-damned-if-you-do.html

6-Bestial Lord<- br=""> - "Black Mass Wedding" 

At times they come across like a more metallic version of Acid Witch. Their riffs have a great deal of groove to them that gives things a more musical quality than what death metal would become. Perhaps this is because it pays more homage to a time when death metal first splintered off from thrash. It's a solid homage to old school metal, that holds more hook than Metal Church this time around, 
<- br="">
<- br="">https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/07/bestialord-black-mass-wedding.html

5- Haunt- "If Icarus Could Fly"

 I like Beastmaker, but I also grew up in the 80s when this kind of metal was big. So I have a mixed relationship with this sort of thing as I was already listening to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden in 1983. The first song starts off a little heavy on the guitar solos. The chorus is a little happy. Church's vocal is more in the Diamond Head range, perhaps a little lower and more laid back. The guitar harmonies feel more Priest than Maiden to me. His voice is not aggressive, so it gives a mellow vibe atop this. If you are smoking a bunch of pot you may not even notice. If I did a sub-list of best proto thrash this would win it. Since there is no such thing it takes 5th place.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/haunt-if-icarus-could-fly.html

4- Flotsam & Jetsam - the End of Chaos" 

 Picking up where they left off on "No Place For Disgrace" . I liked " When the Storm Comes Down", but the production was odd like they were trying to sound like "And Justice For All..." Truth be told this band was a casualty of the 90s as grunge  displaced real metal and the bands did not know what to do. Few were able to hang touch like Slayer . I guess at the time I assumed Eric AK could no longer hit the high notes , rather than he was conforming to the times and operatic singing was not cool anymore. His voice sounds better than the bulk of his peers. He is not jumping up into his falsetto screams. But he does hit higher notes in chest voice. He also has ample amount of grit . Their grit puts them over Haunt.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/01/flotsam-jetsam-end-of-chaos.html

3- Death Wolf- "Come the Dark" 

y time I say this album really surprised me then spoiler alert  that mean I like what I am hearing. I have learned to go into most albums with low expectations to spare me from disappointment. I review so many albums , just think how depressed I would be if I went into every album hoping it was going to be the best thing ever. These guys used to have a more punk slant to their sound , not that has gone more in a thrash direction. The thing that is great about this band however is that they are darker than your average thrash band. The darker sound elevated them above the competition.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/death-wolf-iv-welcome-dark.html

2 -Death Angel- "Humanicide" 

It was the fact that their 1988 album "Frolic Through the Park" found the band diverting from the thrash sound every open  else had already latched onto, that made me drawn to them. Since reforming I do not hear as much of that coming from them. Instead they are straight up thrash. Like death metal the genre can become one dimensional, but as the album progresses the add the other shades I grew up loving. It's this signature that puts them over Death Wolf.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/05/death-angel-humanicide.html

1-Exhorder- "Mourn the Southern Skies" 

If you are a fan of Pantera, then you need to know these guys. Having formed in 1985, this New Orleans band played a big part in why Pantera went from power metal and hair spray to the Cowboys from Hell that they became. They start off the album with gritty thrash that gives you the middle finger. They kill trend of Southern grooves with "Asunder" and write Slayer caliber riffs. The vocals are mean yet hold melody like another singer we know. They are relentless and continue to hit you with sharp riffs and barbed melodies. They are a step ahead of every other band on this list, though it was a tough call between this and Death Angel.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/exhorder-mourn-southern-skies.html

The Top 10 Metal Albums of 2019

After sorting the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I compiled them to make the top 10 albums of the year. Later in the month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; although here half the artists  are newer , the rest have been round the block   brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list. There are links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Metal albums of 2019.

10-Creeping Death- "Wretched Illusions"


 They care about writing songs and are steeped in old school death metal. They also give me some fucking grooves that keep my head moving. If I was going to compare them to any old school death metal band it would be Obituary. They have the same nasty slime coming off their riffs. The sheer weight and aggression they attack these songs puts this album here.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/creeping-death-wretched-illusions.html

9-Death Angel -"Humanicide"

<10- -death="" angel-="" b="" nbsp="" umanicide="">

It was the fact that their 1988 album "Frolic Through the Park" found the band diverting from the thrash sound every open  else had already latched onto, that made me drawn to them. Since reforming I do not hear as much of that coming from them. Instead they are straight up thrash. Like death metal the genre can become one dimensional, but as the album progresses the add the other shades I grew up loving. It's this signature that puts them over Creeping Death. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/05/death-angel-humanicide.html

