The Ocean – Phanerozoic I: Paleozoic
massive songs which are perfectly crafted in every way, but the execution is deceptively simple; in some ways minimalist
Northern Crown – Northern Crown
plenty in the way of deliberate and crunchy groove, dynamic usage of riff and tempo changes, and compelling vocal melodies that rival their doomy forefathers
Spearhead – Pacifism is Cowardice
some battlefield somewhere in the history of mankind, bodies strewn as far as the eye can see, the sun baking the littered corpses and making mere silhouettes of the circling vultures as they wheel around tirelessly above. You can almost feel it’s heat and smell the stench, it’s that good.
Road Warrior – Power
one of the most exciting, refreshing, and fist-pumping powerful (pun intended) records of 2018.
The Exploding Eyes Orchestra – II
a fusion of somber lullabies and bass-heavy anthems
Great Reversals – Stalactite
Great Reversals infuses an emotional complexity to their music which makes them stand out from their contemporaries
Cloud Rat – Clipped Beaks/Silk Panic
one of the most daring bands in music right
Valkyria – Tierra Hostil
an aggressive and guitar-driven power metal band
Master – Vindictive Miscreant
The trio are individually masters of their craft, but also well schooled in composition. Every piece fits as it should in this old school thrashing death masterpiece.
Scorched – Ecliptic Butchery
Hearing this new album confirms what I theorized then, that Scorched is capable of becoming the new face of American death metal.