I'm amazed to realize that this article will mark the seventh time I've created a "Top Albums of the Year" list. I have unsuccessfully tried to cut down the number of new albums I checked in 2018. While I stayed at the 100 mark, as in previous years, I think I spent less time per album. More often than previously, I dismissed some releases that didn't appeal to me in the first few tries. My goal for 2019 is to reduce the number of albums and increase the number of listening sessions per chosen ones. Why is that? Well, other commitments, work and my tinnitus are the main factors for me to cut down the volume of music during my day. I also want to buy less physical albums as shelf space is quickly becoming an issue. So I will focus on really good ones.
But now back to 2018. As I usually point out, these are simply subjective choices as my favorite albums of the year and not necessarily "the best" albums. I chose these records for different reasons. First I rate every song of an album, so yes, it has to be consistently good to make it to the top. I don't exclude any metal sub-genre and more often than not it's about the emotions and experiences the album brought to me. For example, I always notice that top albums are correlated with bands I saw live on the same year. Last note, I don't particularly reward different/innovative albums, but I do get bored with albums that are full of cliches and sound too much like other albums from the past.
That's all, thank you and enjoy!
55.Skeletal Remains - Devouring Mortality
54.Watain - Trident Wolf Eclipse
53.Hooded Menace - Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
52.Barren Earth - A Complex Of Cages
51.Magnum - Lost on the Road to Eternity
50.Horrendous - Idol
49.Uriah Heep - Living the Dream
48.Gruesome - Twisted Prayers
47.Krisiun - Scourge Of The Enthroned
46.Arkona - Khram
45.Corrosion of Conformity - No Cross No Crown
44.Sleep - The Sciences
43.Kamelot - The Shadow Theory
42.Audrey Horne - Blackout
41.Bloodbath - The Arrow of Satan is Drawn
40.At The Gates - To Drink From the Night Itself
39.Mob Rules - Beast Reborn
38.Fifth Angel - The Third Secret
37.Long Distance Calling - Boundless
36.Vein - Errorzone
35.Primordial - Exile Amongst the Ruins
34.Black Label Society - Grimmest Hits
33.Spock's Beard - Noise Floor
32.Necrophobic - Mark Of The Necrogram
31.Riot V - Armor of Light
30.Primal Fear - Apocalypse
29.Architects - Holy Hell
28.Parkway Drive - Reverence
27.Millennial Reign - The Great Divide
26.Brainstorm - Midnight Ghost
25.Haken - Vector
24.Ihsahn - Ámr
23.Heir Apparent - The View from Below
22.Visigoth - Conqueror's Oath
21.Joe Satriani - What Happens Next
20.Amorphis - Queen Of Time
Keeping some of their Death Metal roots in their sound, Amorphis is now a progressive metal act combining melody, aggressiveness, folk elements, clean and death metal vocals. This time they stepped up a notch by including the use of real strings, flutes, orchestral arrangements and even choirs. With two fantastic albums in a row, it will be interesting to see where those Finns go next.
19.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.
18.Behemoth - I Loved You at Your Darkest
Not as powerful and unanimously adored as the predecessor, ILYAYD is still another excellent output from the Polish band. It confirms Behemoth as one of the most important bands in extreme metal today. Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski experience in non-metal projects led ILYAYD to sound like a transitional record (sound and lyrics). In some moments more accessible and using new elements (e.g. children choir, acoustic guitars) but without forgetting where they came from. ILYAYD is all over the year-end lists.
17.Khemmis - Desolation
After the huge buzz around their previous record, it was great to see that Khemmis grabbed their place and were still delivering the highest quality heavy metal. Desolation marks a departure from the pure doom metal sound into traditional heavy metal music but still grounded into their doom foundation. It sounds like Khemmis but you can hear classic rock influences, specially Iron Maiden. The growth of this band is impressive.
16.Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods
Northern Chaos Gods is the ninth studio album by Immortal and first without Abbath. 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's 2018 and Immortal is still relevant, thanks!
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15.Ghost - Prequelle
Saying that Prequelle is a divisive record is kind of redundant for such a "love or rate" band. The album is musically more 80s rock/pop oriented than previous records, guitars are also more prominent. It is once again a very well written album, as catchy and memorable as a rock album can be. I really like the first half of it but felt a bit disappointed with the B side. It's a fun record that on average is by no doubts considered one of the best of the year.
14.Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Deafheaven continues to solidify their post-black metal sound. I was already impressed with their previous work so it's impressive that I think that Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is even better. 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.
