Dewinged's 2018 AOTY
2018 has been a good year, plenty of good releases of all colors and flavors. Personally it's been kind of chill, got married few days into January and life has treated me very well so far. I'd like to thank everyone who I have interacted with through the year in the wonderful madness and chaos this site is. You people are the fucking sauce. Here are the albums I have dug the most this year, apart from top 10, the rest is loosely ranked. First half descriptions will go pretty fast so we can get to the meat and potatoes asap. Much love and Merry Chrstmas! |
| 101 |  | Daughters
You Won't Get What You Want
Release: October 26th
Label: Ipecac
Genre: Noise Rock
//Special mention//
I always reserve the 101th spot for an album that, even if popular among Sput's userbase, I can't seem to connect with, even if I think it's good. (I think last year was the 100th...ummm...). But anyway, to give you an idea, last year's special mention was Mount Eerie's "A Crow...". They are albums of undeniable quality but that, for some reason, they don't fit in where I am right now. |
| 100 |  | Summoning
With Doom We Come
Release: January 5th
Label: Napalm
Genre: Mordor Folk
The magic transcends the uruk hai production. |
| 99 |  | Melody's Echo Chamber
Bon Voyage
Release: June 15th
Label: Domino
Genre: Psychedelic Pop
The sweetest aftertaste ever. |
| 98 |  | Jarboe
The Cut Of The Warrior
Release: December 14th
Label: Translation Loss
Genre: Experimental (like in trying to summon Satan for a cup of tea)
Almost didn't make it. |
| 97 |  | Paper Dollhouse
The Sky looks Different Here
Release: February 9th
Label: MoonDome
Genre: Ambient
For night walks under the neons. |
| 96 |  | Thy Catafalque
Geometria
Release: May 4th
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Progressive
One man is an army. |
| 95 |  | Kaelan Mikla
Not Eftir Not
Release: November 9th
Label: Artoffact
Genre: Coldwave
Gothic party inside the iceberg. |
| 94 |  | Ex:Re
Ex:Re
Release: November 30th
Label: 4AD
Genre: Ambient... pop?
I really wanna drink and get hammered with Elena Tonra. |
| 93 |  | Gazelle Twin
Pastoral
Release: September 21st
Label: Anti-Ghost Moon Ray
Genre: Experimental
Lobotomy in the farm. |
| 92 |  | High on Fire
Electric Messiah
Release: October 5th
Label: eOne
Genre: Pike metal
Hair popped on my chest listening to this. |
| 91 |  | Rivers of Nihil
Where Owls Know My Name
Release: March 16th
Label: Metal Blade
Genre: Proggy death
It wasn't the sax, it was that stupid video what made it for me. |
| 90 |  | Wendy Rae Fowler
Warped
Release: February 9th
Label: N/A
Genre: Darkwave
So happy to see her doing her own thing. |
| 89 |  | Usurpress
Interregnum
Release: February 13th
Label: Agonia
Genre: Doom Death
R.I.P. Stefan Pettersson |
| 88 |  | Many Rooms
There is a Presence Here
Release: April 13th
Label: Other People
Genre: Ambient Pop
There was a presence, yes, she was called Grouper and she spoiled her surprise many albums ago. Still, always welcome. |
| 87 |  | Sangre de Muerdago
Noite
Release: April 20th
Label: Neuropa
Genre: Celtic
Continuing the tradition of long time favorite celtic bands like Luar Na Lubre. If only they could hire Rosa Cedron for some vocals. |
| 86 |  | Beautify Junkyards
The Invisible World of Beautify Junkyards
Release: March 9th
Label: Ghost Box
Genre: Psychedelic Folk
I smoked a bowl so big I spoke Portuguese. |
| 85 |  | Golden Dawn Arkestra
Children Of The Sun
Release: June 1st
Label: NMR
Genre: Afropsyche rock
Running naked possessed by a goat through the sabana. |
| 84 |  | Funeral Chic
Superstition
Release: November 16th
Label: Prosthetic
Genre: Blackened Grindcore
Shotgun to the head, face falls on a tiny mountain of cocaine. |
| 83 |  | Them Are Us Too
Amends
Release: June 29th
Label: Dais
Genre: Ethereal Wave
Cocteau twins on a nervous meltdown. |
| 82 |  | Mantar
The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze
Release: August 24th
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Blackened sludge
Two dudes, one riff. |
| 81 |  | Weedpecker
III
Release: January 5th
Label: Stickman
Genre: Psyche Stoner
