Brendan’s Top 50 Albums of 2018: Part 2 (40 to 31)
2018 has been another supreme year for the rock and metal world. So many amazing albums came out from old and new band’s alike. It made this list really hard to complete. Even more so when you think we have reviewed over 500 albums here at GBHBL alone. Difficult or not, it is complete and this marks the second set of albums from my Top 50 of the year.
To give each album the focus it deserves we decided to break the list into 5 articles with ten albums in each counting down from 50. This is the second part of the top 50. These are the best albums of 2018 from numbers 40 to 31.
You can read Part 1 here.
Number 40: OHHMS – Exist (Holy Roar Records)
There are few bands who encapsulate the modern face of post-metal and sludge with unrestrained heaviness, sorrowful beauty and the feeling of being on a journey with the band. All of that can be found on one of the best metal releases this year.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 39: Krisiun – Scourge of the Enthroned (Century Media Records)
The music is brilliantly heavy and visceral. The drums, guitars and bass are furious and there are little clever details hidden within the album that elevate it further. Little timing changes, lightning quick pauses and the like. A very accomplished album from a band who have been doing this for years but obviously still have plenty of fire in the pits of their stomachs.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 38: Hundred Year Old Man – Breaching (Gizeh Records)
The conquering heaviness that Hundred Year Old Man bring with Breaching is an extraordinary thing. An album that brings ruthless post-metal savagery in an fantastic clean style. This isn’t a messy album nor is it just heavy for the sake of being heavy, Hundred Year Old Man have crafted a smart piece of work here that blends genres leaving you in awe.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 37: Bury Tomorrow – Black Flame (Music for Nations)
Black Flame is ten tracks of heavy as hell, chest beating melodic metal with high energy. With high and clean production, the five-piece lay head-banging and circle-pitting heaviness. The breakdowns alone will leave your brain feeling pulverised across this very strong metalcore album.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 36: Conjurer– Mire (Holy Roar Records)
For all its unrelenting heaviness, Mire is such a well-structured album. This isn’t heavy for the sake of being heavy, what Conjurer have to say has to be played this way. The ferocity of their display is crystal clear though, nothing is lost here.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 35: Deafheaven – Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (Anti)
Deafheaven have done it again. Exceeded expectations while once again proving to be ahead of the curve and unwilling to be held back by genres. One of the best albums of the year.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 34: Skinless – Savagery (Relapse Records)
Savagery is a fantastic example of the most brutal side of death metal. It is chock full of chunky riffs. The drums are meaty and impactful. The bass is thick and heavy and the vocals are visceral and demonic. There are some solid guitar solos and melodic lines dappled in areas but predominantly Savagery is a relentlessly heavy assault.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 33: Barbarian Hermit – Solitude and Savagery (APF Records)
Solitude and Savagery showcases the sludgy doom talents that make Barbarian Hermit a force to be reckoned with a solid album, and one of the best of 2018.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 32: Aborted – TerrorVision (Century Media Records)
Aborted showing why the death metal world might change but they remain a constant and few can touch them when it comes to quality. There have been few death metal releases this year that stick so solidly to the formula but still sound so vibrant and fresh.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 31: The Ocean – Phanerozoic 1 – Palaeozoic (Metal Blade Records)
With so much going on, there can be a worry of things sounding muddled or confused but Phanerozoic avoids that, instead sounding clever and interesting. Musically exciting, structurally clever, loads of melody, piano and a mix of harsh vocals and clean vocals that work well together. There is a lot to admire here which is why this album comfortably make sit into my top 50.
Read our full review of the album here.
