Awards 2018

3 reviewers shared their picks for 2018.

← 2017 2019 →

Alex

Top Albums

1.
9967
1.
9967 — Transformative album, both for the band and for the listener. So disappointed I could not catch them live on the US tour
1.
9967 — Transformative album, both for the band and for the listener. So disappointed I could not catch them live on the US tour
1.
9967 — Transformative album, both for the band and for the listener. So disappointed I could not catch them live on the US tour
2.
2.
10027 — Gripping wall of emotion
2.
10027 — Gripping wall of emotion
2.
10027 — Gripping wall of emotion
3.
3.
9954 — Not capable of disappointing
3.
9954 — Not capable of disappointing
3.
9954 — Not capable of disappointing
4.
4.
9888 — I'm begging the gods I am as good at my craft when I am 65+ as this venerable band that got me into metal 35 years ago
4.
9888 — I'm begging the gods I am as good at my craft when I am 65+ as this venerable band that got me into metal 35 years ago
4.
9888 — I'm begging the gods I am as good at my craft when I am 65+ as this venerable band that got me into metal 35 years ago
5.
5.
10010 — My black metal album of the year. Intensity unmatched
5.
10010 — My black metal album of the year. Intensity unmatched
5.
10010 — My black metal album of the year. Intensity unmatched
6.
6.
6.
9961 — More commercial, no less appealing
6.
9961 — More commercial, no less appealing
7.
7.
7.
9970 — If you are interested in supporting both independent vision and quality at the same time, look no further
7.
9970 — If you are interested in supporting both independent vision and quality at the same time, look no further
8.
8.
8.
9883 — Progressive folk album of the year
8.
9883 — Progressive folk album of the year
9.
9.
9.
9924 — Forgot about these Greek epic metallers, so they sent me a strong reminder
9.
9924 — Forgot about these Greek epic metallers, so they sent me a strong reminder
10.
10.
10.
9996 — Re-release, but discovery of the year
10.
9996 — Re-release, but discovery of the year
11.
11.
11.
10030 — And I didn't even know Matt Barlow was back
11.
10030 — And I didn't even know Matt Barlow was back
12.
12.
12.
9939 — Last year's blackened doom was impossible to beat, but this darkwave neofolk album is solid
12.
9939 — Last year's blackened doom was impossible to beat, but this darkwave neofolk album is solid
13.
13.
13.
10003 — Funeral doom masters deliver
13.
10003 — Funeral doom masters deliver
14.
14.
14.
9948 — Blackened doom album of this year
14.
9948 — Blackened doom album of this year
15.
15.
15.
9937 — And more epic traditional doom
15.
9937 — And more epic traditional doom

Surprises of the Year

1.
1.
1.
10044 — My favorite Ukranian beyond black metal band lives
1.
10044 — My favorite Ukranian beyond black metal band lives
2.
2.
2.
9992 — Instrumental music done so well
2.
9992 — Instrumental music done so well
3.
3.
3.
10041 — Energy & thrash
3.
10041 — Energy & thrash
4.
4.
4.
9964 — Energy & melodic death thrash
4.
9964 — Energy & melodic death thrash
5.
5.
5.
9944 — Peace & ambiance
5.
9944 — Peace & ambiance

Disappointments

1.
1.
1.
9912 — Why? I couldn't wait for this triple monster to end
1.
9912 — Why? I couldn't wait for this triple monster to end
2.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
4.
5.
5.
5.
5.

Joke of the Year

1.
1.
1.
10038 — It's not how you name your band, it is what you play that counts
1.
10038 — It's not how you name your band, it is what you play that counts
2.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
4.
5.
5.
5.
5.