Weed... pecker. Like a Pink Floyd version of Elder maybe? |
| 80 |  | Miserable
Loverboy / Dog Days
Release: October 26th
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Shoegaze
Now if I could also have a new King Woman album next year please. |
| 79 |  | Windhand
Eternal Return
Release: October 5th
Label: Relapse
Genre: Doom
As good as expected. No, better. |
| 78 |  | Basement Revolver
Heavy Eyes
Release: August 24th
Label: Sonic Unyon
Genre: Indie rpocpk
"Baby" has to be one the most amazing tracks released this year. Solid debut. |
| 77 |  | Hooded Menace
Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
Release: January 26th
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Death Doom
Also known as tour guides of the underworld. |
| 76 |  | Hillary Woods
Colt
Release: June 8th
Label: Sacred Bones
Genre: Ambient pop
Like a blanket in winter, one you probably need and you don't know it. |
| 75 |  | YOB
Our Raw Heart
Release: June 8th
Label: Relapse
Genre: Atmospheric post metal
Not their best and still sweeps the floor. |
| 74 |  | Hammock
Universalis
Release: December 7th
Label: N/A
Genre: Ambient
I will always have a place for you, Captain Hammock. |
| 73 |  | Satan
Cruel Magic
Release: September 7th
Label: Metal Blade
Genre: NWOBHM
Such a nostalgia punch. |
| 72 |  | Christina Rosenvinge
Un Hombre Rubio
Release: February 9th
Label: El Segell del Primavera
Genre: Singer Songwriter
When i was a kid she used to sing a song that said "Chas! I appear by your side". Now she's 50 and melts my heart. |
| 71 |  | Behemoth
I Loved You at Your Darkest
Release: October 5th
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Black metal
Best bm fashion in the business. |
| 70 |  | Four Stroke Baron
Planet Silver Screen
Release: November 11th
Label: Prosthetic
Genre: Progressive new wave metal
Tears For Fears playing after summer camp with Devin Townsend. |
| 69 |  | Beach House
7
Release: May 11th
Label: Sub pop
Genre: Dreamy poppy shoegaze
This album is sex. |
| 68 |  | Bongripper
Terminal
Release: July 6th
Label: Great Barrier
Genre: Pummeling Doom
Two tracks, 20+ minutes each. Prepare some ibuprofen. |
| 67 |  | Sylvaine
Atoms Aligned, Coming Undone
Release: November 2nd
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Atmospheric black metal
Massive improvement from "Wistful" and a mandatory listen for fans of Alcest. |
| 66 |  | Hypno5e
Alba - Les Hombres Errantes
Release: April 6th
Label: Pelagic
Genre: Acoustic post... acoustic
Folk tales sang in French and Spanish while sharing cheap wine by the fire. |
| 65 |  | Grayceon
IV
Release: May 18th
Label: Translation loss
Genre: Cello metal
Amber Asylum's Jackie Perez Gratz goes ham on her cello while her team mates riff some Baroness. |
| 64 |  | Conan
Existential Void Guardian
Release: September 14th
Label: Napalm
Genre: Stoner Doom
Arnold Schwarzenegger would be proud, and Crom too. |
| 63 |  | Dream Wife
Dream Wife
Release: January 26th
Label: Lucky Number
Genre: Riot Grrrl
Solid debut from these previously art school students. They can equally go down the forgettable path from here or follow up with an absolute banger but I don't see a middle point in their future. |
| 62 |  | Turbowolf
The Free Life
Release: March 9th
Label: SO/ Silvia Screen
Genre: Fuzz rock
Fuzz overload and exactly 3 great tracks are enough for mustache fronted Turbowolf to secure a spot. |
| 61 |  | IDLES
Joy as an Act of Resistance
Release: August 31st
Label: Partisan
Genre: Post Punk
Not a pleasant listen to be honest, as pleasant as reading the news in the morning. But musically, Idles are still able to craft caustic soundtracks to support the speech. |
| 60 |  | Sleep
The Sciences
Release: April 20th
Label: Third Man
Genre: Stoner doom
What a comeback, having Neurosis'Jason Roeder on drums is a stonerd's dream. |
| 59 |  | Chapel of Disease
...and as We Have Seen the Storm, We Have Embraced
Release: November 23rd
Label: Ván
Genre: All goes death metal
I am still exploring the vast and intricate soundscapes that this album contains. Every listen reveals a different angle or detail I missed, and that's all I can say about it. |
