Things You Might Have Missed 2018

Lucis Absentia – Gehenna Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Lucis Absentia – Gehenna Gate [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“I remember when I was first introduced to Cincinnati’s Lucis Absentia back in 2015. Only that wasn’t the name they went by. When Justin of War Curse first told me about them, they had a single EP under the moniker of Gomorrah. With the name change in 2016, the rumors of a full-length release began to whirl around the dark alleys of the underground. And, now, after three long years, Lucis Absentia’s debut record is here. And you, I, we are going in on Gehenna Gate at ground zero.” Gate creepers.

Construct of Lethe – Exiler [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Construct of Lethe – Exiler [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“It would appear that technicality and dissonance have won out over traditional structures in death metal this year. Highly ranked amongst these unconventional victories is Exiler, the second album by Virginia’s Construct of Lethe. Exiler exudes a grim atmosphere by occupying an awkward position only fractionally removed from comfort.” Comfort is for hipsters.

VOLA – Applause of a Distant Crowd [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

VOLA – Applause of a Distant Crowd [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“Back in 2015, myself and Kronos were taken with Denmark’s VOLA and their debut album entitled Inmazes, to such an extent that I wrote about it at the year’s end. I was shocked and dismayed that we missed it on the first go around and resolved to keep a weather eye on the musical horizon to not miss another release. Alas, October 12th rushed by and a sophomore release went with it. Now it falls on me to once more make amends and remind our readership of my increasingly poseur taste in metal.” Untrve confessions.

Aseitas – Aseitas [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Aseitas – Aseitas [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“The feeling that we’ve heard it all before has never been so persistent. A decade ago it was stagnant melodeath, then re-thrash, then retro doom, and now we’re in the middle of a burly old-school death metal revival. Where are the progressive bands willing to try something new and write the next chapter? The snarky answer: “ripping off Pink Floyd and Yes.” But there are others. One such contender, Portland’s Aseitas dropped one of the most puzzling death metal releases of the year with their self-titled debut.” New horizons, strange vistas.

Emma Ruth Rundle – On Dark Horses [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Emma Ruth Rundle – On Dark Horses [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“Fervent reader Strawman McDuke is outraged. “A singer-songwriter tag,” he sputters. “On a TYMHM article? On my beloved AMG?! It’s an outrage!” Well, McDuke may say that, but first I should mention her involvement with post-rock/metal outfit Red Sparowes, but more importantly, mention her kindred spirit Chelsea Wolfe. Like Chelsea’s older work, Emma Ruth Rundle uses structures from folk and singer-songwriter music with a post-rock filling to create something beautiful, interminably dark, and as fragile as a frozen bubble. But while Chelsea has since fully embraced grand industrodoom metal, Emma’s music has remained small, intimate, and deeply personal on her 2018 release On Dark Horses.” Dark horses and Chelsea Wolfepacks.

Witxes – Orients [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Witxes – Orients [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Orients spits in the face of moment-to-moment melodies and dynamism; it’s an album in the complete sense, where the overall effect is far more important. Metal as a genre is generally best depicted as grabbing and shaking its listener. Witxes, by contrast, are far more subtle and muted, yet still succeed in dominating their listeners’ attention. In fact, there is plenty of metal out there with noisy riffs and shrieked vocals which is far worse at being demanding which is testament to Witxes’ ability to do a lot with a little.” Minimalism is the new post-modernism.

Svavelvinter – Mörkrets Tid [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Svavelvinter – Mörkrets Tid [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“Melodeath was shaping up to be the second most disappointing genre this year for me. Though there were several big-name entries, few have stuck with me. Amorphis was awesome at first, but for reasons I’ve yet to decipher I quickly lost interest. Omnium Gatherum suffered a similar fate, but with their inferiority to Amorphis playing the culprit. Kalmah was close to something special, but they were undone by repetitive songwriting. Luckily, two saviors swooped in and delivered big time: Mongol, with The Return; and Svavelvinter—go ahead, say it five more times just for fun—with Mörkrets Tid.” D&D Metal done right.

Moonshield – The Warband [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Moonshield – The Warband [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

“As is always the case with Things You Might Have Missed, you know how this ends. In the sake of forwardness, The Warband fucking rips. Moonshield would know a thing or two about that; forwardness is their greatest quality. For as often as we hear about bands giving no fucks, truly seeing one do whatever they want is as rare as, well, a real human doing whatever they want. But in meshing true history and Arthurian lore, melodizing an genre known for the opposite, and casually utilizing something as niche as chiptune like they heard of it on I Love the 80s, The Warband can only be a product of Moonshield doing what comes natural. No wonder it’s so easy to love.” Do your own thing (unless it’s LARPing).

Rolo Tomassi – Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Rolo Tomassi – Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

Rolo Tomassi is an enigma. It’s a band that feels like it shouldn’t be metal, yet it undeniably is. Frontwoman Eva Spence, with her petite stature, sharp fashion sense and pixie haircut, seems more at home in an eco-friendly coffee bar than a metal venue. They seem to hang more around the indie scene than denim-filled dive bars. Hell, they’ve been favorably reviewed by NME, and if that’s not a condemnation of metal cred I don’t know what is.” Cred is for posers.