Welcome to the CGCM Podcast/Website. We are a group of music passionate folks from around the world. Although we began in Canada with only the podcast co-hosts, we now realize an entire team of staff from Canada, UK, USA and Sweden! Follow us at our website and/or social media for all our podcasts, album/concert reviews, interviews, photo galleries and more!
Check out all CGCMs BEST OF 2019 lists from each individual contributor. Enjoy listening to the Best of 2019 podcasts, featuring a ton of the music and hopefully you found some things that maybe you missed throughout the year. Feel free to share the lists and/or podcasts around and let us know what you were rocking to in 2019.
Keep an eye on our Upcoming Release page for all the info on the hottest releases throughout 2020. Every article we post has Amazon links (if available) so you can easily buy the album and support the artists. Here’s to 2020 🥂
BEST OF 2019 – Andy “Maddog” Lafon (Writer) 🇺🇸
Hard rock and heavy metal music had some quality new releases in 2019. 2019 also saw me getting into more “new” bands than ever before, which I have to say was very exciting. However, 2019 also left me more disappointed with releases from some of my favourite artists. This is the reality that the beloved artists the ’70s and ’80s are catching up with father time and the musical landscape has to fill out with newer, younger bands. That said, moving forward, it is more important than ever to support music than ever before. There have to be incentives and rewards for creating new music or it will go away. (stepping off my soapbox) Here are the ten albums that I most enjoyed in 2019.
#10 – Tora Tora – Bastards of Beale 🇺🇸
New music from this band has been a long time coming. The last new music we had from the Memphis made Tora Tora was in 2011 with Revolution Day. Sadly, this album sat on a shelf somewhere since 1995 because it “didn’t fit” the music scene of the late ’90s. This is a solid release and it is obvious where these guys get their influences. I recommend checking out the fifth track “Son of a Prodigal Son” it will for sure get your toe-tapping.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODHYRW64JQ[/embedyt]
#9 – Diamond Head – The Coffin Train 🇬🇧
These NWOBHM giants come back with what I can only say is a super-strong album. You can certainly hear the Soundgarden influence on singer Rasmus Bom Andersen‘s style and delivery, but that works in seamlessly with the updated NWOBHM sound the band brings. Check out the album opener “Belly of the Beast”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbnmxqdtTV4[/embedyt]
#8 – Overkill – The Wings of War 🇺🇸
With their 19th studio album, the veteran thrashers have done it again. The Wings of War is another album that showcases the band’s ability to blend speed and groove together into a ball of angst and aggression. No way you listen to this album and not want to start up a mosh pit! Check out the song “Believe in the Fight”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8l4AOyfy1M[/embedyt]
#7 – L.A. Guns – The Devil You Know 🇺🇸
This album was a slow grower for me. Honestly, it was going to be hard for them to top The Missing Peace for me, but they sure came close with The Devil You Know. This album has more variety and is a little dirtier and nastier than The Missing Peace. Check out the song “Gone Honey”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEpY9HvImao[/embedyt]
#6 – Queensryche – The Verdict 🇺🇸
For me, Todd La Torre saved Queensryche. Not only could he sing the old material note for note but he revitalized the back catalogue. Nailing older songs like “Queen of the Reich” and “Take Hold of the Flame”. When it came to releasing new material I have to admit I wanted to like it more than I actually did, that is until The Verdict. They released the first track and I liked it, and then another, and then another all solid. When the whole album came out it was the first time with this line up that I listened the whole way through and did not just cherry-pick my favourites. Check out the song “Dark Reverie”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J86rOTinVRs[/embedyt]
#5 – Ron Keel Band – Fight Like a Band 🇺🇸
Fight Like a Band is a solid album from start to finish. Ron Keel and company do a great job of mixing hard rock with a touch of country. There is not a bad song on this album. Check out the track “Girls Like Me”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tRqcJfkC7A[/embedyt]
#4 – Whitesnake – Flesh and Blood 🇬🇧
Here is an example of a band putting out exactly the album I wanted them to. Flesh and Blood blends Whitesnake hard rockers with just the right amount of ballads. New guitarist Joel Hoekstra takes the band’s sound to the next level. Check out the song “Trouble is Your Middle Name”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Whitesnake – Flesh & Blood by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGlomu0JvAM[/embedyt]
#3 – Rival Sons – Feral Roots 🇺🇸
Their first release for major label Atlantic is fantastic. They took extra time writing and recording these songs, and you can tell. Very bombastic sounds with heartfelt lyrics. I got to see them live this summer and they were terrific. Check out the song “Too Bad”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBUHEMlqRiI[/embedyt]
#2 – Black Star Riders – Another State of Grace 🇮🇪
I have always enjoyed each one of the Black Star Riders‘ albums up to this one. However, Another State of Grace just took everything to the stratosphere. The songs just seem a little better written and the lyrics just a little more meaningful. This album just really spoke to me. Check out the songs “Tonight the Moonlight Let Me Down”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Black Star Riders – Another State of Grace by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkBt1eR8tM[/embedyt]
#1 – Michael Sweet – Ten 🇺🇸
It was a toss-up between Ten and Another State of Grace, and either could be number one. The difference is the heaviness of Ten which is just more my style. Ten is just full of guitars on almost every song. The best part of this album is you instantly know it’s Michael Sweet, however, none of these songs sound like they could be on a Stryper album. Check out the song “Better Part of Me”.
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
CGCM Album Review: Michael Sweet – Ten by Trevor “Psychoone” McDougall
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o3nTMCCEok[/embedyt]
Furthermore, check out all my reviews: Maddog’s Archives
Andy “Maddog” Lafon
