Top 50 2018

2018 comes to a close. Tons of releases came out. Some great, some awful. Only the best make into the Rock 'n' Roll Top 50. I'm also going to use this to say 2019 will be the last year of Bill's Rock n Roll Weekend for personal reasons, thank you!

50. Culture Abuse - Bay Dream

Genre: Atlernative/Surf Rock/Punk FFO: Fucked Up, Gouge Away, Angel Du$t
Favorite Track: California Speedball

The one thing I imagine with thiis one is just the beach with italian ice in my hand and a spoon in the other as I get my ass kicked by Billy Mourned at beach arcade air hockey. 100% a summer album inside and out with some goofy song titles that just add to the tony hawk style and atmosphere.

49. Kero Kero Bonito - Time 'n' Place

Genre: Electro Pop/Pop Punk/Experimental/KPop
Favorite Track: Time Today

I fell in love instantly with KKB the moment I heard Bonito Generation. This one was highly anticipated for me but introduces a new sound with a full band rather than just electronics and vox. In my personal opinion I prefer the old sound but experiencing the new sound live gave it the flare it needed for a full embrace. Honestly, there's always a spot saved for KKB.

48.Pig Destroyer - Head Cage
Genre: Grindcore FFO: Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Nasum, Gadget
Favorite Track: Trap Door Man
 

So this one took a while. Of course like most I was skeptical of the first single but I still thought the song was sick. I just hoped the entire album wasn't like that because I need some blast beats. Luckily Pig Destroyer delivers the grind but with a few metalcore fillers that could hype them up amongst the heavy hardcore fanbase but luckily those kids are too preoccupied with the same bands that sound the same. I couldn't say I wanted this much higher simply because I'm so used to Terrifyer and Prowler in the Yard, but still a solid album all the way through nonetheless. 

47. Uada - Cult of a Dying Sun

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal FFO: Wolves in the Throne Room, Wiegedood, Drudkh
Favorite Track: The Wanderer

I've only heard the name Uada get thrown around here and there and never dove into it, but I am very glad I did this year. Many know when it comes to black metal I really dig atmosphere, something that just sticks out. This album has "it". 7 songs weighing in at 55 min. Long songs that steal your attention all the way through is all I need for a good black metal album. Two big things I love: Artwork, and the Agalloch sound.

46. Long Distance Calling - Boundless

Genre: Instrumental Post-Metal FFO: Russian Circles, Pelican, East of the Wall
Favorite Track: In the Clouds

Instrumentals are tough to review but here we go. I randomly decided to throw this one on during my driving route at work and I immediately felt like I was atop a mountain. Almost like one of the mountains in Breath of the Wild next to water, and at the very top of the mountain was a busted radio tower. Post rock really knows how to paint a picture in my mind and Long Distance Calling pulled no stops.

45. High on Fire - Electric Messiah

Genre: Doom/Stoner Metal/Thrash FFO: Mastodon (Early), Crowbar, Weedeater
Favorite Track: Sectioned Annihililation 

High on Fire used to be one of those bands I have to be in the mood for, but a few years ago that changed. Electric Messiah follows the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude that HOF seems to go with. Production wise, I gotta say, those drums are straight thunder. and a bonus 200 points for the awesome artwork. My only comment would be the vocals are a little too quiet, but Matt's voice still thrusts itself into your ears. R.I.P. Matt Pike's toe.

44. Rolo Tomassi - Time Will Die, and Love Will Bury It

Genre: Experimental Mathcore FFO: The Number Twelve Looks Like You, OathBreaker, Birds in Row
Favorite Track: Aftermath

Now this one is a spazzy adventure and a half. Rolo Tomassi take the silly MySpace mathcore sound, and bent it into something you didn't think they would do. This album is very reminiscent of Rheia by OathBreaker for me, but replace the sorrow with The Number Twelve's spazzy attitude and add in some some surprisingly soothing clean parts. Makes me wish I paid more attention than I already did at the show they played.

43. Fiddlehead - Springtime and Blind
Genre: Emo/Indie Punk FFO: Rites of Spring, The Hated, Jawbreaker
Favorite Track: Lay Low


I've seen Fiddlehead a good amount of times over the years and I knew they were destined for greatness. Springtime and Blind is the debut LP from the band and they knew how to do it with a bang. The release show packed the Hardcore Stadium with tons of punks and emos shouting to some sad sad jams reminiscent of 90s old school emo. The term emo has evolved into many different things but really started with the sound that Fiddlehead is reviving. To truly understand the origins of emo, allow Springtime and Blind to be your gateway.

42. An Autumn for Crippled Children - The Light of September
Genre: Symphonic/Post Black Metal FFO: Totalselfhatred, Panopticon, Ghost Bath
Favorite Track: Lovelorn


AAFCC gets overlooked despite being a band for a long time. I personally discovered them by accident and it was quite a blessing in disguise. The Light of September is far more melancholic than previous releases (even though they are a primarily depressing band), with a heavy post rock influence instead of the light shoegazing. A fantastic addition to their discography that immediately turn blue skies gray.