8-Exhorder<- br="" ourn="" skies="" southern="" the=""> -Mourn the Southern Skies" 
<- br="" ourn="" skies="" southern="" the="">
<- br="" ourn="" skies="" southern="" the="">If you are a fan of Pantera, then you need to know these guys. Having formed in 1985, this New Orleans band played a big part in why Pantera went from power metal and hair spray to the Cowboys from Hell that they became. They start off the album with gritty thrash that gives you the middle finger. They kill trend of Southern grooves with "Asunder" and write Slayer caliber riffs. The vocals are mean yet hold melody like another singer we know. They are relentless and continue to hit you with sharp riffs and barbed melodies. They are a step ahead of every other band on this list, though it was a tough call between this and Death Angel.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/exhorder-mourn-southern-skies.html

7-Vous Autres - "Champ Du Sang"

This album grew on me. The top four album did some shuffling, but the more I listened to this album the more clarity I gained as to where it belongs. The heaviness comes from dealing in darkness more than blast beats. They o prove themselves capable of deviating from pulverizing you to incorporate dynamics with atmosphere, this gives a creep glaze to the monolithic stomp of the heavy riffs, we have darkness ,depression and creepy . The feelings are made sounds and sonic in a way no other band tapped into like this.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/04/vous-autres-champ-du-sang.html

6- Coffins-- "Beyond the Circular Demise"


 This band's sound is it is organic, yet dark and dense. When they lock into a mid paced chug , it is probably their best quality. They do not do it every song , or even every other song, but when you hear it there is no denying this fact. It is heavy as fuck. Not to the point they have thrown the song out the window either. The tighter riffing is what beats out  Vous Autres.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/coffins-beyond-circular-demise.html

5- Hippie Death Cult" -"111"  




 The key selling point of this band to me is their singer,This guy is fucking outstanding as  he encompasses a great deal of dynamic range while retaining a bluesy sound.ere plenty of things like guitar solos to keep most metal heads happy. There is more proto metal to the riffing, the singer is what really sets these guys apart . Sure there is a little Ian Gillan to his voice at times, but that is better than another half ass Ozzy imitator. They are where they are because they have the best vocals which in turns gives them a more defined identity .

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-doom-hippie-death-cult-111.html

4- Life of Agony- 'the Sound of the Scars"

The sound of the scars tells me this is the album that should have come after “Ugly” . Not as dense and hard core influenced as the classic “River Runs Red” ,. Caputo’s voice is back where it needs to be to restore uphold the band’s legacy. These songs have warranted hours of repeat listens., more l;listens than I gave Hippie Death Cult.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/life-of-agony-sound-of-scars.html

3- Lord Mantis - Universal Death Cult"
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This wildly feral sludge band often chugs it's way towards making raw and nasty death metal. Sanford Parker who produced the album made some interesting choice on what he choose to to with the vocals. The sonic darkness of the throb these songs take on is just the kind of heavy I look for in music. More powerful than Life of Agony.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-doom-hippie-death-cult-111.html
<3- -="" b="" church="" death="" lord="" mantis="" niversal="">

2-Brume -"Rabbits"

 This album was not what I expected going into it. After a few listens it proves early on this is an album I can just let play as it flows with smooth dynamics that do not tire. The drumming is almost as impressive as the soaring vocals. More hypnotic than crushing, the gray melancholy is often more than enough to solidify their place as doom, though their sound tends to be fragile in it's moodiness. It is this level of songwriting that makes me listen to this more than the bigger symphony of despair Lord Mantis created.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-doom-brume-rabbits.html

 

1- Pulchra Morte : "Divina Autem et Aniles" t


This album is focused and doesn't get carried away with atmosphere. The vocals seem very intentional and not just an after thought as does the addition of strings that seems to increase the deeper into the album you get .. You would think it would be common sense for the focus to be on the songs rather than just beating you into submission. This album came out earlier in the year so it makes sense, I listened to it more since I had the time to simmer on it. Listened to it more since and there was time to simmer on it.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/02/pulchra-morte-divina-autem-et-aniles.html

the Top Ten Pop Albums OF 2019

It's that time of year again, to sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, then use them, to compile the top 10 albums of the year. Later in the month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; Especially when it comes to new artists. This only one on this list and I am including hip hop on this list as well, since well it's pop. I am giving a brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more

. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest albums for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list.In most cases there are links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Some albums I did not review. Anyways here are the top 10 Pop albums of 2019.

