THE 12 BEST ALBUMS OF 2018

Have to say that 2018 has been the best year in the Black & Death Metal genres since the glory days of the 90's. I'm a 38 year old Swedish guy that have been listening to extreme Metal music since 1991 and bought my first Death Metal CD in the summer of 1992. The amazing Left Hand Path (1990) by Entombed so I've experienced many years within Thrash/Death but especially Black Metal.

During the years 2000-2017 there's been MANY brilliant albums released. But I cannot remember a year with such an incredible amount of amazing releases since like I said the glorious 90's. 2009 had many brilliant albums by Funeral Mist, Wardruna, Marduk, Unanimated, Arckanum etc.

If there's an official YouTube video I've included one, non-official ones absolutely not. Anyway enough babbling about the past, videos and on with the 2018 list.

1. Funeral Mist - Hekatomb

The biggest shock of the year was when Daniel "Arioch/Mortuus" Rostén announced (or rather the NoEvDia Bandcamp) that a new Funeral Mist album called Hekatomb was being released. Remember it was on a Saturday, on June the 9th around 12:00 (if I remember correctly) that I got the e-mail and it was going to be released just 6 days later.

My reaction was out of this world because it had been so many years since the last one and I thought Arioch was contented with Marduk being his only creative outlet. I'm really glad that wasn't the case. If I made a list of best album from 2010-2018 Hekatomb would probably top that list. It's such a beast of an album.

I know this has been written before but if I had to pick out a favorite band it would be Funeral Mist. Was it a new Salvation (2003) or my favorite release of theirs Maranatha (2009)? No but definitely a 10 out of 10 record. Pure perfection in every millisecond.

Read my post on the album here.

2. Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik – Hugsjá

This album will probably not be on many lists this year or be as high as on my. But I've been a huge fan of everything Einar Selvik have been apart of especially since the release of the first Wardruna album. I also prefer Hugsjá over Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik's debut release Skuggsjá - A Piece For Mind And Mirror (2016) and that's a masterful record.

Don't know how accurate the list that Spotify has put together over my most played songs of 2018. Yes I use Spotify at my work do to its accessibility and because I can't bring my LP's or CD's to work. According to that the song Hugsjá was my most played one, could see that because it's excellent. Do like the Wiegedood & Drudkh albums but got to question that list sure I listened too them a couple of times but not to the extent it suggests...

Let's move on. Written this so many times but this album gives me the same feeling as the Storm, Isengard and Wongraven albums that meant so much for me in the 90's. Even if they musically don't sound anything like those bands Hugsjá is in the same spirit. A natural continuation of those glory days of my life, musically.

Read my post on the album here.

3. Marduk - Viktoria

I've been a huge fan of Marduk since 1994 and this Norrköping Black Metal War Machine are still kings of the scene. They never disappoint and Viktoria felt like a fresh album in their deep vast discography. Their 3rd shortest album but what they packed within those 33 min few other bands could only dream of releasing.

Very impressing that Arioch/Mortuus is on two of the top-3 albums. But I'm not surprised by that if you read my posts and have seen my collection you should know that I'm a huge fan of both Funeral Mist and Marduk.

Read my post on the album here.

4. Wardruna - Skald

The first album that Wardruna / Einar Selvik did since the Runaljod Trilogy was completed is very different from what they released thus far. Selvik says it best in the booklet:

"Skald was recorded live in the studio with the intention of capturing the uncompromising energy of a a live performance rather then aiming for a flawless and polished expression.
It sets out to give voice to the ancient craft that once lay at the heart of the Norse oral traditions, presented as it takes shape in the hands of a humble contemporary skald today”

I couldn't describe it the album better myself. If you didn't know Einar Selvik is one of the people in the scene I admire most for their musical capability. The only other living people I think as high of are Fenriz and Arioch/Mortuus

Read my post on the album here.

5. Djevel - Blant Svarte Graner

Hate to use the term "all-star band" but this Norwegian combo was joined by a legend in the scene for Blant Svarte Graner Bård "Faust" Eithun everyone should know his contribution to the scene. Even if I prefer the previous album Norske Ritualer (2016) just a tiny bit more, they're almost as equal as equal can get. But I still don't think that Djevel has reached their peak yet.

Djevel feels stronger and better. They should be one of the biggest bands in the entire Black Metal scene nowadays in my opinion. The fact Djevel doesn't play live that often I think is a huge reason for that because all possibilities are there for them being at the top.

Their music has a 90's Norwegian Black Metal feeling to it without it being like they're trying to do what's already been recorded before. I cannot recommend Blant Svarte Graner enough probably the most underrated album on this entire list.

Read my post on the album here.

6. Behemoth - I Loved You At Your Darkest

Admittedly I haven't listened that long to Behemoth really. Wasn't until I bought their masterpiece of an album The Satanist (2014) that I got into them. Even if this isn't as good as that one it's still damn close! It wasn't an easy task to follow-up such an album.

