Artificialbrian chooses his top picks for 2018. Indulge in this awesome list!
1. Sulphur Aeon – The Scythe Of Cosmic Chaos
My suspicions have been confirmed – Sulphur Aeon are, in fact, great old ones themselves. The Scythe Of Cosmic Chaos deserves a place in history as one of the greatest albums ever made; it’s a genuine masterpiece of the highest quality.
2. Trollheims Grott – Aligned With The True Death
After a decade and a half of dwelling in seething hatred, Trollheims Grott return more violent than ever, bridging over from Bizarre Troll Technology as if Bloodsoaked And Ill-fated didn’t even happen. Contempt for humanity has never sounded so sweet.
3. Soul Dissolution – Stardust
Stardust is the best example out there right now as to why black metal is better when it’s not of the traditional variety. You can read my review from earlier this year for more of my thoughts on this, but I will note that I am still bathing in Stardust on a weekly basis.
4. Convocation – Scars Across
One of the most thought provoking and expertly crafted albums I’ve heard in years. Scars Across takes the listener on an incredible journey that can only be experienced, not explained. This is as immense as doom can possibly be.
5. Oxygen Destroyer – Bestial
Manifestations Of Malevolence And Death
This is the highest caliber of thrashing death metal, seething with the power of the daikaiju. I’m convinced the guys in Oxygen Destroyer are werekaiju. Warning: if you play this while driving, you may end up with speeding tickets
6. Cardiac Arrest – A Parallel Dimension Of Despair
No bullshit, pure death fucking metal. I’ve always had a soft spot for Cardiac Arrest for their strong convictions as musicians. A Parallel Dimension Of Despair also happens to be their strongest album to date, somehow packing an enormous heap of gargantuan riffs and salty solos into a mere 46 minutes.
7. Galvanizer – Sanguine Vigil
This is a fantastic combination of filthy Finnish grit with an abrasive Swedish sound. Showing an inherently strong sense for death metal and grindcore, Sanguine Vigil is one hell of a badass album straight through to its rotting core.
8. Just Before Dawn – Tides Of Blood
More consistent than ever, Just Before Dawn leave their previous work smoldering in a pile of ashes, keeping the listener pinned down under their immensely powerful presence. If you want to define solid, you don’t open a dictionary – you put on Tides Of Blood.
9. Lifelost – Dialogues From Beyond
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a black metal album by Phlegeton (Wormed). What I discovered is that Dialogues From Beyond hits both frightening and intense at once, with the combined strength of a thousand men, saturated in an uncomfortably vitriolic atmosphere.
10. Scorched – Ecliptic Butchery
I can’t explain exactly why I love Ecliptic Butchery so much – there’s something primal about it that caught me from the first listen and keeps reeling me in. It’s a subconscious emotional response, perhaps a base instinct, and I must eat that worm regardless of the hook.
The Metal Wanderlust 