13.Gaerea - Unsettling Whispers
The surprise of the year was the debut full-length from the black metal quintet from Portugal. Unsettling Whispers is a mastery display of doing black 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 is the black metal album of the year from a band that we need to keep an eye on through our hoods.
12.Voivod - The Wake
The music is a psychedelic prog thrash metal journey with many twists and turns. The album delivers a single work, rather than a collection of songs. Hence why it's a grower and takes quite a few spins to really get into it. But once you do, it's a concise, unique and well crafted music experience. Overall the legendary thrash band was able to after all these years and several line-up changes, deliver an album that while modern and different stayed true to their roots.
11.Tribulation - Down Below
After the highly acclaimed The Children of the Night (2015) which significantly steered their sound into traditional heavy metal, psychedelic rock, and gothic rock, Tribulation is with a cohesive musical experience. I can't really pinpoint any songs, they are all great and don't stand out individually. But as a full length album from start to finish, there's a dark hypnotizing atmosphere that sucks you into it. Additionally the production is great, the guitars are fantastic and the vocals as dark as we came to know, growling with melody.
10.Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog
23.Heir Apparent - The View from Below
22.Visigoth - Conqueror's Oath
21.Joe Satriani - What Happens Next
Keeping some of their Death Metal roots in their sound, Amorphis is now a progressive metal act combining melody, aggressiveness, folk elements, clean and death metal vocals. This time they stepped up a notch by including the use of real strings, flutes, orchestral arrangements and even choirs. With two fantastic albums in a row, it will be interesting to see where those Finns go next.
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.
Not as powerful and unanimously adored as the predecessor, ILYAYD is still another excellent output from the Polish band. It confirms Behemoth as one of the most important bands in extreme metal today. Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski experience in non-metal projects led ILYAYD to sound like a transitional record (sound and lyrics). In some moments more accessible and using new elements (e.g. children choir, acoustic guitars) but without forgetting where they came from. ILYAYD is all over the year-end lists.
After the huge buzz around their previous record, it was great to see that Khemmis grabbed their place and were still delivering the highest quality heavy metal. Desolation marks a departure from the pure doom metal sound into traditional heavy metal music but still grounded into their doom foundation. It sounds like Khemmis but you can hear classic rock influences, specially Iron Maiden. The growth of this band is impressive.
Northern Chaos Gods is the ninth studio album by Immortal and first without Abbath. 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's 2018 and Immortal is still relevant, thanks!
Saying that Prequelle is a divisive record is kind of redundant for such a "love or rate" band. The album is musically more 80s rock/pop oriented than previous records, guitars are also more prominent. It is once again a very well written album, as catchy and memorable as a rock album can be. I really like the first half of it but felt a bit disappointed with the B side. It's a fun record that on average is by no doubts considered one of the best of the year.
Deafheaven continues to solidify their post-black metal sound. I was already impressed with their previous work so it's impressive that I think that Ordinary Corrupt Human Love is even better. 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.
The surprise of the year was the debut full-length from the black metal quintet from Portugal. Unsettling Whispers is a mastery display of doing black 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 is the black metal album of the year from a band that we need to keep an eye on through our hoods.
The music is a psychedelic prog thrash metal journey with many twists and turns. The album delivers a single work, rather than a collection of songs. Hence why it's a grower and takes quite a few spins to really get into it. But once you do, it's a concise, unique and well crafted music experience. Overall the legendary thrash band was able to after all these years and several line-up changes, deliver an album that while modern and different stayed true to their roots.
After the highly acclaimed The Children of the Night (2015) which significantly steered their sound into traditional heavy metal, psychedelic rock, and gothic rock, Tribulation is with a cohesive musical experience. I can't really pinpoint any songs, they are all great and don't stand out individually. But as a full length album from start to finish, there's a dark hypnotizing atmosphere that sucks you into it. Additionally the production is great, the guitars are fantastic and the vocals as dark as we came to know, growling with melody.
The third album with William DuVall is the one I liked the most. The classic elements are all there: Melodic, mid-tempo, vocal harmonies, big riffs and dark mood. While not bringing anything new, the grunge pioneers from Seattle delivered another great album. The first 3/4 of the album are just great, but the last part looses a bit the strength, but luckily the interesting "Never Fade" saves the overall experience. For new and old fans alike, this is a fun and entertaining musical experience.