10-Young Thug- "So Much Fun" 


 He peaked with "Beautiful Thugger Girls " and has yet to return to those heights. This is at least pointing him back in the right direction. This is lyrically non-sense, and production wise falls in line with his peers. Doesn't have any bad songs, but not all of them are created equal. There are however moments like "Light it Up" , "Bad, Bad, Bad" and "the London" that make this worth while.

9-Future - "Save me" 

Either he has learned from Post Malone that emotion sells, or this is a man who is approaching his bottom in a drug addled breakdown. Lyrically and musically this is surreal and desperate in it's dark pleading which is what is gives this edge over Young Thug, The show stoppers are "Please Tell Me", "Xanax Damage" & "Government Official".

8-Gucci Mane-"Delusions of Grandeur"

Gucci got sober and now he is into jewelry. Lyrically even with this masturbatory ego parade he is still bringing more depth than his other ATL peers at the top of the game. He also has more coherent songs . The best being "Love Thru the Computer" , "Bottom" and "Lame" 

7-Doja Cat-"Amala" 

This album grew on me. It has hooks not far removed from what Rhianna does though she is not shooting for the same level of commercial appeal here and more content doing her thing.  The more you listen to this you hear how refined her songs are putting it over the trap rap beneath it. The best of the bunch here is "Go to Town", "Juicy" and "Game"

6-Post-Malone- "Hollywood's Bleeding" 

The songs are not as sharp as those on "Beerbongs & Bentleys" . The Ozzy duet is the strongest moment. This is not dialed in, but the inspiration did not flow with the bigger buget and more studio time to screw around with. This is a more atmospheric album. His sense of hooks is just  more polished than Doja Cat. The strongest songs are "Take What You Want", "Saint Tropez"  and "Circles" .


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/report-to-dance-floor-post-malone.html

5-Snoop Dogg- "I  Wanna Thank Me" 

The Dogg Father is back . This time he is honoring the past while staying current in the future sounds of hip-hop.  This album hit me harder the first listen . Since it has not been something I find myself wearing out, but these songs are pretty sure of where they are going. The best of the bunch are "I've Been Looking For You ",  'Do it When I'm In It" & "Ventilation"

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/report-to-dance-floor-snoop-dogg-i.html

4- Issues-Beautiful Oblivion

This album really grew on me thanks to their smart song writing skills. The fact they are not metal did not bother me after the `10th time I hit repeat on some these songs, Musically superior to Snoop's new one in every way.Pop music with real instruments. Who would have thunk it.  They show this best on "Drink About " , "Tappin Out" and :" Without You"

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/issues-beautiful-oblivion.html

3- Taylor Swift- "Lover" 

This one has grown on me where her other albums connected the first listen. She is back to playing real instruments. This is not to say this is going back to her country roots, but it mixes the two pretty well. This range covers more ground better than what Issues does. The strongest songs are some of the singles "You Need to Calm Down" , "Lover" and "Death By a Thousand Cuts".

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover.html

 

2- Bleached-"Don't You Think You've Had Enough"

This is the most organic album on this list. It has even more rock tendencies than Issues. These gals came out of the indie punk scene and evolved into this. This is catchy and was a tough call between this one and the album in the number two spot when it came down to songs I obsessively listened to this got the number two spot, it has more heart than "Lover" the best moments are "Hard to Kill" , "Valley to La"  and "Silly Girl" 


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/06/bleached-dont-you-think-youve-had-enough.html

 1- Miley Cyrus- "She is Coming" 

The only draw back to this album is the fact the Ashley O  song was not on this. This was supposed to be one of three mini albums that was coming out.The "Slide Away single dropped then her music got hi jacked by the drama of her personal life. This could be the last token of what a song writer she is. Her role on "Black Mirror" gave a slight glimpse of what she might look like as a serious when showing the other side to her alter ego. These songs are dark and introspective questions regarding the fall out of Hollywood partings which is her at her most honest. This combined with the infectious nature of these songs elevates her to this place.  The song's "Mother's Daughter", "Unholy" and "D.R.E.A.M"  prove this point.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/06/report-to-dance-floor-miley-cyrus-she.html

the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2019

It's that time of year again, to sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, then use them, to compile the top 10 albums of the year. Later in the month I am making the top 10 lists for the decade, though to be blunt this is the decade's weakest year for music; Especially when it comes to new artists. There are only 3 on this one. This year's rock list finds the genre stripped down to a rawer core.  I am; giving a brief explanation as to why these albums stand over their peers in lower positions on the list. The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more.


