Top 20 Best Songs of 2019

So... 2019's almost over? It feels like January was last week, but alas, here we are. 2019 has been a rewarding year for music, with great music from the metal, rock, and even from the pop and country worlds, and while I'm still figuring out my number 1 album of the year, I'm confident in this song of the year list, and I can't wait to share with you my favorite songs of 2019. Before we get started, here's a few ground rules.

1. In order to make this list, a song must have either been released in 2019 or in an album released in 2019.

2. There's no genre restrictions; A song can be pop, metal, rock, technical death indie country, etc. and make it, as long as it's good. 

3. This is only my opinion, and it is subject to change. Take this as a rough ranking, not truth carved in stone.

4. Only one song per band or artist so the list can have more variety.

5. This list is based mostly on my enjoyment of these songs, so technically ultimately doesn't win top prize.

I will leave a link to each song so you can give it a listen, as I recommend all of these songs. With that being said, let's go through a few honorable mentions...

Weezer - High As A Kite (Power Pop)

While I found myself mostly disappointed with The Black Album, High As A Kite is one of their strongest songs of the 2010s. This ballad feels genuine, and the bridge has those classic, lovable Weezer power pop chords. It really does feel like a White Album quality track, and while I would overall recommend skipping The Black Album, give this track a listen. It deserves it.

Bring Me The Horizon - MANTRA (Alternative Rock)

I'm not the biggest Bring Me The Horizon fan on the planet, but this track is one I really enjoyed. The chorus is catchy, I think the lyrics are creative, and it's just poppy enough to have mainstream appeal while also feeling like a rock song. While it isn't super heavy or anything, I still really liked this. If you like modern rock, check this out.

Bad Wolves - No Messiah (Alternative Metal)

While their new album N.A.T.I.O.N. was a disappointment, No Messiah was a clear standout for me. The opening riff is heavy and catchy, and the chorus absolutely soars, and the breakdowns and screams are effective. Bad Wolves were trying to go more mainstream on their new album, and this is one of the few times where it worked, and man, did it work well. 

Sam Fender - You're Not The Only One (Heartland Rock)

Sam Fender released a very promising debut album this year in Hypersonic Missiles, and this is a song that grabbed me immediately. His Bruce Springteen influence is really showing here, as the song's hook and guitar melody feel like it, and it's great. It's memorable and pleasant, and to top it all off, it has a sax solo. What's not to love?

Post Malone ft. Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott - Take What You Want (Pop Rap/Rock)

Yep, Ozzy featured on a track with Post Malone and Travis Scott. If it weren't for Travis' generic verse, this would be on the list. The chorus is great, Ozzy and Post sound great, and the ending guitar solo is awesome. It's such a bizarrely good song that I just had to give it a shout out. It's a mess, but oh, it's so good. It also inspired Ozzy to put out new music, and the songs so far are killer, so yeah, thanks Post!

Okay, now that those are out of the way, let's get on to the list proper, starting with...

20. Benjamin James - The Things You Keep From Me (Worship/Indie Folk)

Benjamin James is my favorite Christian artist, and he did not disappoint with this single. While his pop direction hasn't been as compelling for me as his purely folk stuff, this song is still great. The hook is memorable, and the production, while very poppy, is still compelling and enjoyable. So yeah, great song, and I can't wait to see what this guy does next.

19. Of Monsters and Men - Alligator (Indie Rock/Pop)

While I wasn't crazy about the new Of Monsters and Men record, this song hooked me. The verses got me interested initially, but when the chorus comes in, magic happens. It's distinctly poppy, but the hook is so good that I don't care. It's a very likable track that I've come back to throughout the year and remains a favorite of mine. What a banger.

18. Badflower - The Jester (Alternative Rock/Emo)

Easily one of the best new bands in the rock scene, Badflower impressed me with their debut album, Ok, I'm Sick, and this was a clear standout. The lyric writing is solid and tells a good story, and it's addictive. While the musicianship isn't mind-blowing, it didn't have to be. It's still really good instrumentally and catchy, with solid guitar licks, but the lyrics particularly grab me. Great song, and I can't wait to see what these guys do next.

OK, time to blow your minds by putting a song on here you've heard a million times.

17. Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road (Country Trap)

Oh, how I love this stupid song. It's so silly, but I enjoy listening to it too much. This song has an irresistible chorus and Billy Ray's verse is actually kinda great? Seriously, it has grit to it, especially the second half. I know it's a novelty song, but I don't care; It proves memes are art and that anyone can make a good hit song. You've all probably heard it already, but I've still left the link, so feel free to listen to it again.

16. Demon Hunter - The Negative (Christian Metalcore)

While I loved the new Benjamin James single, Demon Hunter really struck a chord with me with The Negative, a song from their album War. This song is so aggressive to start, but the way it moves to the chorus melody is engaging, and the lyrics are solid, as they talk about how many people are stuck in a negative space of mind. It's a unique take, and the instrumental takes you along the journey. Best Christian song of the year, and a favorite of mine. Check it out, it rocks.

15. Harry Styles - She (Soft Rock/Glam Rock)

I know this song came out recently, but I love it so much. It's easily one of Harry's best songs to date, and is why I'm glad he was able to get away from One Direction. This song has a great hook, and is slower paced, but the instrumentation is engaging enough to keep you interested. However, what really puts this over is that guitar solo at the end, which is great and makes the song feel complete. This is what I wanted from this album, and I got it. Great stuff.

14. Oh, Sleeper - Fissure (Metalcore)

Wow, what a jam. Oh, Sleeper impressed me with this passionate piece of metalcore. It starts relentlessly, without a warning. The verse melody is harsh and memorable, as well as the bridge, which almost sounds like a mental breakdown, and that chorus is perfection. This is just a great metalcore, and you can tell effort was put in to make something great, and they succeeded. 

13. Mark Morton ft. Chester Bennington - Cross Off (Groove Metal/Metalcore)

This is it, the last single ever released to feature Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, and it's fantastic. Chester sounds awesome as he did back in the day, and Mark Morton's guitar riffs are great. This is both his and Chester's track, as you can tell both put plenty of effort into this track. It can make you feel a bit sad, as this is probably Chester Bennington's last single after his passing 2 years ago, but this song slays. Just great!

12. Chasms - Shadow (Dream Pop)

Here's an underrated gem. Chasms' album The Mirage struck a chord with me, and this song is a big reason why. It's so mellow, but consistently interesting and atmospheric. It really is a beautiful song, and while long at 7 minutes, kept my interest all the way through. It's definitely slow and maybe a little too "atmospheric" for some people, but this song is right up my alley. Great stuff.

11. Sum 41 - Out For Blood (Alternative Metal/Punk)

If you would've told me that Sum 41 would release a politically charged metal-tinged record this year, I wouldn't have believed you, but they did and it was awesome. Out For Blood in particular is vicious with its heavy guitar riffs and the chorus that brings it into more pop punk territory, but even then, it sounds metal. This kind of thing was made for me, and I dig it! One of many great bangers from this album.