41. Our Place of Worship is Silence - With Inexorable Suffering
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Genocide Pact, Chthe'illist, Ritual Necromancy
Favorite Track: Labyrinth Disorientation


Lots and lots of death metal this year. As always, my top albums are a huge variety but I think death metal may have earned genre of the year for most. OPOWIS took my interest by the name first, artwork second, and then of course sound. This album makes me feel like I'm stuck in a labyrinth. Crushing death metal that I feel was unappreciated by some, but greatly took my interest.

40.  Marissa Nadler - For My Crimes
Genre: Neo-Folk FFO: Chelsea Wolfe (Early), Emma Ruth Rundle, Katie Kim
Favorite Track: Blue Vapor

Boston's own Marissa Nadler released this beautiful piece of work that is just a scene waiting to be painted. I'm shocked I only just discovered her this year considering shes been active for many many years. For my Crimes is only guitar and vocals and its way darker than you expect. This woman has an incredible way with words and emotion that will never picture a happy ending.

39. Jesus Piece - Only Self
Genre: Metalcore FFO: Dead to Fall, On Broken Wings, Foundation
Favorite Track: Lucid


If you know me, you know I am not a slave to hype. I checked out Jesus Piece when the first ep was released and was not impressed at all. Everyone would hype these guys beyond my recognition (aka the fans were so annoying that I disregarded the band completely). back in October, I caught Nothing at the Sinclair and couldn't help but notice Aaron from JP was playing bass. On my way home I thought "Y'know maybe I should give this new JP album a shot". I was driving down mass pike ready to start a car pile up. What an ass beater this album is. Every new metalcore band I notice does a few things that get annoying: overuse panic chords, less breakdowns more slams, cringey mosh calls, weird drum patterns, yatta yatta yatta. Only Self uses panic chords in a way that they're hidden, like you know its there but there's more aroma around it that you almost forget they're there. The drum pattern isn't as strange as the previous ep. The breakdowns are nostagic with thundering bass drums. Kudos on flipping my opinion around Jesus Piece. Great work!

38. Mutilation Rites - Chasm
Genre: Black Metal FFO: Ash Borer, Altar of Plagues, Thantifaxth
Favorite Track: Ominous Rituals

More black metal! I can never have enough. Mutilation Rites released this portal into the catacombs earlier this year and slashed their way into my list without a doubt. If you can think of atmospheric structure in black metal but minus the melody, kinda similar to Krallice, then thats how I think about Chasm. Get your robe and your lantern and be ready for pure darkness.


37. Rich Brian - Amen
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
Favorite Track: Enemies


 The artist formally known as Rich Chigga. The latest album from the young Indonesian rapper is a huge step into success. Usually when Billy Mourned recommends a rap album to me, he does not steer me wrong. I wasn't big into Rich Chigga, but Rich Brian's Amen is a great refresher that takes a more serious approach with his music, even featuring guests such as Joji and Offset.

36. JPEGMAFIA - Veteran
Genre: Experimental Hip Hop/Rap FFO: Death Grips, Danny Brown, Lil Ugly Mane
Favorite Track: Baby I'm Bleeding


I have never heard an album like this. At first, Veteran can be hard to swallow but after a few songs, it goes down like water. JPEGMAFIA uses weird noises and sounds with unethical beats that for whatever reason he can keep up with when rapping. Similar to Death Grips but not obnoxious and chaotic. The album is a good blend of ignorance and chill. If you love weird hip hop like I do, give JPEGMAFIA your attention. Bonus points for the song title, "I Cannot Fucking Wait Until Morrissey Dies"

35. Nothing - Dance On the Blacktop
Genre: Indie/Shoegaze FFO: Pity Sex, Whirr, Swervedriver
Favorite Track: I Hate The Flowers
 

This album cover creeps me out. With Nothing's previous release being more on the alt. rock side, I was really hoping they would come back to the original sound with this one. Luckily they brought it back for the most part. Nothing doesn't need another Guilty of Everything and that is not necessarily what Dance on The Blacktop is. The fact that it brings the shoegaze sound back is enough for me.

34. Thou - Magus
Genre: Sludge/Doom/Drone FFO: Indian, Primitive Man, Lord Mantis
Favorite Track: In the Kingdom of Meaning


Thou have been firing off releases left and right this year with the help of the great Deathwish Inc. Each one is absolutely incredible, this one is technically the only LP and it is a heavyweight. If you know what Thou are about, you know the evil doomy sludge that is conjured from their sound. With all the releases Thou put out this year, Magus takes the main elements of each and ties them all together. A spectacular blend of droney gothic doom with hints of melody and folk.  Easily one of the heaviest releases of the year. If half the population played Thou at the same time, it would literally cause an earthquake.

33. Hopesfall - Arbiter
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Space Rock FFO: Cave In, Hum, Poison the Well
Favorite Track: H.A. Wallace Space Academy


Zach is gonna bite my dick off when he sees this not in my top ten, but fuck him. Hopesfall return after a long eleven years. If you're like me, you didn't dig the two albums after Satellite Years, but of course you can't always expect a band to go back to being what they once were. Hopesfall continued more with the space rock influence and kept the space theme as well and only replaced the metalcore influence with a more post hardcore sound and boom, you got Arbiter. Welcome back Hopesfall.

