Mö: 30 Great Albums from 2018
4 min read
So where do we start? The last few years we’ve seen a bit of a renaissance in heavy music and overall 2018 has been especially fantastic! In fact I can’t remember it being such a strong run since…Whenever? Each year I put together some type of end of year list with a few twists and turns and this year was no exception. But extremely difficult as I’ve tried to balance my thirst for new music with my old school tendencies.
A reminder that this is just my list and my opinion, and a list of my favorite albums that I either played the most, had some major connection to or just thought were so fantastic I had to share. When people put together an album of the year or best albums of the year list, it can really come across as arrogant because how can any one person possibly know how the music makes the rest of us feel? So I love reading all these lists, because it really gives you some perspective on the fact that there are many others just like yourself; so passionate and relentless in their pursuit of the next great metal record or band! And the amount of new bands and music released of late has been absolutely staggering to say the least. From the mainstream and more traditional bands to the potential underground sensations just waiting to capture their spot high upon your coveted playlists and allotted jam sessions. Some proclaim that rock and metal are dead? Some have neglected to actually listen to what’s out there, and some are clearly too damn egotistical to allow for the myriad of new music to be recognized, played and dissected. Especially from the underground…
One thing is for sure and that’s the fact that if you are into heavy music and its endless supply of sub-genres and styles, then you’re in luck! Because from what I’ve already heard that’s set to be released in early 2019, it sure doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. So take advantage of the opportunity to discover or re-discover the music and don’t be afraid to spread your listening around a bit. You may just find a new band, category or style that you’ve overlooked, never gave a chance or simply ignored?
So here’s to all you fucking maniacs that I’ve had the privilege of interacting with from all over the world! I truly appreciate your support and the opportunity to share some of the music that makes me want to Stand Up & Shout!
Happy Holidays and hope you enjoy my 2018 list of albums as much as I did in making it.… Mö
#30 THE WATCHERS – Black Abyss
Ripple Music
9 March 2018
#29 RIVERS OF NIHIL – Where Owls Know My Name
Metal Blade Records
16 March 2018
#28 HAUNT- Burst Into Flame
Shadow Kingdom Records
10 August 2018
#27 GATEKEEPER – East of Sun
Cruz del Sur Music
27 April 2018
#26 SKELETONWITCH – Devouring Radiant Light
Prosthetic Records
20 July 2018
#25 OBJECTOR – Social Intolerance
Malevolence Records
2 March 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#24 HOODED MENACE – Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
Season of Mist
26 January 2018
#23 ALKALOID – Liquid Anatomy
Season of Mist
18 May 2018
#22 WAYFARER – World’s Blood
Profound Lore Records
25 May 2018
#21 BRIMSTONE COVEN – What Was and What Shall Be
Self Released
21 July 2018
#20 BLACK CYCLONE – Death Is King
Independent
8 January 2018
#19 SEAR BLISS – Letters From The Edge
Hammerheart Records
15 June 2018
#18 SUBTYPE ZERO – The Astral Awakening
Seeing Red Records
24 August 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#17 DEATH KARMA – The History of Death & Burial Rituals Part II
Beyond Eyes Productions
24 November 2018
#16 
UADA – Cult of a Dying Sun
Eisenwald
25 May 2018
#15 TAPHOS – Come Ethereal Somberness
Blood Harvest
8 June 2018
#14 SHAKMA – House of Possession
Duplicate Records
23 February 2018
#13 SEPULCHER – Panoptic Horror
Edged Circle Productions
14 September 2018
#12 SHYLMAGOGHNAR – Transience
Napalm Records
29 June 2018
#11 SINISTRO – Sangue Cassia
Season of Mist
5 June 2018
#10 PORTAL – ION
Profound Lore Records
26 January 2018
#9 CARRIAGE – Visions
Stormspell Records
2 August 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#8 BLADE KILLER – High Risk
M-Theory Audio
23 November 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#7 GREEN DRUID – Ashen Blood
Earache Records
17 January 2018
#6 SOLSTICE – White Horse Hill
Independent
21 February 2018
#5 Conjurer – Mire
Holy Roar Records
23 February 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#4 UNREQVITED – Stars Wept to the Sea
Avantgarde Music
16 April 2018
#3 Eagle Twin – The Thundering Heard (Songs of Hoof and Horn)
Southern Lord Records
30 March 2018
Listen on Bandcamp | Read my review
#2 1914 – The Blind Leading the Blind
Archaic Sound
11 November 2018
#1 PANOPTICON – The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness I and II
Bindrune Recordings
6 April 2018
Here are the albums that shoulda, coulda, woulda in any year, and by tomorrow could be on the list. This list started out as 77 deep and changed just as frequently…But what do I know?
SATAN – “Cruel Magic”
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY – “No Cross No Crown”
DEFIATORY – “Hades Rising”
WINDHAND – “Eternal Return”
JUDAS PRIEST – “Firepower”
VISIGOTH – “Conqueror’s Oath”
ORANGE GOBLIN – “The Wolf Bites Back”
FILII NIGRANTIUM INFERNALIUM – “Hostia”
NECROPHOBIC – “Mark of the Necrogram”
TRIBULATION – “Down Below”
KRAKOW – “Minus”
THE SKULL – “The Endless Road Turns Dark”
THRASHIST REGIME – “Carnival of Monsters”
A FOREST OF STARS – “Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes”
KHEMMIS – “Desolation”
SLEEP – “Sciences”
Mö
**Please support the underground! It’s vital to the future of our genre.
#WeAreBlessedAltarZine
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