10. Moron Police - Captain Awkward (Progressive Rock)

Moron Police's album A Boat By The Sea was quirky and catchy, and this was the quirkiest and the catchiest to me. It's fun, but it's also complex and constantly engaging. The first vocal melody you hear is so strange, but it works so well with the upbeat, fun music. All of the different sections all feel connected and add to the song. I just love this track from the first time I heard it and I still do now. The album as a whole may have been too "sugary" for me, but this track connected with me big time.

9. Foals - In Degrees  (Alternative Dance)

Foals released two albums worth of really good material, so when one of the tracks makes this list, you know it's gotta be good, and yeah, this is really great. It's definitely got some new wave influence with the synths, and that bass line is undeniable. Then that chorus hits, and oh yeah, it all comes together. It's a little piece of alternative heaven, and there's no way this wasn't making the list. One of the most fun songs of the year!

8. The Hu - The Gereg (Mongolian Rock)

Yep, you read that write; Mongolian rock music, and it's awesome. This band combines rock instrumentation with traditional Mongolian instruments to great effect, and the title track from their new record is the perfect example of this. The traditional instrumentation adds both an epic effect and a new element of beauty in the verses, and the vocals sound great. I can't understand a word they're saying, since I don't speak Mongolian, but they sound great, so does it matter? Epic song.

7. Blink-182 - No Heart To Speak Of (Pop Rock/Pop Punk)

When Tom Delonge left Blink-182, everyone thought they would go downhill, but I knew they didn't once I heard this wonderful track. New vocalist Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio) absolutely rips in the chorus, which is one of the most investing choruses I've heard all year. Yeah, Mark Hoppus is on here too and sounds fine, but this proves that Skiba is a more than worthy replacement. It's definitely a song that won me over on their album Nine, and continues to be spun by me. Incredible stuff.

6. Billie Eilish - i love you (Pop)

I don't understand how someone couldn't think this song is beautiful. The simple guitar work is lovely, and Billie Eilish's vocals are wonderful, as are her brother Finneas' back vocals, which add so much to the song. The lyrics aren't overly complex, but they work very well. I don't know what else to say other than to listen to it. Billie's living up to her potential, and I couldn't be happier!

5. Tyler, The Creator - A Boy Is A Gun (Soul/Hip-Hop)

It was hard to pick a best song from IGOR, but I had to go with A Boy Is A Gun. I think proper context from the album is needed to get the full experience of this song (IGOR is a concept album in the most obvious way), but it's still great. The female vocals are great, and the production is absolute fire, and when heard in the album, those lyrics are effective as lyrics can be. Definitely listen to the whole album, but you can also listen to this individually. Love this.

4. The Damned Things - Invincible (Hard Rock/Pop Rock)

Wait, so members of Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, Alkaline Trio, made an album together? Yep, and it was awesome, and this was the best song on it. This track has melody, great riffs, and great lead work from Joe Trohman. Songs like this prove that him and Andy Hurley are wasted in Fall Out Boy these days, and they finally get those creative juices out here, and they're the standouts along with vocalist Keith Buckley. This song is pure fun and fueled by great musicians, so yeah, this is my rock song of the year. Amazing track. Check this out and the whole album as well.

3. Slipknot - A Liar's Funeral (Alternative Metal/Doom Metal)

This one is just brutal. The opening acoustic guitar riff and Corey Taylor's are beautifully mellow yet haunting, and when the electric guitars come in, it just takes off. It's absolutely face melting when Taylor screams "Burn the liar!", and dark. Just imagining that screamed at a concert gives me chills. It may not the most ferocious on their new album, but it's easily the darkest and arguably the best song on their entire career. Spine-chilling stuff.

2. Saor - Monadh (Atmospheric Black Metal/Celtic Folk)

As seen in this example and The Hu, I'm always down for a good genre crossover, and Saor does this blend perfectly. This track is both vicious and at the same time beautiful. I do really like atmospheric types of metal like this, and celtic folk adds to its beauty. The growled vocals bring that aggression in the middle section of the song, and then the outro happens, and its beauty shines once again. This sound is absolute perfection, and I can't wait to hear more from this band. Stuff like this brings so much out of me, and despite its 10 minute runtime, it's so rewarding.

Alright, time for number 1. This is the song that I kept coming back to over and over again, the song that I feel is the best 2019 has to offer, and well, that song is...

1. Tool - 7empest (Progressive Metal)

For me, no other song could take the number 1 spot. After multiple listens of Fear Inoculum, it was clear 7empest was gonna be my song of the year. It has everything I love; Heavy riffs, fantastic drumming, varied vocals, good lyrics, and a sense of both originally and nostalgia. This song is like traveling through Tool's discography all in a 15 minute epic; The opening riff is Undertow, the lyrics are 10,000 Days, the structure is Lateralus, and the vocals are Aenima. I love everything about this song, and there's nothing that's gonna take its place as the best song of 2019.

Well, that's the list. Hope you enjoyed reading and found some songs that you like. If you would like to have all the songs on a playlist, I made one of Spotify (Including the honorable mentions!) which you can click here to see. Thank you for reading! Bye. 

Spotify Wrapped: My Results and Thoughts

So, I really don't have anything planned for this blog except for reviewing The Rise of Skywalker when it comes out and counting down my Top 5 Movies of 2019 and my Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2019 (Which probably won't come out until the end of the month or the start of this year), so I'd figured I'd fill in the time with something else. In case you don't know what this is, Spotify does a yearly wrap-up where you get to view which artists you listened to the most, what songs you listened to the most, where a lot of the bands you listened to are from, etc. I'd figured I would talk about it, since I listen to music 3-4 hours a day, and I had some results that really surprised me. Let's get into it.

So, let's first talk about the artist I listened to the most in 2019, which is (Insert drumroll here)...

Weezer. Yeah, I was surprised by this, but I really shouldn't have been. They're on almost all of my playlists, they have a charm at their best that makes me never hit the skip button, and I regularly listen to their albums. I love this band, despite their shortcomings in 2019 with both The Black Album and The Teal Album, and I'm looking forward to their next release, Van Weezer (I'm not making this up; It's real). Also, if you're wondering, my most listened to song by the band this year was Hash Pipe. That was also not a surprise for me, since it, once again, makes the cut in many of my playlists and it's one of my favorite Weezer songs. So, while Weezer isn't my all-time favorite band (Even though they're up their in my favorites list), this isn't surprising to me in retrospect.

So now that we've touched upon my number, let's move onto the top 5, shall we?

