Top Albums of Q3/2018

Michael Romeo - War Of The Worlds, Pt. 1

The guitarist and main song writer of Symphony X (SX), brings his first solo album. The big difference to SX (besides the vocals) is the intense use of symphonic passages with a film score vibe to it, making the transition between songs seamlessly awesome! After the competent and direct opener "Fear The Unknown", "Black", an amazing song, follows (even if at times reminds me of BFMV but on the good days). The thrash riff on "Black" is superb, James Hetfield is certainly jealous. "F*cking Robots" is not only a very unique song in a metal album due to the use of electronic music but also features an amazing catchy beautiful chorus. "Djinn" eastern arrangements and atmosphere blended with the very heavy riff reminded me of the excellent V: The New Mythology Suite. "Believe", the longest track, starts given the impression it's going to be a ballad but despite being mid tempo, it's just a beautiful progressive song. "Differences" is short, direct and heavy song with a catchy chorus, one of the most SX-like songs on the record. The instrumental title track transitions directly into "Oblivion", a nice track with a memorable verse. "Constellations" closes War Of The Worlds, Pt. 1 in good style. This is a masterpiece of power progressive symphonic metal, where's Part II already?

Between The Buried And Me - Automata II
Automata II is the second part of a two-piece album released in July and the first, Automata I, was released in March. Part II features 4 songs in 34 minutes, one being a 2 min transition. Consequently, albeit as progressive as previous records, it is easier to digest. I am a big fan of the progressive modern metal that BTBAM have been making for the last few albums. Automata II continues the trend of good albums and it's even better than part I. Originality, exceptional musicianship, thought provoking lyrics, Automata I & II have it all and it will certainly please the fans while possibly bringing new ones.

Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love

Already presenting their 4th album, Deafheaven continues to solidify their post-black metal sound. I was already impressed with both Sunbather (2013) and New Bermuda (2015) so it's impressive that I think that Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is even better. "You Without End" opens the album with a soft piano intro and spoken words. It's a piano based song in which the vocals are low in the mix, it works for me, beautiful song. "Honeycomb" is the first single is a much more guitar driven track. It includes an interesting blast beats section and a groovy black n roll vibe, specially during the guitar solo. "Canary Yellow" is the second single, the longest song with over 12 min. The vocals are ery black metal but it's another groovy song with a slow intro and sections. "Near" is relatively short song featuring an acoustic guitar, clean vocals but mostly instrumental, it's right in the middle of the album and it works well as "palate cleanser". The slowness is not broken until minute 3 of "Glint" when we past the intro into one of the closest section to traditional black metal. The shortest song "Night People" features Chelsea Wolfe and it is dispensable, points for trying. The album closes with the epic "Worthless Animal". Once more Deafheaven makes disturbing heavy music beautiful. A dichotomy that challenges the listener. The inclusion of more piano parts, rock guitar riffs and solos gave yet another color to their characteristic sound without loosing its roots.

Obscura - Diluvium
Germany’s progressive death metal masters Obscura complete their "four-album conceptual circle with the release of Diluvium". All the band's signature elements are again present: Progressive Tech Death Metal with very complex songs, a prominent fretless bass and great guitar work. For an album on this genre Diluvium is relatively easy to digest and provides us with a fantastic sonic journey.

Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods
Northern Chaos Gods is the ninth studio album by Immortal and first without Abbath. It's been nine years since All Shall Fall! In the meantime Abbath released a solo album which is pretty good. All in all, expectations were high for Demonaz (vocals, guitars) and Horgh (drums). The album is only 43 minutes in 8 tracks. The album opens very well with the energetic and yet catchy title track. The traditional black metal tracks follow one after the other with a lot of energy, great riffs and groove. Until we reach track 8, the epic "Mighty Ravendark" and its fantastic 9:15 minutes. It appears then that Immortal can exist without Abbath and do very well. We are very fortunate because we also get Abbath with his band.

Primal Fear - Apocalypse

With Primal Fear you know what you are getting: traditional heavy/power metal of high quality highly influence by Judas Priest, Accept and Helloween. Ralf Scheepers is one of the best singers in the genre and always delivers solid performances. Backed up by a competent line-up and song writers who know how to write fist pumping songs and sing along catchy choruses.  Apocalypse features a collection of fast and powerful tracks such as "New Rise", "The Ritual" and "Blood, Sweat, & Fear". But also throws us some curve balls that work very well: "Supernova" is a beautiful slow tempo song with symphonic arrangements. "Eye Of The Storm" is a symphonic epic 8 min track. Even more variations like those would've helped the album. For example a couple of songs at the end don't add much to the experience. For the fans of Primal Fear or this genre, satisfaction guaranteed! 

Gaerea - Unsettling Whispers
The surprise of the quarter was the debut full-length from the black metal quintet from Portugal. Unsettling Whispers is a mastery display of doing balck metal right. Despite the fact that Gaerea is a hooded anonymous group, musically, it has nothing to do with Ghost. Gaerea makes high quality, well written black metal full of dark melodies, mostly mid tempo with a hint of death metal. It may be the black metal album of the year from a band that we need to keep an eye on though our hoods.