| 58 |  | Nadja
Sonnborner
Release: September 4th
Label: Broken Spine
Genre: Drone shoegazed metal
Believe it or not, I discovered this duo this year. It's not important that they have like... what, 50+ albums in the span of 15 years? Good luck doing a discography run. I'm just gonna stay on this one and pretend nothing happened before... for now. |
| 57 |  | Palm (PA)
Rock Island
Release: February 9th
Label: Carpark
Genre: Math Proggy Pop
"Rock Island" is, fair and square, a mindfuck. One of the strangest and at the same time most appealing pieces of music of 2018. Experts in reproducing a scratch on a vinyl. |
| 56 |  | Marissa Nadler
For My Crimes
Release: September 28th
Label: Sacred Bones
Genre: Dark folk
Marissa Nadler has been crafting the same album for 14 years and that's totally fine by me. If anything, her latest effort feels more stark, with scarce drums and more focused in her guitar/singing, which is more than enough. |
| 55 |  | Zapruder
Zapruder
Release: November 23rd
Label: Apathia
Genre: Post hardcore madness
I've been looking for a band that could bring back the raging chaos that bands like Botch used to represent. These Frenchmen are the closest thing I've found but they are much more than that. Sneaky bastard of an album, so don't let it pass. |
| 54 |  | Jaye Jayle
No Trail and Other Unholy Paths
Release: June 29th
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Nick Cave in Twin Peaks
Emma Ruth's Rundle touring band is far more than just that, as they show in their sophomore release. |
| 53 |  | Nils Frahm
All Melody
Release: January 26th
Label: Erased Tapes
Genre: Balsamic ambient
I have fallen asleep to this album many nights this year, so I don't remember anything. First track tho... |
| 52 |  | La Luz
Floating Features
Release: May 11th
Label: Hardly Art
Genre: Surf Rock
Dreamy and defying at the same time, these girls from Seattle have finally got their style down. Please Quentin, get them in your next thing. |
| 51 |  | Rata Negra
Justicia Cosmica
Release: Ocotber 1st
Label: La Vida es un Mus
Genre: Spanish Garage Punk
My fellow countrymen continue their effort in reviving the 80's tradition of Spanish punk and garage, this time with a more polished (still crusty) production and a great collection of tunes. |
| 50 |  | Black Fast
Spectre of Ruin
Relase: July 13th
Label: eOne
Genre Thrash
In spite of lacking variation and becoming somehow stagnant after a few listens, my first impressions with this album were pretty strong. A 2018 band making this kind of old school thrash with a bit of black metal atmosphere all over? Damn, I'll take it. |
| 49 |  | Kikagaku Moyo
Masana Temples
Release: October 5th
Label: Guruguru Brain
Genre: Japanese psychedelic rock
A friend of mine saw them live in Roadburn this year and totally fell in love with them. I wasn't aware they had planned a new release this year so it was a pleasant surprise. Very chill, dreamy psychedelia, using a lot of instrumentation and interesting patterns. Definitely recommend it. |
| 48 |  | Death Grips
Year of the Snitch
Release: June 22nd
Label: Third Worlds
Genre: Sit down, it's gonna take a while
It's hard to talk about Death Grips without missing the point. I haven't seen as many negs as I saw in the first 3 reviews that tried to pin down this album so I'm not gonna even try to have a shoot at it. I enjoy it for what it is, whatever that is. |
| 47 |  | Cloud Nothings
Last Building Burning
Release: October 19th
Label: Wichita / Carpark
Genre: Explosive indie rock
Honestly, I couldn't care less about their previous album but this is pure rage and guts and a band going all in without losing their identity. |
| 46 |  | Kacey Musgraves
Golden Hour
Release: March 30th
Label: MCA Nashville
Genre: Country Pop
It's true it grew off me a little since those shocking first listens but still, this is a perfected formula of tradition and modern pop sounds that caught, not only myself, but a lot of people here by surprise. Don't forget that "A Very Kacey Christmas" is still available on your favorite format, since 2 years ago. |
| 45 |  | Devil Master