So, this is my top 5 artists of 2019 by listens. We've already talked about Weezer, so I won't touch on that any further. Instead, let's talk about my number 2, Deftones. Honestly, this is the band I originally expect to be number 1. I listen to them when I need to calm down with tracks like Sextape and especially Entombed, when I want to scream my head off with Elite and Rats!Rats!Rats!, and just whenever I want to listen to music. I regularly play their albums, in particular Koi No Yokan, fairly regularly, and you can almost guarantee at least a song or two from them will make any of my playlists. This isn't much of a surprise and I'm glad they're here. They're one of my top 5 favorite bands and they've helped me through a lot.

So, next up is Skillet. I'm surprised they made this list, especially since they cracked the top 3. I guess it was from the streams of my favorite songs from their last album, Victorious (We'll get to that when we get to top 10 most streamed songs). I also enjoy listening to them when I want to blast some modern rock, and they're a childhood favorite of mine, so they have a nostalgic factor to them as well. I'm not upset that they're here, since I do really like them and I thought Victorious was a decent comeback for them after the bland and boring Unleashed, so this isn't the worst pick ever, but I'm just surprised. That's all.

Number 4 is no surprise to me; It's Rush. If you know me, you know this is my all-time favorite band. They're incredibly talented musicians, great songwriters, and their live shows were amazing. Rush is one of those bands I consistently listen to, and albums like Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, 2112, Clockwork Angels, and Power Windows are ones that I always put on for whatever mood. They also have a lot of variety in their 19 album discography, ranging from hard rock (Counterparts, Clockwork Angels) to progressive craziness (Hemispheres, A Farewell to Kings) or even progressive pop and new wave (Signals, Power Windows), so there's at least a few songs for any mood that I'm in, so I'm not surprised that they're here, but I am surprised they're not higher.

Number 5 is the real shocker: Blink-182. You wanna know why? Because, save for a few songs from Enema of the State, I really only listened to their latest Nine this year consistently, and I didn't realized how much I listened to it, and while I did listen to it a lot (Spoiler alert for this year's best list: I really like that album), the fact that I listened to it enough to scratch the top 5 really caught me off guard. I do think they deserve it this year though; Like I said, I really enjoyed Nine, and they proved their fans wrong by delivering a really solid album after the departure of original member Tom Delonge and after the bland pop tune Blame It On My Youth. There's a lot to offer on Nine, and I'd recommend check it out, it's good stuff.

As for acts I expect to get in, the biggest one that surprised me is Tool. I loved Fear Inoculum and listened to it constantly when it came out, and that's a super long album with almost all the songs running 10 minutes plus (I listened to many of the song individually as well), so that would add to the stream time. I also listened to quite a bit of their older material, particularly stuff from Aenima and Lateralus that was also pretty lengthy. If there's a number 6, if it isn't these guys, I'm shocked. Audioslave would also be pretty high. I listen to tracks like Cochise, Like A Stone, and Be Yourself all the time, and they're pretty high up there too. Billie Eilish also gets quite a few streams from me, and while I didn't expect her to make it, she's pretty high up there in terms of artists I listened to this year.

So, let's talk about my top 5 genres before getting into some shockers with the top 10 songs list.

Most of this isn't too surprising to me. Rock music being number 1? No surprise here. Rock is overall my favorite genre of music, and acts like Rush, AC/DC, and Foo Fighters all elevated this to number 1. Number 2 is alternative metal, and this isn't overly surprising either. Some of the heavier acts I enjoyed this year like Slipknot, Tool, and Demon Hunter got the big plays from me, so this is a pretty expected for me. Number 3 is modern rock, and I'm fairly surprised this isn't number 2. I'm always looking out for new rock acts so I can support them, and acts like Ice Nine Kills, Saint Asonia, Starset, and The Damned Things all had songs that I streamed regularly, so it's surprising that this isn't higher. Pop is number 4, which is no surprise because, even though there are few pop acts that I truly love, when I discover one, I can't stop listening to them. Billie Eilish was the big one this year, but Lorde also got quite a few streams, because I'm a big fan of hers, and there's certainly others to mention, but those are the two big ones. Metalcore being number 5 is a similar situation to pop, where when I discover an act in that genre I love, I can't stop listening to them. Demon Hunter's heavier material and Oh, Sleeper had some songs that were fantastic and consistently were listened to by me, but there's only a select few acts, so it just scratching the top 5 is no surprise to me.

Okay, last but not least, let's discuss my top 10 most streamed songs of 2019!

I know you can only somewhat see the album covers here, but I'll tell you what these songs are. Number 1 is Reach by Skillet. I expected this to make the top 10, but I don't know how it got to number 1. I did listen to it regularly, but I didn't realize how regularly. This isn't even my favorite song from Victorious, even though I actually do really like it. I think the chorus is catchy and it's overall an enjoyable experience, but number 1 most streamed? That's shocking to me.

Number 2... Not so much. Invincible by The Damned Things is my favorite track from their album High Crimes; The rhythm section is fun and subtly complex, the chorus is catchy, the lyrics keep things interesting enough, and it's addictive. A great song, and I'm happy that it's here.

Number 3 is somewhat surprising to me, which is Diamond Eyes by Deftones, which is my most streamed song not realized in 2019. I do love this song; The guitars are suitably heavy, the chorus soars, and it's easily one of Deftones best tracks period. I did listen to this a lot, but if it even made it in, I expected it to be somewhere in the 8-10 range, not in the top 3. I'm not upset by this, but it is interesting.

Number 4 is Darkside  by Blink-182. This is no surprise to me, because I streamed the crap out of this song when I first heard it. Sure, it's not the deepest song out there, but you can't tell me that it's not super fun. It's a good pop-rock jam that's got one heck of a hook and, like Invincible, it's addictive and keeps you coming back for more. Well deserved and unsurprising.

Number 5 is one I did not expect to reach the top 10, that being Swerve City by Deftones. This is another one not realized in 2019 (This is from 2012), and it's the opener to my favorite Deftones album, Koi No Yokan. The song grabs you right away with the heavy, but simple guitar riff, and the bass riff in the verses (It's a bit buried, but when you hear it, you'll realize you found an underrated bass line), and then chorus comes in, and it sells you. It's one of my favorite songs from one my favorite album, and one I'm happy made the list, even when I wasn't expecting it. Great song.

Number 6 is another Deftones song from Koi No Yokan, Entombed. I'm honestly shocked that both Swerve City and Diamond Eyes are higher than this, because this is my all-time favorite Deftones track. The beautiful guitar riff, the simple but entrancing lyrics, and that chorus top off a beautiful song. I listen to this track when I need to calm down, and it's so effective. It's soothing, but just heavy enough to keep you awake. Beautiful stuff, and I'm surprised this didn't crack the top 3. Amazing song.

Number 7 is another song from The Damned Things, that being Omen. This is a slower song, but it's still got bluesy groove and it's one of the heavier cuts from High Crimes. That groove grabs you immediately and the chorus makes it itself distinct, but still follows that awesome groove. This shows the variety in this band; When you have a band that has members of Fall Out Boy, Anthrax, Every Time I Die, and Alkaline Trio, you know you're gonna have a whole lot of creativity going on, and this proves it. I streamed this one a lot, particularly near the beginning of the year, and this placing makes me happy, but it's also unexpected. Another great Damned Things banger.

