8. Brutus - Nest
As one of the most unique and meticulously composed records of 2019, Nest caught the ear of many a music fan when the Belgian post-hardcore trio dropped a live video for "War" earlier this year. Hearing (and seeing) singer-drummer Stefanie Mannaerts soar while beating the hell out of her kit — as her bandmates unleashed total sonic grandeur — was enough to induce goose bumps. But an entire album of this stuff? Unreal. J.B.