32. Bosse-de-Nage - Further Still
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Black Metal/Shoegaze FFO: Deafheaven, Harakiri for the Sky, Botanist
Favorite Track: My Shroud


I've followed Bosse-de-Nage since I first heard the split they did with Deafheaven and have been waiting for them to be recognized ever since. Once again Deathwish Inc. brings much needed attention to a talented band that deserves it. Further still is like a darker side of the "blackgaze" movement. There is a strong string of post hardcore influence that I feel is uncommon amongst black metal. Even screamo influence is present. I feel if I heard this album during my Screamo phase in high school, I would never have friends and eat lunch in the bathroom.

31. Nicole Dollanganger - Heart Shaped Bed
Genre: Indie/Neo-Folk FFO: Emma Ruth Rundle, Marissa Nadler
Favorite Track: Only Angels Have Wings


I feel most found out about Nicole Dollanganger through the Code Orange Forever tour, or from her guest spot on Trumpeting Ecstasy by Full of Hell. Either way, Heart Shaped bed has been an anticipated release that Nicole was teasing for a few months. I remember first hearing Lemonade and loved it so much that I was checking her bandcamp every week to see if the album was out. Nicole's angellic voice is almost too soothing and the smooth atmosphere to add to it just makes the album all the more enjoyable. Much less creepy than her previous works and far more emotional. I can already see her touring on this album in the near future.

30. Nightmarer - Cacophony of Terror
Genre: Death Metal FFO: War From a Harlots Mouth, Our Place of Worship is Silence, Pyrron
Favorite Track: Stahlwald


All I needed to hear to know that this album would be on here was: "...Featuring members of War From A Harlot's Mouth and Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky". You can easily hear the similarities between Nightmarer and WFAHM. Mostly comparable to the album Voyeur. Pretty much just add in the vocalist of SWWAATS and throw in more technicality. In a way, I feel like it takes off where WFAHM left off, however it is a completely different band, far more death metal, far more serious, however it deals with the same theme of fear and terror. What a supergroup, and what a debut. Incredible!

29. Pastel Ghost - Ethereality
Genre: Electronica FFO: Crystal Castles, Crim3s, The Naked and Famous
Favorite Track: Sakura


I only just discovered Pastel Ghost and just the name was enough to rope me in. Electronic music I am very skeptical about only because of the lack of instruments. To stand out with electronic music, you gotta be creative. That being said, Pastel Ghost is very creative. Ethereality makes you feel like you are living inside a computer before social media took over. Close your eyes and all you will see is color changing lights in multiple patterns.

28. Esben and The Witch - Nowhere
Genre: Neo Folk with Doom Influences FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Of the Wand and the Moon, Zola Jesus
Favorite Track: Darkness (I Too am Here)


Doom folk intrigues me like no other. Esben and The Witch produce this monster of an album that is almost like one long poem with aural evil behind it in the most beautiful way. The operatic vocals are very comparable to the latest Zola Jesus album (A top 10 from last year) with the heaviness of modern Chelsea Wolfe and clean indie parts that are surprisingly comparable to atmospheric black metal. This band grabbed my attention by the balls and won't let go any time soon. Outstanding!

27. Old Wounds - Glow
Genre: Metalcore/"Fashioncore" FFO: Eighteen Visions, Atreyu, Bleeding Through
Favorite Track: Give a Name to Your Pain


Ever since their start, Old Wounds have always had a massive influence from Eighteen Visions-esque bands. In later years with the bands they have toured with, I felt like they might go in this exact direction with their sound. Old Wounds are bringing back that classic California metalcore with melodic riffs and clean choruses. For whatever reason this sound may be a trend, but Old Wounds definitely had it coming long before all these kids were into it. There's even a darkwave song stuffed in there and another song with Chris Motionless of Motionless in White.. I love it. Thank you Old Wounds for reminding me that I'm still 13.

26. MØL - JORD
Genre: Black Metal/Shoegaze FFO: Deafheaven, Harakiri for the Sky,  Astronoid
Favorite Track: Ligament


Again with more "blackgaze". One that I never listened to until this year, MØL, blow most of these bands out of the water completely. Best listened to at night under a sea of stars in my opinion. When a band comes from a country you don't hear about very often, (Denmark in this case) it's definitely worth checking out. if you are a fan of Deafheaven, I guarantee you will love this.

25. Ash Code - Perspektive
Genre: Industrial/Darkwave FFO: Cold Cave, Ritual Howls, The Agnes Circle
Favorite Track: Black Gloves


I believe I put this album on the fall playlist a few months back, so welcome back. Ash Code are a UK darkwave group that make me want to go to a goth rave. Perspektive is a balance of heaviness and Joy Division type post punk that really makes me bask in darkness. I will say I feel some would find this album edgy and annoying, but I think its what makes it so good. Consider it the soundtrack to the goth kid in the trenchcoat at school. For full effect, you should wear sunglasses when listening.

