NielsI just can't make up my mind when sorting my favourite albums of 2018. I'm swapping top 10 positions on a daily basis now... It was a decent year for music. Lot's of good albums, nothing that completely blew my mind, but a lot of stuff that I found equally good.
Runners up: Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want.
Noisy, dirty, industrial rock/punk. Like: Swans meets Godflesh or something. I have to be in the mood for this, but it's pretty interesting. Perhaps a little overhyped by some of the music press, but it is powerful music and took my by surprise.
https://open.spotify.com/album/21wg2jYkGO5RcnU2CV2a2s?si=znkWkOnjQwSnYUYFCKDCMQ
You Won't Get What You Want
You Won't Get What You Want, an album by Daughters on Spotify
Runners up: Fluisteraars / Turia - De Oord.
There is a lot of creativity and good music coming out of the Dutch black-metal scene. This split is one of the most interesting Dutch black-metal releases of the year. Think of a combination of the Norwegian and Icelandic sounds: dissonant, cold and atmospheric. Each band delivers a really long songs that fits perfectly together.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1nrpQtovGlTwnUbvar7mRl?si=s3xPZ-hYQvG-oBXOtUlVDA
De Oord
De Oord, an album by Fluisteraars, Turia on Spotify
Runners up: Wesenwille - I: Wesenwille.
Another Dutch black-metal album that really stood out to me this year. The sound can be described as dissonant, atmospheric, technical, with an urban lyrical theme and crystal clear production. Take Laster and throw in some Icelandic black-metal influences and you have Wesenwille.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0PV68crpyf63IcQhymKUS2?si=fHsL1cKIQW2gCsyerZt78g
I: Wesenwille
I: Wesenwille, an album by Wesenwille on Spotify
Runners up: Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic.
Not everything is metal in this year's list.
Anna von Hausswolff hits the jackpot with Dead Magic. All of the five songs are great and make me wish there was more.
Dead Magic borrows the aesthetics of metal and is as dark, or perhaps even darker than most metal acts. File this under ambient, experimental rock, drone, singer-songwriter, organs.
https://open.spotify.com/album/29haLrvX37jDkDfwVk4FKV?si=losHJA8YSn-2Cvgy7UivxQ
Dead Magic
Dead Magic, an album by Anna von Hausswolff on Spotify
Runner up: Julia Holter - Aviary.
I love the improvisation on this album, all the little details, the instrumentation and Julia Holter's vocals.
This one is pretty long and perhaps a bit too long. But her experimental side is my favourite side of her and this is an album packed with it. Recommended.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6icpwcJQWK4nq9Xilk4yRu?si=IiWYauVuTu-NqTYQk4AIsA
Aviary
Aviary, an album by Julia Holter on Spotify
Another runner up is: Sinistro - Sangue Cássia.
Perhaps not as exciting as their first full length with singer Patrícia Andrade, but this is continuing the path the band took. Post-rock/metal with sultry fado vocals from Patrícia. This was released in January and seems one of the albums everyone has forgotten...
https://open.spotify.com/album/08DGQt7x48Zq7if4uAF23q?si=SG2roK1iT_u0n0iYSIaj-Q
Sangue Cássia (Deluxe Edition)
Sangue Cássia (Deluxe Edition), an album by Sinistro on Spotify
I guess I should start with the numbers now...
19: Khemmis - Desolation.
Although not as good as their terrific second album, this doom-metal band still deliver on their third album. Their sound leaning this time more towards a traditional metal sound, still with a modern edge.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6z0BKgxllPQ3IM61Mvy1Le?si=e5J4Ns--SkaYRWrBJRbK6A
Desolation
Desolation, an album by Khemmis on Spotify
18: Funeral Mist - Hekatomb
On first glance this might be regular straight-forward high-speed black-metal, but it's some of the darkest music I've heard this year. I love the moments when everything slows down, the crazy drum rhythms and Typhos's vocal antics.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5ioQ9pWCEaIbteaJdNebz8?si=eVFSGT0hSF-kMUFV0Lmy2w
Hekatomb
Hekatomb, an album by Funeral Mist on Spotify
17: Voïvod - The Wake
How long have Voïvod been active? Because it doesn't happen often a band releases one of their best albums as far in their career as these guys are. Voïvod have always been special, but if you would've told me they would release not only a good album, but a great album in 2018 I would've laughed at you. But here we are: The Wake sounds fresh, powerful and exciting!
https://open.spotify.com/album/097DmmcskEDBUEgFJaIbvG?si=jRknBD5lSleid76ptNZUeA
The Wake (Deluxe Edition)
The Wake (Deluxe Edition), an album by Voivod on Spotify
16: Carpe Noctem - Vitrun
My obsession this year was, among other things, with Icelandic black-metal. Carpe Noctem might be one of the most interesting bands I've heard so far. Mixing black-metal with doom-metal, making this album sound extremely dark and haunting. Perfect music for this time of the year ;-)
https://open.spotify.com/album/4YM03hyboEuaSWb31xRxaL?si=oUFb1Il6SASz-6RhP4nHGg
Vitrun
Vitrun, an album by Carpe Noctem on Spotify
15: The Konsortium - Rogaland
Hang on, we're almost through this block of black-metal. Just one more... 🤘Which is: The Konsortium, a band playing my favorite kind of black-metal: the Norwegian type. Think Mayhem, Dødheimsgard, dissonant, but also trash-metal influences. I love this kind of sound, which makes this underrated album one of my favourites this year.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5vCU47PkFAFG0CzrjGkia4?si=00LfiTiaQpKQzgVoUQeTUA
Rogaland
Rogaland, an album by The Konsortium on Spotify
14: Minami Deutsch - With Dim Light
Japanese kraut-rock! Apparently that's a thing in 2018 and I discovered it during Roadburn festival this year. This is nice, rocky and trippy. They're even better live, but this album is great to listen to at home.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3wwekcTBtkPsUWqlCks95B?si=yj5s5oAES3ezYbeV97HGPw
With Dim Light
With Dim Light, an album by Minami Deutsch on Spotify
13: Emma Ruth Rundle - On Dark Horses
Emma Ruth Rundle returns with another strong emotional solo album. File her music under heavy singer/songwriter with a drop of Chelsea Wolfe. On Dark Horses is beautiful and the song You Don't Have To Cry tears me up every time.
