Horrendous - Idol
After 2 well received albums, Horrendous is coming out of the underground with their incredible new album Idol. Idol's music is a raw progressive death metal with a clear but old style dynamic production. As with the previous record Anareta , Idol does not shy away of showing their Death-style songwriting while still being fresh and original. The vocals, for example, very often flirt with hardcore style and the fretless bass brings a different flavor to their mix. Matt Knox and Damian Herring’s guitar work and riffs are another highlight. The synergy and chemistry between the two are jaw-dropping. It also helps that the album does not overstay its welcome clocking just under 40 min. All in all, it's difficult to complain about something on this record. The praising will not fade away, be ready to see Idol in many year end lists.
Voivod - The Wake
The Wake is the fourteenth studio album by the Canadian heavy metal band Voivod. The music is a psychedelic prog thrash metal journey with many twists and turns. According to Langevin "The story involves the usual Voivodian topics: disasters, chaos, conflicts, strange plots and alternate consciousness." The album is successful in its goal of delivering 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. One of the unique features of The Wake is the final track "Sonic Mycelium", a 12-minute affair that basically recaps and goes through the previous 7 songs main riffs and verses. 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 truthful to their original sound.
Heir Apparent - The View from Below
Heir Apparent is a traditional heavy metal band from Seattle, formed in 1983 and often compared to contemporaries Queensrÿche. Despite being formed 35 years ago, Heir Apparent has only two LPs prior to The View from Below, Graceful Inheritance (1986) and One Small Voice (1989), the former became an underground cult album. Now they are finally back with an album that takes us back in time. The View from Below sounds like an 80's album, in a good way. With 8 strong tracks in 46 minutes of power progressive metal extravaganza, The View from Below does not have fat to be cut and balances very well the tracks. The songs are mostly on the 6 min mark, mid-tempo and very well produced. I like how all the instruments, including the bass, are very distinctive in the mix. The vocal performance is solid and Will does not overuse his high pitches. There's also enough variability among the songs with the progressive ballad "Here We Aren't", the short fast track "Savior" and the epic "The Road to Palestine" spread throughout the album keeping the listener attentive. For the fans of traditional heavy metal/power progressive metal, The View from Below is satisfaction guaranteed and one of the best albums of 2018 in this genre.
Brainstorm - Midnight Ghost
German power metal band Brainstorm 12th studio album is one of their best. From the song writing, production and cover artwork, it is as perfect as a power metal album can get. With 10 songs and 52 min, the album goes a bit long and looses some strength at the very end. But the sequence from the powerful opener "Devil's Eye" to the catchy "The Four Blessings" is pure power metal overdose. Catchy and melodic and yet powerful and energetic, Brainstorm delivered what any power metal fans would expect from them.
Behemoth - I Loved You at Your Darkest
Four years after the highly acclaimed The Satanist, Behemoth had the difficult task to follow up a masterpiece. 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 by displaying the dark Blackened Death Metal, ILYAYD will impress critics and fans alike.
Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog
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.
After 2 well received albums, Horrendous is coming out of the underground with their incredible new album Idol. Idol's music is a raw progressive death metal with a clear but old style dynamic production. As with the previous record Anareta , Idol does not shy away of showing their Death-style songwriting while still being fresh and original. The vocals, for example, very often flirt with hardcore style and the fretless bass brings a different flavor to their mix. Matt Knox and Damian Herring’s guitar work and riffs are another highlight. The synergy and chemistry between the two are jaw-dropping. It also helps that the album does not overstay its welcome clocking just under 40 min. All in all, it's difficult to complain about something on this record. The praising will not fade away, be ready to see Idol in many year end lists.
The Wake is the fourteenth studio album by the Canadian heavy metal band Voivod. The music is a psychedelic prog thrash metal journey with many twists and turns. According to Langevin "The story involves the usual Voivodian topics: disasters, chaos, conflicts, strange plots and alternate consciousness." The album is successful in its goal of delivering 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. One of the unique features of The Wake is the final track "Sonic Mycelium", a 12-minute affair that basically recaps and goes through the previous 7 songs main riffs and verses. 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 truthful to their original sound.
Heir Apparent - The View from Below
Heir Apparent is a traditional heavy metal band from Seattle, formed in 1983 and often compared to contemporaries Queensrÿche. Despite being formed 35 years ago, Heir Apparent has only two LPs prior to The View from Below, Graceful Inheritance (1986) and One Small Voice (1989), the former became an underground cult album. Now they are finally back with an album that takes us back in time. The View from Below sounds like an 80's album, in a good way. With 8 strong tracks in 46 minutes of power progressive metal extravaganza, The View from Below does not have fat to be cut and balances very well the tracks. The songs are mostly on the 6 min mark, mid-tempo and very well produced. I like how all the instruments, including the bass, are very distinctive in the mix. The vocal performance is solid and Will does not overuse his high pitches. There's also enough variability among the songs with the progressive ballad "Here We Aren't", the short fast track "Savior" and the epic "The Road to Palestine" spread throughout the album keeping the listener attentive. For the fans of traditional heavy metal/power progressive metal, The View from Below is satisfaction guaranteed and one of the best albums of 2018 in this genre.
Brainstorm - Midnight Ghost
German power metal band Brainstorm 12th studio album is one of their best. From the song writing, production and cover artwork, it is as perfect as a power metal album can get. With 10 songs and 52 min, the album goes a bit long and looses some strength at the very end. But the sequence from the powerful opener "Devil's Eye" to the catchy "The Four Blessings" is pure power metal overdose. Catchy and melodic and yet powerful and energetic, Brainstorm delivered what any power metal fans would expect from them.
Behemoth - I Loved You at Your Darkest
Four years after the highly acclaimed The Satanist, Behemoth had the difficult task to follow up a masterpiece. 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 by displaying the dark Blackened Death Metal, ILYAYD will impress critics and fans alike.
Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog
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.
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