The decades-long consistency is carried on, with producer Kurt Ballou allowing a slightly rawer, slightly more relaxed sound to temper the usual wall-to-wall decibel derby. In the tent-pole song “Electric Messiah,” pseudo-soundalike Matt Pike leads his trio through one of HOF’s finest single since “Frosthammer.” Electric Messiah is an excellent addition to the HOF canon. Kilmister, anointing him Electric Messiah. Oakland’s buzz arsonists High on Fire send a farewell note to Mr. This is a death metal album for death metal fans, by death metal fans. Horrendous are a different band who are able to let their influences seamlessly into their music, none of it feels put on. Idol might not be the band’s most accessible album, but for seasoned death metal fans, this will be a fun album to dissect and hear each and every influence for what they are to Horrendous and how they sound on Idol as a whole. Philadelphia death metal collective Horrendous are back with album number four, Idol, and a lot of hype to live up to. Much like the bands they have drawn comparisons to, Horrendous have also become markedly more progressive. Horrendous are evolving and it is quite fun to see where they are taking their sound. Tobias Forge, now going by Cardinal Copia, along with the Nameless Ghouls, have dialed down the occult rock while amping up the melodies on tracks like “Rats.” Ghost still sound ominous and have some occult rock moments, but bring the prog on instrumentals “Helvetesfonster” and “Miasma” (which has a sax solo and pays homage to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”) along with pop sensibilities on several songs including “See The Light” and the ’80s tinged “Danse Macabre.” The 9 tracks are diverse and memorable, more appropriate for singing along to than headbanging, but undeniably enjoyable and surprisingly uplifting. Their fourth studio album Prequelle may be their catchiest release so far. Their potent live shows, visual imagery and lyrical themes are right in the wheelhouse of metal fans, while Ghost’s music is catchy hard rock with a ’70s and ’80s vibe. Ghost – Prequelle (Loma Vista)Įven though they are more of a rock band, Ghost have been fully embraced by metal fans. The arrangements are creative, and subtle atmospheric touches on songs such as the title track add depth to the extremity. Rutan’s death growls are straightforward but effective. That’s the case for their latest opus Upon Desolate Sands, which features new drummer Hannes Grossman (Triptykon, Blotted Science).Įrik Rutan’s guitar and production prowess are well established, and that continues on Upon Desolate Souls. Crushing heaviness prevails, combining oppressive and dense sections with groovier, driving riffs and periodic shredding solos. And while their music has been consistent, their lineup has been a bit more fluid. Hate Eternal – Upon Desolate Sands (Season Of Mist)įor two decades now, Hate Eternal have delivered consistently good death metal. Fans of the band will revel in this approach: Book of Bad Decisions sounds as live as a studio album can. The fat, warm sound and the raw, somewhat out of control playing lend the album an undeniable charm.
Length aside, Book of Bad Decisions is yet another standout album in the Clutch catalog, full of memorable riffs and crazy lyrics. They used vintage equipment and a very raw, spontaneous, unrefined approach to the sessions, to give us an album that sounds as though we’re sitting right in the room with the band as they jam through these tracks with wanton abandon. Clutch – Book Of Bad Decisions (Weathermaker)Ĭlutch‘s twelfth studio album, Book of Bad Decisions, much like the band’s touring schedule, is relentless.
Witch Mountain – Witch Mountain (Svart) Weathermaker Music 20. Rivers Of Nihil – Where Owls Know My Name (Metal Blade) Panopticon – The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness I & II (Bindrune) Necros Christos – Domedon Doxomedon (Sepulchral Voice) Mournful Congregation – The Incubus Of Karma (20 Buck Spin) Mantar – The Modern Art Of Setting Ablaze (Nuclear Blast) Honorable Mentionīetween The Buried And Me – Automata I and II (Sumerian)īoss Keloid – Melted On The Inch (Holy Roar)Įagle Twin – The Thundering Heard (Southern Lord)Įigenlicht – Self-Annihilating Consciousness (I, Voidhanger/Gilead)įire Down Below – Hymn Of The Cosmic Man (Ripple) Here are our choices for 2018’s Best Heavy Metal Albums. There were some surprises, some disappointments, and a lot of great music.
From young upstarts to grizzled veterans, the year saw a varied group of bands making an impact. As we bring 2018 to a close, it was another strong year for heavy metal.