24. Tomb Mold - Manor of Infinite Forms
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, Bloodborne
Favorite Track: Abysswalker


We've been hearing about a lot of death metal bands like Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice, Undergang, etc. Add Tomb Mold to that list. What a band. Seeing them twice this year just makes me love the album even more. The whole thing is about a little game called Dark Souls which is easily the most metal game imaginable. Manor of Infinite Forms is a perfect soundtrack to your undead demon slaying adventure. If you summon for Smaug and Orstein, you're a pussy.

23. Birds in Row - We Already Lost the World
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Screamo/Crust FFO: Loma Prieta, OathBreaker, Ampere
Favorite Track: We Count So You Don't Have to


I can't say I know too many bands from France. Birds in Row I have been a fan of since high school, but this might be next level. We Already Lost the World adds far more emotion to the sound leaning more towards the screamo side, but with just the right amount of chaos to balance it out. Even sprinkled in some OathBreaker style black etal as well. I will say the best experience live was at ONCE ballroom with KEN Mode a few months ago. Every inch of the atmosphere was perfect and that image is burnt into my head every time I hear this.

22. Dir En Grey - The Insulated World
Genre: Progressive/Experimental Death Metal/J-Rock FFO: D'espairsray, The Red Chord, Anime soundtracks
Favorite Track: Devote My Life


I never know what to expect when I hear a new album from the Japanese monsters in Dir En Grey. No matter what, they find a way to keep things interesting with random experimentation that fit the song perfectly. The Insulated world has some weird stuff as you could probably tell by the cover but two things remain: heavy riffs, and Kyo's ridiculous speedy vocal moments. This band as long as many others from Japan will never disappoint. This album was a surprise for most but I've been checking for it since the beginning of the year.

21. Innumerable Forms - Punishment in Flesh
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Spectral Voice, Ritual Necromancy, Ascended Dead
Favorite Track: Purity's Demand


Now this is death metal. Innumerable Forms are straight from Massachusetts with a hunger for death. Easily one of the heaviest (if not the heaviest) death metal records of the year. I would say this is basically a super group of musicians of BHC for the most part I believe. This whole thing is just punishing death with multiple doomy riffs that will just crush your soul and leave your body an empty husk. Death Metal.

20. Emma Ruth Rundle - On Dark Horses
Genre: Indie w/ Post-Rock influence/Neo Folk FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Marriages, King Woman
Favorite Track: Apathy on the Indian Border
 

Emma will probably make my list every year she releases something. This beautiful soul releases equally beautiful music and will never cease to amaze me. The performance earlier this year at Great Scott was something to low and behold. To understand her music with every project she has been a part of, you should check this one out. A good amount of every influence from her projects is involved and blended together into an incredible product.

19. Esoctrilihum - Pandaemorthium
Genre: Death Metal FFO: Bloodbath, Blood Incantation, Devouring Star
Favorite Track: Prison of Flesh


Esoctrilihum takes the title of death metal album of the year. This one may also take artwork of the year. If that cover isn't enough to draw you in, well you might be a poser. This album has the subtle progression similar to Bloodbath but not overdone to the point where its Opeth. On top of that, I can't think of an eviler sounding death metal album this year. It saddens me that being an American I will probably not get to see them anytime soon.

18. The Body - I Have Fought Against It, But I Can't Any Longer
Genre: Experimiental/Noise/Avant Garde/Drone/Sludge
Favorite Track: The West Has Failed


The Body isn't for everybody, but they sure are for me. The duo announced they were going back to the two of them playing instruments, but this was beyond what I would've expected. This has many many guest musicians pretty much doing everything in the book. While it still has the classic despair filled sound, it also featured some melody and other parts that makes you question if you're even listening to The Body.

17. The Ocean - Phanerzoic I: Palaeozoic
Genre: Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal FFO: ISIS (The Band), Cult of Luna, Buried Inside
Favorite Track: Silurian: Age of Sea Scorpions


I can't pronounce this album and thats how you know its a good one. The Ocean has multiple guest musicians on every album and is considered a collective rather than a band. This release was a surprise for me and absolutely made me fit it into the list despite already being finished. This release is very reminiscent of Precambrian, with the theme of prehistoricism, and given the part 1 makes me think a part two will be coming soon. I haven't done enough research to know who is featured on this one but I'm sure it will be jaw dropping when I do.

16. Ariana Grande - Sweetener
Genre: Pop FFO: Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga
Favorite Track: breathin


Ariana Grande is a saint. Once again she proves she is the most powerful woman in the world. Sweetener is a sweet addition to her discography with the same strong operatic vocals that you know and love. In my opinion, Ariana could sing pretty much any style there is if she wanted to. This album's theme can range from empowerment to relationships and it will never get old for me. The fact that most pop artists are really writing about relationships can be a bore, but Ariana brings a variety to the table.

