Happy holidays (however you chose to celebrate or shit all over them). It's time for Year End lists or Best Of 2018's, whichever floats your boat. Without getting into too much detail, I (the editor) will post friends of the blog's lists in the next coming days. Some lists will be bundled up together and others will get their own post such as this one. Mr. Carparelli, multi-instrument extraordinary and the spine to Chicago's Bloodletter took the bull by the horn and created this beauty. Who better to usher in lists you simply cannot be without? So without further ado, I give the floor to this metal beast.
Compiled by Pete Carparelli (Carparts to his friends dammit…)
Another year has come and gone, as quickly as many years before it. Like all years before this one, there’s music to be listened to, talked about, obsessed about and so on. Over the past few months I’ve had loads to think about. An insane amount of work to do and unfortunate events took place that forced me to really look inward and learn from them as I went along. Fortunately, there is music and in the year 2018 of our Lord Dio, the sheer volume of albums that ruled was staggering. When looking back on the year, the quantity of great albums that came out seemed overwhelming at first, but then as I thought about it a bit more, it was a joy to pick my top 10, because these albums helped me through the year by keeping a smile on my face and helped me to clear my head when I needed to. Without any further namby-pambying, here’s my list.
10. Khemmis – Desolation
Not many bands have been successful in throwing all of their influences into in a cauldron and attempting to reduce them all down into something really magical. Khemmis has definitely cooked up another delicious offering by letting their love of 70s proto-metal/rock, doom, guitar work a la Thin Lizzy, and modern stoner metal all simmer and bubble away slowly, which reduced down into an album that truly stands up to their already impressive discography. I’ve grown to like their vocal work more, the steady beat and rumble their rhythm section supplies is solid and most importantly, the songs are as heavy as they are melodic. Well done Khemmis, you have brought a newer, fresher take on metal and you should be easily anointed the Iron Chefs of New Doom.
9. Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze
A record this massive couldn’t possibly come from a DUO could it? Based on raw power, grit, and talent, Mantar’s newest album hits you like a fucking earthquake and it sounds like the couldn’t be happier to be the ones to bring the house, no the whole damn town down and reduce it to rubble. The snarling vocals, the absolutely punishing rhythms, pair quite nicely with the easily one of the nastiest guitar sounds I’ve ever heard. This album had me feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I couldn’t be happier that it crushed me.
8. Outerheaven – Realms of Eternal Decay
I have to say, the name and album artwork were what got my attention (like many other great bands and albums) but holy shit am I glad that I gave this record a listen. There are some seriously HEAVY riffs going on here that make me want to crash into the pit as hard as I can and channel my inner Cro-Magnon. Between each track, the drumming tastefully carries the band, the guitars are tuned down low, but not djent-low (a genre I can’t stand) and they retain their musicality incredibly well throughout. Toss in some genuinely scary vocals and you’ve got a recipe for maniacal genius. This album makes me feel as if I’m trapped on some desolate planet to be ripped apart by interstellar beasts and I don’t mind!
7. Wytch Hazel – II: Sojourn
Wytch Hazel in my opinion are becoming the masters of honing in the 70s rock meets NWOBHM sound and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop them. If you had told me that this album was recorded by a band in the late 70s, I might have believed you at first. The production sounds so close some of Thin Lizzy’s best work, and channels the raw attitude that TL had as well. Throw in equal parts Early Iron Maiden, some Jethro Tull, a bit of Zeppelin for the folk-influenced arrangements, and of course, Thin Lizzy and you have an album that truly captures the spirit of the 70s. Simple production, bombastic riffing, beautifully crafted guitar harmonies and I’m in hook, line and sinker.
6. Zeke – Hellbender
I openly challenge you, the reader to answer this question; “Who’s doing hardcore punk better than Zeke is today?” Even if you cite good examples, I don’t care because any answer other than Zeke is wrong. Zeke’s Hellbender is their first LP in 13 years and it sounds as if they never slowed down the pace. This album is such a fun listen because they unapologetically combine rock n’ roll, punk and the raw power that Motörhead had and distilled it all down into 15 songs…that clock in at barely 20 minutes. That’s easily the most punk thing to do on a “comeback” LP, and there won’t be another band to do it as well as Zeke in a while I expect.