https://open.spotify.com/album/1vcWwbIr1mePnssmxYvmGH?si=66NRFzfpTxidzNWozAZuUA
On Dark Horses
On Dark Horses, an album by Emma Ruth Rundle on Spotify
12: Voices - Frightened.
I discovered their previous album London a few years ago and loved it. Frightened is like London, but sounds completely different. I'm sure they lost a couple of fans after releasing this album, but they sound closer to Katatonia than what they did on London. Still, this is heavy shit and very emotional music. Don't give up on this band, because this is a grower.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7iwIlKopWDk6VgklOi1rLN?si=eyXDORJGQJufwpkyRZUdVQ
Frightened
Frightened, an album by Voices on Spotify
11: Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temples
Another Japanese band that picked my interest when I saw them at Roadburn. These guys play psychedelic rock and are great at it. Masana Temples is really good and you should pick it up if you fancy sitars in your music. They're best experienced in a live setting, but you can't go wrong with this album.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5g5l9entA4bTztfpLJd1kS?si=o_SXIZcJRPCAnXzc77SLjg
Masana Temples
Masana Temples, an album by Kikagaku Moyo on Spotify
Top 10 albums of 2018!
10: Svartidauði - Revelations Of The Red Sword
The Icelandic black-metal scene is currently booming. Lot's of interesting acts are working on and releasing a follow-up to their debut records. Svartidauði is one of them and this second album is everything you would expect. Dark, atmospheric, dissonant and brutal. The best record coming from Iceland this year.
https://open.spotify.com/album/21r8djHhS74EgLMeHKllr3?si=fR8doL8UQX6u4aoE_BBO3A
Revelations of the Red Sword
Revelations of the Red Sword, an album by Svartidaudi on Spotify
9: Usurpress - Interregnum
Usurpress surprised me with Interregnum. It's Bolt Thrower meets progressive-rock and a little bit of Sisters Of Mercy. The album is short and sweet and has me craving for more. Also Stefan Pettersson, the vocalist, has one of the best death-metal grunts I've heard lately. This album is one of this years hidden gems.
https://open.spotify.com/album/12F3ZQ6xvm8KSWrulPvhu4?si=Pg6ypNafTP26DhAM2U5J3Q
Interregnum
Interregnum, an album by Usurpress on Spotify
8: Black Peaks - All That Divides
Black Peaks sit somewhere between System of a Down and Leprous. These guys have crafted an album full of great songs. I can listen to this all the time, poppy hooks, excellent vocals, great instrumentation. I have a soft spot for this kind of music. Highly recommended.
https://open.spotify.com/album/64nOhJqFoQi9P8LVjS4tuG?si=VxT9nQbIQmCQ386xuH3yng
All That Divides
All That Divides, an album by Black Peaks on Spotify
7: Messa - Feast For Water
This is jazzy doom-metal from Italy. Think Black Sabbath swapping Ozzy with a sultry jazz vocalist + adding a bit of drone in there. The album sounds highly original and has a couple of excellent tracks. One of the albums that really grew on me this year.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7xLqM5cY5WwLHV0GZ6OKkF?si=9m8IbwXiS5ylBer8N3cQyA
Feast for Water
Feast for Water, an album by Messa on Spotify
6: Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury
Wow, what a surprise this album has been. Jazz meets very, very experimental and dissonant black-metal on a thematic album about the dark side of New York (Think Eyes Wide Shut). This highly controversial album is not an easy listen, but there is a lot to get here. Will definitely get rid of all your annoying family during Christmas dinner.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3P3PS8Iucg9CMeZyrxaElf?si=lVD3Y5k-TQmEhB3dqw0PZA
Vile Luxury
Vile Luxury, an album by Imperial Triumphant on Spotify
5: Slugdge - Esoteric Malacology
It took me a while before I correctly knew how to pronounce Slugdge, but during that time I've listened a lot to this album. Everything this band does is mollusk themed, which is kind of odd. But the music this duo makes is some of the best black/death-metal I've heard this year.
https://open.spotify.com/album/06C9Fc6T2I45U93R4BctNO?si=YX9eDG6iQoWFd8MuPA9kSA
Esoteric Malacology
Esoteric Malacology, an album by Slugdge on Spotify
4: Gåte - Svevn
A big surprise for me was the return of Gåte in 2018. Norwegian folk and progressive rock/metal can sometimes sound cheesy, but Gåte stay far away from the cheese. The album contains a lot of excellent songs and overall the sound is a little louder than what they did 12 years ago. Gunnhild's vocals are still spellbinding. Best comeback of 2018.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5acWt4OVZyxzk5RvlFCo1o?si=V3AgqVcaQW6EclKvNC_tSA
Svevn
Svevn, an album by Gåte on Spotify
I'm listening to this album right now. This might be even better than I thought. Production wise this is top notch. Great bass and the drums are high in the mix. The dynamics are great. I can sing the Portugese lyrics phonetically... 🙂