I bought this album right after its release and it was climbing slowly my list as I get inside this long, beautiful and emotional but yet heavy doomy musical journey. While the whole album is fantastic, "Beauty In Falling Leaves" is specially amazing. Like the whole album, it is testament of the emotions going through frontman Mike Scheidt while in hospital fighting for his life.
Despite their six albums history, Head Cage is my first contact with these grind masters. Their choice to modernize their production, to include a bass player (yes for the first time!) and overall "metalize" more their ferocious grindcore sound worked for me. Listen at your own risk!
TesseracT combines complex technicality and djent grooves with atmospheric sounds giving it a very unique progressive sound. Additionally, Daniel Tompkins, vocal performance is jaw dropping. My only overall complain about Sonder is that it's the band's shortest studio album at 36 minutes in length. I can't wait for more TesseracT!
After a mesmerizing live show, I fell in love with Stranger Fruit. Zeal & Ardor mixes sounds of negro spirituals with black metal. The result is a very unique record full of energy and emotion. Different ideas, structures, tempos, vocal changes and choruses make Stranger Fruit not only an original record but also dynamic. While not being an easy one to digest album, if you take the time to appreciate the experimentation, you will find yourself addicted to a catchy, fascinating and daring record.
Their previous record was already fantastic and The Ocean did it again. Maybe not as good, it's still amazing. The beautifully crafted sound experience combining post rock with death metal moments is epic and great. If the band wasn't good enough the song "Devonian: Nascent" Featuring Jonas Renkse from Katatonia adds an additional flavor of doomy grace.
Albeit as progressive as previous records, Automata being released in two parts is easier to digest than previous records. I am a big fan of the progressive modern metal that BTBAM have been making for the last few albums. Automata continues the trend of good albums. Originality, exceptional musicianship, thought provoking lyrics, Automata has it all. The jazzy big band influenced "Voice Of Trespass" is one of the best songs of the year.
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! This is a masterpiece of power progressive symphonic metal, where's Part II already?
Rivers of Nihil continue to perform the technical death metal which they are known for. But they also progressed into new frontiers adding elements from jazz (e.g. "The Silent Life"), acoustic (e.g "Subtle Change"), and electronica (e.g. "Terrestria III: Wither). It all results in progressive death metal with a diverse sound pallet. There's a lot of melody but never let down the heaviness. As one of the jewels of 2018, Where Owls Know My Name is Rivers of Nihil‘s opportunity to shine and bring new fans.
We have the pleasure to be blessed in 2018 with a return to form from the metal gods. Let me get right into it, Firepower is their best album since Painkiller. And probably will remain among my top 10 Priest albums. It's full of energy, heavy great drumming and riffs, Halford did a great job and the production is fantastic (albeit a bit loud). Firepower sounds like Priest in 2018. Meaning, it clearly has several hallmarks of their classic sound, but it also sounds modern and timely. It's a very direct album, most of the songs are below 5 minutes and fast tempo. Overall very good album, classic Priest with a modern twist and full of instant classics.
Honorable Mentions:
Skeletonwitch - Devouring Radiant Light
Angra - ØMNI
Axel Rudi Pell - Knights Call
Therion - Beloved Antichrist
Hamferð - Támsins likam
Bleed From Within - Era
Anaal Nathrakh - A New Kind of Horror
Saxon - Thunderbolt
SUMAC - Love In Shadow
Witherfall - A Prelude To Sorrow
Dimmu Borgir - Eonian
Gorod - Aethra
Grave Digger - The Living Dead
Biggest Disappointments:
Them - Manor of the Se7en Gables
Voodoo Circle - Raised on Rock
Royal Hunt - Cast In Stone
Machine Head - Catharsis
Judas Priest - Firepower
Brainstorm - Midnight Ghost
Hooded Menace - Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
Joe Satriani- Thunder High on the Mountain by Joe Satriani
Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away by Zakk Wylde
Black Label Society - The Only Words by Zakk Wylde
Gruesome - Crusade of Brutality by James Murphy
Obscura- Ekpyrosis by R. Trujillo
Michael Romeo - Djinn by Michael Romeo
Slash feat. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators - Lost Inside The Girl by Slash
Top 5 songs:
Firepower by Judas PriestTo Drink From the Night Itself by At The Gates
Rats by Ghost
Voice Of Trespass by Between The Buried And Me
Luminary by TesseracT
Luminary by TesseracT
Iron Maiden at Graspop
Helloween at Alcatraz Festival
Kamelot at 013
Disappointing Shows:
Thy Art is Murder at Fortarock
The Black Dahlia Murder at Alcatraz Festival
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