Brendan’s Top 50 Albums of 2018: Part 3 (30 to 21)
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 third 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 third part of the top 50 albums of 2018. These are the best albums of 2018 from numbers 30 to 21.
You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Number 30: Mantar – The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze (Nuclear Blast)
There are many moments through the album where things just come together perfectly. You’ll be head-banging, circle-pitting and maybe even dancing to the groove that is layered deeply throughout the album. The duo have nailed it here and it never loses momentum.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 29: Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream (Fearless Records)
I found this album to be immensely entertaining. Not just from the way of a gimmick either, which it kind of is. Musically it is really strong and the mad range of vocals on offer are great. The choruses are catchy and there is so much on offer in here, you can’t possibly get bored. Great album with great 80s inspired cover art too.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 28: Between the Buried & Me – Automata I (Sumerian Records)
Automata I is a superbly inventive album. It oozes creativity and progression. Two things BTBAM are well renowned for. In that case, while still very, very good, it is also pretty much exactly what was expected. That isn’t a negative really, it is just the fact that they have set a bar on being creative and progressive so we naturally expect them to continue to do so and be so and they certainly hit that bar on this album.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 27: Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs (Century Media Records)
Orphaned Land returned with a fresher line-up & a concept album named Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs. An album that embraces the melodic death style of the past while also keeping the band focused on their current path. Orphaned Land’s Unsung Prophets and Dead Messiahs is an excellent release.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 26: Korpiklaani – Kulkija (Nuclear Blast)
This really is a fantastic album and by time the upbeat honesty of Juomamaa and the mournful Tuttu on tie end things you’ll feel very satisfied indeed. It’s great to see Korpiklaani as relevant now as they’ve ever been.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 25: Evil Scarecrow– Chapter IV: Antartarctica (Dead Box Records)
This is a big moment for Evil Scarecrow. Chapter IV: Antartarctica is the best stuff they’ve done but also shows some serious development as a band all while staying true to their roots. Both new and old fans will really enjoy this release that sees Evil Scarecrow in at the halfway point of this Top 50 albums of 2018.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 24: Anaal Nathrakh – A New Kind of Horror (Metal Blade Records)
This is the kind of extreme music you could listen to all day. It’s an album you just never want to end as Anaal Nathrakh tear their way through track after track with an intensity that almost feels unreal. Every time you think they’ve reached the cusp of horror they unleash more.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 23: Immortal – Northern Chaos Gods (Nuclear Blast Records)
Created as a love letter to all things black metal, from their rawest traditional past to more modern sounds, Northern Chaos Gods is a cold and calculating assault that will very quickly remind everyone who the kings of black metal are.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 22: Demonical – Chaos Manifesto (Agonia Records)
Chaos Manifesto is a phenomenal album. I was hooked very early into the first couple tracks and my smile just grew wider as I listened on. The vocals are superbly guttural. The bass is dripping in groove and power. The drums have a meaty sound and are pounded out furiously. The guitars switch between quick riffing to squealing solos to catchy rhythms. Every instrument works together perfectly creating a powerful sound that will still be rattling around in your head long after the final note plays out.
Read our full review of the album here.
Number 21: Aonia – The Seven (Self Released)
To say Aonia give their everything on this album is an understatement. There are some that will dismiss The Seven off the bat because of the tag ‘opera metal’. Don’t let that put you off listening to this album. Aonia might not be leading the pack in this regard but that’s purely because this is their debut album. Few similar bands have put out something as high in quality as this release in quite a while.
Read our full review of the album here.