15. KEN Mode - Loved
Genre: Noise Rock/Sludge/Hardcore Punk FFO: Fight Amp, Whores., Kowloon Walled City
Favorite Track: Learning to be Cold


This one was a highly anticipated release for me.Most know I love weird music. While KEN Mode is on the odd side, they take it to a whole new level. Hearing these songs live, and seeing them being played with two basses and no guitar (Surprisingly enough) spiked them high on this list. Loved earns creepiest artwork of the year, which KEN Mode seem to surprise with each time. Every album I listen to by this band, I try to synchronize the sound with the art and this one manifests some weird stuff. Remember when you were a kid and you were afraid of monsters in the closet? Under your bed? The Boogeyman? This one opens a portal in each location for all kinds of entities to enter and terrorize you forever. So much heavy chaos, its almost like Knut reformed....nah

14. Joji - Ballads 1
Genre - Trip Hop
Favorite Track: Slow Dancing in The Dark


When someone told me the guy formally known as Filthy Frank was making real music and touring with Rich Brian, it didn't hit me very hard. When this album came out, I really only heard stuff about from soundcloud kids which made me reject listening to it. I don't remember what drove me to here it (it might've been Dave) but I listened to it for the first time walking around Kendall Square at night and the moment I heard Slow Dancing in the Dark, I was in shock. "How is this Filthy Frank?!" I thought. Upon watching the video later that night I realised that Joji is 100% the same person as Filthy Frank. This album is beautiful despite the artwork and really showed me a style I am really not familiar with. It hasn't even been long for his music career but Joji is already a superstar.

13. Basement - Beside Myself
Genre: Emo/Alternative Rock FFO: Jimmy Eat World, Sunny Day Real Estate, Balance and Composure
Favorite Track: Disconnect


If I'm being honest, the last Basement album sorta fell off for me. I grew up with the more hardcore influenced sound they had, but of course Colourmeinkindness was a fantastic turning point. Beside Myself I feel perfected the newer style that Basement are going for. Very nostalgic 90s sounding with a hint of skate jams. Seriously skate to this one you wont regret it. All over some sweet emo riffage and very well written lyrics guarenteed to satify your inner emo kid.

12. Cult Leader - A Patient Man
Genre: Metalcore/Grindcore FFO: Gaza, Burnt By the Sun, All Pigs Must Die
Favorite Track: Craft of Mourning


Man oh man do I love this one. I have been a fan of Gaza since my freshman year of high school and when have been following Cult Leader since the first Ep. This one is a huge step forward with their sound. Cult Leader have always had slow songs but this one is almost half heavy, half slow, and the slow stuff is almost neo folk influenced. The album immediately tears a whole in your chest and rips out your heart then slowly forces you on your knees filling you with despair. A  Patient Man is 110% evil all the way through, its almost like a violent sermon garnished with human sacrifice.

11. Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want
Genre: Noise Rock/Darkwave/Mathcore FFO: Lightning Bolt, The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Birthday Party
Favorite Track: Ocean Song


Daughters are back with a bang. I knew from the first single, Satan in The Wait, that this would be a masterpiece. While Daughters are mostly credited for the start of the MySpace mathcore style with the album, Canada Songs, they continued with their newer Hell Songs style, but in the best way possible. This album all the way is anxiety inducing and eerie. Listening to it in the dark will make you see shadows in your room when you're home alone. A heavier darkwave influence with strong use of panic chords and chaotic keyboards are presented in this one. It basically continues from the self titled. The one thing I will always love is Alex's voice. It's like Elvis Presley being tortured and begging for his life.

10. Bongripper - Terminal
Genre: Progressive Stoner/Post-Metal FFO: Weedeater, WeedPecker, Ufomammut


S L O W D E A T H. Thats what the song titles spell out. Most would expect a band with a name like Bongripper to be a cheesey stoner band with 40 minute songs. Well Bongripper are not exactly that. Terminal is entirely instrumental and is basically a stoners version of post metal. So much talent, a very underrated band, and the artwork, I mean come on. Terminal can definitely turn on any sludge and post metal fan and introduce them to a world of stoner metal that isn't so stereotypical.

9. Vein. - Errorzone
Genre: Mathcore/Metalcore/Alt.Metal FFO: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Deftones, Thumbscrew
Favorite Track: Broken Glass Complexion


Everyone will be mad at me for not putting this at number one but fuck you I listen to a lot of music. I think I've written about Vein more than any other band this year. Errorzone was probably the most anticipated album for everyone in heavy music. I don't think I've met many who haven't heard it. For me it feels like a wave of nostalgic Dillinger vibes mixed with Poison the Well. I was almost shocked to hear melody. Vein's popularity skyrocketed after this album is no surprise and you know they will take over the world very soon.

8. American Nightmare - S/T
Genre: Hardcore FFO: Blacklisted, The Suicide File, The Hope Conspiracy
Favorite Track: Flowers Under Siege


We all know American Nightmare are one of my favorite bands ever. I love them so much I have an AN tattoo. Of course their new album makes it high. My problem with modern hardcore is this: Everyone wants to be heavy, everyone wants to be edgy, everyone sounds the same and does it wrong. AN are back with their first album in I believe 15 years and haven't changed a thing. My personal favorite era of hardcore was the early 2000s and its like listening to a time machine. AN keep their emotional lyrics with strait mean riffs and subtle post punk influence because they know, they don't need to change with the times to be great. Never will I witness a less than perfect performance by these guys. Welcome back!