5. Tribulation – Down Below
Give me blackened doom n’ roll or give me death. Tribulation is currently the spookiest band in metal, and has outclassed a lot of bands trying to blend rock n’ roll and metal together. The production reminds a bit of Ghost’s Opus Eponymous, which I really dig. (I’ll make a brief statement on Ghost later after my list concludes.) There’s minimal overdubbing on Down Below and that helps to create a vacancy, a sense of real space throughout the album. The melodies all sound like they could’ve been a part of a Vincent Price film soundtrack, which I absolutely adore. The now spookiest band in metal right now and it sounds like they made this album in a haunted house while channeling spirits. This album makes me want to turn off the lights and wait for what scares me most to come bursting through my door and out from under my bed.
4. Arsis – Visitant
Holy shit. That’s pretty much all I could say after listening to Visitant once. After a few more listens it really hit me that there’s something to be said for having a consistent lineup around. Also, having James Malone anchoring a band is a fantastic start to creating some memorable music. With the bands current roster in place from their previous LP Unwelcome, Arsis had a great foundation to work with. Visitant gives you want from technically driven death metal band. You get unbelievably well crafted songs, with every last detail taken into account and no stone unturned. James’ vocal delivery seems a bit more frenzied on this album too, which I really enjoy. Not to mention, the guitar work is mind-bogglingly good. Brandon Ellis is a true master of the instrument, and each time I hear his lead work I cry a bit on the inside from both envy and pure, unbridled joy. Visitant is a seriously kick-ass addition to Arsis’ discography and these songs will be stuck in my head for months to come.
3. Necrophobic – Mark of the Necrogram
Death metal that’s melodic usually gets lumped in with bands like Insomnium, Amon Amarth and more of their contemporaries and it’s called “melodeath”. Not in the case of Necrophobic’s newest offering though. Mark of the Necrogram is pure evil, but delivered with a sense of melody that I haven’t heard from a death metal band in a long time. The arrangements combine elements of old-school death metal, some thrashier guitar parts and a serious helping of textured melody work over the songs and this recipe is one for success. I certainly have enjoyed a lot of their previous work, but this album seems to be the result of becoming a stronger band. There isn’t a single track on this album I can forget, and I attribute that to guitar leads over each riff. This album doesn’t let up, or let your attention span go. Also, they’re named after a Slayer track…now who doesn’t love that?
[LISTEN ON SPOTIFY]
2. Judas Priest – Firepower
If this album doesn’t make a metalheads top 10 this year, I don’t know what to say. The gods of metal are back and they couldn’t have done a better job asserting themselves as kings. Lead by none other than Daddy Leather Man himself, Rob Halford’s voice pierces through the mix on this record and sounds as menacing as ever. At 67 years young, the man cannot be stopped. His energy permeates the album from cover to cover. While Mr. Halford’s contributions are incredible, we must not forget that without their riff-master Mr. Glen Tipton, this record wouldn’t have come to fruition and there are riffs aplenty! What makes Firepower even more astonishing is that even with his Parkinson’s condition worsening, Glen played all of his parts and wrote some absolutely remarkable music. His determination to be a part of the band, is truly inspiring. When you add in Richie Faulkner’s guitar wizardry, Ian Hill’s simple but foundational bass parts, Scott Travis’ commanding performances behind the drum kit, and not to mention Andy Sneap’s production skills, you are left with a glorious finished product. Firepower is truly Judas Priest’s best album since Painkiller, and could possibly be tied with Screaming for Vengeance as my favorite of theirs.
[LISTEN ON SPOTIFY]
1. Revocation – The Outer Ones
This album is making a lot of people’s lists for a damn good reason. It absolutely rips. Dave Davidson and Dan Gargiulo are the best guitar duo in metal right now. Their genius is unrivalled. Dave Davidson finally got to write an album that pays tribute to one of his favorite authors and I’m sure even Mr. Lovecraft himself would terrified by the interpretations of his own tales if he were able to listen to this record. Who knows, maybe the Great Old Ones are listening to Revocation’s newest album and are pleased with its immensely impressive display of technicality, songwriting and heaviness? All I can say is that it’s my number one record of the year because Revocation always delivers and they are easily one of the most prolific and consistently punishing bands in metal.
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