On we go. Here's another stellar instalment, this time from one Gerður Sif. She's not a band dude but she certainly is a major fixture within the Icelandic metal scene, yet without many knowing so. This has been the case for years now. A behind-the-scene person if there ever was one. Not one to bask in the glory but rather make sure things keep moving, that things work and that shit's proper good. Without people like her our "metal life" would be stale. She with the brightest smile yet darkest musical taste I give you Gerður's top 10 Year End 2018 and then some.
10. Clouds – Dor
This is a late addition to the list, as I only stumbled on it at the beginning of December. I had liked their previous releases, specially their first album, Doliu, but they’ve never made it into heavy rotation for me. Atmospheric doom that is hauntingly beautiful at times with the growled vocals making a perfect pairing with the almost fragile melody.
Album highlight: Dor.
9. Portal – Ion
I really don’t have the vocabulary to describe this album, suffice to say it’s weird – in a good way. This album has build-ups, which lead to more build-ups, and then suddenly you’re building up to something else – you’re never quite getting the release you’re expecting. But strangely enough it doesn’t leave you unsatisfied, unsettled at times, but never unsatisfied.
Album highlight: Spores.
8. Ævangelist – Matricide in the Temple of Omega Matricide is the second album from Ævangelist in 2018, Heralds of Nightmare Descending being released scant three months earlier. In many ways these albums are completely different yet come together as a coherent completely fucked up dissonant piece of art. Either of these albums could have taken this spot, and I advise you to listen to them both in succession.
Album highlight: Omen of the Barren Womb.
7. Mare – Ebony Tower
It’s been a while since I’ve been as excited about a Norwegian black metal album as I was about Mare’s Ebony Tower. Despite being active for 15 years this is the band’s first full length and thankfully it doesn’t disappoint. Leaning more into the ritualistic and atmospheric side of black metal they nonetheless haven’t left the intensity and fury by the wayside, that and Azazil’s vocals, which are just superb, has made me come back to this album again and again.
Album highlight: These Foundations of Darkness.
6. Infernal Coil – Within a World Forgotten
Completely relentless from start to finish, only giving you moments to breathe, Infernal Coil’s debut album is an onslaught on the senses. This is not an album you digest in one go and every time you listen to it you pick out something new. An absolute gem of blackened death with a few doom-ish moments thrown in for good measure.
Album highlight: Bodies Set in Ashen Death.
5. Aborted – Terror Vision
By far the best release from Aborted in their 20+ years. Technical and groovy in equal measure, this is probably the most “just plain fun” album on this list. if you can sit still while listening to this album there’s something very wrong with you.
Album highlight: Farewell to the Flesh.
4. Anaal Nathrakh – A New Kind of Horror
If you’ve been following Anaal Nathrakh for the last few albums nothing here should come as a surprise. They’re throwing everything and the kitchen sink at you, subtlety is not their strong suit. The vocals are absolutely astounding, and all over the place, from pig squeals to King Diamond-esque operatics. It’s a lovely fucking record.
Album highlight: The Reek of Fear.
3. Shining – X varg utan flock
Despite being the poster child for suicidal depressive black metal there is very little black metal to be found in Niklas’s latest album. What we’re left with is plenty of melancholy and extremely beautiful depressive lyrics. This is may very well not be one of Shining’s best albums, but it just works, and I absolutely love it.
Album highlight: Mot aokigahara.
2. Svartidauði – Revelations of the Red Sword
More melodic and less dissonant than Flesh Cathedral, but with no less intensity and force. Almost hypnotic at times and seemingly capable of bringing you into another world, I can’t wait to see this album live. Album highlight: Burning Worlds of Excrement.
1. Wiegedood – De doden hebben het goed III
I discovered Wiegedood at this year’s Inferno festival and I was instantly entranced. Since then I’ve devoured the entire trilogy and I highly recommend that you take a few hours to listen to them in order. Harsh vocals and furious drumming, often repeating the same sequence over and over result in a transcendental state for the listener. Best album of the year for me as well as the best show of the year at Brutal Assault festival this August.
Album highlight: De doden hebben het goed III.
2018 was a phenomenal year when it comes to metal releases, which made my job of whittling the list of best albums down to 10 extremely difficult. That’s why I’m taking the liberty of adding a few honorary mentions of albums that almost made it onto the list, in no particular order: Abysmal Torment – The Misanthrope, Aura Noir – Aura Noir, Carpe Noctem – Vitrun, Craft – White Noise and Black Metal, Funeral Chic – Superstition, Hamferð – Támsins Líkam, Hate Eternal – Upon Desolate Sands, Ihsahn – Ámr, Judas Priest – Firepower, Slidhr – The Futile Fires of Men.
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