Rock, of course, is not dead. In fact, it is better than ever, you just need to know where to look. Sure, a lot of bands reference some of the great groups of the past, but in the days when Motley Crue sells out arena-sized venues playing to backing tracks when good old Rock and Roll is delivered with passion the craft should be admired.
Here are five really cool Rock albums that Rock is the New Roll will be endorsing for 2019.
Crazy Lixx – Forever Wild
Who knew that some of the hardest-hitting hard rock of the year would be coming from Sweden. Having created a semi-genre of their own, ‘The New Wave of Swedish Sleaze’ these guys can lay as much claim to the Sunset Strip as the Hollywood Vampires.
Grand Slam – Hit The Ground
When Thin Lizzy front-man Phil Lynott broke up with his band he rebounded with a band formed with friends and talented associates that were called Grand Slam. And now, in 2019, rising from the ashes of this band is a record that is as good as any Rock album you will hear all year. The grit and melody that Thin Lizzy made, famously, are presented here in splendid glory.
Whiskey Myers – Whiskey Myers
Combine Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Crowes, and Jason and the Scorchers, and you pretty much would get the DNA of Whiskey Myers. Singing for the great American heartland singer Cody Cannon howls out that he needs a bible, a gun, and gasoline. Holy smokes!!
Airbourne – Boneshaker
If Bon Scott would have never met his demise his new of this world band would sound like Airbourne. Boneshaker is a sledgehammer of a record knob-twirled by the producer of the moment, Dave Cobb. This record is a flaming stripped-to-the-bone blast of sweat, sex, and danger.
The Defiants – Zokusho
Every song on this record is an anthem, and that is no joke. There are elements of Foreigner, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, all over this one. These guys party like it’s 1989 all over again. Led by survivors of the glory days of hair metal this one is indisputably the best Melodic Rock album of the year.
Rock Is The New Roll 
Great choices that along with Greta van Fleet and a few other bands give me hope for the future of hard rock. Whiskey Myers is my favorite of the litter – simply outstanding southern rock. I would have guessed that Airborne was AC/DC if I had my eyes closed. And the description of The Defiants is spot on.