Too Soon? Jeff Treppel’s Best of 2019… So Far

This has probably been a great year so far for death metal, and you will find none of it here. Instead, here’s a sampling of throwback bands, bands from the times being thrown back to, and dudes with synthesizers. Also Devin Townsend, who has evolved beyond both genre descriptors and the material plane and transformed into some sort of metaphysical phoenix-like being made of pure music.

Absolute Valentine – Omega (Lazer Discs)
Amon Amarth – Berserker (Metal Blade)
Baroness – Gold & Grey (Abraxan Hymns)
Beast in Black – From Hell with Love (Nuclear Blast)
Bewitcher – Under the Witching Cross (Shadow Kingdom)
Darkthrone – Old Star (Peaceville)
Devil Master – Satan Spits on Children of Light (Relapse)
Devin Townsend – Empath (Inside Out)
Dommengang – No Keys (Thrill Jockey)
Haunt – If Icarus Could Fly (Shadow Kingdom)
Health – Vol. 4:: Slaves of Fear (Loma Vista)
Kaleidobolt – Bitter (Svart)
Lord Dying – Mysterium Tremendum (Entertainment One)
Magic Circle – Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin)
Pelican – Nighttime Stories (Southern Lord)
Pinkish Black – Concept Unification (Relapse)
Sanhedrin – The Poisoner (Cruz del Sur)
Spirit Adrift – Divided by Darkness (20 Buck Spin)
Tanith – In Another Time (Metal Blade)
Voyag3r – War Mask (Battle Chamber)