Number 8 is another Skillet song, this being Finish Line, once again from Victorious. This is definitely one of the more modern tracks on the album, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it at first, but I really dig it now. It feels like a hard rock version of Imagine Dragons done well; The production is nice and heavy, the groove is nice, and the chorus is catchy. Definitely radio-friendly, but in a good way. Not surprised this is here, because for a while, I was addicted to this. This is solid stuff, and this isn't a bad place for it.

Number 9 is Spider by Slipknot, which is surprisingly enough the only Slipknot song on this list. I expected Unsainted, Birth of the Cruel, or even the deep cut Critical Darling to make it, but I guess this makes sense since it's easily the catchiest on the album. The chorus and industrial vibes I get from this song make it worth the dark, twisted ride it sends you on. It's a bizarre cut from the record, but one of the album's most experimental and effective moments. It took a couple listens to get used to, but I love this now. I'm happy it's here, and surprised it's not higher. It's that good.

Number 10 is Save Me by Skillet. Again, no surprise here and I'm surprised it's not the highest ranking on the album. I got super excited when this realized because this is what I wanted from Skillet; The haunting piano, the crunchy, 2000s era guitar sound, an effective chorus, and a solo that takes me back to the Collide era. This is great, and I hope to hear Skillet to more like this in the future.

So, that was a look at my Spotify wrapped. If you want to look at yours, you can here. Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I was surprised by some of these picks. Look forward to my end of the year list and have a Merry Christmas. Bye.

Star Wars Movies Ranked

Well, my Star Wars hype is in full swing, so why not rank all the Star Wars movies? This is a franchise that is important to me, and has been for almost 15 years now. With The Rise of Skywalker coming out in less than two months (I'm so excited!), let's get started with my least favorite Star Wars film.

10. Attack of the Clones

With every Star Wars movie, there's at least a couple of scenes that I find enjoyable or interesting, except this movie. Attack of the Clones is boring, has aged poorly, and features horrible writing. The dialogue here (I don't like sand) is either bland or horrendous in execution. Like, wow. I know Star Wars hasn't had the best dialogue ever, but it's really bad here. The love story is horrible and actually kind of creepy because of Anakin's actions and his facial expressions, as well as the mediocre at best acting. It also doesn't help that the other plots going on are boring and not even the action and visual effects are up to par (It doesn't help that 90% of your movie is poorly aged CGI). I will say Ewan Mcgregor and Christopher Lee were trying their best, but even they can't save this movie. This is just a really bad movie, and a film that fails to be even interestingly bad.

9. Revenge of the Sith

So... This is head and heels above the other Prequels? Oh, I don't think so. The best thing to come out of this movie is two things: 1. The memes (I love Prequel memes in general) and 2. The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. The Darth Plagueis scene is genuinely well acted, and it adds to the Star Wars mythos with an interesting story. Besides that, John Williams' score is great as always, Ewan Mcgregor and Ian Mcdiarmid are good, and I guess a select few of the visuals have aged well? Besides that, this movie sucks. Anakin's turn to the dark side feels rushed (I know the Clone Wars TV show developed it further, but it should also be developed in the movie), the lightsaber battles don't do much for me, the dialogue is laughably bad (That's why the memes are so good), and most of all, while less so than Attack of the Clones, it's boring. These characters are ones I don't care about, even the ones where the actors are giving it their all. They're underdeveloped and have almost no good material to work with. I know a lot of movie love this movie, and if you do, that's great. I just can't stand this movie.

8. The Phantom Menace

While I still don't like this movie, I'm actually a bit more forgiving for The Phantom Menace. I can tell George Lucas was trying to make something different, but it just didn't work out. There are some good things, like the epic lightsaber duel at the end, the score, Liam Nesson and Ewan Mcgregor, and the pod racing scene. These are things that I can come back to and get enjoyment out of, but there's not much else. Jar Jar and Anakin are really unlikable and annoying; They're written poorly and the actors are simply not very good. Darth Maul looks cool, but he's got no character. He's just a vaguely threatening devil-looking dude. It's a pretty bad movie, but it had good ideas that I can appreciate, but it just isn't very good.

7. Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo is one of the rare new Star Wars movies that isn't divisive. Most people either think it's pretty good or meh, and well, I think it's pretty good. The main things I enjoyed were Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, who did a commendable job recreating Harrison Ford's performance (There were a couple of moments that were so on point that I started smiling), Donald Glover as Lando (I think everyone expected that), and the score by John Powell, which was energetic and Star Wars-like, yet different enough to distinguish itself from the films of the past. My main issue with the film is with its story, which is really bare-bones and simplistic, even by Star Wars standards, and it forces in most of Han's stories (His blaster, his last name, etc.) in this movie when they really didn't need to be answered. As a whole, it's enjoyable, but nothing special. What's more interesting is its production history (google it if you don't know what happened), and the fact that it actually turned out decent.

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One is another movie with an interesting production history. Apparently the original film was a lot darker, so Disney decided to undertake massive reshoots and alter director Gareth Edwards' vision. The product was actually really solid, but somewhat flawed. What I don't like about the movie is some of the pacing in the first half being kinda choppy, and some of these characters, while fine, feel underdeveloped and lacking. That being said, the third act is phenomenal. It's everything you want in a third act; Thrilling action, great tension, and stunning visuals. Darth Vader's scene at the end is one of the best in the saga, and the the cinematography feels massive in scale, like Gareth Edwards' Godzilla movie. I would want to see Edwards' cut just to know what it's like, but the film we got was solid nonetheless.

5. Return of the Jedi

While easily the weakest of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi is still a lot of fun. The first act in Jabba's palace, while convoluted, is a good way to kickstart the film. The next two acts are full of highlights as well, like anything with the Emperor, the final battle on Endor as goofy as it is, the space battle at the second Death Star, and the final lightsaber duel between Vader and Luke. My main issue with the film is that it feels somewhat disjointed. There's not much to hold together the battle on Endor from the space battle and Luke vs. Vader. There's definitely enjoyment here, but it is a flawed film. Still great, but definitely not perfect.

4.  The Force Awakens

Is The Force Awakens similar to A New Hope? Absolutely, but boy, is it fun! J.J. Abrams brought a new life to the saga with The Force Awakens, which introduces both great new characters, like Rey, Finn, and especially Kylo Ren, and reintroduces the old cast successfully. Rey and Finn are wonderful characters that feel unique and have great chemistry. I really enjoy their character arcs and their interactions with Han Solo, who's also great in this movie. I know the similarities to previous movies are obvious, but they didn't bother me that much, except for Starkiller Base, which feels kinda like lazy writing to me. Besides though, it's a great reintroduction to the franchise.