Manifestations
Release: November 2nd
Label: Relapse
Genre: Blackened hardcore punk
This is a bit unfair, since it's a comp made by Relapse but hot damn I'm in love with these guys. Generous amounts of filth on this side project's brand of black metal crusty punk. Catacomb rock for days. |
| 44 |  | The Go! Team
Semicircle
Release: January 19th
Label: Memphis Industries
Genre: High School twee funk
A crazy welsh man hopped into a plane and flew to Philadelphia. There he somehow convinced a bunch of high school students to sing over his funk beats and bits. This album also marks the briefly return of former old school MC known as Ninja to perform "She's Got Guns" which is one of my most cherished bangers of the year. |
| 43 |  | Julia Holter
Aviary
Release: October 26th
Label: Domino
Genre: Batshit crazy experimenfolk
Five minutes in you will think Holter is laughing at your stupidity, 10 minutes later you will think this is the album of the century, 15 minutes later you will think this is pure wankery, 40 minutes later you won't know what this is anymore, 1 hour later you will question yourself what are you doing with your damn life, and when it's done you won't remember anything, but still you will feel the itch to jam it again. |
| 42 |  | Zeal and Ardor
Stranger Fruit
Release: June 7th
Label: Radicalis Music
Genre: Imagine Dragons meets black metal
There is a thin line between epic failure and brilliance when a band tries to break a pattern like Zeal & Ardor does. I am of the opinion that there is more to enjoy here than to despise and I will always applaud and support the effort for pushing the boundaries of a genre. It may not be a perfect formula, but I believe that Manuel Gagneux and his crew will only get better from here. |
| 41 |  | Black Moth
Anatomical Venus
Release: March 2nd
Label: Candlelight Records
Genre: Stoner
The first time I heard the opener "Istra" I was blown away. Sadly, this band hasn't got very popular among the userbase here but I still think this is an absolute banger. Female fronted stoner is indeed my weakness. |
| 40 |  | Outre
Hollow Earth
Release: Ocotber 26th
Label: Debemur Morti
Genre: Blackened Death
Poland has been a source of impressive material for a few years now regarding extreme metal and Outre's blackened death is no exception. Reviewing this album was a wake up call to get me into reviewing again after a long and unjustified break, so I gotta thank NocteDominum for kicking my butt into it. |
| 39 |  | The Bamboos
Night Time People
Release: July 6th
Label: Pacific Theatre
Genre: Funkepop
If you don't shake your pelvis to the beat of "Lit Up" you gotta be dead inside. Few contemporary bands are able to make such a vibrant concoction of funk and pop like the Bamboos do these days. |
| 38 |  | Horrendous
Idol
Release: September 21st
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Death
This was a great year for death metal (read that as I know what the fuck am I talking about). Ok, let me rephrase, this was a great year for death metal for people that don't usually listen to death metal. There. |
| 37 |  | Pijn
Loss
Release: October 26th
Label: Holy Roar
Genre: Post Rock
My jaw was already dropped last year with the band's first EP "Floodlit". I didn't expect them to grow so fast in quality as to release an album like "Loss" so quickly. As far as semi-instrumental post rock goes, this is one of your best options right now. |
| 36 |  | Geowulf
Great Big Blue
Release: February 16th
Label: 37 Adventures
Genre: Dream Pop
Releasing an album like this one, with such a summer(ish) vibe in the middle of February won't be remembered as a marketing feat, nor will be the duo being named as a power metal band. Geowulf practice the sweetest of dream pops, incurring into a sugar overdose at times but this is simply a wonderful collection of pop tunes. |
| 35 |  | Amorphis
Queen of Time
Release: May 18th
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: The H in heavy metal
Amorphis remain as relevant as ever with one of the most impressive metal releases of the year, excelling in both songwriting and production. Special mention to that Anneke feature in Amongst the Stars. A dream come true for a fan of The Gathering. |