After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it.;I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list. There are links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 rock albums of 2019.
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10- Ville Vallo and Agents- "s/t" 

Yes this is the guy from H.I.M, they covered Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" so this turn of events should not be a shocker. Imagine if they never got into Type O Negative , and wanted to become a Chris Isaak tribute band, but he realized he could not sing like that so he got depressed and took pain pills while writing country songs. This is what that might sound like.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/ville-valo-agents-st.html

9-Jess By the Lake- "Under the Red Light Shine"


The sultry tinge of blues feels more like she has found herself in her voice than what I heard from her with the Ancient Ones. She I say there is a lot of Heart in what they are doing here I mean Anne Wilson. This retro rock is served with a large enough side of pop to give it the edge over Ville.




https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/04/jess-by-lake-under-red-light-shine.html

8-the Planchettes- "The Truth"

 These kids might flirt with the post-punk revival and they are one of the few I have heard influenced by the Cramps. The male vocals are really crazed at times, . The guitar tone is pretty authentic. It's more of a twangy cow punk. They are not tense nor are they angry which plants them firmly at rock n roll. Their quirky take on it is enough fun to land them the number 8 spot.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-planchettes-truth.html

7- Hollywood Vampires- "Rise" 

First impressions of this band being here is what happens on A.A golf events in LA when rock stars and movie stars have too much time on their hands. Despite the fact I am an Alice Cooper fan and know Jo Perry is good guitar player I was till skeptical so was surprised with how the album opened with a rock song that is more serious than I thought I could take this band. It is hard for this to not sound like an Alice Cooper album and I am fine with that so here it is at the number 7 slot.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/06/hollywood-vampires-rise.html

6-Lost Crowns- "Every Night Something Happens" 


This sounds like it could have come out in the 70S. Angular labyrinths of melodies give the bass the space to most of the grit. While it is not dark there are some shades of gray coloring it and I would not say it is happy. Ambitious and British yet this does not get in the way of this band remembering to write songs, planting them here on the list.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/05/lost-crowns-every-night-something.html

5-Brian Jonestown Massacre- 's/t"


 If you don't know who these guys are then this is Anton Newcombe from the Dandy Warhols. There is a moody almost post-rock feel to the strummed guitar. Anton makes up for what he lacks in vocal prowess with attitude. The arrangements are fairly simplistic rock n roll, darker than the Rolling Stones, but also less dangerous. Mick Jagger is never this depressed. Rather than go on any long winding roads the songs jam off a singular vibe, but it is hooky enough to land them the 5 spot here.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-brian-jonestown-massacre-st.html

4-Twin Temple- "Twin Temple Brings You Their Signature Sound"

 When we talk of rock here we are talking more about the 50as. Despite their allegiances to the SJW knock off of his church this recalls an era Lavey would approve of. If Amy Winehouse devil there might be a similar result though this does has more raw power musically to avoid the pop list. They are not doing this in the kind of goofy fashion Ghost. The hooks put them at fourth place.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/gothtober-twin-temple-twin-temple-bring.html

3- Starcrawler- "Devour You" 



Here is what happens when you grow up in Hollywood and get exposed to more than you should at a young age. This album could have made the punk list if not for it's grunge tendencies that sounds like a more inspired Courtney Love from the early Hole days. It's the realness of her swagger that infects these and gives her the number 3 spot, rock n roll is an attitude that all 3 of the bands in the top spots have


. https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/starcrawler-devour-you.html

2-Alice Cooper-Breadcrumbs

Hanging out with vampires in Hollywood must have turned back the clock to him. This raw album of garage rock cover from Detroit could have almost just as easily made it on the punk album. Way more energy than you could have ever imagined coming off the gold course at 70.


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/09/alice-cooper-breadcrumbs.html

1- Sturgill  Simpson - "Sound & Fury"


 If you think this is just a country album you are wrong. It owes as much to ZZ Top as it does Pink Floyd. The vocals are really the only thing that is constantly country. The drums might sound like they are from 90s Alt Rock radio before you are hit with a  funky bass line from out of nowhere. Futuristic and retro at the same time, the songwriting is the glue and it puts these songs at the top of the list.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2019/10/sturgill-simpson-sound-fury.html