2018 Half Way House
Half way through the year, Lets go....This is in RELATIVE order. Not going to stress to much for right order over a half year list. And Ive also been trying to find obscure 70s prog/psych etc so maybe not us up on this year as usual. Who knows..... |
| 1 |  | YOB
Our Raw Heart
Fantastic record by a constantly fantastic band. It has less of the massive, head down, epic Yob riffs of old but its a more sorrowful epic-ness that makes perfect sense given Mikes plight over recent times. Don't ever leave us Mike.
https://youtu.be/VunIoLslYrE |
| 2 |  | Erdve
Vaitojimas
'Outta nowhere' as the saying goes. A stellar crusty, post hardcore, bit-of-sludge record from Lithuania. Sput put me onto this one so thank you. Fierce as fk.
https://youtu.be/xjqNHuhK9iI |
| 3 |  | BARST
The Endavour
One man dynamo from Belgium Barst's previous record was one of my favourite a few years back and this is possibly even better. Its more concise. Theres tons more really good electronic passages among the instrumental whirlwinds of Barsts writing. Part post rock/Electronica/Post metal but Impossible to pigeon hole into a genre. A bit of everything. One 42 minute track of 4 kind of 'movements' but needs to be listened to in full for the real impact. A trip as usual.
https://youtu.be/JeUKLIm7lC8 |
| 4 |  | LLNN
Deads
Their first record blew me away. Echoes of one of my favourite bands also from Scandinavia, Breach. I saw them live a few weeks ago and they were apocalyptic. Singer had a Deadguy shirt on and a Cave in Tattoo... Good enough for me.
https://youtu.be/cqMpVZ5S22s |
| 5 |  | Mournful Congregation
The Incubus of Karma
A funeral doom record of the most epic proportions. Any fan of FD will have been spoiled that last few years and this is up there with any of them. A band who've honed their craft for over a decade in this field and how it tells. Phenomenally consistent band.
https://youtu.be/A71kHPv7kBc |
| 6 |  | Starkweather/Concealment
Split
Starkweather are one of my favourite hardcore bands of all time. They were ridiculously ahead of their time. For sure an acquired taste. They're like the Confessor of hardcore to me and not a band you can just listen to a song and make your mind up. Their side of this split after a 8 year hiatus is a monster, One 28 minute track of typical,utterly engrossing, evil hardcore madness. Rennie still having some of my fave Vox of all time.
https://youtu.be/qBsceCy5G-Q |
| 7 |  | Visions & Phurpa
Monad
Legendary dark ambient/drone label Cyclic Law's 100th release and an absolute peach it is. Visions dark soundscapes and Phurpas ritualistic throat singing make a perfect match. An other-worldly and unique listen for sure.
https://cycliclaw.bandcamp.com/album/monad |
| 8 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It
I don't know what it is that makes me want to dislike this album so much I think its the female Vox in that first track. That chorus is too clean and nice for the usual me but Listening to the thing as a whole you cant deny they've outdone themselves with this. You don't need me to wax lyrical about it enough's been said on here. I give in trying to fight it. Album owns.
https://youtu.be/Fdyg8k5qZFM |
| 9 |  | Jon Hopkins
Singularity
At this point in time I don't expect anything other than albums of the highest level from Jon Hopkins. I loved this guy since I head him mix on Low End Theory many moons ago (Still worth listening) This is up there with 'Immunity' If not quite right up there.
https://youtu.be/t-w-XSbVDsI |
| 10 |  | Panopticon
The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness
Two hours of Austin Lunn greatness. Whats not to like? This time with added rural folk tracks for gods sake. Top of his game. Real as Fk.
https://youtu.be/uM5vm4FetTE |
| 11 |  | thou
The House Primordial
A serious of EPs delving into different areas from the more tradition Sludge-doom of Thou. Few people didn't like there step into noise/industrial only tracks but when this kicks it kicks "psychic dominance' the perfect example. Im all for a bit of Thou experimentation before 'Magus'
https://youtu.be/t62zYO8wGGU |
| 12 |  | thou
Inconsolable
Then they go and release a damn acoustic Ep that sounds like a 90s grunge band. Wut!!??
https://thou.bandcamp.com/album/inconsolable |
| 13 |  | Hundred Year Old Man
Breaching
If you write post metal its really hard not to overload on the sounds of Cult of luna/Amenra/Neurosis etc without your own identity coming through. I felt this was the case in the early days of HYOM but their first album they have managed to do that. Those influences are still blatant but now if something of their own. They will only get better also.
https://youtu.be/3oo9DXKQPfI |
| 14 |  | Spectral Wound
Infernal Decadence
Blistering Black metal from Canada. Never really listened to them before but this new one is horrendous. I love it. Relentless and the production is superb.
https://youtu.be/29Ncl7clJjo |
| 15 |  | Slugdge
Esoteric Malacology
Been a fan of these two Hull kids since 'Gastronomicon' Which was actually my Album of the year. They're just a fun as hell band. I don't particularly like the cleans but when its cleans about Slug invasion how can you not like it? As always with them, riffs for days. Over produced to shit but who cares? They always make me feel like a teenager again and stop over analysing and just love some fucking metal.
https://youtu.be/NY781M74aAk |
| 16 |  | Black Milk
Fever
Detroit's Black Milk has always been a ridiculous producer. Feels like hes loosened up on his approach here. Not in a negative way. More space and room for Ideas with his beats which as always are top notch but less Boom bappy here by far. and more neo-soul esque in parts. As always a Great listen.
https://youtu.be/rihOZ6z2ZyY |
| 17 |  | Earthless
Black Heaven
So Earthless added more constant vocals huh? Im ok with it. Its still Earthless all though slightly more standard structured writing than that insane psych jamming out but enough for old and new Earthless fans to get around. And its still Isiah being a god.
https://youtu.be/Py4excFPdVI |
| 18 |  | Wiegedood
De Doden Hebben Het Goed III
Starting to craft great Black Metal tracks rather than the odd one. Enjoy this much more that II. Seen them come into their own more live also.
https://youtu.be/j5fECeGxkEw |
| 19 |  | Dark Buddha Rising
II
Been waiting desperately for some new DBR material unfortunately the first track I've been watching a live version of for the last year! Second track is more of a harrowing Finnish Psych droney doom track that they do so well. Need a full album hard.
https://darkbuddharising.bandcamp.com/album/ii |
| 20 |  | Jam Baxter & Ed Scissor
Laminated Cakes
Cheating a bit here. This was December last year but missed my end of year least so Its going here. Two of UK hip hops best coming through, finally, with this collab that had been mooted for a while. High Focus is a beast of a label right now.
https://youtu.be/PoNjLCeMFoA |
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