Top 10 Junkyard Albums of 2019

Another great rock ‘n’ roll year is behind us, at least when it comes to new releases. In essence, it was more than great, and selecting the “best” releases was incredibly difficult. This time, we left that decision up to you. We combined your votes with some of our own picks and came up with the ten best rock albums of 2019!

10. Buckcherry – Warpaint

The departure of guitarist and co-founder Keith Nelson seems to have left no mark on Josh Todd and his crew, who have been calling themselves Buckcherry since 1995. The new guitarist, Kevin Roentgen, has seamlessly blended in with Stevie D., ensuring Warpaint doesn’t lag behind some of the band’s best work that brought them success and fame in the early 2000s. Once again, Buckcherry proves why they remain one of the top representatives of the newer “Velvet Revolver-type” hard rock scene. We explained this in detail in our Warpaint album review from March. Killer tracks: Bent, Hard Like a Hole, Warpaint

9. Hardline – Life

The legendary melodic hard rockers Hardline, one of the most underrated bands from the late ’80s whose hits we still remember, returned with their seventh release, Life. From the original lineup, only vocalist Johnny Gioeli remains, while the rest of the band consists of seasoned “Serie A” players. But that’s more than enough when you have a singer whose voice hasn’t aged a bit since the ’80s! Once again, Hardline has reminded us of the charm of melodies and hard-hitting guitar riffs without overthinking it. There’s even a Queen cover that, truth be told, Mr. Gioeli delivers phenomenally—better than most in the world.
Killer tracks: Place To Call Home, Story Of My Life, Out Of Time

8. Hollywood Vampires – Rise

Some of the well-known Hollywood Vampires who accidentally formed a band in 2015 have once again risen from their graves to spread fear and terror worldwide, this time through their second album, Rise. Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, and their crew deliver 16 new songs, showing us just how much this project means to them. Despite their busy individual careers, they find time and desire to keep this supergroup alive. Then again, considering they’re vampires, this band might just be immortal, right?
Killer tracks: Who’s Laughing Now, I Want My Now, Boogieman Surprise

7. Whitesnake – Flesh and Blood

Good to see you again, Mr. Coverdale! Despite being somewhat critical in our Flesh and Blood review, this album will undoubtedly be remembered as a pivotal moment in the band’s history, thanks to the new guitar duo of Beach and Hoekstra. This lineup has ushered Whitesnake into a completely new era—one that could either be long-lasting and memorable or quickly forgotten. Of course, this all depends on David and how much “fire” he has left. Since this is only the band’s third album of entirely new material since 1997, we hope the trend won’t continue, and that Flesh and Blood will soon get a successor. The year was also memorable for their concert in Belgrade, which ended with a downpour during the final song.
Killer tracks: Hey You, Heart Of Stone, Trouble Is Your Middle Name

6. Michael Monroe – One Man Gang

The legend that is Michael Monroe lives on. This tireless Finn, the leader of the famous Hanoi Rocks, treated us this year to his 11th solo album, One Man Gang. A man who taught many, like Guns N’ Roses in their early days, shows no signs of fading significance as the years pass. Most importantly, he continues to make great music. One Man Gang is filled with energetic punk-rock anthems perfect for cranking up at a party—a party you’ll likely never forget.
Killer tracks: Junk Planet, Black Ties And Red Tape, Last Train To Tokyo

5. Crazy Lixx – Forever Wild

Another band from Sweden’s incredibly diverse and prolific rock-metal scene, Crazy Lixx, belongs to the “big Swedish rock four.” In that quartet, they represent the melodic hard rock spectrum, and Forever Wild, their sixth album, delivers the “best of the best” in retro-modern melodic hard rock. At moments, you might feel like it’s the ’80s, but with a technologically advanced twist—the intensity of the music is very much in tune with the times. Crazy Lixx are true masters of this combination!
Killer tracks: Terminal Velocity, (She’s Wearing) Yesterday’s Face, Silent Thunder

4. The 69 Eyes – West End

The Helsinki Vampires’ twelfth album gathers all the best elements that have defined their career. West End incorporates all the aspects mastered on their previous albums: gothic touches, horror themes, sleaze rock foundations, Halloween vibes, Jyrki’s dark vampiric vocals, and cold, melodic Finnish guitars. This gives the album the feel of a “best of” collection, even though it’s composed of entirely new songs.
Killer tracks: Two Horns Up, Cheyenne, The Last House On The Left

3. Alter Bridge – Walk The Sky

The Alter Bridge machine keeps grinding! Once again, we’ve received a sonically superior and precise rock/metal album—exactly what we’ve come to expect from this band. With Walk The Sky, their sixth album, Myles Kennedy, Mark Tremonti, and the rest of the crew demonstrate their musical mastery while exploring new horizons. A riff tornado, delirium-inducing solos, and massive production are the hallmarks of this 14-track masterpiece.
Killer tracks: Wouldn’t You Rather, Dying Light, Native Son

2. Crashdïet – Rust

A well-deserved second place goes to this Swedish band’s fifth album. Rust might even be their best work yet, although some may disagree since their debut was hailed as the next Appetite for Destruction back in 2005. From the first to the last track, everything just clicks—Martin Sweet’s guitar work and Gabriel Keyes’ vocals shine. It’s worth noting that this is their fifth album with their fourth vocalist—a testament to their perseverance.
Killer tracks: In The Maze, Idiots, We Are The Legion

1. L.A. Guns – The Devil You Know

We have a winner! The best album of 2019, as voted by our readers and editors, is The Devil You Know by L.A. Guns!

Since guitarist Tracii Guns and vocalist Phil Lewis reunited in 2016 after nearly 15 years apart, these Los Angeles sleaze rock pioneers have been thriving. The Devil You Know is their second album since their reunion, following The Missing Peace. It’s hard to say which is better, as Tracii’s guitar work and Phil’s vocals remain unparalleled compared to any previous iteration of the band. While drummer Steve Riley continues to muddy the waters with plans to release an album under his version of L.A. Guns next year, for us, there’s only one true L.A. Guns—the one with Tracii and Phil. This victory is well deserved!
Killer tracks: Loaded Bomb, Needle To The Bone, Going High