| 34 |  | Slugdge
Esoteric Malacology
Release: March 2nd
Label: Willowtip
Genre: Mastodon goes dm
All hail our mollusca overlords! |
| 33 |  | Drudkh
They Often See Dreams About The Spring
Release: March 9th
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Blizzard black metal
A black metal highlight you shouldn't sleep on, and even a good gate to the genre if you are not too familiar with it. For a project active since 2003, it is amazing that they are still able to come out with stuff as good as this. |
| 32 |  | Polica / s t a r g a z e
Music For The Long Emergency
Release: February 16th
Label: Transgressive Records
Genre: Orchestrated electropop
Remember that band that use to make art out of auto-tune back in the day? Well, it seems that following Donald Du... Trump's investment as the new president of the US, they teamed up with a not very orthodox orchestra for a sort of La Resistance project and, politics aside, the result is blissful. The last 2 tracks alone are enough to have this album picked. |
| 31 |  | SUMAC
Love In Shadow
Release: September 21st
Label: Thrill Jockey
Genre: Sludgest of sludges
Aaron Turner is the man. I have upmost respect for him as an artist and even if their project with Keiji Haino didn't make it to my top 100 (cause I'm a pussy), Sumac's latest output was just everything I would expect from Turner and co. Ugly, hostile and brvtal as fuck. "Attis Blade" has some of the most crazy drumming I've heard this year. |
| 30 |  | Lisa Gerrard and David Kuckhermann
Hiraeth
Release: August 6th
Label: Besant Hall Records
Genre: Messages from God herself
Turns out Lisa Gerrard acted as the harbinger for DCD's return and I had no idea about it until very recently. She did it with an album of her own, a collaboration with percussion alchemist David Kuckermann. If you think there was not enough good ol' Lisa in "Dyonisus" or that her voice was underused check this one out, you'll have plenty. |
| 29 |  | Dead Can Dance
Dionysus
Release: November 2nd
Label: [PIAS]
Genre: Hippy tribal ambient
The return of DCD captures the spiritual feel of (duh) "Spiritchaser". Honestly, I was just immensely happy with the fact that Dead Can Dance was finally releasing something, ANYTHING. It only took 6 years. Was it worth the wait? Well, after many, many listens, I can say that it was good enough for me. |
| 28 |  | Sinistro
Sangue Cassia
Release: January 5th
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Doom Hop
This is the first album I heard/dug ahrd this year. Funny enough, it was released the day I also officiated my marriage. Doom album? Marriage? Yep, makes sense. |
| 27 |  | Uada
Cult of a Dying Sun
Release: May 25th
Label: Eisenwald Tonschmiede
Genre: Black metal
2018 will be remembered for me as the year I got into a colossal (yet unfinished) black metal binge. The reason I did it remains a mystery, but as a consequence I've been trying to get into more new BM releases. Uada was one of the bands that have impressed me the most, along with Abigor, Void Ritual, Sargeist and many more. |
| 26 |  | Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
Dirt
Release: March 23th
Label: Paper Bag Records
Genre: Read below
Sad that these guys don't get much recognition here. The production could have been a tad better but they really have something of their own here. I wanted to review it back then and the summary was "Black S(Abba)th". I know, genius, right? |
| 25 |  | Erdve
Vaitojimas
Release: February 9th
Label: Season of Mist
Genre: Post metal
These Lithuanian post metal motherfuckers came from out of nowhere. Massive record. |
| 24 |  | Ancestors
Suspended in Reflections
Release: August 24th
Label: Pelagic Records
Genre: Post rock
A cosmic orgasm. Please, just probe me in to space and let me jam this while I drift into a black hole. "Suspended" is a post rock wonder with excellent vocals and some seriously Floydian moments. |
| 23 |  | Grouper
Grid of Points
Release: April 27th
Label: Kranky
Genre: Ummm... UUMMM...
