Here’s another entry in the part of our annual LISTMANIA orgy where we re-post lists of metal from “big platform” web sites and print zines — the kind of places that get a lot more eyeballs on them than festering little metal-only hovels like ours.
Rolling Stone magazine should need no introduction, so I’m not going to provide one. Not long ago they published their list of The 50 Best Albums of 2019. The sub-headline for the article reads as follows: “From ‘Lover’ to ‘Cuz I Love You,’ ‘Death Race to Love,’ and beyond, here are the records that defined the year”. The list didn’t exactly define the year for metal. In fact, I didn’t spot even one metal album on that list. Not one.
However, more recently Rolling Stone published a separate list of The 10 Best Metal Albums of 2019 (presented by Mercedes-Benz, because of course that’s the brand preferred by most metal bands when they’re throwing around their big piles of cash).
On the one hand, the list was slightly more interesting and certainly more surprising than I was expecting. I’m actually somewhat tempted to now figure out what that Moon Tooth album is all about. On the other hand, seeing Slipknot at No. 1 was neither surprising nor interesting.
Also, just to be extra-clear, even after all these years: This is not our list. This is Rolling Stone‘s list.
10. Korn, ‘The Nothing’
9. Opeth, ‘In Cauda Venenum’
8. Rammstein, ‘Rammstein’
7. Tomb Mold, ‘Planetary Clairvoyance’
6. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, ‘Infest the Rats’ Nest’
5. Darkthrone, ‘Old Star’
4. Alcest, ‘Spiritual Instinct’
3. Gaahls Wyrd, ‘Gastir — Ghosts Invited’
2. Moon Tooth, ‘Crux’
1. Slipknot, ‘We Are Not Your Kind’
9 Responses to “LISTMANIA 2019: ROLLING STONE’S LIST OF THE 10 BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2019”
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I’m legitimately shocked anyone at Rolling Stone has even heard of Darkthrone
Or Tomb Mold, though they have ended up on a lot of other lists.
Gaahls Wyrd was the biggest shocker for me, especially at No. 3 — though it was a happy surprise, because that’s a very good album.
I’d be legitimately shocked if any of them have actually heard Darkthrone. My guess is that the list is at least partially based on record sales. I’m sure Old Star has sold well.
I’m kinda surprised Rolling Stone would snub Tool.
I am blown away it wasn’t Tool… I have some nostalgia for Slipnkot and Korn, but I do believe both of their latest releases are excellent on the hard rock/pop metal spectrum. Also, who the fuck is Moon Tooth? I have not seen or heard them anywhere, and am somewhat curious because of that… Worth checking out? Does anyone know?
Very much so. A very good hard rock band.
Moon Tooth’s first album was really good, but they teamed up with Mark Morton from Lamb of God for Crux, and the music certainly took a turn for the accessible and less interesting. It kinda sucks that they got this kind of recognition, because now they’ll likely keep going in that direction.
Why does anyone care what pop site like RS, Loudwire, etc. think of metal?