3. The Last Jedi

Here it is, the internet's least favorite movie. Does it have problems? Yes. Some of the pacing's distracting, the Canto Bight plot's pretty meh, and there's some corny dialogue. That being said, I love The Last Jedi. Everything with Luke, Kylo, and Rey is pure gold. Rey's interactions with both Kylo Ren and Luke are interesting and build character, especially with Kylo Ren, who steals this movie. Adam Driver gives an exceptional performance, as do Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill. Luke's character arc makes sense to me. He reacted on impulse (a la almost killing Vader at the end of ROTJ), but it was just a fleeting thought and he ignored his teaching (Like in Empire). The fight scene with Snoke's guards is incredible and easily one of the best in the series, Poe's arc is a nice addition, and the part where the ship runs into the enemy ship at light speed is just awesome. Luke coming back at the final battle is awesome, and is a creative way to end the movie. So yeah, there's a lot to love, although it definitely is flawed, more so than The Force Awakens in my opinion. That being said, the high's here are higher than that film, and they are able to make me ignore some of its shortcomings.

2. A New Hope

Ah yes, the original Star Wars movie. What else is there to say about it? It's got great characters, a classic story line, the cast is great, and the film itself is a blast. There's not much I can add to the conversation that's already been said. It's an undeniable film classic, and while it's not as "modern" as the new stuff, it works so well. So yeah, amazing movie.

1. Empire Strikes Back

As great as A New Hope is, there's no topping Empire Strikes Back in my head. This is one of the greatest films ever made, and it's aged very well. It's the prime example on how to do a sequel; Give the characters tougher challenges, give them a sense of hopelessness, and make the story different. This movie does everything right, and nothing wrong. Even the special editions of the original trilogy didn't make this one any worse, because George Lucas can recognize a masterpiece when he sees it. Just a film classic.

George Lucas' Sequel Trilogy Outlines Thrown Out: My Thoughts

Just as I released my piece on why Star Wars fans are absolutely horrible, this news comes out and the fan base goes nuts. So, let's do a quick summary, shall we?

So basically, Disney CEO Bob Iger released a book about his time as Disney, and released some interesting tidbits about Disney's Lucasfilm acquisition back in 2012. So, when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, George Lucas himself gave Disney outlines for a Star Wars sequel trilogy, with the hopes that Disney would adapt them. Disney even bought those outlines from Lucas, and he didn't merely hand them over. However, once the meetings for the story of Episode VII (aka The Force Awakens) took place, Lucas was present and what they had in mind was far away from his ideas, and he ultimately was disappointed and possibly betrayed by the lack of originality that Disney brought to the table.

Before we get into my thoughts, let's get into why some Star Wars fans are mad about this. First of all, it disrespects George Lucas; They should have stuck with Lucas' drafts because they were more original and they were overall better than The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Add to that Lucas is Star Wars' creator, and they should follow what he thinks is right for Star Wars, and second, Lucas wanted these made, and he should have all rights in order to make that happen.

Okay, so now that we've got that out of the way, I'll start with Lucas has every right to feel disappointed. After Disney bought his drafts, he may have been confident that they would adapt them, at least most of it, anyway, and that never came to be. I can imagine that would make you feel defeated after you spent time coming up with new, creative ideas. We already knew this from interviews he did back around 2016, but this just reiterates that it's acceptable (His white slavers comment back then was completely unnecessary though). However, with that being said, I don't see this as a betrayal to George Lucas.

While it may seem on the surface that Disney smacked Lucas in the face by buying his outlines and not using them, this was never a guarantee that they would buy them. In fact, Iger specifically said in his book that the Lucasfilm buying contract that they may use Lucas' ideas in future movies, but they WEREN'T forced to adapt them. I'm sure Lucas was aware of this, and he knew it was a possibility from the get-go. However, I think he was very confident his ideas would come to life and they just didn't. This kind of thing happens all the time in Hollywood; Ideas are thrown out because of a change of directors, writers, and producers who want to make something different. Lucas' ideas from my understanding were more out there and weird, while The Force Awakens was a safe movie to draw back Star Wars fans, and The Last Jedi, while different, still definitely felt like a Star Wars movie and had plenty of similarities to previous installments. I know a few of Lucas' ideas and honestly, I think they would've been hated on, even more than Disney's Star Wars has. I'm serious. I don't care for what I've heard, it doesn't feel very Star Wars to me. Could the execution made it good? Possibly, but I don't think it would've brought people back to Star Wars like The Force Awakens did.

Speaking of Lucas' outlines, people said they would've been better because they're different and would've been better. Just because something's different doesn't make it good. The Prequel Trilogy was different, but upon release, it was hated by fans (Don't @ me, prequel fans. Look up online forums at that time). It's gotten more praise with time, but many of those fans are people who grew up with them (That's why there's why more Prequel defenders now) and while many of those who hated them at the time may have warmed up to them, they are the reason Star Wars is owned by Disney. Lucas never made his Sequel Trilogy because of the hate they received. That's why Disney played it safe with the first film and saved the bolder, more original film for its sequel; It's familiar and brimming with nostalgic callbacks, and once audiences were invested, they made a second one that brought new ideas to the franchise, and it's hated onto death. I guarantee you if Lucas made The Last Jedi, it would've been hated on just as much, if not more. Fans would've said Lucas ruined Luke Skywalker and that Star Wars is dead because of him, not Disney. Think about it, and the hate the people involved with the Sequel Trilogy faced. This would've been no different.

So, those are my thoughts on this. Iger said he wished he would've handled this situation better, and maybe that's why Lucas felt betrayed. Still, I don't see this as a bad thing. Massive Hollywood productions like these movies go through multiple drafts, ideas are thrown around everywhere, and this were just ideas that Lucasfilm may have taken inspiration from for these new movies, but they were ultimately thrown out. If Lucas made his films, they would've been hated on just as much. That's just how the Star Wars fan base is, even if they were genuinely good movies. While I understand Lucas' frustration, he knew that this could happen. He has every right to be disappointed, but that's just Hollywood. Films evolve throughout production, and this was just an example of that.

Ad Astra - Movie Review

So, I haven't reviewed a movie on here in over 4 months. Honestly, it seems like this has just become Zay's Music Blog, but the reason for that is I haven't too many movies recently. I saw Spider-Man: Far From Home, which was really good (Probably a B+), but I didn't feel the need to review it because I didn't have a whole lot to say about it. I was on the fence about doing It Chapter 2, which was decent (Probably a B, maybe a B- on a bad day) and I had enough to say for a review, but at the same time, I was working on a couple other projects on here and I didn't have room for it. So, with that out of the way, I wanted to review something special, something that I feel deserves a review, and well, I found it. This is Ad Astra.