Since "Ruins", she has been focusing more on piano and her songwriting has become less chaotic and more organized which I think it helps her music to sink in nicely. "Grid of Points" is very short, just 22 minutes, but you don't want to miss any of it. I could have this on repeat forever. |
| 22 |  | Denzel Curry
TA13OO
Release: September 21st
Label: Loma Vista
Genre: Hip hop
Same record label as Ghost, say whaaat? Seriously, I don't know anything about hip hop, you know that cause I apologetically state it in every hip hop thread I crash into but I must have listened to "Sirens" an unhealthy fuckton of times. Great features, gorgeous melodies and solid backbeats, this guy has something really cool going on. |
| 21 |  | Wye Oak
The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs
Release: April 6th
Label: Merge Records
Genre: Confusing Pop
While they keep annoying part of their fan base with every new release, I feel the exact opposite. Sure, they are deviating from "Civilian", the album that brought them unanimous praise here and there but I love the way they are evolving into something more... unique. It takes courage to drift away from whatever brought you success in the past but when you do it with an album like this, I can't help but praising the effort. |
| 20 |  | Tomberlin
At Weddings
Release: August 10th
Label: Saddle Creek
Genre: Singer Songwriter
If I was rich I would sponsor this girl and book her a goddamn world tour. But I'm not, so I'll just limit myself to hype anything she releases from now on. For real though, keep her on your radar because she's gonna go places. You heard it here first. |
| 19 |  | mewithoutYou
[Untitled]
Release: October 5th
Label: Run For Cover Records
Genre: You tell me
Before you wield the hatchets and fill the comment section with "This is too low! too low! AOTY! Aaaaahhh!", you gotta know, that I didn't know of these dudes until this year. I am actually even surprised the album made it this high, but yes, I gotta admit, this is pretty damn good. |
| 18 |  | Tonight Alive
Underworld
Release: January 12th
Label: Hopeless Records
Genre: Pop punk (the good kind)
When Paramore decided to go pink pop I was left empty, betrayed, forsaken to my own despair when thinking there would never be a song like "Crush" anymore, by anyone. To my surprise, "Underworld" encores the nerve and confidence Paramore once had with some really tasty jams. Who knows if Tonight Alive will follow the same path and abandon themselves to the kawaii. All I care that for now, my cravings have been satisfied. |
| 17 |  | Tropical Fuck Storm
A Laughing Death in Meatspace
Release: May 4th
Label: Mistletone
Genre: Honoring their name
My first encounter with The Drones was last year, but it was never a band I would have gone crazy about. This is different though, oooh yes, this I can get behind. As colorful, crazy and lively as the cover suggests. The Aussies just blew the roof with this one. Truly, a fuck storm. |
| 16 |  | Ben Howard
Noonday Dream
Release: June 1st
Label: Island Records
Genre: Singer Songwriter
Ben, my man, you made us wait long enough just to come back in full force. I hope the stupid crowd screaming "Only love" in his shows during the "I Forget..." tour have grown the fuck up already and they are able to understand what this goddamn genius has crafted here. He is in a league of his own now, isn't he? |
| 15 |  | Crippled Black Phoenix
Great Escape
Release: September 14th
Label: Season of Mist
genre: Post rock
I have been a long time fan of CBP, since the release of "I, Vigilante", but I always thought they were missing something, a spark needed to take their brand of post rock to the next level. And they did it. "Great Escape" is the album I always thought they had in them. This is post rock in all its glory. |
| 14 |  | Night Flowers
Wild Notion
Release: April 13th
Label: Dirty Bingo Records
Genre: Dream pop / budgie-core
It wasn't until I warmed up to the fantastic second half of "Wild Notion" that this album started climbing positions in my list. When you have dream pop jewels like "Hey Love" and "Cruel Wind", it's hard not to have your heart wobbling like a fucking pudding. |
| 13 |  | Thou
Rhea Sylvia
Release: July 27th
Label: Deathwish
Genre: Sludged grunge
"Rhea Sylvia" is the EP that culminates what from now on will be called "the summer of Thou". As much as I love the rest of the material they have released this year (and which I include in this position spiritually), I think they really have stroke gold with this one. It's a perfectly balanced mix of grunge and sludge, a vein that I really hope the band continues to explore somehow in the future. |
| 12 |  | Typhoon (USA-OR)
Offerings
Release: January 12th
Label: Roll Call Records
Genre: Indie rock on meds
"Offerings" tells the story of an Alzheimer patient and his inevitable descend down the spyral of wiped out memories. I can't think of anything more terrifying that not recognizing your own wife when she is helplessly showing you old pictures of yourself, trying to make you remember just who you are. That moment is described with painful detail in "Algernon" but it's just one of the many windows to the suffering of not only the patient but the family and people around him. I'd suggest giving it a try while reading the lyrics because this is created with so much love that it bleeds through every song. |
| 11 |  | Azusa
Heavy Yoke
Release: November 16th
Label: Solid State / Indie Recordings
Genre: Post hardcore meets thrash meets indie pop
