The Top 20

The Top 20

20)Alkymist - Canada- Spellcraft Ceremony

- This is just good, intricate black metal that is both melodic yet fiery, with great structure and delivery.

19)Trenchant- Martial Chaos

-This is some great new Texas death metal that is simultaneously bludgeoning and melodic, with a smooth delivery to the roar of the music. I need more death metal bands like this.

18)Elegiac- Pagan Storm

- A beautifully melancholic black metal album, raw but slower, with an expansive sound that pulls you in and worships times past. This project keeps growing, incorporating new elements, yet does so well enough that the growth remains organic and delightful.

17)Thy Dying Light- Cold in Death

- This is pure traditional black metal worship from Britain that sounds like it crawled right out of Norway in the 90s, yet instead of sounding cliche it just sounds amazing and fresh. It is awesome.

16) Churchacide- Bilesoaked Blades

- Roaring Texas death metal that will crush you with riffs. Its fast, its fun, it'll blast you off your feet. This was a good year for Texas death metal, and this was my favorite release for it.

15)IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT- Vile Luxury

- Another one of those perfectly titled albums, this thing is amazing. A mixture of the perfect slimey death metal undercurrent, with soaring brass interspersed and stellar musicianship, this album is a pinnacle of art. They're a great live show too.

14)Arketh- 12 Winter Moons Comes the Witches Brew

- This psychedelic, avant-garde black metal release is just so much fun. It's weirdly wonderful in all the right ways, and I listened to it a lot this year.

13)Gary Numan Official- Savage: Songs from a Broken World

- This is an amazing electronic album, and the song "My Name is Ruin" is one of my favorite songs this year. This album should not be overlooked. Another older musician showing the young ones he's still got it.

12)Lord Of The Lost- Thornstar

- This is an excellent album from this band, possibly my favorite of theirs yet. They've solidified their sound and delivered something exceptional.

11)Kvalvaag- Seid

- If I put you on par with Emperor, it means I really like your music. This is one of the few modern black metal bands that for me achieves that chaos made melody sound Emperor specialized in. I love it.

10)Lucifer's Child- The Order

- Its a really good take on the Rotting Christ black metal sound, roaring like a beast from the pits and just not stopping. Plus, riffs.

9)Crawl/Leviathan - Split

-So the Leviathan side of this split is good, but the Crawl side? Holy crap. It's stunning. He remains one of my favorite local musicians for precisely this bone-crushing, soul shattering sound, and this track is immense. And I find that it makes the Leviathan side better, like it feeds off the sound of the Crawl side.

8 )Morok (MOPOK)- Carpathian Fullmoon Ritual

- This is awesome traditional black metal with some of my favorite synth work this year. This is just too awesome for words. If you like black metal, check this project out.

7)Urfaust- The Constellatory Practice

- These guys are another band that get better and better, and they were already amazing. This atmospheric, beautiful black metal swallows you whole for a transcendental experience.

6) Ghost- Prequelle

- Much like Mastodon's Emperor of Sand from last year, here's another album about death that tends towards an upbeat sound. This album is all plague and fire and Eighties. An ode to music heroes now gone, it expertly blends the band's recognizable style with flourishes from said music heroes, and its a ton of fun too. Learn to let loose, but don't forget that you will die.

5) Powerwolf- Sacrament of Sin

- I love these guys, and this album exemplifies how well they've come into their own sound. They're fun, catchy, and just a wonderful music experience, and this album fully displays their range of style perfectly, from goofy good fun to beautiful ballads to even hints of Medieval metal.

4)Uruk- Nihilistic Warfare in Inhuman Realms

- This Austin black metal band took their already awesome black metal and made it even better. A pure inferno at the start, it transforms into something great with the incorporation of folkish passages a-la early Satyricon, and blends itself into a maelstrom of rage and beauty.

3) Zeal & Ardor- Stranger Fruit

- I cannot say enough good things about this album. A fantastic blend of Spiritualism, Americana, Folk, Occult Rock, and Black Metal, this is far and away one of my favorite releases this year. Do yourself a favor, and don't sleep on them like I was.

2) Orga- Demo

- So I spent a good portion of this year not shutting up about this demo, because it slays. Raw blackened punk that decimates everything in its path, while remaining an almost groovey thing. Riffs upon riffs upon riffs, and a fantastic barking vocal delivery that ties the whole thing together. It was a stiff competition.