7. Unearth - Extinction(s)
Genre: Metalcore FFO: Killswitch Engage, Dead To Fall, It Dies Today
Favorite Track: One With the Sun


Another long time favorite band of mine. I almost forgot this one was coming. Upon hearing the first single, my first thought was "Stings of Consciousness' aka their first album. My thoughts did not steer me wrong. Extinction(s) shows off their classic sound but with more technicality presented in Darkness in the Light. HOnestly Unearth haven't put out anything I don't like and I don't expect it any time soon. I only miss Treavor's yelling vocals as he switched to more growling.

6. Secret Cutter - Quantum Eraser
Genre: Sludge Metal/Metalcore FFO: Swarm of the Lotus, Knut, Coalesce
Favorite Track: Trampled by Light


Wow. This one took me by surprise. I always thought no one would be making music like this anymore but...wow. Welcome back chaos. Quantum eraser just gets heavier and heavier as you go on and just when you think its over, it comes back even heavier. Lots of mathcore is subtley sprinkled in, very comparable to Swarm of the Lotus and those vocals sound like their tearing apart the vocalist's throat. Outstanding!

5. Them Are Us Too - Amends
Genre: Darkwave/Dream Pop FFO: Death of Lovers, Drab Majesty, Miserable
Favorite Track: Floor


This was probably the first album I heard this year that really made me focused. I can't help but identify many influences of dream pop such as Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil just to name a few. These classic influences mixed with a modern style of darkwave makes Amends. The album is soothing and calm, able to tame the most feral of beasts, and ease depression just as well.

4. Svalbard - It's Hard To Have Hope
Genre: Post-Black Metal/Shoegaze/Hardcore FFO: Deafheaven, Bosse de Nage, Modern Life is War
Favorite Track:  How Do We Stop It?


I mention all the time that TheLookout finds the best music, well Svalbard is one of them. As of recent the style of "blackgaze" is blowing up. Svalbard take the genre and combine it with an early 2000s style of hardcore and give it a strong political theme. Pete Dugdale is gonna flip when he sees the song titles. Despite the Hot Topic era song title, the band passes very serious messages. You wanna talk about boundary breaking? Svalbard is your new favorite.

3. Sectioned - Annihilated
Genre: Mathcore FFO: Frontierer, The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza, Converge
Favorite Track:Annihilated


Another UK release. Sectioned debuts with Annihilated and leaves a crater. With metalcore releases, I'd say this is the heaviest. The band shares members with fellow UK mathcore giants, Frontierer and the one similarity I would say is the use of electronics and effects. Scetioned have a stronger hardcore (sometimes grindcore) influence rather than the odd timed Car Bomb style. All I can think of is cops getting called for those violent breakdowns. Imagine a massive computer glitch happening that is pissing you off so much, you grab your computer and throw it into oncoming traffic. Many were struck by Vein's new release this year, I highly recommend Sectioned for them.

2. Anaal Nathrakh - A New Kind Of Horror
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal/Grindcore FFO: Fukpig, Behemoth, Napalm Death
Favorite Track: Forward!


I am a big fan of Anaal Nathrakh and knew I would dig this, but I didn't think I would love it this much. Members of Anaal Nathrakh have been involved with the Orange County metalcore scene, for some reason, and the influence shows in this record. I can point out multiple tracks that are very similar to Bleeding Through with both metalcore style riffs and symphony, but Anaal Nathrakh stay consistant with their number one style which is blackened grindcore. Also the production is unlike anything I would expect from black metal. I'm sure metal elitists were pissed to hear the machine gun samples and breakdown riffs but I applaud the band for not being afraid to be open minded.

1. Denzel Curry - TABOO|TA13OO
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap FFO: Danny Brown, A$AP Ferg, Lil Ugly Mane
Favorite Track: Black Metal Terrorist|13MT


I didn't think I would ever put a rap album at number one but Denzel absolutely earned it. I don't think I listened to any album more this year. I can't think of any other rap album that is as dark and well written as Taboo. The album works in 3 parts strating with white, to gray, to black. This is another way of saying it gets darker. It starts off like most rap albums would, then get more emotional and aggressive, then gets in your face with emotional anger. One thing I notice is the pop culture references such as the song SUPER SAIYAN SUPERMAN|ZUPER ZA1YAN ZUPERMAN (Dragonball Z) or the lyric, "Radda radda radda radda" (Schnitzel from Chowder) etc. Not to mention guest spots from J.I.D., Zillakami of City Morgue, and JPEGMAFIA. All together it makes a flawless album that I think I would honestly put as one of my all time favorite albums. Which if you know me, that really says a lot.

