So last year on my Instagram account I started a new "tradition". Since I'm an old school kind of guy it was interesting to make a top list of the best releases of 1997 which was a brilliant year. Especially in Black Metal the scene.
Also the fact I didn't make a list in 2017 because it wasn't a strong year for Black or Death Metal. Sure there were a couple of amazing and even excellent records but not enough for me to do a list of 9-12 albums.
As a comparison I can say that 2018 is actually even better then 1998 that's hard to imagine but it's true at least in my book.
Many of the photos on each individual release have already been published and I'm too lazy to take new ones so some are quite crappy with my old iPhone 6S camera (a newer is on the way).
There are some rules though. No live, compilation, re-recorded, demo reissues or any other releases with very old material.
It's always hard to number albums in a particular order. But I would probably rank them as following and it's not life of death. Anyway let's move on with my favorites of 1998!
Funeral Mist - Devilry
Their debut was release on a 5 song MCD in 1998. The 12" LP was released in 1999 limited to 300 copies and has the bonus song Hellspell 2. Included both my versions that were released by the legendary Shadow Records.
Nifelheim - Devil's Force
The follow-up to their awesome debut Nifelheim (1995) is almost as amazing that one was. Can't say enough good things about this record. Here on my vinyl reissue by Regain Records from 2010.
Abigor - Supreme Immortal Art
Masterpiece! I never get tired of listening to this album and this isn't even my favorite Abigor album. It reminds me of Emperor at times actually prefer this over their IX Equilibrium (1999) record.
Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)
Probably my favorite Dawn release of all time and that says a lot because their debut and the following EP were excellent. On a red 2 x LP vinyl reissue on Century Media from 2017 limited to 100 copies.
Marduk - Nightwing
My 2nd least favorite Marduk studio album but in Marduk terms that still means it's fucking amazing. On some Osmose Productions LP 2016 reissue. Should have the 1st print release in my Marduk collection and one day I will own it.
Arckanum - Kampen
It might be the weakest of all their 3 albums that were released on Necropolis Records in the 90's. But this 2-CD release has lots of great songs on it and a classic. Should really get a reissue LP of this one some day because Necropolis never made one.
Dødheimsgard - Satanic Art
This was released as a great 5-song MCD on Moonfog Productions that really holds up on its own. It's amazing an teaser for their epic 666 International (1999) album. It was finally released on vinyl in 2018 by Peaceville.
Gehenna - Adimiron Black
Really wished I owned a copy of the Moonfog LP of this very impressive album. Strangely it has never been reissued on vinyl. I do like the previous releases First Spell (1994), Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (1995) and Malice (1996) more but those are hard to compete with and Gehenna doesn't sound anything like those 3 on Adimiron Black.
Sorhin - Döden MCMXCVIII
Sorhin has always been a personal favorite band from my country of Sweden. Only 3 songs but that’s all what it takes from this amazing Black Metal band. Limited and hand numbered CD release.
Angelcorpse - Exterminate
Another one that I should own a LP copy of is this album. It was actually 1 of 2 albums brought me back to the Death Metal scene in 1999 after being totally lost in Black Metal land for years. Even if Angelcorpse play a very Blackened Death Metal this is a very special record for me. Have to do a post about Exterminate and that other important album one day.
Otyg - Älvefärd
Listen so much too this CD in 1998-99 that I almost got burnt out on it. Lots of nostalgia but still a amazing album especially now in the cold Swedish winter time.
Vintersorg - Till Fjälls
As a huge fan of Otyg at the time I of course had to get this Vintersorg album on CD and it didn't disappoint. Here on the digipack CD version not sure if this or the standard jewel case release was released at different times.
Notably more Swedish releases (8) then Norwegian (2) among these ones. I probably fucked up some release date or forgot someone (probably Napalm or Necropolis...).
Some of these bands were considered for the 12 best releases Death, Cannibal Corpse, Gorgoroth, Limbonic Art, Ulver, Dark Funeral, Trelldom,Enslaved etc. So they weren't forgotten Death were closest I do like The Sound Of Perseverance but it's the record I listened least to in their discography.