Words / Final Thoughts

0
0
0
— This has not been an easy year for me, personally or professionally. I got pretty seriously sick early in the year because of all the work stress, sleepless hours, etc. The company sale, having to work with the new arrangements, all the fundamental changes running the company, almost endless expansion, personnel pressures - all took a toll on my metal listening posture. I constantly found myself looking for old acquaintances, and many of my favorite bands had 2018 releases. Thus, a lot of names on my list aren't new discoveries. Thankfully, old friends delivered and then some. Arkona, Primordial, Judas Priest, Sargeist, Orphaned Land, Khors, A Sound of Thunder made my list before, and they did it again in 2018. Only Therion disappointed (in a major way). Next, the word doom, or at least sadder music, was the word of 2018 for me. Anything doomy seemed to hit the spot. Thus, preponderance of those are probably reflected in the list as well. My older child left for college this year, and due to work I had to travel more, so I had less opportunities to listen, and missed probably a few more weeks than I normally do. Also, when you are worried about what is happening with your college freshman, the writing just doesn't flow well. Thanks a bunch to Andy and Zad, who provided the voice of sanity. What I want to promise to my two remaining compatriots that #1 - I will try sticking it with them to the end, and #2 - I need to listen to every entry on their year end lists. Thanks to all promoters, labels and bands who still keep sending the material to me. I know, I could have been doing more, but doing this for 16 years now - the times have changed and I am adapting. May 2019 bring the best of everything to everybody who continues reading MR!
0
— This has not been an easy year for me, personally or professionally. I got pretty seriously sick early in the year because of all the work stress, sleepless hours, etc. The company sale, having to work with the new arrangements, all the fundamental changes running the company, almost endless expansion, personnel pressures - all took a toll on my metal listening posture. I constantly found myself looking for old acquaintances, and many of my favorite bands had 2018 releases. Thus, a lot of names on my list aren't new discoveries. Thankfully, old friends delivered and then some. Arkona, Primordial, Judas Priest, Sargeist, Orphaned Land, Khors, A Sound of Thunder made my list before, and they did it again in 2018. Only Therion disappointed (in a major way). Next, the word doom, or at least sadder music, was the word of 2018 for me. Anything doomy seemed to hit the spot. Thus, preponderance of those are probably reflected in the list as well. My older child left for college this year, and due to work I had to travel more, so I had less opportunities to listen, and missed probably a few more weeks than I normally do. Also, when you are worried about what is happening with your college freshman, the writing just doesn't flow well. Thanks a bunch to Andy and Zad, who provided the voice of sanity. What I want to promise to my two remaining compatriots that #1 - I will try sticking it with them to the end, and #2 - I need to listen to every entry on their year end lists. Thanks to all promoters, labels and bands who still keep sending the material to me. I know, I could have been doing more, but doing this for 16 years now - the times have changed and I am adapting. May 2019 bring the best of everything to everybody who continues reading MR!

Goat

Top Albums

1.
9953 — A truly beautiful doom album that has grown on me with each listen, rightfully deserving to be no 1.
1.
9953 — A truly beautiful doom album that has grown on me with each listen, rightfully deserving to be no 1.
2.
9888 — A tremendous return to classic form for the legends.
2.
9888 — A tremendous return to classic form for the legends.
3.
9995 — An album that has grown and grown, I underscored this in my review. Fantastic work from a fantastic band.
3.
9995 — An album that has grown and grown, I underscored this in my review. Fantastic work from a fantastic band.
4.
10040 — A late entry, but a stunning album.
4.
10040 — A late entry, but a stunning album.
5.
9867 — These mysterious other-dimensional beings continue to terrify.
5.
9867 — These mysterious other-dimensional beings continue to terrify.
6.
9848 — Twisted black metal perfection that still puzzles many listens later.
6.
9848 — Twisted black metal perfection that still puzzles many listens later.
7.
10015 — Another ancient band proving they still very much have it, Uriah Heep continue to rock the hell out despite being nearly 50 years old!
7.
10015 — Another ancient band proving they still very much have it, Uriah Heep continue to rock the hell out despite being nearly 50 years old!
8.
9881 — The best from the Ukrainians in years.
8.
9881 — The best from the Ukrainians in years.
9.
10023 — An excellent addition to these Victorian mentalists' discography.
9.
10023 — An excellent addition to these Victorian mentalists' discography.
10.
9947 — Winter truly has returned. A majestic return to nineties' form for these blizzard beasts.
10.
9947 — Winter truly has returned. A majestic return to nineties' form for these blizzard beasts.
11.
9935 — A death metal supergroup that lives up to its billing.
11.
9935 — A death metal supergroup that lives up to its billing.
12.
9954 — Some were disappointed by this, but the band have done something different and just as compelling here.
12.
9954 — Some were disappointed by this, but the band have done something different and just as compelling here.
13.
9917 — These Norwegians came back to paint the town black, and made a very underappreciated album.
13.
9917 — These Norwegians came back to paint the town black, and made a very underappreciated album.
14.
10005 — Far better than Marduk's outing this year, I hope this project continues to produce albums this good.
14.
10005 — Far better than Marduk's outing this year, I hope this project continues to produce albums this good.
15.
9896 — Another album I was a little harsh to in my review, Necrophobic have made a great album here.
15.
9896 — Another album I was a little harsh to in my review, Necrophobic have made a great album here.

Surprises of the Year

1.
10025 — Blackjazz as a concept continues to delight
1.
10025 — Blackjazz as a concept continues to delight
2.
9969 — Swarming opulence indeed, this was another fine combination of genres.
2.
9969 — Swarming opulence indeed, this was another fine combination of genres.
3.
9878 — Could doomjazz become as big as blackjazz?
3.
9878 — Could doomjazz become as big as blackjazz?
4.
10019 — Narrowly missing out on the top 15, a very welcome surprise return from the doom legends.
4.
10019 — Narrowly missing out on the top 15, a very welcome surprise return from the doom legends.
5.
9977 — Pulsing synths are as fine an addition to extreme metal as the saxophone.
5.
9977 — Pulsing synths are as fine an addition to extreme metal as the saxophone.