Ad Astra is directed by James Grey and stars Brad Pitt and is a movie set in an unspecified time in the near future. It's about Pitt's character, Roy, an astronaut, as he travels through space to find his father, whose experiments deep in space may have earth shattering consequences. So, I heard about this movie through people on Twitter saying everyone should see it because they didn't want it to bomb, like some modern space movies have (First Man for example). Reviews were strong for this one, but after I got home from seeing it, the audience reaction was pretty mixed, and I think I know why; It's the advertising of the film. The TV spots released before the film tease a fast paced, action-heavy space thriller, and that's not what this film is. It has a couple of those elements, but this movie is a slow-paced character study that involves space travel, and it's a shame that the reaction's are like this because for what this movie's going for, it's great.

What holds this movie together is two main things; The cinematography and Brad Pitt's performance. This movie looks absolutely stunning. The use of color, lighting, and camera movement make space feel massive and endless, as it is. This is the kind of film that has to be seen on the big screen to really understand what I mean. If you wait to see this film on your TV screen, you're really missing out on what the cinematography has to offer.

Now, let's talk about Brad Pitt. This man is incredible in this movie. His performance is subtle, but incredibly effective. If you pay close attention to his character, there are little things with his posture and facial expressions that make his character's progressive and emotion throughout the film makes his character very compelling and relatable. He definitely deserves high recognition for his performance and I wouldn't be surprised if he got an Oscar nomination for this role. 

I also really dug the themes of this movie. Going into them in full detail may be spoiler territory, so I'll be as vague as possible, but if I spoil something, you can't say you weren't warned.

This film touches on learning from your mistakes and having to deal with that. It ties in well to the plot, especially in the third act, and it adds emotion to the story. The way it's presented is not too much in your face and is more of something that's implied for the most part.

However, that's where my main problem with the movie comes in. While most of the storytelling is visual and subtle, there is narration used throughout the film to spell out certain elements of the plot. Sometimes it's necessary because Roy is a quiet character, but there are moments where it affects emotion that could've otherwise been shown through Pitt's performance or other storytelling techniques. It gets unnecessarily distracting, particularly in a couple scenes where the film lost potential impact.

With that being said, this movie is still a well-made and unique film. For those who like their slower paced sci-fi that makes you think, this is right up your alley. Pitt's performance and the cinematography alone make the theater experience worthwhile, and there's more than that here. This is sure to end up as one of my favorite movies of the year and it gets a strong recommendation from me.

Grade: A-

Star Wars: The Toxicity Beyond

Ah, Star Wars. So many memories attached for so many of us, and it's easily of the most recognizable names in the history in cinema and pop culture. It's my favorite franchise of all time, and while it's had its bumps and bruises, there's so much good in this series that I and many others can't deny. However, there's something that I can't get over; The fanbase. While there are definitely individuals who are respectable, there are people out there who spread hate because they either want to or because a movie didn't do what they wanted. To delve further into why I hate the Star Wars fanbase, let's start with the beginning of the sequel trilogy.

The year is 2015. The hype for The Force Awakens is in full swing. Everyone's excited, even people who generally don't care for Star Wars. I know what that was like; At that point, everyone around me and everyone online was just talking about this movie. Then it came out, and for about a week, everyone was raving about it. Everyone was saying that it revitalized the Star Wars franchise and how it was just a blast of fun. Then, the hate came in. They kept on saying that Star Wars was ruined by director J.J. "Jar Jar" Abrams because it was uninspired and just a rehash of A New Hope. While there are valid complaints to be had with this movie, I found it to be a very energized film, with just enough differences from A New Hope to keep it interesting, and it introduced Rey and Kylo Ren, who are two of my favorite characters in this franchise to date. Like I said, there are valid complaints with this movie; Starkiller Base does feel uninspired and just another Darth Star and there are a couple scenes that feel a bit forced or silly, but even then, what J.J. Abrams brought to the table here was entertaining, fast paced, and vibrant. Sure, it wasn't overly original, but Return of the Jedi wasn't either, and that movie's still well liked, even if it is generally considered the weakest of the original trilogy. The toxicity got pretty bad a little while after release, but not to the point where it hindered my love for Star Wars; I was very excited for what was coming next, and that was Rogue One. Most people liked it well enough, and there wasn't a lot of hate surrounding it. I liked it a lot, albeit not as much as Force Awakens, but it was still great. However, what came next would be the breaking point for me.

The Last Jedi. These spark a fire fueled by rage in any comment section, website, or basically anywhere on the internet. When this movie came out, it was immediately meant by a storm of hatred towards director Rian Johnson, anyone who worked at Lucasfilm, and anyone who starred in it. In fact, it got so bad that Kelly Marie Tran, who portrayed Rose in the film, left Instagram because she was getting constant racist and rude comments, as well as death threats, and whenever you clicked on any post on Rian Johnson's Twitter account, no matter if it was Star Wars related or not, there would be people telling him to get away from Star Wars and that he needed to retire from directing in general. It got even worse when Solo came out a mere 5 months later and bombed at the box office, leading fans to conclude that the brand was dead. Okay, let's get this out of the way; Just because you didn't like a movie doesn't mean to have to harass anyone and everyone involved in its production. I don't care for musicals, but if I where to see a musical production and then crap on everyone involved on Twitter, that's only going to hurt people and potentially their mental health, and make you look like an idiot in the process. Also, while Solo was a massive box office bomb, it wasn't caused by The Last Jedi, at least not entirely; People simply weren't interested in the film. It was a film that didn't need to be made, and while it was received decently, it was considered inessential by both hardcore Star Wars fans and general viewers. The fact that it also didn't have the star power of Harrison Ford didn't help either, as I'm sure many people wouldn't accept a new Han Solo. Add to that massive production costs due to original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller being fired during production and 70 plus percent of the film being reshot, and this movie bombing was inevitable. 

With that out of the way, how good or bad is The Last Jedi? Well, I have a controversial opinion; The Last Jedi is actually great. I found the character arcs in this movie extremely compelling, especially Luke's, which was a massive point of division. Luke's not the Luke you saw at end at the original trilogy, but it's been 30 years plus since that film in the timeline, and the reason why he changed makes sense. He failed to bring the evil out from Ben Solo like he did with his father, and that would have a big impact on him, and the scene where he's fighting Kylo at the end of the film is a fantastic resolution to his character arc, and his death scene felt satisfying to me. Rey and Kylo's force connections scenes are great as well. You can feel the tension between these two, as well as the sympathy they have towards each other. Heck, I don't mind the Canto Bight sequence. Sure, the horse escape scene was stupid, but I really like the message and it's only 11 minutes long, and it was never boring to me. Sure, it's the weakest plot in the film, but I enjoyed it well enough.

I also like Poe's arc here. It's actually one of my favorite parts of the movie, as it feels natural and earned. I don't think it's talked about enough. His transformation from "Destroy this, destroy that" to realizing the difference between having to do that and when to think differently is compelling and genuine.

