AUTOTHRALL'S END OF YEAR LIST IN THE FACE

It should come as no surprise by now that I've written a far more comprehensive list of 100 of my favorite metal albums over at my Rate Your Music page, chosen from the roughly 975 metal albums, EPs, demos and splits I've listened through this year. However, those are presented in an alphabetic order rather than the hierarchical ranking of how much I enjoyed them. Pretty strong presence from the proto-metallic stuff here, which I've been getting more into as the years roll on, but I understand that some readers will find their inclusion marginal. So be it. Without further adieu, here is the list of my top 18 albums, with links to either my reviews or samples for those interested. I've also come up with a list of my 18 favorite EPs, demos and splits, most of which aren't mentioned over at the RYM page, so are exclusive to this blog.

My Top 18 Metal Albums of 2018

01. Voivod (Ca) - The Wake (100)
02. Satan (UK) - Cruel Magic (98)
03. Uriah Heep (UK) - Living the Dream (93)
04. Amorphis (Fi) - Queen of Time (92)
05. Whipstriker (Br) - Merciless Artillery (90)
06. Skeletal Remains (US) - Devouring Mortality (90)
07. Usurpress (Se) - Interregnum (90)

08. Necrophobic (Se) - Mark of the Necrogram (90)
09. Ihsahn (No) - Àmr (90)
10. Flight (No) - A Leap Through Matter (90)
11. King Witch (UK) - Under the Mountain (90)
12. Sigh (Jp) - Heir to Despair (90)
13. Tribulation (Se) - Down Below (90)

14. Aorhlac (Fr) - L'esprit des vents (90)
15. Hyperdontia (Inter) - Nexus of Teeth (88)
16. Lucifer (Inter) - Lucifer II (88)
17. Graveyard (Se) - Peace (87)
18. Tomb Mold (Ca) - Manor of Infinite Forms (87)

My Top 18 Metal EPs, Demos and Splits of 2018

01. Phrenelith (Dk) - Ornamented Dead Eyes (85) 

02. Cadaveric Fumes/Skelethal (Fr) - Heirs of Hideous Secrecies (85)

03. Squalus/Shadow Limb (US) - Mass and Power (85)

04. Quantum Hierarchy (It) - Neutron Breed (85)

05. Garroted (US) - Of Damnation and Abyssal Terrors (83)

06. Superstition (US) - Surging Throng of Evil's Might (83)

07. Owl (De) - Orion Fenix (83)

08. Untervoid (Pl) - Untervoid (83)

09. Sentient Horror (US) - The Crypts Below (83)

10. Tomb Mold (Ca) - Cerulean Salvation (82)

11. Speedclaw (Hr) - Beast in the Mist (82)

12. Malleus (US) - Night Raids (82)

13. Abyssous (De) - Mesa (82)

14. Witchlore (Se) - Into the Glade (83)

15. Mortuus Umbra (Il) - Omnipraesant (82)

16. Iron Reagan/Gatecreeper (US) - Split (80)

17. Morgal (Fi) - Morgal (80)

18. Bâ'a/Verfallen/Hyrgal (Fr) - Split (80)

Winter Break 2018

Taking December off from reviews due to the typical hectic Holiday schedule, but my year's end picks should arrive here by the end of the month, with a link to the more substantial list I post over at Rate Your Music annually. And of course, I'll be back, fresh and ready to scribe in the new year. Until then, stay toasty, folks!

-autothrall