Siamese - Super Human, the top of 2019 according to this Hallowed writer

In the Hallowed tradition we write about the year that have passed, just a few things. So, it has come to an end, this year and along with it this decade. That marks a dozen years for us here at Hallowed and lots has happened over these years, but I might take on the decade later so let’s focus on 2019.

Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Freedom Call was on the Hallowed top five

text:: daniel källmalm the ends of the scale with more of the music I have listened to ting old or the world is getting think. I don’t. Fortunately I am in Sweden where the neo-Nazis photos: promo pics and covers twos, sixes, fives and threes than has been looking in the rear-view mad with a joke as president for not alone, I may be in a minority called SD are growing in sup- published on: 2020-01-06 last year. Like last year we had mirror rather than forward. Ex- the US, lunatics in The Philippi- but at least there is hope when we port. I attribute that to people’s no top-rated , and again it amples of this are all the bland nes, Brazil and Hungary to name see people like Greta Thunberg or lack of critical thinking and fear n 2019 it was the highest was not the most diligent year in AOR-releases that we get, the just a few. People seem to vote Arjen Lucassen and many others of knowledge. It looks the same amount of reviews since terms of articles. We also had the extremely dull extreme metal al- away from freedom in favour of who are creatively brilliant or just in most of the world so instead 2015 with little over 300 of highest number of visits to the bums we get and classic hard rock pathological liars, parties and brilliant in other ways. of caring about those fuckers, them, 308 to be more pre- site in our history after dropping that sounds like it was made in politicians with dictatorial am- lets focus on the music that im- ciseI and that is exactly thirty more a bit the year before. the eighties. That kind of reflects bitions, but as seen in the world s I am an optimist I don’t pressed this year. Old favourites than last year. The average rating And I think the conclusion of our world where people dream of art and music it would appear really want to be nega- like Coronatus, Eclipse, Rexo- was lower than last year with just the year in music has to be that of a past that never existed, they as though we don’t want free- tive but 2019 was not ria, Cats in Space, Mob Rules, under four as an average rating, this year kind of reflects the part vote for neo-Nazis and other fas- dom – perhaps many of us likes the best year in terms of Hellsingland Underground and there were more reviews towards of the world I live in with much cist groupings. Either I am get- to be told what to do and what to artA or humanity – not even here many more along with some you

Hallowed PDF-article 2 Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm 1 Design by Daniel Källmalm Devin Townsend seems happy to second place on our list for his album Empath

can read about in the lists made music comes this year because all that. At least I hope that movie mate is warming and carbon di- new strong albums. There were this copying and paint by num- studios change the focus to more oxide have increased rapidly in some positive surprises as well bers stuff is really tiring and so- original movies instead of boring the last hundred years so the lo- and here I can mention VA Rocks, metimes this year I have almost derivatives, remakes, and other gical choice would be to try and Svarta Stugan, Jerkstore, The Ri- of his ”Into the Electric Castle” will attempt some smaller chan- lost hope and just felt that eve- uncreative shit. And it would be reduce our burning of fossil fuels ven and more along with some show – I saw it in Tilburg, and it ges to the website as well, I have rything is sad an unoriginal in the great if Trump, Bolsonaro (or ho- – there is nothing to lose by doing that I have in the top list that I was great and the album itself is already made some minor chan- world of music. I hope that chan- wever the idiot spells his name), it, but we might win something. will get back to at the end of this excellent so it could be a brilliant ges that are not visible but will ges to next year. Åkesson and all the other Fascist If you think me and all the scien- article. as an album. Other than that, I improve some loading aspects, Outside of Hallowed I hope for politicians were tortured and sent tists are in error, look at Australia So what about 2020 then? The don’t really know what to expect but we will see about that too. I a renaissance of tolerance and somewhere to rot – I don’t really right now and the fact that we are first reviews I have been looking in terms of releases, but I hope for don’t know if I will be able to re- respect as well as cultural diver- like violence but people like that looking at an increasing number at will be positive, so I hope I get some brilliance and some new ar- view at the same pace as this year, sity and creativity. Hopefully we deserve it. It would also be great of weather-related disasters – or to listen to some really great al- ticles. I was thinking about trying but I will try to achieve about the don’t get to see any more Mar- if people started to think about look at Svalbard to name just a bums next year. I guess Ayreon to summarise this decade, but we same amount. And I really hope vel crap or other superhero shit their carbon footprint, perhaps few. So, think before you buy will release a live album/video will see about that and perhaps I that more creative and original in the world of movies – I hate it isn’t that important but the cli- stuff, don’t vote for idiots and

Hallowed PDF-article 3 4 Hallowed PDF-article Design by Daniel Källmalm Design by Daniel Källmalm don’t watch Marvel crap in the bum topped by the excellent and IQ made a good album that looks very good movies, that would improve the wonderful vocals skills of Chris world a little bit. Bay. 4. Lonely Robot – Under Stars o, here comes my list of ++ The third and final part in the best albums from Mitchell’s wonderful story about 2019, from 20 to 1 with his astronaut protagonist, and comments about the ten it is just as great as the previous favourites.S two parts. 20. Season of Ghosts – A Leap of 3. IQ – Resistance ++ The In- Faith telligence Quotient is high and 19. Ivory Tower – Stronger there is some original and fresh 18. Vanden Plas – The Ghost Xpe- idea when IQ gives us their latest riment – Awakening effort – perhaps it is resistance 17. Dizzy Mystics – Wanderlost against the conservative waves 16. Kafka – s/t that flow through our society no- 15. Mustan Kuun Lapset – Valo wadays. 14. Bent Knee – You Know What 2. Devin Townsend – Empath ++ They Mean Devin Townsend never seems to 13. Vintersea – Illuminated stagnate or be satisfied to be pla- 12. Vanha – Melancholia ced in a box; his Empath album is 11. Mind Key – MKIII – Aliens in probably his best to date. Wonderland 1. Siamese – Super Human ++ Si- 10. Birdeatsbaby – The World Con- amese gives us something really spires ++ So The World Conspires super human, it would really be when this album that doesn’t fit bananas not to get this one. in a genre box impresses, Birdse- atbaby really knows how to make With that I say goodbye to 2019 something exciting. and welcome 2020 – let’s hope for 9. Dream Theater – Distance Over a brilliant year in which we re- Time ++ Ever dependable and al- spect one another and get some ways fresh, Dream Theater may fantastic new albums. And I will not have made one of their grea- end by thanking all the labels, test albums but Distance Over bands, promotors and readers Time is still a great one. that have helped make 2019 a fine 8. Eternal Storm – Come the Tide year for Hallowed. ++ This was a surprise; Come the Tide is not only an excellent de- Happy New Year! but it is an excellent showcase of what death metal can sound like if it is done by a band with a vi- sion. 7. Steve Hackett – At the Edge of Light ++ Like Dream Theater it is a safe bet to go for Steve Hackett who reliably puts out great al- bums, this is one of his best. 6. – Order in Decline ++ I didn’t think Sum 41 was capable of something like this, one of the biggest positive surprises in 2019. 5. Freedom Call – M.E.T.A.L. ++ Top five is opened by one of my Lonely Robot’s third album lived up to expectations favourite bands, Freedom Call that offers us a brilliant metal al-

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