I won't dwell too long on my thoughts on the movie; I liked this a lot, dare I say it's my favorite Disney Star Wars movie. Do I understand some of the complaints? Absolutely. Some of the pacing feels uneven and there are some silly moments, but as a whole, this movie is rich, different, and unexpected. A lot of the hate has to do with the movie not being what people expected, and that's really sad to me. Can they not appreciate the visual effects, the acting, the new ideas, and the surprises? Let me say this; You can absolutely dislike this movie. That's fine, and it sucks if you didn't like it, but don't hate it just because you wanted the vision you saw in your head. Like I said, there are legitimate reasons to not care for this film, just don't go bullying the people involved on social media. 

So, where are we now? Well, at the time this is written, it's been almost 2 years since The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker is just about 3 months away, and the fanbase has only gotten worse. I thought there would be a cool down period between Solo and The Rise of Skywalker, but nope. The rumors that Skywalker's a failure because they're still tweaking the movie is bullcrap because that's what J.J. Abrams does with all his movies, people saying this movie's going to bomb because The Last Jedi sucked have no weight because people didn't like Attack of the Clones or The Phantom Menace because Revenge of the Sith made a killing at the box office, and this feels no different to me with the exception that the internet's a thing and people can be vocal. Sure, Solo bombed, but that film was not seen as essential. That's it, really. I think most of these rumors are started by people who want it to fail, and honestly, while I think these rumors have little to no legitimacy, it makes it harder to get hyped for Star Wars going forward. I don't want to be in a fanbase that hates their franchise more than everyone else, and that's all I see everywhere. Like I said at the beginning of this post, there are reasonable Star Wars fans out there, but their voices are drowned out by this blatant toxicity within the fanbase that's only gotten worse with time. So, if you had no clue about this toxicity in the Star Wars fanbase, please continue to stay away from it best you can, and if you are a part of this fanbase and want reasonable discussion, I feel you. Maybe someday it will get better. 

Mini Albums Reviews: June 2019 to August 2019

Alright, time for mini reviews. This time, we'll be covering 8 albums from 8 different artists that I felt were worth talking about. Keep in mind this isn't everything I heard, and I reviewed two other albums in full length released in this time frame (Skillet's Victorious and Tool's Fear Inoculum), so those will not be covered here. If you want to know my thoughts, please check out my reviews of those albums. With that being said, let's get started with an album that'll give you one heck of a wake-up.

Oh, Sleeper - Bloodied/Unbowed

Metalcore band Oh, Sleeper return after a recording hiatus of 8 years to hopefully deliver a welcome comeback. I wasn't familiar with these guys before these album came out, and after checking out this record, I definitely need to, because this was really good. This album is filled with great lyric writing and striking technical guitar riffs. The opening track Let It Wave is one of the strongest here, as it shows off how good of a lyricist their unclean singer is with lines like "If all your heroes are martyrs, shouldn't you be the same?" and "The flag is more than a symbol... I live to die in its shadow". Fissure is an absolute barn burner from the opening second that is absolutely superb, as all the lyrics on the track are fantastic, the chorus is infectious, and the band's backing them up well. The low growls on Decimation and Burial are fantastic, Two Ships starts out like a ballad and it's pretty, but then it explodes in the second half rather unexpectedly, and it works startlingly well, and Oxygen has a great chord change in the chorus that makes a decent song a great one. I well say that this record is not paced the best in the best manner. They choose ballad The Summit as the album's closing track, and I'm not sure that was the best choice. It's a good song, but it doesn't give the ending the punch that it needed.  Two Ships, while I also like that track a lot, also comes out of nowhere. There's no warning, and all of a sudden you're dropped into a song that's very slow, and it feels a bit awkward. Some of the clean choruses also sound kind of similar to one another in parts and it gave me a bit of a hard time distinguishing the tracks. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives. I still give this album a strong recommendation, despite some of its shortcomings. If you're into metalcore, definitely check this out. This is one of the genres strongest albums this year.

Grade: B+

Moron Police - A Boat on the Sea

So, I heard about this album from my favorite music reviewer, The Rock Critic. He all of a sudden dropped a review of this album no one had ever heard of, and he gave it his highest of recommendations. I listen to it, and yeah, it's really good. This has a unique sound, a mix of progressive rock with some pop elements and even saxophone. It's a very fun, sugary sound that has intricate composition and catchy hooks. Tracks like The Invisible King and especially Captain Awkward (One of my favorite songs of the year) have strong production and great performances, but are also pretty accessible for those who don't want potentially unusual structure and just want a fun track. It's really a record that has something for everyone, and I appreciate that. However, the sound does get a little too sugary for me as it goes on. It's like eating a little sugar compared to a lot. A little sugar is delicious and is a nice treat every once in a while, but having too much sugar eventually makes you feel bloated and tired, and while this album doesn't get to a point where it gets annoying or tiring (It's a mere 32 minutes), it is a bit much for me. However, that's a personal preference and I still enjoy listening to this. Not an album of the year contender or anything, but I could totally see why this could be someone else's.

Grade: B

Lil Nas X - 7

Yes, we're covering the guy who did Old Town Road's EP. Why am I covering this? Because this is genuinely pretty decent. There, I said it. Sure, it isn't great, but this is a fun little release and also unexpected to some degrees. Old Town Road is awesome, no matter how much of a novelty it is. It's just got a unique charm to it that never makes it get old to me. There's also a lot of other songs that are enjoyable. Panini is a fun little trap jam, even if it is way too short and it's nothing out of the ordinary. F9mily and Bring U Down are legitimate pop rock songs (No, I'm not joking) that are surprisingly really fun and likable, and C7osure is a great closer (Pun unintended) that closes the album on an emotional note (I don't count the original Old Town Road). This isn't perfect, however; There are two main issues I have with this project. First of all, I appreciate Lil Nas X branched out into other genres, but it shows he still hasn't truly found his identity as an artist yet, and it makes the EP feel somewhat disjointed in areas. The second issue I have is that this feels rushed, because it was. Sure, these songs are good for the most part, but what could've made them great is more time spent developing them. I'm sure the artist is not to blame here, but rather the label after Old Town Road became such a phenomenon. Still, I see potential for Lil Nas X here, despite the issues I may have with this release. I'm hoping he's more than just a one-hit wonder, because he's got talent, but I see this EP as a mere taste of what's to come, and here's hoping whatever's next is truly great.

Grade: B- or B (Depends on how generous I'm being)

Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!

