16 rock and metal albums to look forward to in 2019
With Rammstein, Tool, Slipknot and more
Last updated 18th Dec 2018
Given the prophecies of doom-mongering naysayers in certain quarters who should know far better, the state of heavy metal and rock has rarely been better. And just one glance over the releases that have been unleashed throughout 2018 prove that the genre – in its widest possible sense – is in a state of remarkably rude health.
Moreover, a combination of new acts, veteran bands and those that have made the transition from hungry young things to well-fed beasts has ensured that 2018 has been far from boring.
Here are just a few of the rock albums we’re looking forward to in 2019...
Rammstein - TBA
Frankly, April can't come quick enough for that's when Rammstein's long awaited seventh studio album is expected to drop. It'll be almost a decade since the release of 'Liebe ist für alle da' and we're needing plenty of new sounds. Factor in that Milton Keynes gig at MK Stadium in July and 2019 could well be theirs for the taking.
Tool - TBA
The last time Tool released an album, the Blackberry was still a thing, YouTube was in the process of uploading home videos and the world economy hadn't tanked. Like, what do these people do all day? However, with the prog-metal titans confirmed as headliners for the 2019 edition of the Download Festival, the follow-up to 2006's '10,000' could well become a reality.
Slipknot - TBA
As evidenced by the recent surprise release of 'All Out Life' – a track so heavy you'd struggle to lift it – Slipknot's return to action can't come quickly enough. And when Corey Taylor intones, "I will not listen to worthless noises / I will not submit myself to predictable selected choices" then you just know that something wicked this way comes. Bring it on!
Prophets Of Rage - TBA
With a line-up that includes Rage Against The Machine's engine room of guitarist Tom Morello, drummer Brad Wilk and bassist Tim Commerford, Public Enemy's Chuck D and DJ and the additional rapping skills of Cypress Hill's B-Real, Prophets Of Rage are touting some mighty righteous material. And so it proved with their eponymous debut. We've got a good feeling that its follow-up is going to ramp things further.
Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Amo’
The best thing to have come out of Sheffield since Def Leppard, Bring Me The Horizon's career has seen them grow, mature and make a number of stylistic turns since the release of their 2006 debut album, 'Count Your Blessings'. Recent releases in the shape of 'Mantra' and 'Wonderful Life' have revealed more electronics but the band have stated that fans should expect a varied sound with 'Amo', which is released at the end of January. Oh, and it's a concept album but don't let that put you off.
Megadeth - TBA
Not only are Megadeth one of the most influential bands to stride across the planet, they're now about to set sail with their first-ever Megacruise in the Pacific next October. But before they raise the anchor and splice the mainbrace, Megadeth's as-yet-to-be titled sixteenth album is set to drop sometime in 2019.
The Offspring - TBA
Next year marks the 30th anniversary since the release of The Offspring's eponymous debut album. But not for them a victory lap or its revisiting but a new album altogether. Guitarist Noodle reckons they have enough material for two new albums but whether that's the case or not remains to be seen.
Guns N’ Roses – TBA
Admittedly, this is a highly tenuous one but speaking to US radio station KSHE.95 in December 2018, guitarist Richard Fortus said "we're going to try and do another record and get it out soon. The band's so great right now." He later added: "I think it will happen faster than you think. I sure hope it happens faster than you think" before confirming a single "could definitely" be released in 2019. We live in hope!
Altitudes & Attitude – ‘Get It Out’
Altitudes & Attitude, a collaboration between Anthrax's Frank Bello and Megadeth's David Ellefson, will unleash their debut album 'Get It Out' to the world on 18th January. Boasting the bruising lead single 'Out Here', the two thrash torchbearers will take the album out on the road in the UK in February.
Papa Roach - ‘Who Do You Trust?’
Also releasing their new album on 18th January are Vacaville's prodigal sons Papa Roach. Working again with producers Nicholas Furlong and Colin Brittain, 'Who Do You Trust?' is not only a cohesive evolution from their previous album, 'Crooked Teeth' but also shows the band leaning outside of their comfort zone and furthering their trajectory.
Alter Bridge – TBA
As if Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti weren't busy enough with all their other musical ventures - Tremonti, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators and Myles' solo career – Myles revealed in November work was already underway on the follow-up to 2016's 'The Last Hero'. Confirming a planned 2019 release date, Myles said: "There are a whole bunch of ideas being thrown around. It's pretty exciting stuff."
Andy Black - 'The Ghost of Ohio'
Set to support his upcoming graphic novel, The Ghost Of Ohio, Andy Black's album of the same name will be released at some point in 2019. Calling his second record "a soundtrack for the comic book", Andy explained: "The focus was to do songs that felt like they represented, in terms of tone, the different emotions of the story. There are songs that are just straight-up fun pop songs. There are songs that are dark, moody, gothic songs."
Deftones – TBA
In an Instagram post on 1st December, Deftones confirmed that fresh material is on the horizon with the simple hashtags '#2019' and '#newmusic'. Speaking back in May, singer Chino Moreno said they had laid down six or seven "powerful" songs that are "still mutating." Really, the follow-up to 'Gore' can't come soon enough.
Within Temptation – ‘Resist’
Originally set for release in December but delayed to February due to production issues, the Dutch symphonic metal have drafted in the likes of Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach), Anders Fridén (In Flames) and Jasper Steverlinck (Arid) for the record. If Kerrang! Radio favourite 'The Reckoning' is anything to go by, 'Resist' will be absolutely sublime.
In Flames – ‘I, The Mask’
Released on 1st March, the Swedish metallers' 13th studio album sees them reunite with multi Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Motörhead), who also produced 2016's Battles, in order to further redefine their sound. "I think it's very difficult for In Flames to be something we're not and that dichotomy of melody and aggression will always be at the core of our identity," vocalist Anders Fridén explains.
Weezer – ‘The Black Album’
Maintaining their tradition of eponymous albums that are then colourised, veteran alt.rockers Weezer are back in 2019 with 'The Black Album'. Produced by TV On The Radio's Dave Sitek, they've already hinted at what to expect with 'Can't Knock The Hustle'.
Other albums set for release in 2019:
Metallica - Helping Hands... Live & Acoustic at the Masonic (1st February)
Avantasia - Moonglow (15th February)
Dream Theater - Distance Over Time (22nd February)
Overkill - The Wings of War (22nd February)
While She Sleeps - So What? (1st March)
Body Count - Carnivore (Release date TBA)
Limp Bizkit – Stampede of the Disco Elephants (Release date TBA)
Other bands with albums in the works:
AC/DC (maybe), Amon Amarth, Accept, Dee Snider, Dragonforce, Fear Factor, Ghost, Gwar, Jinjer, Killswitch Engage, Korn, LA Guns, Lacuna Coil, Lamb of God, Manowar, Mastodon, Ministry, Napalm Death, Of Mice & Men, Opeth, Steel Panther, Stryper, Volbeat, Wes Borland.