Things You Might Have Missed 2018

Karg – Dornenvögel [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Master of Muppets on December 19, 2018 in 2018, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Atmospheric Black Metal, 65 comments

“If you’re like me in more socially acceptable ways, you fvcking love Harakiri for the Sky. Something about those cloying tremolo-picked melodies coupled with J.J.’s soulfelt screams just fucking does it for me in a way that I can’t get enough of, so checking out homeboy’s one-man blackened adventure, Karg, was a no-brainer for me while I waited out February’s Arson. Thank Jørn I did, as it gave me the opportunity to properly anticipate the project’s then-pending 6th full-length release, Dornenvögel, and likewise be that much more satisfied by its utter fucking greatness.” Karg the Exterminator.

Bloodbark – Bonebranches [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Master of Muppets on December 19, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Northern Silence Productions, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Atmospheric Black Metal, 52 comments

“If you’ve been making the mistake of paying attention to me this year, you’ve probably noticed the name Bloodbark tossed about all William Nilliam. This phenomenon has occurred for two reasons, the first of which being that you likely have terrible tastes in role models. The second, more important reason, is that Bonebranches comprises forty minutes ov the most magnificently Muppetous metal music made amidst the massive, miserable mess mankind’ll ‘member as ‘2018.’” Muppet bones.

Enblood – Cast to Exile [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Mark Z. on December 18, 2018 in 2018, Melodic Death Metal, Miasma Records, Portuguese Metal, Reviews, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Melodic Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 47 comments

“I’ve always thought that tech death and melodeath are more similar than most people realize. Both mainly use riffs comprised of individual notes played in succession, the difference is that tech death is faster, more complex, and typically has better T-shirts. I used to be quite interested in music which fused the two styles, namely early Arsis, early Revocation, and Vornagar’s sole album. These days I typically veer toward the blacker and thrashier realms, which is why I found it so surprising that Enblood’s Cast to Exile appealed to me as much as it did.” Tentacles in your face.

Convocation – Scars Across [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Ferrous Beuller on December 18, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Everlasting Spew Records, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Death Doom, Death Metal, 28 comments

“In November of 2017, Finland’s Desolate Shrine released Deliverance From the Godless Void, an album so full of death and depth it would have been my AotY had it not released so late. While this year has furnished us with a selection of stirring doom albums, it still falls to Desolate Shrine mastermind L.L to concoct the most immersive and crushing of them all. Convocation is a project that balances L.L’s multi-instrumental talents with the vocals of M. Neuman of fellow Finns Dark Buddha Rising. The resulting debut, Scars Across, is a remorseless trek through tortured terrain that never departs from its impending pace.” Doom to the world.

Silent Stream of Godless Elegy – Smutnice [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Kenstrosity on December 16, 2018 in 2018, Czech Metal, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, Redblack Productions, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Doom Metal, Folk Metal, 33 comments

“Those of you who have been following Angry Metal Guy’s Emporium of Curiosities since its inception may recognize this folk-doom metal band: Silent Stream of Godless Elegy. If you remember, His Overlordiness’ criticisms of their 2011 record, Návaz, regarded in no small part its lack of x-factor. While I only just discovered Silent Stream of Godless Elegy this year, I went back to hear their older records and I would agree; they lacked that intangible quality. Smutnice, however, resonates with me so completely I fear for the structural integrity of my bones.” Everflowing Silent Streams.

Order ov Riven Cathedrals – Göbekli Tepe [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Grymm on December 16, 2018 in 2018, Italian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Technical Death Metal, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 49 comments

“Göbekli Tepe, located in the southeastern part of Turkey, is believed to be the world’s oldest temple, predating the pyramids by roughly 6,500 years. With recent diggings finding three-dimensional figures of animals and humanoids in a period where many believed hunter-gatherers couldn’t possibly achieve such architecture, Göbekli Tepe continues to amaze historians just over twenty years after its excavation. It’s fitting that a mysterious Italian duo, Order ov Riven Cathedrals, would use this phenomenon as the title for their second album of utterly crazy technical death metal.” Olden worship.

Hopesfall – Arbiter [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Mark Z. on December 15, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Equal Vision Records, Hardcore, Non-Metal Metal Things, Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Hardcore, Non-metal Metal Things, Rock, 48 comments

“In many ways, Arbiter feels like the culmination of everything Hopesfall are. Much like their former swansong Magnetic North, the album takes influence from all the band’s eras while harboring their characteristic sense of longing and distance. Arbiter is the rare comeback album that doesn’t recapture the spirit of early works, it makes it sound like that spirit never left in the first place.” Hopesfall springs eternal.

Wytch Hazel – II: Sojourn [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Steel Druhm on December 15, 2018 in 2018, Bad Omen Records, English Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Heavy Metal, 53 comments

“2018 was the year Steel Druhm paid way more attention to what was going on with Bandcamp. I monitored what writers and readers were buying and recommending and found a few gems along the way. My favorite was II: Sojourn, the sophomore outing by U.K. retro rockers, Wytch Hazel.” Rub it on.

Paara – Riitti [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Kenstrosity on December 13, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, ViciSolum Productions, Black Metal, Melodic Black Metal, 77 comments

“I have a bone to pick with one of you fvckers (you know exactly who you are). One dastardly individual introduced Paara’s Riitti to me this summer, and ever since it has wreaked havoc upon my once untroubled year end list. It also broke me, finally winning me over to the black metal camp to sing its praises until the day I ascend to the higher plane.” Sound of a list shredding.

Kriegsmaschine – Apocalypticists [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Akerblogger on December 12, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, No Solace, Polish Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Black Metal, 55 comments

“Basic blasts, hammer blasts, gravity blasts, heel-toe blasts, bomb blasts, swivelling foot bomb blasts. Extreme metal certainly has all bases covered when it comes to extreme technical drumming. It’s a race, people. Who can play the fastest? Who can hit those hollow boxes the hardest? Who can sweat the most? Speed isn’t everything. In fact, speed can be a hindrance. Black metal is mostly known for its speed and rage, but its greatest asset is it’s ability to formulate a sense of unease and evilness. For Kriegsmaschine evilness and unease are achieved not through blistering speed and ridiculous technical acrobatics, but by taking a step back and approaching things from a different angle.” Murder maschines.