Top LPs of 2019

Last year was quite the year for music, though for the most part I only paid much attention to hardcore. I had many intentions of staying up with this blog but lost myself in other things beyond just the hours required for my college coursework. Tangible pieces of art, including un-commissioned flyers and a t-shirt design and two issues of two different zines I started this year. The zines took up a majority of the time I would have used to work on the blog, but beyond that I just lived more. Reflection is a constant in the way my mind works but I had more things happening around me that kept me in the now.

The next few posts are the top LPs, EPs, singles and demos of the year in my humble opinion (meaning these are unquestionable facts). Instead of just limiting myself to a particular amount of releases I am going to single out a few. The list is in alphabetical order but a top release will be highlighted and others will be singled out. I begin with a list of the top LPs of 2019.

Top LPs

Abuse of Power – What On Earth Can We Do (Triple-B Records)

Amygdala – Our Voices Will Soar Forever (Prosthetic Records)

The Berries – Berryland (Run For Cover Records)

Bracket - Too Old To Die Young (Fat Wreck Chords)

Ceremony – In The Spirit World Now (Relapse Records)

Ceremony might have put out some records I didn’t click with at the time (post Violence Violence) but ever since the L Shape Man they are back in position of being one of my favorite bands.

Deflect – Mass Delusion (Eighty-Sixed Records)

Fury - Failed Entertainment (Run For Cover Records)

Some of my favorite songs in years are on this record.

Gazm – Heavy Vibe Music (11 PM Records)

Generation – Call It A Life (I.O.U. Records)

This record came out of left field and kept my attention longer than many other records I loved this year.

Inclination – When Fear Turns To Confidence (Pure Noise Records)

Krust – Sex Noises (Self Released)

They could have split up the songs different and had this be a split LP of two different bands. I love the way they did this though, not every song has to sound exactly the same and you can take fucking risks and still be a great hardcore band. I would love to see Krust live.

Magnitude - To Whatever Fateful End (Triple-B Records)

The best hardcore LP of the year and if Mindforce hadn’t put out Excalibur it might be the top 12” of the last decade.

Never Ending Gave – Just Another Day (Triple-B Records)

Physique – The Evolution Of Combat (Distort Reality)

Pretty Matty – S/T (Get Better Records)

The best LP of the year, though it only came out on cassette and I wish it would have had a vinyl 

version.

Seizures - Reverie Of The Revolving Diamond (Sun Terrace Records)

Another Seizures record that I wish had come out on Head2wall Records.

Strange Magic – Unfortunately (Self Released)

I don’t know how this got on my list, I must have been hacked. Ctrl-Alt-Delete these assholes.

TV Crime – Metal Town (Alien Snatch! Records)

Big ups to Demolisten Podcast. Without them I don’t know if I would have ever heard this incredible band.

Wild Side – Who The Hell is Wild Side? (Triple-B Records)

Head2wall Playlist #2 - 4/1 - 4/7

Almost half the bands on this mix I found or checked out for the first time last week. The other bands are ones I've loved for years. With these posts I may pull out a few bands to touch on. Starting with Method from Des Moines, who I had the pleasure of seeing last month and hope I get a chance to again soon. Their energy reminded me of all the early Lockin Out Records bands I saw back in the early 2000s. Second is Nasti from Seattle, who blend a few styles together to really have a unique sound (not to be confused with Nasty). And lastly Hushed from Detroit who have a harder gruffer sound but without trying to be an ignorant mosh band. They are playing Friday with Strange Magic at Transitions Skatepark.

Check it out here, playlist listed below.

1. Fury - Vacation
2. Insight - End the Cruelty
3. Extricate - A Thousand Cuts
4. Raw Brigade - Terrorist
5. Method - Push for More
6. Nasti - Parasites
7. BGK - White Male Dumbinance
8. Reaction - How It Ends
9. Combust - Force My Hand
10. Lower Species - Contention
11. Floorpunch - Changes
12. Hushed - Nothing to Lose
13. No Tolerance - Knew The Truth
14. No Exceptions - Not Just Drugs
15. Vision Quest - Vision Quest