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1)Black Jackal- Rock N Roll Nightmare

- I consider myself very lucky, having grown up on a farm in bumfuck nowhere South Texas, to now have the opportunity to witness so much amazing music on a regular basis. The reason I've come to constantly hype so many local bands is because THESE BANDS ARE GENUINELY AWESOME, and I am so happy to get to see and hear them. And this year, Black Jackal took the cake. For the first time in a year and a half, I had to work 7 am morning shifts, after growing accustomed to being at work until 12am. This album is how I survived. Its an injection of burning black n roll that is full of energy, spirit, and an indomitable soul. The vocal work is perfect, the bass lines roar, the drumming keeps you headbanging, and the guitarwork, from BOTH guitarists, is fantastic. Its catchy, fun, powerful, and just pure fucking rock n roll. It chewed the competition up and spit it out. I will miss Jesse's godlike guitar playing in the future, but a certain Nerd is doing just fine, and just continues to get better. Overall this band rules, this album rules, and for the billionth time, check them out!

** Hey, you survived this ridiculously long list. Happy New Year, here's to more awesome music in 2019! **

My 2018 Album Of the Year List, pt. 1

This is a ridiculously long list, so its split up. Its still long. It might be overdoing it. I don't care. Believe it or not, I even left several releases off. I cannot emphasize it enough, there was a ton of superb music to be heard this year, and my goal is that maybe you'll find something new to enjoy. Read it or don't, just keep loving music.

75)IDLE HANDS - PDX- Don't Waste Your Time

- Heavy metal with a sort of goth rock bend to it that's just an enjoyable listen

74)IAMX- Alive In New Light

- electro goth rock of a sort. Still his own thing. The main single, Stardust, is fantastic.

73) Sniper 66- Annihilator

- Austin punk rock that gives no quarter. They just get better and better.

72)Lunaform- Lunaform

- absolutely beautiful debut prog/djent EP from the Dallas area.

71)Convulsing- Grievous

- Punishing, melancholic black/death metal hailing from the Land Down Under

70)YOB- Our Raw Heart

- I'm actually not generally a fan of loooong, plodding doom metal, but personal taste aside, this is probably one of the best metal albums this year. It is aptly titled, and emotionally rewarding.

69)Pious Levus- Beast of the Foulest Depths

-Grimey Death metal from some of Texas' finest, here to rip you open.

68) Marid-VVVVVVV

-Beautiful Saharan atmospheric black metal that makes me feel calm, so always a good thing.

67)Craft- White Noise and Black Metal

-Black metal to napalm your ears with. Just napalm. Burn.

66)Carn Dûm- Shadow and Fire

- Tolkien black metal that roars like a Balrog and hits like one too.

65)Whoredom Rife- NID-Hymner av Hat

- Yeah, Norway still makes excellent black metal. Enough said.

64)Cultor Noctis- Demiurg

- A great little black metal EP that jumped out at me on Bandcamp, looking forward to more.

63)Krigsgrav- Leave No Path to Follow

- These Texas fellows are back with a somber, weighty black metal outing that'll trap you like a quagmire.

62)Lifted Traces- Akira

- Seeing this performed live with the film might have resulted in bias on my part, but tackling one of my favorite film soundtracks with a superb interpretation is just amazing, so full kudos to the fellows at Switched On.

61)Morgengrau- Blood Oracle

- Roaring Texas death metal titans return to crush your ears. And ribs. And face. And soul.

60)Tamerlan Empire- Age of Ascendancy

- Symphonic black metal mixed with Middle-Eastern musical elements, without the overdone death metal aspects so many bands insist on having when doing this kind of sound. In other words- Heck yes!

59)Erebos- Peste Kommer

- While I ultimately enjoyed Faded Into the Shadows from last year more, this is still a mighty good black metal release that perfectly achieves Burzum synth worship.

58)Tvaer- Old Gods Whom Chaos Knew

- Raw melancholic black metal that I'm really hoping there will be more of.

57) Anders Manga- Perfectly Stranger

- Just stumbled on this darkwave project this year, very glad I did. Absolutely top-notch.