Honorable Mentions:

LPs:
Holygram - Modern Cults
Evidence - Weather or Not
Ilsa - Corpse Fortress
Yob - Our Raw Heart
Insect Ark - Marrow Hymns
Birthright - Let Me Down Easy
Film School - Bright to Death
Teenage Wrist - Chrome Neon Jesus
Erdve - Vaitojimas
Camilla Cabello - Camilla
Belzebong - Light in the Dankness
Poppy - Am I a Girl?
BROCKHAMPTON -IRRIDESCENCE
The Daysleepers - Creation
The Armed - Only Love
Graf Orlock - An Examination of Violent Cinema Vol. 1
Candy - Good to Feel


EPs:
Pummel - Promo
Chamber - Hatred Soft Spoken
A Pregnant Light - Lucky All My Life
Kind Crew - Promo
Hatchie - Sugar and Spice
Mil-Spec - Changes
Potion - Women of the Wand
The Secret - Lux Tenebris

Thou:
LET OUR NAMES BE FORGOTTEN
Rhea Slivia
Inconsolable
The House Primordial

Lord Mourned's Most Wanted

Probably the most popular list from last year, and most anticipated this year as well. We welcome back Billy Mourned's top albums. Nobody recommends better hip hop to me than he does and he always has a good variety. Take it away!

10.) Interpol: Marauder

Interpol is a band I slept on for a really long time. They were one of those bands where I knew I would probably love them if I just sat down and really listened to them, but I just never would. Lluckily, that’s not the case anymore thanks to my girlfriend, Ashley (yet again) who finally got me to check them out. And let me just say, I am thoroughly impressed. Marauder is such an enjoyable listen with upbeat tracks like The Rover or Mountain Child even though the lyrics are somewhat dark. Vocalist Paul Banks almost sounds like he could front a doom band like Pallbearer or something. He’s just got one of those voices, know what I mean? No? Well then check out the album, dummy!

Favorite song: The Rover

9.) Takeoff: The Last Rocket

This one surprised me. Although I don’t know why, because I would consider myself a fan of Migos and Takeoff is my favorite member of the trio. I feel like he’s underrated and I find him hilarious even though he doesn’t try to be. This record is just fun to listen to. Simple as that. The album clocks in at around a half hour or so, which is much easier to take in than an hour or even 75 minute long album that Migos and Quavo put out. The Last Rocket also kind of follows a space theme which I enjoy. Banger beats, classic Migos triplets, catchy hooks... There’s even a dance pop song on it. Granted the guest singer isn’t the greatest, but it still gets stuck in my head every time I hear it. Takeoff also gets a little personal on a few tracks which is something I never thought I would hear from him. I’m all for it though. I love this album.

Favorite song: Insomnia

8.) Vince Staples - FM!

I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of these super short, 20-something minute long rap albums. They are so quick and to the point and it makes them so accessible and easy to listen to. And Vince Staples really nailed it with this one. The first time I listened to FM!, I immediately started it over and listened to it again 2 or 3 more times because I fell in love with it so quickly. One of my favorite things about this record are the beats. I love the low-key, icy synth leads all over tracks like Relay, Tweakin’, and Feels Like Summer (as ironic as that is). If you have 20 minutes to kill or you’re a Staples’ fan and this one just slipped under your radar, definitely give this album a listen. FM radio has never sounded so good. 

Favorite track: Don’t Get Chipped

7.) Daughters - You Won’t Get What You Want

I’m not going to lie, the first time I heard this album, I did not like it at all. I remember being busy and sort of in a sour mood. I didn’t understand the appeal of it and in more general terms, I didn’t really understand Daughters as a whole. They seemed like one of those “I like the music, but I just don’t like the vocals” bands. However, a few days after my first full listen, I heard the track Satan In The Wait playing while I was 75% asleep in a van on a long drive home and suddenly everything just clicked with me. The vocals and the little melodies that eventually kick in to the song really resonated with me and I realized I loved it. I re-listened to the album and really paid attention this time. I found myself enjoying everything I had claimed to dislike before. Chaotic, frigid, beautiful, horrifying. These are words I would use to describe songs like Guest House and Daughter. I began picturing the scariest images imaginable when hearing lyrics like “Is something burning in here, or is it me?” while absolute chaos ensues in the background in the song The Flammable Man. I simply understand it all now.

Favorite song: Less Sex

6.) Tomb Mold - Manor Of Infinite Forms

This band is unbelievable. I gotta thank my good friend Dave “DaveDrum619” Coughlin for getting me into the crushing, ferocious titan that is Tomb Mold. As soon as they dropped a song called Abysswalker, I knew I was gonna love this album. Now if you know me, you know I love death metal. And I also love Dark Souls. But death metal AND Dark Souls combined? That is some next level shit. Not to mention the band name, Tomb Mold alone is straight out of Bloodborne. Manor Of Infinite Forms is laden with heavy, disgusting riffs that literally knock the wind out of you when they hit. Like on the songs Gored Embrace or Chamber Of Sacred Ootheca. The production is what I consider near perfect for modern day death metal. Filthy enough to sound mean and heavy, but clean enough to hear every note and growl. If you love pure, ripping death and you haven’t heard Tomb Mold, this record will tear you to shreds. 

