The Z List 2018

Just because Zach left us for the Cali life, doesn't mean he didn't beg me to put his top albums up here. Like literally he called me crying. Even more bullshit, he just h a d to make it 15 this year. Of course you just can't say no to a face as cute as his so here is the Z List presented by a C list. Take it away Zach.

15. Joji – Ballads 1

Fuck, you know it was a great year for music when Joji’s Ballads 1 is placed 15th on a very tentative “top 15 favorite albums of 2018” list. I’ll be truly honest here. I had no idea who Joji even was until I saw the cover of this album, and exclaimed something along the lines of “HAHA why is Filthy Frank the album artwork for this”. Curious, I checked it out, did some investigating, and discovered that Joji is actually Filthy Frank. Mind blown…. Mind STILL blown. Anyway, this album is the epitome of catchy, sad boy, R&B pop. Songs like “Wanted U” and “Slow Dancing In The Dark” nearly had me texting all two of my ex-girlfriends and asking them why they dumped me. Even more upbeat songs like “Can’t Get Over You” still have a twisted, apathetic undertone that have you relishing in your own insecurities. Sounds miserable, I know, but its 2018 and everyone is embracing their sensitive side. Join the club with Joji’s Ballads 1.

Favorite track: Test Drive

14. Cult Leader – A Patient Man

Double fuck. You now know for certain 2018 was a great year for music when Cult Leader’s A Patient Man is ranked 14th out of 15! It almost hurts me to place such a great album like this so low on a list, but I justify my choice based on the fact that the remaining 13 are just that good. You know how there are certain events that take place in our lives where we can recall exactly where we were when they occurred? When you heard Michael Jackson died; when you discovered Octomom did a porn video, etc…. I remember exactly where I was when I first heard the song “To: Achlys” off of this album. It was about nine at night walking down Nebraska Ave. in West LA. The dismal beauty of this song is difficult to put into words. It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash, but instead of the vehicle bursting into flames, a bed of flowers slowly sprouts from the frame. The first three songs on A Patient Man are so fucking intense, it’s no wonder track 4, “To: Achlys”, and track 5, “A World of Joy”, are very tame and dampening to the mood of this album - in the best way possible. A similar pattern is repeated on the latter half of the album as well. Shit, give it a spin and you’ll understand.
Favorite track: The Broken Right Hand of God

13. Sectioned – Annihilated 

One time, many years ago, I was browsing several websites that I maybe shouldn’t have been browsing on the family computer. Amidst my perusing, the computer screen suddenly froze, and a crazy ear fuck of a noise came out of the speakers. The best way to describe the sound is what I’d imagine a laser gun switched to hyper mode would sound like. Fast forward 12 or so years later, and that same sort of sound flooded my ears yet again, but this time in the form of deranged and chaotic music. This new form of ear fuck has a title: Sectioned – Annihilated. Not for wine drinkers, frat pussies, or “Nashville spring break 2017”ers, this album will literally palm your fucking puny head and bash it into oblivion. Songs like “Starved Lives” and “Release” have breakdowns that are so heavy you’ll have to hold back throwing up; swallowing your vomit, only to re-puke in your mouth again at the start of the next track. Sounds fun? Sounds fun.

Favorite track: Synchronicity

12. Basement – Beside Myself

I was late to arrive on the Basement train. I hopped on right around the release of Promise Everything. I know, big mistake not getting into them earlier, but I’m here now, so stop yelling. 2018 was an impeccable year for the heavier side of music, but releases like Beside Myself offer some serious points for the softer side of 2018 as well. It’s crazy that emo music is over 25 years old now and still holds honest relevance in the music world; and I mean this in a good way. Basement is undoubtedly at the forefront of modern emo, and this album solidifies the idea that emo is still a growing genre. Literally every song on Beside Myself has catchy hooks, choruses, and riffs. It’s tame, it’s refined (yet a little edgy), and it’s sentimental; exactly what I expect from an emo record. I’d say this record pretty much epitomizes life in my mid-20s. Depressing mostly, but oddly nostalgic, and for that, I say “fuck yeeeeeah, this shit is tight, and also my life kind of sucks at the moment”.