There's been mixed opinions even among the diehard Behemoth fans about this record. As usually I don't care about what people think of music that I enjoy. But I'm still a bit pissed off about the 56% score over at Metal Archives.

I Loved You At Your Darkest is amazing throughout and one can hear that the band really focused on every little small detail. Nothing is left for coincidence. Pure brilliancy!




Read my post on the album here.

7. Summoning - With Doom We Come

Astonishing! One quarter of a century Summoning have been a band. They have released 8 albums with this one included plus the two EP's I think that they are all amazing releases. The 2 previous albums before saw a little decline in terms of quality, still great records that I enjoy very much though. But with this one With Doom We Come they released their best album in 17 years. Since Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (2001) and that's very impressive.

Like I wrote in my post about With Doom We Come it's not like Silenius and Protector invented the wheel or progressed musically for that matter. They just wrote the best songs they could and the result was astonishingly great.

Read my post on the album here.

8. Unanimated - Annihilation

It's the return of darkness and evil! Finally they're back on track Unanimated have always been one of the best Swedish bands of all time in my opinion. It was well worth the wait I can easily say now. When a record deal for 3 albums with Century Media can't think of another band more deserving of that then Unanimated.

Even if I called this "the best albums" I still wanted to include the EP. If it had more then 4 songs I'm certain that it would have landed on an even higher place. But the competition is murder this year.

They got a great sound with Fredrik Folkare in the Chrome Studio. All 4 songs on this EP showed that the upcoming album will become something really special mark my words. I cannot wait for it to finally be released. 

Read my post on the EP here.

9. Craft - White Noise And Black Metal

After a amazing debut Craft released the 2 brilliant albums Terror Propaganda (2002) and Fuck The Universe (2005). Then came the rather boring Void (2011) but 7 years later this amazing album was released. I never could've imagined that Craft would on my top-9 albums of 2018 before I heard the album. They definitely proved me wrong.

Maybe one of the most underrated album in the entire year. It's going to be interesting to see if any others include this on their lists. I usually never care for what people say about albums. Sure opinions by friends, some journalists and a couple of people on Instagram I really respect their point of view.

Anyway Craft really did a good job this year and deserved a place on this list. 

Read my post on the album here.

10. Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods

Was very skeptic to this album when it was announced in 2015 didn't think I would like or buy it. Also a Immortal lineup without Abbath? I wasn't concerned by Demonaz guitar skills but Abbath was such a charismatic frontman (sure some might not enjoy his antics).

But Holy Blashyrkh what a album they released! The Abbath band feels like they play in a much lower division then Immortal.

If they ever rejoin with him or not I really don't care for anymore. Demonaz and Horgh showed that they are fine without him. Released the best Immortal album since At The Heart Of Winter (1999) in my opinion. Really enjoyed Demonaz as vocalist but will they take this out on the road so one can experience this amazing Immortal? I really hope so.



Read my post on the album here.

11. Necrophobic - Mark Of The Necrogram

In 2019 Necrophobic will be 30 years old but these guys is far from finished. Mark Of The Necrogram shows that they're still hungry. Amazing sound, cover art and those songs.

The album was released as early as February and I still think that the album grows on me with each listening and there's been plenty of hours. Can't tell you enough how much this has been played while I'm at work. It's been a "go to record" whenever I couldn't decide which one to play.

Read my post on the album here.

12. Abigor- Höllenzwang (Chronicles of Perdition)

An old favorite band of mine still shows that they are a force to be recon with even if their previous albums also was great. I would say this is their best album since the Channeling The Quintessence Of Satan that was released in 1999. Silenius (vocals) have just like Arioch/Mortuus been included on two albums on this list.

Read my post on the album here.

There's too MANY honorable mentions! But none mentioned none forgotten! However...

I just ordered the new Voodus album Into The Wild that was recently released on LP by Shadow Records. So haven't heard that one enough to include it among the top-12. Might just have to update this post once I have listened too it a couple of times. Because what I heard so far sounds fucking amazing.

There's 2 other bands I'm probably am going to buy albums of that could potentially chance the list even more. But we'll see...

Anyway remember this isn't about life and death. Could've done a longer list but a top-12 list looks best symmetrically over at my Instagram @herr_perdition page.

Also to place them all in a order that I'm satisfied with was already tough enough already. Some choices could probably change depending on mood of the day.

I wrote this list about a month ago and still feel confident with my list for the best albums of 2018. Ask me in a year and we'll see if it's still the same?

Some might see this as too many personal preferences because of how high I regard Funeral Mist, Marduk and Wardruna / Einar Selvik. But they were the best 4 albums of the year according to me despite the killer competition.

That was 2018 summarized a vast improvement from 2017. Will 2019 be as good as this year? Who knows but it would take a lot of brilliant albums released with such high standard that this year set. All except for Unanimated I don't think any of the other bands have a new record in store.

Anyway thanks for your visit and time. Although there's not often comments on my posts here like on my Instagram page, please feel free to leave a comment with your best of 2018 list.