This one had a lot of hype around it, and by a lot, I mean A LOT. Even people who aren't fans of Lana Del Rey's music were hyped due to the singles such as Mariners Apartment Complex and Venice Bitch, which actually got me interested in this album as well. I've had no experience with Lana's music until now, and I do see the appeal of it. Her voice is very soothing, and the music is very pretty, shown on the title track and Mariners Apartment Complex, which open the album on a very good note and show that this album has a very calming but emotional vibe, and, well, it's complicated for me. You see, this is a record that is refined and well written with excellent production, but for me, it feels bloated. This record is 14 tracks and 67 minutes long, which is long and a lot to take in. While an album like Tool's Fear Inoculum (Which actually came out the same day) is an even longer record that has constantly different and interesting songwriting with basically every song, this record has a lot of tracks that blend together, and even if I really liked listening to them, they often faded from my memory pretty quickly. After those first three tracks, which are very solid, The Next Best American Record is the only song that stands out pretty well, but that's about it. Besides that, it's just drowning in similar piano notes and lyrical themes that don't feel very distinct to me. If this record was 40 to 50 minutes long, I'd be more forgiving, but the fact that this record has 14 tracks and I can only imagine revisiting 4 of them makes me feel rather disappointed. I'm still more positive than I am negative, since there's nothing offensive or even bad on here, it just could've been better. That's all.

Grade: B-

Plugs of Apocalypse - Stay

So, this was a random record I found while watching a YouTube live stream. Weird place to find a new album, I know, but I was intrigued by this band's sound. They have a sort of a poppy metal vibe to them. There's chugging guitars, but there's also electronics and synths infused into the sound these guys have crafted, and it's a very pretty sound. The instrumentals are all solid here, and create a potentially interesting backdrop for what could be something special. The instrumentals on the title track, Eyes Wide Shut, and Our Song remain particularly memorable to me, with the blending on the genres really coming full circle on those songs. These could've been great if it weren't for one thing; The vocals. There are two vocalists in this band, those being a male and a female vocalist. The female vocalist is good enough, but the male vocalist flat-out sucks. I don't know what he's doing on this record, because if he was gone, this could've been great. He's got a thick accent to his voice that the few people who've heard this record are polarized by, and I'm definitely negative on it. It sucks because there are legitimately catchy hooks on tracks like Eyes Wide Shut, Disappear, and Midnight which could've been so much better if it weren't for this singer. So, this is a complicated album to me; An album that could've been really solid, if not great if it weren't for one thing, and that just irritates me. If this band ever gets a different vocalist, I'll be interested in their future, but for now, I'm just frustrated.

Grade: B- 

Falls of Rauros - Patterns In Mythology

So, let's movie away from some of the poppier stuff that was presented on the previous couple of albums and talk about some really good black metal. This is a band that brings a nice blend of both atmosphere and heaviness to the genre. The opening instrumental Detourement sets the stage up the stage , with its atmosphere, then once the absolutely terrific Weapons of Refusal comes in, showing how stellar this album is at its best. It hits you with the heavy guitars, but is guided by an epic vicking-esque feeling in the instrumentation that is epic sounding. It's one of those songs that's a lot to take in, but it's worth it, as is the rest of the album. New Inertia's intro is strikingly beautiful, and the guitar solo at the midway point is one of the better ones I've heard this year. Last Empty Tradition kicks into full gear immediately with the aggressive guitars and, while it does slow down, it picks up the the last 3 and a half minutes, and that's where this track shines; In its absolutely terrific outro, which is both heavy but melodic, creating a mix that I absolutely love. Then Memory at Night happens and... Yeah, this is one of the finest moments on the album for sure. The guitar work is some of the best of the year, and the bass line that opens the song is really solid. So overall, I love this band's sound. It can get heavy and almost all the vocals are screamed, but it has melody and it's actually pretty accessible for an album like this. My only real problem with this album is with the track Renouvellement, which was mostly a forgettable shorter cut that could've not made the record and it would've helped the pacing. Also, a band called Saor released an album somewhat similar to this (I reviewed it back in February if you want to check that out), and it was better, and I honestly can't see pass that, no matter how stupid that sounds. Still, if you want to get into black metal, this is a very accessible release with some terrific guitar work that will bring you back over and over, and if you already like black metal, well, here's some more of that good stuff.

Grade: A-

Sum 41 - Order In Decline

"So, Sum 41 are a thing in 2019?". That's what my reaction was when I heard they were releasing a new album. I was thinking this was gonna be another pop punk record. I was wrong. While the band still has pop punk-esque hooks, the album has a lot of hard rock and even metal influences that work extremely well, and the fact that there are very catchy hooks added to my enjoyment of the record. The aggression on this album isn't just from the instrumentals though; It's in the fiery, political lyrics which are clearly jabbing at the current political climate of the United States, and while I won't go into my thoughts on the topic, I think these lyrics are pretty solid for what they are. Tracks like The People vs..., The New Sensation, and 45 (A Matter of Time) are clear jabs at someone in particular (You know who), but it works for me because these tracks are loud and these "loud" statements fit with the music. The instrumentals are what keep me coming back, however. The riffs and solo on Out For Blood are top notch, as are The People Vs..., A Death In The Family, and The New Sensation, with moments that scream Metallica to me in a good way. That doesn't mean the album is just aggression, as the ballads Never There and Catching Fire give you a moment to catch your breath and they're genuinely very good. As for flaws, some of the songs sound kinda similar at points, and even if those tracks are good, it's sometimes kinda bothers me. Besides that though, this was way better than it had any right to be. It's fiery, fun, and purposeful hard rock that makes for one of the best albums of the year. Absolutely worth every minute of your time.

Grade: A-

Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

To close off this review, I needed a good album to review. No, not just a good album, a great album, a true album of the year contender, and well, this is it. This album's hype was only topped by Tool's Fear Inoculum is terms of hype for any metal record this year, and I'm happy to say it's everything I wanted and more. It's not just 63 minutes of your typical heavy, angsty Slipknot tracks; It's also full of successful experiments. It gets you invested with Unsainted and Birth of the Cruel, which are both incredible slices of Slipknot at their most "accessible" (For Slipknot at least), with the former having a great singalong chorus and a memorable bridge, and the latter having great riffs and a catchy hook. After that, it's some of the best, if not the best, material of this band's career. Nero Forte and Critical Darling are those first two songs of steroids. Like holy crap, this is one of the best two punch tracks I've heard in a while. Nero Forte comes in swinging immediately with Corey Taylor's aggressive delivery and fantastic guitar riffs, and Critical Darling is even more aggressive, with the best elements of Nero Forte put on steroids and a great chorus reminiscent of Stone Sour. After this, the album gets experimental with cuts the haunting and dark A Lair's Funeral, which is one of 2019's greatest songs. The lyrics and acoustic guitar used in the first half are haunting and dark, and when it kicks into full gear, it becomes face meltingly amazing with the chants "Burn the liar" being something I could totally see being chanted in the mosh pit. The industrial and endlessly fun Spiders is catchy and, despite being so different, fits really well in the album, the bizarre atmosphere of My Pain is easily the album's weirdest moment but it works really well for reasons I can't quite explain, and the fantastic and aggressive closer Solway Firth is one of the album's most unconventionally structured, and it works as both a closing track and as a singular track. There's so much to love here, and I can't praise this album enough. Don't be surprised if this ends up as my favorite album of 2019 (And if it isn't number 1 it'll definitely be in the top 3), because so far, this may be the one to beat. I'm serious. It's really that good.

Grade: A+