2019 in Heavy Metal Music: The Best and Worst of the Year

It’s been a big year in heavy metal music. Here’s a look at the best and worst of what 2019 had to offer.

Best Albums of the Year

It’s been a great year for heavy metal music, with some amazing albums being released. In this list, we’ll be taking a look at the best albums of the year. These are the albums that we think are the best of the best, and we highly recommend them.

Tool – Fear Inoculum

Tool’s Fear Inoculum might be the most highly-anticipated metal album of the century so far. While the band’s last album, 10,000 Days, was released in 2006, fans have been eagerly waiting for new music. And, boy, was it worth the wait. Fear Inoculum is a masterful album that showcases the band’s musicianship and artistry. From the opening track, “Invincible,” to the closing track, “7empest,” the album is a journey through Heavy Metal history. If you’re a fan of metal music, this is an album you cannot miss.

Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind

Slipknot’s sixth album, We Are Not Your Kind, is a return to form for the masked metal band. After a five-year break, Slipknot reemerged with a new album that is heavier and more aggressive than their previous effort. While it may not be their best album, it is a solid effort that fans of the band will enjoy.

The best tracks on the album are “Unsainted,” “Solway Firth,” and “Birth of the Cruel.” “Unsainted” is a blistering track that features some of Slipknot’s best musicianship to date. The guitars are heavy and the drums are thunderous. Corey Taylor’s vocals are at their best on this track, as he alternates between growling and singing. “Solway Firth” is another great track that features some amazing guitar work from Jim Root and Mick Thomson. The drums are once again pounding, and Corey Taylor delivers an unhinged performance. “Birth of the Cruel” is the best track on the album. It is a slower track that builds to a crescendo of noise and chaos. The guitars are heavy, the drums are pounding, and Corey Taylor’s vocals are chilling.

The worst tracks on the album are “Killpop” and “Skeptic.” “Killpop” is a forgettable track that features bland musicianship and uninspired vocals from Corey Taylor. “Skeptic” is another weak track that suffers from the same problems as “Killpop.” The guitars are bland, the drums are uninspired, and Corey Taylor sounds bored.

Overall, We Are Not Your Kind is a good album from Slipknot. It features some great tracks (“Unsainted,” “Solway Firth,” and “Birth of the Cruel”), but it also has some weak tracks (“Killpop” and “Skeptic”).

Metallica – Hardwired…To Self-Destruct

One of the most anticipated albums of the year, Metallica’s “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct” is a return to form for the metal legends. Featuring blistering guitar work, thunderous drumming and James Hetfield’s signature growl, the album is a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish. Highlights include the head-banging opener “Hardwired,” the melodic “Moth Into Flame” and the thrashy “Atlas, Rise!”. With “Hardwired…To Self-Destruct,” Metallica have once again proved that they are the undisputed kings of heavy metal.

Worst Albums of the Year

It’s been a long and difficult year, and thankfully it’s almost over. We’ve had to deal with a lot of political turmoil, natural disasters, and other global issues. But through it all, we’ve had some great music to help us get by. Unfortunately, not all of it was good. Let’s take a look at some of the worst albums of the year.

Nickelback – Feed the Machine

Canadian rockers Nickelback have always been an easy target for music snobs and critics, but their ninth studio album, Feed the Machine, was met with an unusually high amount of hate.

The record was released in 2017 to mixed reviews, but it wasn’t until this year that people really started to tear it apart. In May, SpIN wrote that the album “plays like a greatest hits package of frontman Chad Kroeger’s worst qualities,” and in August, Noisey called it a “stale regurgitation” of the band’s earlier work.

Even fans of the band seemed to turn on them this year, with one Reddit user calling it “an unlistenable cash grab.” Ouch.

Five Finger Death Punch – And Justice for None

It’s been a long time since Five Finger Death Punch have released a truly great album. Their last few efforts have been marred by production issues, creative bankruptcy, and an overall sense of boredom. And Justice for None is no different.

