Top Tracks of 2019

​One of the new features this year was my Track of the Week, it's something I’ve wanted to do for a while and I finally found the time in 2019. I’ve had a lot of fun with it, meaning I intend to continue in 2020, but more importantly it helped me discover more bands and music than what I normally would. With this list I’d like to highlight the 10 best tracks I’ve heard in the last 12 months with most of them coming from our Track of the Week series.

10. 'Help Inflicted' by Patient Sixty-Seven

The Metalcore outfit Patient Sixty-Seven from Perth, Western Australia, really blew me away with their single 'Help Inflicted'. The skill levels involved are through the roof and the unexpected orchestral touch is top notch. 

Patient Sixty-Seven is a band to keep an eye on in 2020.
​

9. 'Suicidal Temple' by Earthists.

One of the reasons I love 'Suicidal Temple' from Earthists. is because of its timing of release. They left their label over a contract dispute, then just days later dropped this absolute banger on their unsuspecting fans, as a massive F you to the label. 

I couldn't have done it better myself. 'Temple' is harder than the band's previous work and is an amazing sign of things to come from the Tokyo based group.
​

8. 'Hole In Me' from Hyperdaze by Void Of Vision

Void Of Vision was one of those bands that were constantly on top of my "to-do" pile, but unfortunately never got a look in. Well, it is safe to say that is no longer the case. 'Hole In Me' was a stripped back to basics Metalcore tune that ticks all the right boxes!
​

7. 'Bow Down' from Trauma by I Prevail

This is one of those times I judged a band by 1/3 of their genre description because I saw the word "Pop". But I was wrong, 'Bow Down' is a balls to the wall headbangers wet dream, and the duo of Burkheiser (clean vocals) and Vanlerberghe (both clean and screamed) really set 'Bow Down' apart.
​

6. '7empest' from Fear Inoculum by Tool

You all knew Tool would have to feature on this list somewhere, and here you go. While I loved the album as a whole, I struggled to listen to individual tracks, besides '7empest' which let's be honest, is Adam Jones' (guitarist) best work... ever.
​

5. 'Anima' by Stain The Canvas

I love Metalcore, but even I can admit that sometimes it can get a little boring and same-same. Enter Stain The Canvas from Milan, Italia, who are an amazing breath of fresh air in this genre, and their second single from earlier this year, 'Anima' is the proof. Finish the whole video as that piano driven closing is just chilling.
​

4. 'Sabotage' by Livingston 

Livingston's 'Sabotage' just misses out on a podium finish this year! And it's a massive shame because 'Sabotage' really impressed me, with its lazy pacing and dread inducing feel, you can't help but be drawn into this song and then lost into your own thoughts. 

3. 'Masochist' by Polaris

Wow, just wow is how I have to start off with Polaris' 'Masochist'. It was dropped not that long ago and already it has taken over the Metal world all around the globe, and it's not hard to see why. Kick arse music with heavy lyrics all about depression; I can't wait for their second album The Death Of Me on the 21st of Feb!
​

2.'ANTI-SOCIAL' from SO WHAT? by While She Sleeps

The fight for top spot was actually huge and monumental in my head, and after weeks of battle the winner was finally clear, and sadly it is not 'ANTI-SOCIAL' from While She Sleeps. But it was a fucking close second. This track is epic, the song as a whole musically is on point, Loz's vocals sound great but it's the message in the lyrics that push this to the next level. I'm not going to tell you, you're just going to have to check the song out for yourself.

1. 'Solway Firth' from We Are Not Your Kind by Slipknot

Yeah, some of you may have guessed this, but I don't care. Want to know why? Here is what I said in the album review: "The build up at the start with the folksy Taylor croning, the almost sudden change up where you can't help but headbang, the singing, the music... there is nothing to dislike on this tune.

​Plus the lyrics are powerful, 'Solway' is a depression killer, the energy it gives off is immense and fills the listener with something I can't quite explain in words, it just needs to be heard."

Written by Dan.

Ronon's Reviews Merch! Only at REDBUBBLE! Click the photo to check the shop.

Related Reviews: 

"​No clean vocals, guitars so low you can feel them in your chest and almost foreboding like drumming. What’s not to love?"

"The mix of vocal styles in the track work great and the guitars are some of the group's best stuff ever"

"'Devil's Den' doesn't waste any time in the form of a long winded and slow building intro, and I feel it was the best choice for the track."