Deftones – TBA
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The new Deftones album is coming along smoothly as of early December. 2016's Gore was a wonderful foray into more atmospheric and dreamy sounds. From it seems, their impending album could be a blend of Gore and some heavier elements that populated their earlier days. They've been one of the few bands to successfully bridge the gap from nü-metal to more modern stylings. It will be incredibly interesting to see where the band goes from here after being together for more than 30 years now. – Cody Davis
Dead To A Dying World – TBA
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If you're not up to speed on Texas's Dead To A Dying World, I suggest you take about an hour and a half and listen to their last album, Litany. The septet blends black metal, crust, and sludge—and throws in a viola for good measure—to craft truly emotive music. Videos of the band in the studio have popped up on Instagram since last year and it seems likely that this new album will surface this year. I'm certain it's going to be magnificent. My only hope is that they don't make us wait until the end of the year for it. – Cody Davis
Devin Townsend – Empath (March)
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Sure, I’m a Hevy Devy fanboy, but there seems to be something special on the horizon in Empath. Townsend has promised one of his most varied offerings yet, and I believe him. It features a variety of guest musicians like Steve Vai, Chad Kroeger from Nickelback, Anneke van Giersbergen, Mike Keneally from Dethklok, and bandmates of Frank Zappa, an orchestra, a choir, and more. As of this writing, the mixing stage seems to be complete and now it’s just a matter of time. – Daniel Cordova
Dream Theater – Distance Over Time (February 22)
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The prog metal masters will return very soon with Distance Over Time. Studio reports, and the recently released singles "Untethered Angel" and "Fall Into The Light" seem to suggest a sound that feeds more into their heavy sensibilities than their ethereal and atmospheric side, which gives me the flavors of the riffage found on Octavarium. These released singles have made me very eager to experience the entire album when it comes out. – Sol Encina
Gatecreeper – TBA (Fall)
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2019 brings the return of the Bang Energy-fueled, GED riffs. The Arizona quintet, Gatecreeper, is releasing their first full-length album since 2016's Sonoran Depravation. They've toured relentlessly alongside major acts like Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, and Full of Hell, many times stealing the show from the headliners during the last couple of years. If the material from their split with Iron Reagan or their Sweltering Madness EP is any indication of what to expect on the new LP, it's sure to surpass their previous output and land as one of the best representations of death metal this year. – Cody Davis
Gojira – TBA
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The French kings of groove will return in 2019, and I couldn’t be more excited to hear what they come up with next! With a perfect streak of albums under their belt, they shifted gears to explore some new territory in 2016 with Magma, which leaves us wondering if it was only the beginning. The guys have been working hard at their studio in NYC, so hopefully, it won’t be long until the world is given the gift of Gojira once again. – Frank Godla
Immortal Bird – TBA
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Chicago's deathgrind force, Immortal Bird reemerges this year. As I write this, they're recording a followup to 2015's Empress/Abscess with Dave Otero in Westminster, Colorado. Though they have only one full-length to their name at the moment—as well as a live EP and the Akrasia EP—they've toured extensively in the time between albums, building a reputation as an unforgiving live act (and absolutely delightful human beings). It's been a long wait, but thankfully it is finally coming to an end. Long live the Bird. – Cody Davis
Inter Arma – TBA
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Richmond, Virginia's Inter Arma is a rare talent in metal. They play an indescribable blend of various metal and non-metal music that is so well done and inherently heavy it has drawn comparisons to greats like Neurosis. Their last album, Paradise Gallows got a perfect score here (it was me… I gave it a perfect score.), and if there was ever a band to repeat perfection it would be this quintet. This new album sees the same personnel return once again, however, this is the last album to feature bassist, Joe Kerkes. Andrew Lacour now joins TJ Childers, Mike Paparo, Steven Russell, and Trey Dalton. – Cody Davis
Killswitch Engage – TBA 0 Most Anticipated Heavy Metal Albums of 2019" width="700" height="460" /> Photo by John McMurtrie
As was recently revealed, recording sessions have concluded for a new album, which would suggest a new release from them later this year. Thus far, no full singles have been released, but it has become common knowledge that former vocalist Howard Jones does a guest spot on the album. This alone has me hyped for it, and I imagine it might be the first single they release in promotion of the album. Either way, one of the most consistently solid bands in metal will be releasing a new full-length very soon, and that's cause for celebration. – Sol Encina
King Diamond – TBA
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The master of storytelling is set to make his return this year with a brand new album. While this album was meant to come out quite a while ago, a few things have stood in the way. In 2010, the King himself had a triple bypass performed, which is a surgery that would probably take most people out of the game entirely. In 2014, King Diamond announced a new album was in the works and went on his first major tour since the surgery.
Finally, after the final Mayhem Festival where King Diamond played alongside Slayer and Hellyeah, the album was supposed to be put into full swing. This was right up until there were all sorts of requests for Abigail live, which led to another major tour and the upcoming live album Songs For the Dead Live. It looks like if you're a fan of King Diamond, 2019 is your year. A live album and a studio album. We know nothing about the concept, but King himself stated he has nightmares about that surgery, so don't be too surprised if this one is based around a hospital. – Aaron Price
Korn – TBA 0 Most Anticipated Heavy Metal Albums of 2019" width="700" height="367" /> Photo by Rodrigo Terco
Not much is known about this upcoming release, only that it's slated to come out in the Fall, and that Travis Barker was a guest writer for an unknown portion. In any case, I was actually quite a fan of their return to form in 2016's The Serenity of Suffering. I'm hoping that the band is wanting to continue that sound for this coming release. – Sol Encina
Mastodon – TBA
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The mighty Mastodon looks to be returning in 2019 and it with comes the notion that the Atlanta quartet is working on some of their heaviest material in quite some time, according to Bill Kelliher. Their last album, Emperor of Sand, was a wonderful amalgamation of their lauded past and adventurous rock-centric material of the last few years. Given this news from Kelliher—and how different the Cold Dark Place EP is—Mastodon certainly has their fans on the edge of their seats waiting to hear what's coming next. – Cody Davis
Megadeth – TBA 0 Most Anticipated Heavy Metal Albums of 2019" width="700" height="467" /> photo by Jeremy Saffer
Like many Rattleheads out there, I’m still a big fan of Mustaine’s work all these years later. As one of the last remaining heavy metal legends continuously churning out quality bangers, it’s exciting to watch the growth of Megadeth upward and onward. 2016’s Dystopia brought the band back to form with insatiable catchy riffs, and with Ellefson, Loureiro and now monster skinsman Dirk Verbeuren in the fold, this just might be a whole new era of awesome for the band. – Frank Godla
Mizmor – TBA
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The wholly doomed black metal from Portland—according to Gilead Media—will be releasing some form of new music this year. 2016's Yodh was an exercise in existential dread and one of the finest records in recent memory. The one-man force, known as ALN, will look to continue that streak following a compilation release last year and a single in 2017. He's performing live now with help from his friends and there continues to be more activity from the Mizmor camp. A new album from the Oregon act would undoubtedly fall in line with this activity and more likely—end up on top of my AOTY list. – Cody Davis
Nile – TBA
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This is your reminder to start freshening up on your Egyptian history knowledge. Karl Sanders and company are coming back this year. Nile has been one of the more consistent death metal bands in history and I'd imagine it's safe to assume that'll carry through to what they're working on now. It'll be roughly four years since the last Nile release—What Should Not Be Unearthed—I'm willing to bet it was worth the wait. – Cody Davis
More anticipated releases on the next page…