Disappointments

1.
9980 — Not a bad album, but one that was something of a let-down after the previous two re-established the band so well.
1.
9980 — Not a bad album, but one that was something of a let-down after the previous two re-established the band so well.
2.
9931 — A reunion that has failed to produce anything other than solid yet unexciting repetitions of past glories so far.
2.
9931 — A reunion that has failed to produce anything other than solid yet unexciting repetitions of past glories so far.
3.
10014 — Yet another Deicide album that satisfies without filling. Hyped as something special, decidedly typical.
3.
10014 — Yet another Deicide album that satisfies without filling. Hyped as something special, decidedly typical.
4.
9893 — I was disappointed with this at first and hoped it was a grower. It wasn't!
4.
9893 — I was disappointed with this at first and hoped it was a grower. It wasn't!
5.
9942 — After the excellence of Frontschwein this is a step backwards in every respect.
5.
9942 — After the excellence of Frontschwein this is a step backwards in every respect.

Joke of the Year

1.
9962 — I simply can't understand the wild praise for this. Definitely the band's weakest album to date, even without the disco.
1.
9962 — I simply can't understand the wild praise for this. Definitely the band's weakest album to date, even without the disco.
2.
10013 — What else can you call it when one of the most forward-thinking bands in metal decides to switch to the sort of pop-rock that makes the Foo Fighters sound exciting?
2.
10013 — What else can you call it when one of the most forward-thinking bands in metal decides to switch to the sort of pop-rock that makes the Foo Fighters sound exciting?
3.
9912 — A staggeringly over-confident project that's utterly painful to listen to.
3.
9912 — A staggeringly over-confident project that's utterly painful to listen to.
4.
Neckbeard Deathcamp — Political black metal is as bad when the far-left do it as the far-right, you know.
4.
NECKBEARD DEATHCAMP — Political black metal is as bad when the far-left do it as the far-right, you know.
5.
5.

Words / Final Thoughts

0
0
— Another fantastic year for music, another fantastic year for metal, and another not-so-fantastic year for me. Some bands let me down, some passed my expectations, and some proved live that they can overcome disappointing studio material - Clutch especially putting on a great show that proved they're one of the best rock groups around. Other live highlights were the legendary King Crimson and Voivod, the former making me wish they would go back in the studio, the latter proving how great their studio material is. I'm mindful of Andy's encouragement of last time's awards to go to more live shows, and hopefully 2019 will see me at even more. I complain a lot, but the truth is that I'm grateful for so much; for the musicians who keep me sane, for the bands that make such tremendous sounds, and for you, dear reader, who somehow still finds what I have to say about this weird genre gratifyingly interesting over eleven years after I started writing about it! Thank you to all, and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a truly happy New Year. RIP – Dave Castillo, Richard Bateman, Mark Shelton, Vinnie Paul, Ralph Santolla, Dave Holland, Tim Calvert, Eddie Clarke, Caleb Scofield, Frank 'Killjoy' Pucci

Andy

Top Albums

1.
9857
1.
9857
2.
9872
2.
10003
3.
9888
3.
9888
4.
9935
4.
9935
5.
9873
5.
9873
6.
9906
6.
9906
7.
9869
7.
9967
8.
10012
8.
10019
9.
10033
9.
10033
10.
9897
10.
9872
11.
11.
10012
12.
12.
9885
13.
13.
9920
14.
14.
9869
15.
15.
9897

Surprises of the Year

1.
10045
1.
10045
2.
9866
2.
9866
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.

Disappointments

1.
9991
1.
9991
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.

Joke of the Year

1.
10032
1.
10032
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.

Words / Final Thoughts

0
0
— 2018's been a wildly good year in many ways. Amid all the craziness, longtime A-list bands pumped out some great albums. Judas Priest showed young upstarts a thing or two with what may be their strongest album since Painkiller; Sleep produced their first full-length in 15 years; and Summoning proved that they may not be entirely crazy in their choice of odd new synth-guitar work. Interspersed among the giants were a number of debut releases that show some strong possibilities for their bands; Greyhawk, Alkaloid, and Frozen Crown have been on my repeat list lately. It was also an exceptionally good year for business at my company, meaning that I've been buried. Between that and both my kids going to new schools, it's been a little hard to find time for as many reviews as I'd like; to find time to listen to as much as I can see passing by; or to finish the website redesign I started, and had to regretfully lay aside by February. Like being buried in profitable work, more good music available than listening time permits is a wonderful predicament to find myself in. If I was able to travel back in time, find my sixteen-year-old self rummaging in the used CD store for any releases containing logos smacking of metal, and tell him that someday not only would he be sent new releases on a regular basis for review, but that there would be so many new albums for the listening that he would not be able to get through them all, he would not be able to believe it. There are plenty of nasty aspects to living in this day and age, but being able to get new, good music literally on a daily basis is a heck of a consolation. Thanks to my colleagues here at MR, Alex and Zadok, for the great reviews and the encouragement; to all the kickass bands and labels who've sent us their material to check out; and to our readership, who make the little articles we put together late at night worthwhile.