The album opener, “Fake,” is a prime example of the band’s current problems. It’s a plodding, middle-of-the-road rocker that sounds like it could have been lifted from any number of ‘80s hair metal bands. It’s not bad, per se, but it’s incredibly forgettable.

The rest of the album follows suit. There are a few bright moments (“Stuck in My Ways” and “Gone Away” are standouts), but for the most part, And Justice for None is a snooze fest. The band seems to be going through the motions, and it shows.

In short: if you’re looking for something new from Five Finger Death Punch, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Stone Temple Pilots – Stone Temple Pilots

The year 2019 was not a good one for many established rock and metal bands. We got some forgettable albums from the likes of Slipknot, Metallica, and Tool, to name a few. But those bands at least have the excuse of being well past their creative primes. The same cannot be said for Stone Temple Pilots, who released one of the worst albums of 2019 with their self-titled seventh LP.

Stone Temple Pilots was a band that defined the early-’90s alternative rock boom. They were grunge adjacent, but had a knack for writing singles that were catchy as hell (“Sex Type Thing,” “Vasoline,” “Interstate Love Song”). But by the time they released self-titled album in 2010, it was clear that the magic was gone. And now, nine years later, they’ve somehow managed to make an album that’s even worse.

Stone Temple Pilots is a joyless affair, filled with uninspired songwriting and guest vocalists that do nothing to fill the void left by the late Scott Weiland. It’s an embarrassment from start to finish, and is easily one of the worst albums of 2019.

Best Songs of the Year

There were a lot of great heavy metal songs released in 2019. Some of the best include “Blood Eagle” by Amon Amarth, “Sumerian Daemons” by Behemoth, and “The Mountain” by Three Days Grace. These songs are all high-energy and perfect for headbanging. There were also some great ballads released this year, such as “Goodbye” by Avenged Sevenfold and “Running Free” by Coal Chamber.

Tool – “Invincible”

Tool’s “Invincible” is one of the best songs of the year. The song is a powerful ballad with a moving melody and lyrics that speak to the human condition. The song is also one of the band’s best performances to date, with each member of the band playing to their strengths.

Slipknot – “Unsainted”

Slipknot’s “Unsainted” is one of the best songs of the year, and it’s a perfect example of the band’s unique brand of metal. The song is a powerful and emotional look at the dark side of fame, and it features some of Slipknot’s best musicianship to date. The song is sure to be a fan favorite for years to come.

Metallica – “Hardwired”

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2019 was a big year for heavy metal music, with Metallica’s comeback album “Hardwired” leading the way. The album was a return to form for the veteran band, with its mix of fast-paced riffs and pounding drums. “Hardwired” was one of the best songs of the year, and it helped make “Hardwired” one of the best albums of the year.

Worst Songs of the Year

2019 was not a good year for heavy metal music. There were a lot of bad songs released this year. Let’s take a look at some of the worst songs of the year.

Nickelback – “Song on Fire”

Nickelback’s “Song on Fire” is one of the worst songs of the year. It’s a trite, simplistic, and boring song that offers nothing new or interesting. The only thing remotely redeeming about it is the fact that it’s only two minutes long.

Five Finger Death Punch – “Gone Away”

When it comes to “Gone Away,” the less said, the better. It’s a trite, painfully on-the-nose ballad about mortality that would be forgettable if it weren’t for the band’s heavy-handed delivery. Vocalist Ivan Moodie sounds like he’s struggling to keep a straight face as he belts out lines like “I try not to think about you every day” and “Losing you is not something I’m gonna get over.” The rest of the band doesn’t fare much better, delivering one of the most rote performances of their career. It’s a bad song made worse by its surroundings – sandwiched between two much better tracks on an otherwise solid album.

Stone Temple Pilots – “Roll Me Under”

When Stone Temple Pilots returned from their six-year hiatus, they tried to sound as contemporary as possible. The result was the disaster that was “Roll Me Under.” Not only does the song completely lack any originality, it sounds like a pale imitation of every other band trying to cash in on the current trends.