Rankin' 2018 Before It's Over
There was a period of time where I was allowed to listen to music at work, so the main thing keeping me from listening to more music was gone. Listened to immeasurably more music this year than I have the past few years and it's been rad. That job is no more though, and there's not much more coming out this year I'm interested in, so I'm doin' my list early. The albums I listened to this year from woist to moist. |
| 25 |  | Lordi
Sexorcism
I know I shouldn't expect much from Lordi, but I honestly feel embarrassed to have listened to this. Try hard edgy bullshit at its worst. Worst album of the year, one of the worst I've ever heard. |
| 24 |  | Van Canto
Trust In Rust
It's like they only hired their new lead vocalist to do a Brian Johnson impression for the Hells Bells cover but he just wouldn't leave the studio after that. He can't sing. He just can't. This was really awful. |
| 23 |  | Black Label Society
Grimmest Hits
I couldn't make it through this one, boys. Too boring. Also why is it an LP that's titled as if it's a compilation? |
| 22 |  | Lord of the Lost
Thornstar
This album is perhaps the most useless of the year. I got at least SOMETHING from everything else here. This was just zzzzzzzz....... |
| 21 |  | Northward
Northward
Floor Jansen is amazing in Nightwish when the music is as grandiose as her voice is. When you pair her with generic hard rock and awful production, it just doesn't work. |
| 20 |  | Black Veil Brides
Vale
Reminded me why I don't listen to this band. Blandest of bland hard rock. I'd honestly take some of their older stuff over this. |
| 19 |  | Shinedown
Attention Attention
I dislike this one more and more each time I hear a song from it. Marginally better than their last album, but it's still convinced me that Shinedown are never making a good album again. |
| 18 |  | Andrew W.K.
You're Not Alone
SERIOUSLY disappointed by this one. I love a few songs on here, but it's all just a slog. No AWK songs should be as long as some of the ones on You're Not Alone. |
| 17 |  | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Wrong Creatures
Some memorable songs on here, but I don't find myself coming back to this one often at all. |
| 16 |  | Dimmu Borgir
Eonian
Ætheric has the best riff of the year, and Interdimensional Summit is spectacular. If it wasn't for those two songs, this would be WAY lower. |
| 15 |  | Panic! at the Disco
Pray For The Wicked
It's growing on me, but after how great Death of a Bachelor was, there's no excuse for this not to be better. |
| 14 |  | Superchunk
What a Time to Be Alive
A rec from a friend. Glad I listened to it. Fun poppy punk. Punky punky pop pop. |
| 13 |  | Halestorm
Vicious
I should like this album less than I do. Lzzy Hale is just too powerful of a vocalist to not enjoy this. Not all great, but some shockingly good stuff for sure. |
| 12 |  | Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers
Bought To Rot
I Hate Chicago sounds like something that Elias from WWE would sing. This is a good thing. |
| 11 |  | Alice in Chains
Rainier Fog
I should like this album more than I do. I get goosebumps whenever I hear those glorious harmonies. |
| 10 |  | Clutch
Book of Bad Decisions
Not even close to being as good as Earth Rocker or Psychic Warfare, but still entertaining and worth a spin. |
| 9 |  | Scars on Broadway
Dictator
Since SOAD's next album is essentially vaporware, I gotta take what I can get. Lots of really decent stuff on here. |
| 8 |  | Kamelot
The Shadow Theory
I keep forgetting about this album, but whenever it comes on I can actually remember how each song goes and really like all of them, so that's gotta mean something. |
| 7 |  | Judas Priest
Firepower
Never thought Priest would be this good again, DAMN was this awesome. |
| 6 |  | Ninja Sex Party
Cool Patrol
These guys will never stop improving. Having TWRP as your backing band certainly doesn't hurt, but damn this is good, funny shit |
| 5 |  | Psychostick
Do
Good year for funny tunes. On the topic of Do, how does an album get funnier the more I listen to it? That shouldn't be how this works. |
| 4 |  | Coheed and Cambria
Vaxis - Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures
Recently started reading the Amory Wars. It's bad. Claudio should stick to music, because he can at least do that really well. |
| 3 |  | Ghost (SWE)
Prequelle
AH-OH-WAAAAAH |
| 2 |  | Mustasch
Silent Killer
Best straight up melodic heavy metal of the year. The melodies and guitar work kill me on this. |
| 1 |  | Tupper Ware Remix Party
Together Through Time
This album is really special. I've never 5'd a record so quick. Joyous funk and disco pop. I absolutely adore this. |
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