56)Dispirit- Enantiodromian Birth

-I really hope I spelled that right. The album is great and so was their performance at Red River Family Fest.

55)Therion- Beloved Antichrist

- Because why not just make a massive rock opera? Their skill never ceases to amaze me.

54)Elderfrost- The Beautiful Voice of Shadow

-If more dungeon synth sounded like this I'd listen to more dungeon synth. I wish more dungeon synth sounded like this.

53)Nocturnus Santurnus- Nocturnus Santurnus

- Immortal worship of the highest caliber, with so many riffs.

52)Magoth- Zeitgeist: Dystopia

- This didn't quite catch me the way last year's album did, however it's still a very solid album with more sweet riffs.

51) Immortal- Northern Chaos Gods

- A return that did not disappoint in the least, this album could freeze Hell its so frigidly raw.

50)Mare- Ebony Tower

- This is dark and beautiful and sucks you in so well.

49)Iskandr-Euprosopon

- Its mellow, odd, cold, and wonderful black metal, and should be given a listen.

48)Sargeist- Unbound

-Unbound is a good title for this, like a raging black metal beast set loose.

47)Spite- Antimoshiach

-Speaking of raging black metal beasts, yeah, this one too.

46)Cultum Interitum-Temple of Triumphant Death

-Dark, roaring black metal that I was quite pleased with, and definitely want more of.

45)Judas Priest- Firepower

- Bow to the metal gods, because they definitely still rule.

Part 2 & 3 incoming.

Black Jackal- Rock N Roll Nightmare

The debut album from San Antonio black thrash n roll speeding death train Black Jackal is probably in my top 5 albums of the year. This album slays. It rocks. Its absolutely awesome. If you like Venom, Weaponizer, Bastardizer, Destroyer 666, etc., you absolutely must try this album. If you want rock n roll, you must try this album. If you love heavy metal, you must try this album.

The riffs are some of the best you will hear, from a master guitarist and his virtuoso nerdtastic rythym- man ripping the heavens asunder. The basslines roar, a groovy undertow pulling everything together, especially on Skeletonize. Top notch drumming keeps you banging your head at breakneck speeds throughout. The vocals are some of my favorite, a raspy growl tearing through the rock and roll din, gruff but discernible in a manner I tend to find rare in many metal releases, towing a perfect line between harsh and clean.

There is a somber aspect to this release, as the rock and roll nightmare himself is no longer with us. The stunning last track is a reminder of what was lost, and a beautiful way to close the album. The band continues to forge ahead, each step forward in honor of a metal maniac, and I await what the future brings with excitement.

Lay down your soul for the God's rock and roll!

You can currently pick up digital copies from Flesh Vessel Records on Bandcamp, and physical copies are coming in the near future.

Ulthar and Scorched are going on tour through North America this year.

Ulthar killed it at Red River Family Fest III, so it'll be awesome to see them again.

Support for the Austin, Texas date are Crawl and Haunter, so if you're in that area it is a show that shouldn't be missed.

Elegiac

Pagan Storm

The newest release from this Portland, Oregon based solo black metal project follows last year's superb release Black Clouds of War, and continues the merging of classic black metal and hints of folk and pagan metal elements. Raw and unapologetic, but still well-produced and fantastically mixed, this album never sacrifices melody or enjoyment while being a raging assault on the senses in the vein of Satanic Warmaster or Darkthrone.

While the title itself indicates the pagan black metal stylistic leanings, it is not overdone, and the album remains firmly rooted in the traditional black metal sound. Rather, the pagan stylings are used to grow the songs, turning typical roaring riffs into hypnotic passages that allow the pagan longings to flourish. This generates a mixture of somber, mournful, yet celebratory emotions, an apt devotional to old ways, expressed with beautiful melody and stout heart. The songs tend towards a longer run time, permitting the soundscape to expand organically and meld the various little parts into a mesmerizing whole. As with the rest of this project's discography, it is worth listening, keeping the ancient spirit of black metal alive and kicking.

CDs can be obtained from ATMF Recordings.

Released September 28, 2018

Black metal from Wisconsin.

One of the first black metal releases of 2019 I'm really digging is this little 3 track EP. The riffs are quite enjoyable, well done vocal work, groovey rythym. Good stuff.