10 Biggest Metal Albums Still To Come In 2019

8. Alcest - "Spiritual Instinct" (25 Oct)

It sounds like the blackgaze trailblazers are putting something special together after last wooing us with the dreamy "Kodama" in 2016.

No songs (or even song titles) have been released yet, with frontman Neige offering only slithers of information in a recent interview with Prog magazine. "The recording of 'Spiritual Instinct' has been a long and challenging process," he said, "but we feel really proud of it and can't wait to share our new music with all of you."

As far as the striking cover goes, Neige said that "the artwork, made by Parisian duo Førtifem, represents a sphinx as a reference to the symbolism art movement. The sphinx is the ultimate figure of enigma, which embodies both the spiritual and feral sides within us." Could this mean a return to some of the heftier sounds found on earlier Alcest records? "Kodama" was a beautiful, otherworldly record low on black metal, but high on atmosphere, though it's hard to read too much into Neige's words at this stage.

Regardless, autumn and winter are the perfect seasons to let this subgenre wash over you. "Spiritual Instinct's" release couldn't be timelier.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.