[JoshK]

How about we resurrect this thread from the dead?

An idea for a topic [the demographic of this forum isn't likely in our purview] is to share some great metal that is recorded very well (might be relative, as this very much isn't little girl with a guitar music).

Death - Sound of Perseverance

[Ericus Rex]

Any thoughts on Devin Townsend’s Empath?

[LesterSleepsIn]

And this just in ... Science says Death Metal fans are joyful not violent. Good ol’ Science.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/death-metal-fans-are-nice-people-not-violent-says-science-2461817

[FireGuy]

My front runner for 2019 Album Of The Year - Lucidity Oceanum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGj53liRkWM

[JoshK]

First, my two front runners for AOTY thus far go to:

Deathspell Omega - The Furnaces of Palingenesia
https://deathspellomega.bandcamp.com/album/the-furnaces-of-palingenesia

If you don't know DsO you might be in for a bit of a shock, as they are both 'avantgarde' and 'dissonant' while being black metal.  This might be one of their most accessible albums as it has pretty good riffs that are hooky enough to keep your attention throughough, but DsO can best be described as controlled chaos.   I don't like a lot of dissonant extreme metal but somehow they use it in a way that is still very beautiful and not off-putting. 

Deus Mortem - Kosmocide
https://malignantvoices.bandcamp.com/album/kosmocide
Again a black metal album, but this one is very different than the former.  It is semi-melodic, the drums are fantastic and the riffs and solos are great.  Production is good for BM as M from MGLA did it. 

Onto more friendly metal appealing to a wider audience...

Tanith - In Another Time
https://tanithnyc.bandcamp.com/album/in-another-time

This is more friendly to more audiophiles as it isn't heavy, has dueling guitars, both a seduction female and a clean singing male vocalist (I think from Satan).  More in the true HM or old skool HM form. DR rating is pretty high, production is good.

Dreadnought - Emergence
https://dreadnoughtdenver.bandcamp.com/album/emergence
Billed as progressive metal, which is it but borrows on some metalcore, some doom and a bunch of other stuff.  Not usually my thing but it definitely works well.  Female vocals, both clean and harsh.

Plenty of other good stuff this year, but this is a little of my fave plus great stuff that a wider audience might enjoy. 

[FireGuy]

[JoshK]

Any thoughts on Devin Townsend’s Empath?

Yeah it was seriously dull.   DT is seriously prolific but a bit uneven IMO in his massive discography.   I write this one off as one that didn't resonate with me, which about half of his discog doesn't.  It isn't bad, but it isn't really good either.  It also isn't what I'd consider metal. 

Some other great ones that have come out are:

Panzerfaust - The Suns of Perdition - Chapter I: War, Horrid War

These are a local band to me, which seems to be a theme with some of the top picks.   I recently met the lead singer at a couple local shows, but that isn't why I am voting for it on my AOTY inclusion list (say top 10).  This is just great modern black metal and my other metal nerds discord channel seems to agree and we agree on much of nothing.
https://panzerfaust.bandcamp.com/album/the-suns-of-perdition-chapter-i-war-horrid-war

Tomb Mold - Planetary Clairvoyance

another fucking kick ass Death Metal album in the OSDM style but quite a few progressive elements thrown in here and there seamlessly without called out said touches.  It has some amazing solo work with some melodicism, but if you don't really dig any OSDM you may not like this.  The vocals are the most pedestrian element here.

Ripped to Shreds - 魔經 - Demon Scriptures

OSDM in the Swedish style with a kick ass aceman who lives in SanFran and writes all the music but his touring entourage is in Taiwan.  This is a little bit weaker than the previous LP, but still shreds.

[FireGuy]

I'll spin these today JoshK.  Thanks.

Jinjer's Resurrection gig in 2018 was killer.  Tetiana Shmailiuk's vocal meander from brutal to smooth is showcase.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HW-ACeiUMI