Favorite track: Stigmata

11. Long Distance Calling – Boundless

One of my absolute favorite post metal bands, Long Distance Calling has yet again released some seriously incredible summer night music. If you recall, my favorite album of 2016 was Long Distance Calling’s TRIPS (y’all better be paying attention to my previous year’s favorite albums lists). Do not be fooled by an 11th place spot, Boundless is still an incredible record in my eyes (and ears haha lol), but fuck, TRIPS was just so goddamn good! The first 9 minutes and 11 seconds of the album fall under the track “Out There”, and shit, does this song make me want to hop in my car at 2 a.m. and just drive OUT THERE (hehe omg lol), to the middle of nowhere; under the stars, in the warm summer night. Straight out of a coming-of-age movie. In fact, the majority of this album has that vibe. It is the perfect night time driving soundtrack. Parts you’ll want to floor it at: “Ascending” 1:00 – 1:20, “The Far Side” 5:05 – end of song, and “Skydivers” 2:10 – 3:30. Pure post metal bliss.

Favorite track: Skydivers

10. Conjurer – Mire

2018 was a year of discovery. Peanut oil is the best oil to cook with; baby wipes work better than toilet paper; Conjurer; these are a few game changer discoveries made over the past several months. This band came out of fucking nowhere for me, smacking me in the face like JWoww did to The Situation in season 1 episode 8 of The Jersey Shore. The album, Mire, meshes the intensity of Converge, the heaviness of Gojira, and the melodic beauty of Bossk into one head banger of a record. The combined high and low vocals throughout the album are some of the best I have ever heard, especially over slower flowing tracks like “Hollow” and “Of Flesh Weaker Than Ash”. Add Conjurer and their album Mire to the list of music that I go balls out for. Let it be known that if I had stumbled upon this record earlier it would probably be higher up on the list!

Favorite track: Thankless

9. Unreqvited – Stars Wept To the Sea

Traditional black metal: The sad, scrawny, constantly-in-detention-for-lighting-fires-in-class brother of death metal. Modern black metal: the artistic, clean cut, and still sad offspring of post metal and traditional black metal. Kvlt elitists will tell you that modern black metal is not black metal; and to that I say “shut up and take a shower you fucking gross cave hippie.” Thank god (Satan?) for bands like Unreqvited for adding a refined and atmospheric sound to black metal. Do not get me wrong, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Immortal and others are great, but it’s time the genre evolved a bit. Rant over. Stars Wept to The Sea is the product of a one-man band from planet Earth. I don’t know what it is with modern black metal and solo projects, but shit does it work so well. Basically, an enhanced continuation of the previous release, Disquiet, Stars Wept to The Sea proposes a well-produced, docile, yet powerful, piece of art. Metal heads and moms alike can bond over this one, as the screams and heavy parts are often accompanied with beautiful synth, chimes, and organ sections. Songs like “Kurai” and “Soulscape” replicate the album art in music form, throwing you into this beautiful realm of coolness and clarity. I think people of all music tastes will appreciate this record!

Favorite track: Soulscape

8. Rolo Tomassi – Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It

You know how you can put maple syrup on anything and it’ll taste like a waffle? Yeah, the same exact thing goes for this record, where the album is the maple syrup, and your emotions are the waffle…. Makes sense? No? Fuck you, let me do my thing. Time Will Die and Love Will Bury It is the perfect collection of near polar opposite tunes jammed into one record. I’m serious; you have discordant, yet highly functioning tunes such as “Alma Mater” and “Whispers Among Us”; and on the opposite side of the spectrum, simplistically peaceful songs like Aftermath and Risen, that have you questioning whether or not this is all from the same band. I’ve always loved releases that embody more than just one uniform sound throughout the album. The perfect blend of all emotions, because after all, that’s what life is all about right? A healthy balance of emotions…. It lets you know you’re alive. I don’t know, I’m just talking out of my ass at this point, but this album really does fucking rip! 