Favorite song: Final Struggle Of Selves

5.) Joji - Ballads 1

I never paid attention to Joji in the past. I knew OF him because he was featured on Rich Brian’s latest record Amen which I enjoyed quite a bit. But I found Joji’s feature to be sort of lackluster. Then I learned he was Pink Guy and Filthy Frank, which I also never really paid attention to but I couldn’t believe it was the same person. So honestly, I wrote him off for a long time. That is until he dropped his single, Slow Dancing In The Dark. My jaw literally dropped the first time I heard it. I truly consider that song to be one of my favorite tracks of the year. After that, I was really looking forward to this record and ooooooh boy, did I love it. I love the somber and beautifully melancholy beats and vocal melodies on songs like Wanted U and Test Drive. I really don’t think there’s a bad song on this album. Which is crazy to say because Trippie Redd is on a song and I can’t stand him, but I don’t even dislike that song. My one criticism is that I seriously want Joji to continue to really show off his vocal skills the way he does on some of these songs, in the future. Because the man can sing and sometimes I feel like he doesn’t take full advantage of how good his voice is. But other than that, this record is amazing.

Favorite song: Slow Dancing In The Dark

4.) Outer Heaven - Realms Of Eternal Decay

I’ve been looking forward to this album for quite some time now. After a few years of lineup changes and constant grinding to write this record, Outer Heaven churned out one of the most vicious, pulverizing death metal records I’ve heard in a long time. It is total brutality from the very beginning to the very end. Incredible production, heavy, pummeling chugs, melodic riffs, death metal breakdowns, blast beats, low, cavernous, guttural growls from vocalist Austin Haines... What more could you possibly ask for? If Realms Of Eternal Decay were to manifest itself into a creature, it would be a giant, slimy, disgusting monster that rose up from the depths of a viscous, murky swamp just to rip people in half for fun. In other words, this is easily the best death metal album of the year in my opinion and you should absolutely listen to it.

Favorite song: Sacrificial Evolution 

3.) Denzel Curry - TA13OO

After Denzel’s last album, Imperial, I was highly anticipating his next release. Yet somehow, I completely missed the initial release of the first single Percs. But once I DID hear it, I remember just going absolutely nuts in my car. Once the record dropped, the first thing that immediately blew me away was the album art. Some may look at it and think “juggalo”, others look at it and think “black metal”. I chose the latter, which is 100% backed up by the fact that there is a song called Black Metal Terrorist on the record. TA13OO is a slow descent into madness, as it starts off mellow and kind of low-key and slowly gets more manic and twisted. Denzel Curry even explained that the album is separated into 3 acts, Light, Grey, and Dark, with each song on each act being written during light and dark times in his life. And I think it really shows. Songs like the jubilant Cash Maniac and the boisterous and hard-hitting Sumo fall on the Light act. Nightmarish tracks like Vengeance and Black Metal Terrorist fall on the Dark Act. And in case you couldn’t gather, the Grey acts consists of everything in between. Every single song on TA13OO is phenomenal to me and although it’s not my #1 spot overall, it’s my #1 for rap albums this year. 

Favorite song: Super Saiyan Superman

2.) Vein - Errorzone

2018 was Vein’s year. They gained traction last year and just blew up like an atom bomb. Then they released their masterpiece... And to put it bluntly, Errorzone is fucking ruthless, with each song being more and more relentless than the last. I absolutely love the raw, blunt force of songs like Old Data In A Dead Machine and Broken Glass Complexion. Will Putney’s production is immaculate and really compliments Vein’s sound as well. Listening to this album makes me feel like I’m on the island with the Regenerators from Resident Evil 4, but in addition to the spikes that shoot out of their bodies, they also have surgical tools and I’m just being mutilated for about a half hour. That is until the title track, Errorzone which is definitely the most beautiful song on the album. The clean vocals and piano at the end is like the end of RE4 when you escape on the boat and you’re free from the sonic assault that occurred previously. Real gamers will understand. 

Favorite song: Errorzone

1.) Twitching Tongues - Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred

That’s right. We made it. When all is said and done, this new Twitching Tongues record takes my #1 of the year spot. I have listened to this album more times than I can count and it just never gets old. Gaining Purpose is the follow up to their 2015 album Disharmony (which took my #3 spot that year) and features an almost entirely new lineup besides the Young brothers, Colin and Taylor. So I was anxious and excited to see how this album would sound. All I can say is wow... Twitching Tongues took my expectations and blew them out of the water. The first and last songs, AWOL (State Of The Union) and Defection (Union Of The State) feature some of my favorite choruses they have ever written. And that says a lot because I find singer, Colin Young’s vocal melodies to be insanely catchy so it’s hard to choose favorites. Speaking of catchy, I’m a HUGE fan of the track Kill For You which is super reminiscent of Type O Negative and was stuck in my head for about 3 months after this record came out. I wish I could go through every song but I’ll put it this way, Gaining Purpose Through Passionate Hatred has it all. We get heavy ass beaters like Gaining Purpose and The Sound Of Pain. We get super pissed off but fun and headbanger-friendly tracks like Harakiri and The Fourth Reich. We get the saddest, most beautiful piano ballad that Twitching Tongues has written so far, Long Gone. And we also get the wonderfully crafted and rather diverse, Forgive & Remember. Hey, I guess I did go through every song! I had to. I loved this album way too much not to. It is 110% perfect.

Favorite song: Kill For You