Fans of Extol and The Dillinger Escape Plan have already been acquainted with this album. If you haven't, you shall know that this new project features members of both bands plus Eleni Zafiriadou fronting the charge. Nevermind the avant-thrash tag they came up with, this band is one of the most promising new acts born this year. |
| 10 |  | Johanna Warren
Gemini II
Release: February 16th
Label: Spirit House
Genre: Singer Songwriter
There is something that makes Warren stand out from the very crowded pool of 2018's singer songwriters. I am not quite sure what it is, it may be the alluring charm of her melodies or the slightly mystical nature of her sound but hear me when I say it: this is a special album. |
| 9 |  | Field Division
Dark Matter Dreams
Release: June 22
Label: Bella Union
Genre: Dream pop meets Americana
The last thing I expected is to have a country album in my 2018's top 10. The duo from Iowa blends americana with dream pop like it was meant to be. Add an extra Fleetwood Mac flavor in some of the songs and a little bit of psychedelia in others and man, what an album you've just got. |
| 8 |  | Loma
Loma
Release: February 16th
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Folkatronica
Members of Shearwater and Crossroads decided to create this project after touring together. This is an album that has grown on me a lot in the second half of the year, a beautiful blend of folk and electronica fronted by the beautiful voice of Emily Cross. "Joy" is one of my favorite songs of the year. |
| 7 |  | Emma Ruth Rundle
On Dark Horses
Release: September 14th
Label: Sargent House
Genre: Shoegazed Singer Songwriter
Probably one of my most awaited albums this year but I'm not gonna lie. I didn't expect she would harden her sound and decide to go full Marriages on this one. I do miss the folk of "Some Heavy Ocean" but I also understand that touring with the Jaye Jayle band has had an influence on her. This was the logical direction for her music, the dark dreamy sound of "Marked for Death" processed through the lush of her shoegaze project. |
| 6 |  | The Ocean
Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic
Release: November 2nd
Label: Pelagic Records
Genre: Post rock? metal? both?
November has been a month full of pleasant surprises, but The Ocean gets the cake. Just when i thought post metal was getting stagnant, here come these dudes with a heavy, fresh approach, relying on melody and superb vocals to create unforgettable soundscapes. Who would have thought you could marry the history of planet Earth to a story of personal loss? |
| 5 |  | The Body
I have fought against it, But I can’t any longer
Release: May 11th
Label: Thrill Jockey
Genre: A trip through hell
With the help of Kristin Hayter (a.k.a. Lingua Ignota), The Body have created one of the darkest and most unsettling albums I've ever heard. Taken the title from Virginia Woolf's suicide note, The Body may have released their best album up to date. Kristin Hayter's voice works wonders with their music, like a temporary relief to the constant punishment The Body inflicts on the listener. The way she screams at the end of "Nothing Stirs" though, feels like she has surrendered to the chaos. Kill me if those growls are not the best growls I've ever heard. MARCH ON! |
| 4 |  | Tribulation
Down Below
Release: January 26th
Label: Century Media
Genre: Vampire Death Rock
I never knew I liked this sort of Gothic death rock thing until I heard this album. Tribulation seem to keep getting better and better with every release, refining their style and polishing their sound. I just love that stupidly alluring Castlevania theme. This is my most listened album of 2018 according to lastfm. |
| 3 |  | Ghost (SWE)
Prequelle
Release: June 1st
Label: Loma Vista
Genre: Scooby doo hard rock
Ghost is on their way to become one of the biggest bands in rock history. Yes, I understand that they started as a badass occult metal band and now they make videos with dancing nuns. "OMFG they sold out!". But the show, my friends, the show, the spectacle, that's where the magic of Ghost resides. "Prequelle" is catchy, fun and a hell of a rock album. Ghost has recovered that aspect of the genre, the one that stun me when I first saw Iron Maiden on TV, the mesmerizing magic of live shows, and they have done it with a solid collection of tunes. Many dinners have been cooked at home this year with this as a soundtrack. |
| 2 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It
Release: March 2nd
Label: Holy Roar
Genre: If you don't know by now...
It's the first time that my two most valued albums of the year are released in the same day. Pretty crazy. "Time will die..." may be remembered in the future as the album that united Sputnik. It is a celebration, an absolute joy of an
album, starting with a sweet track like "Aftermath" and then bouncing to the other pole with the fury of "Rituals". Through hard work and faith in what they do Rolo Tomassi have become one of my favorite active acts of the *insert tag* scene. |
| 1 |  | Anna von Hausswolff
Dead Magic
Release: March 2nd
Label: City Slang
Genre: Ha! yeah, funny.
Many times this year, I've found myself trying to describe the unknown power that dwells within this record but believe me when I say, no word is powerful enough to contain what Anna Von Hausswolff has summoned in "Dead Magic". What I can say though is that this album will transcend as one of my favorite albums of all time, and the reason is that I know I will never be able to comprehend its magnitude. |
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