Favorite track: Aftermath

7. The Ocean – Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic

This band. THIS FUCKING BAND. Bill knows how much this band means to me. Aeolian, Their 2005 release, is one of my absolute favorite albums of all time, but this isn’t about that album. This is about their newest, yet another dutiful release,  Phanerzonkies 1: Paleodiet, or whatever the fuck it’s called. Don’t be fooled by the abysmally difficult-to-pronounce album and song titles, this record is a charming addition to the seemingly infinite list of beautiful The Ocean masterpieces. While the band has strayed away from the heavier Coalesce-esque (lol) influence from very early releases, a refined and more mature sound projected on their newer work still pins a uniqueness to the band. The best part of this album is that Paul Seidel, formerly of War From A Harlots Mouth, and current drummer for Nightmarer, has been recruited to play drums. As a man of percussion myself, I naturally gravitate towards that aspect of musical pieces, and what Mr. Seidel has to offer on this album is truly something that blows me away. Give the album an honest listen. It has heavy, it has beauty, it has it all!

Favorite track: Silurian: Age of Sea Scorpions

6. Vein – Errorzone

Yeah. Yup. Uh-huh. Mmhmm. You fucking know it. Vein has been releasing ear splitting music for a few years now, and to see them take off with the release of Errorzone is just straight up so fucking cool and heartwarming. Not only that, but it’s motivating too. Five normal dudes with a shared passion for hardcore playing alongside bands like Deftones and Thursday. Unbelievable. Alright, enough sentimental shit and on to the record itself. Ya’ll ever see that show Wild ‘N Out? Every episode starts out nuts, and somehow escalates into total fucking insanity by the end of the show. Yeah, that’s Errorzone. It just does not stop. I haven’t heard a better intro track than “Virus://Vibrance” since “What You Waiting For?” off of Gwen Stefani’s debut album. Keep spinning the record and you’ll come across sheer structured nonsense (Yes, it’s possible) with eerie interludes to give the listener a periodic break. The title track “Errorzone” is arguably my favorite song of the year. The melodic break about halfway through the track is totally reminiscent of earlier post hardcore vibes. Would not be surprised if these guys are into an array of bands ranging from The Locust, to older Underoath, to The Receiving End of Sirens.

Favorite track: Errorzone

5. Good Tiger – We Will All Be Gone

Hey, Alright. We have entered the top 5. The fucking MEAT of the list, and We Will All Be Gone might as well be a thicc, juicy ass, double stacked (vegan, obviously) burger from a moderately upscale restaurant. Fuck, man. This album gets better and better with every listen. Following the very successful debut album A Head Full of Moonlight, We Will All Be Gone expands on the super unique, and uniquely super, post hardcore-meets-progressive rock sound that Good Tiger has honed in on. The one thing that makes this record more outstanding than their previous is the flow of it. From start to finish, there’s this natural progression not only within the record as a whole, but also with every individual track. Song structure is at 100% sicko mode. The most notable part of this record is the wonderfully placed interlude track titled “Cherry Lemon”. Listen to “Nineteen Grams”, into “Cherry Lemon”, into “I’ll Finish This Book Later” for an absolute prime example of perfect track flow and placement. Aside from song writing, these motherfuckers know how to play their instruments too, which is a no shit statement considering the drummer was in The Faceless, both guitarists were in The Safety Fire, and the vocalist had a run with Tesserect for a bit. 

Favorite track: I’ll Finish This Book Later

4. Poppy – Am I A Girl?

There’s a reason why this is the only straight up pop record on my list, and there’s a reason why it has such a solid spot on my list. I’ll usually gravitate towards a few pop records a year, but Am I A Girl? has taken up so much of my goddamn time that I haven’t been able to explore other pop releases. I’ll be totally honest; I was super skeptical about this album around the time of its release. I guess I expected to fucking love it from the get go. It took a few whirls, but when that shit clicked, THAT SHIT FUCKING CLICKED, BRO. Unlike her previous album, Poppy.Computer, Am I A Girl? does not have a single song that isn’t a goddamn banger. Fuck, I’m bumping the song “Fashion After All” while I type this, and I’m taking 20 second breaks to slam some quick dance moves. It’s just that catchy. The key feature that separates Poppy’s music from other modern female pop artist’s is the strange, ominous vibes she incorporates into her tunes and persona. It brings an interesting spin to a genre that can be very mundane and cookie cutter. Poppy, if you’re reading this, I’m that one straight dude in the crowd at the LA record release show who kept blowing you kisses.

