Listmania: Metal Noise Top #5 EPs of 2019!

Whether it’s the wealth of Metal bands at the moment or the increased ease of recording and releasing quality material independently to streaming services, the shorter format of the Extended Play seems to have been a resurgent force in 2019. Some bigger names have recorded in the short form to tide them over between albums and there has been a flood of smaller names making waves with 5 and 6 track outings. So without further ado and until further notice, here are the Metal Noise Top #5 EPs of 2019!

“Soul Burn” by Dealer. Australia has been a hot bed of Metal talent in recent years and supergroup Dealer featuring former members of Northlane, Alpha Wolf and Iconoclast is one that not only lived up to the hype but also raised the bar as far at the Gloom Metal scene goes. It’s a ferocious , venomous little blighter and on this evidence we need more from them in 2020.

“Fault” by Alpha Wolf. Having amicably parted ways with vocalist Aidan Ellaz, who is now fronting Dealer, mutual friend Lochie Keogh stepped up to the plate and smashed it out of the park. Single “Sub-Zero” lit the blue touch paper and SharpTone Records must have been overjoyed at the response. It’s a blinding light in the darkness.

“Q4” by Mind Power. Another supergroup, who feature in their ranks members of and former members of members of A Life Once Lost, Dead End Path, Ligeia and Bring The Heat did the unthinkable in 2019. They released an EP every three months and we have to stay that starting with a high bar, they got increasingly better as they went on, they literally saved the best until last.

“We Are Bury Your Dead” by Bury Your Dead. The Boston Massachusetts Metallic Hardcore Kings returned with new material for first time in 8 long years with the help of former The Acacia Strain guitarist Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz.  Aburst of modernised Bury Your Dead that keeps the bands sound current, it bounces along with brutal guitar tones and stuccato riffage with a few of their older techniques in the mix to bring it together perfectly.

“Reside” by Old Wharf. Hailing from from Wolverhampton and playing Beatdown Hardcore with some Deathcore leanings, here are a band with an incredibly bright future ahead of them. The EP, their debut, punches well above its weight and would benefit only from a better mixing and mastering job to improve it and give it a little more shine. From the opening chords of “Defeat” to the last moment of “Reside“, its deserving of your attention.