 
Favorite track: Play Destroy

3. Nightmarer – Cacophony of Terror

Talk about a motherfucking title that suits the music to a goddamn tee. This album is the soundtrack to losing your mom in the grocery store at the age of 5. It’s happened to most of us; that feeling of sheer doom and utter despair. It’s a dissonance of pure dread…. A Cacophony of Terror if you will (lol put me down). I think the reason why this album has resonated with me so well is because it’s almost like a continuation of War From A Harlots Mouth. Nightmarer is comprised of the drummer and guitarist of WFAHM, with a vocalist that offers enough contrast where you can separate the two bands. It’s also no doubt that Nightmarer offers a sound resembling death metal, as opposed to a more mathcore/metalcore sound that WFAHM had. Cacophony of Terror is NOT a WFAHM album, so I’ll shut the fuck up about them. What makes this album stand out compared to other death metal releases from this year is that every single song procures its own feeling, which definitely transcends the monotony that this genre can bury itself in. For example, tracks Like “Stahlwald” and “Ceremony of Control” operate at shit-pants pace, whereas tracks such as “Death” and “Cave Digger” give you the opportunity to control your bowels. That’s what this genre needs. It can’t be shit-pants level all the time. I only have so many pairs of trousers and undies!

Favorite track: Death

2. Inquinamentum: 8342

Listen, I’m a fairly emotional dude. I shed a light tear watching the royal wedding. The Notebook is like my 8^th favorite movie of all time. But let it be known that I’m a fairly tough dude as well. I work out most days of the week. I one time held my hand like an inch from a burning match for 5 seconds-ish. I’m like the perfect combination of heavy-duty and heart-rending (where the ladies at). With that being stated, it’s no wonder why Inquinamentum’s 8342 holds a number two spot on my best of 2018 list. This album takes black metal to a totally new level of dismal imagery and sporadic blare. I’m seriously surprised that Inquinamentum has not blown up by now. They’ve yet to release a flawed album, and as fictitious as it sounds, they’ve gotten better and better with each new record. 8342 captures everything I want in a black metal album. Generally faster paced songs, with beautiful tremolo picking, high pitched shrieks, melodic piano pieces, and an album art that portrays the musical content exactly. The general musical platform of this record is like a pure, yet bleak white brilliance with this beautiful flow of cool color that serves as a façade to the true nature of the record, *cough* *cough* refer to album art. A record to be blasted at the gym, but also at night while trying to fall asleep.
Favorite track: Halcyon

1. Hopesfall – Arbiter

Ah yes. And here we are. Numero uno – that’s number one for all my English speaking motherfuckers. Before I get into this tear jerking, absolute fucking masterpiece of an album, let me start off by saying that Hopesfall is the most influential band on my style of both playing and writing music. If it weren’t for this group, I would’ve never have gone through a second emo phase (which I’m still currently in, sorry mom), nor would I have discovered many of my other favorite bands in the process. Alright, enough fan boy shit; let’s talk about this record. Arbiter, the perfect blend of previous releases such as The Satellite Years and Magnetic North. Hopesfall took the very best of their heavier early years and more tamed modern style and concocted the best release that post hardcore has seen since 2005. I still get goosebumps running through songs like “C.S Lucky Ones” and “Tunguska” for probably the 200^th time. I still feel the blood rush to my head when tracks like “Drowning Potential” and “Bradley Fighting Vehicle” start up. Every fucking chorus to every fucking song on this record has gotten stuck in my head at one time or another since its release back in July. I’m a huge sucker for summer releases, I could not have asked for a better soundtrack to searing days, and invigorating nights, riding my bike down Santa Monica Blvd. Bill, if this album isn’t on your list I’m going to pee in your mouth.

Favorite track: Indignation and the Rise of the Arbiter

Other solid-ass releases:
Geisterfahrer – Demolition Fetish
At The Gates – To Drink From the Night Itself
Dimmu Borgir Eonian
Secret Cutter – Quantum Eraser
Dieux Des Cimetieres – Love Is the Law
Behemoth – I Loved You at Your Darkest
Chvrches – Love is Dead
Nicole Dollanganger – Heart Shaped Bed
Anochronism – Solitude
American Nightmare – S/T
Yashira – Shrine
Will Haven Muerte
Totalselfhatred – Solitude
Anatomy of A Bear – Alysu
EPs:
Needle Under the Nail – The Third Impact
Armed For Apocalypse – Palm Reader
The Secret – Lux Tenebris
Pyralis – Everything is Emptiness
Kailee Morgue - Medusa