And that was 1998 see you in a year for 1999 traditions are to be repeated.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The delayed new Abigor vinyl on Avantgarde Music is finally out. Well I’ve had it for a week now and been playing it nonstop ever since. It's been available on streaming apps and CD since January but I wanted to wait for this record to give a real verdict on it even if I've listened to ir on Spotify a handful of times.
Kind of regret the top-9 Abigor releases I posted some time ago because this is the best Abigor record I’ve heard since their glory days in the 90’s and my favorite album of 2018 thus far (but I expect the new Hugsjá & Marduk albums will dethrone it). Of course it might be a little to early to have a real perspective on “Höllenzwang” in such a short period of time. But right now I would’ve placed it at number 8 in their discography which might sound low but Abigor isn’t just any other band. So far in 2018 there’s been some amazing albums by Judas Priest, Necrophobic, The Crown and MANY more (I’m also very excited for the upcoming new Immortal album) my 2nd favorite of 2018 so far also has Abigor connections “With Doom We Come” by Summoning with vocalist Silenius.
Who has returned to Abigor at least as a session member as he were on their previous full length studio album “Leytmotif Lucifer” (2014) and it’s great to hear him with Abigor once again. The opening song All Hail Darkness And Evil sets the tone and from that it’s pure fucking Abigor awesomeness. One minor gripe I have with this and only vinyl release is the lyrics insert with promo pics for t-shirt and records on the back it’s printed on some very cheap flimsy A4 paper. Because it's like the paper I use for my printer at home something more sturdy would’ve been better.
But it’s a beautifully designed cover and the back sleeve looks great don’t miss Tony “It” Särkkä and the old Deathlike Silence Productions slogan “No Fun, No Core, No Mosh, No Trends” with the "anti-picture" of Anton LaVey back there.
You don’t need to be familiar with any of the old Abigor albums to enjoy this record so I really hope they’ll gain some new fans with this album. I’ve written this many times at least over at Instagram but if Abigor had been from Norway or Sweden and played live they would’ve been among the top-20 biggest bands in the Black Metal scene during the 90’s. Det är sant det!
Abigor are one of my absolute favorite Black Metal bands of all time and like the headline says the topic of today's post is the 9 best Abigor releases. Or rather my opinion on these albums of this brilliant Austrian band.
Got an e-mail last weekend from Avantgarde Music saying that the delayed vinyl of their new record “Höllenzwang (Chronicles of Perdition)” is finally on its way. It’s been available for streaming since 3rd January and the CD was released on the 29th of January. I’ve only listened to it a handful of times because I want to wait to for the vinyl so I can listen to it properly but more about the new “Höllenzwang (Chronicles of Perdition)” album in an upcoming post. To celebrate this occasion I wanted to do my top-9 Abigor albums and EP’s. This Austrian band was one of the first Black Metal band outside of my northern realms except for Venom that I really got into in the mid 90’s. In my opinion Abigor have made some of the best Black Metal albums ever and I would probably even go as far as to say they are my favorite band outside Scandinavia.
Number 1. Nachthymnen (From The Twilight Kingdom) 1995
The second Abigor full length studio album and also my favorite record by them. It was the second album I bought of theirs on CD back in 1996. It completely blew me away it's amazing that it was recorded in just 3 days. This album wasn't released on vinyl until 2008 and the "golden" vinyl limited to 500 copies is the first and is the only standalone print of "Nachthymnen" on vinyl until the vinyl compilation "1994 - 1998: The Complete Hörnix Recordings" (limited to 1000 copies). This golden version is expensive nowadays (the CD also) I got the LP a couple of years ago and I didn't pay close to what it's going for in these days. I don't mind that they fucked around with the cover artwork because it's somewhat like the original CD anyway.
Number 2. Opus IV 1996
"Opus IV" was the first Abigor album I got in 1996 on CD when I discovered the band. This album is divided into 2 parts the first 4 songs have lyrics and concept written by T.T. called "Horns Lurk Beyond the Stars" the next 4 songs is written by P.K. are called "Blut aus Aeonen". The 2 vinyls are on the unusual 10 inch format and is the only standalone vinyl version of the album it was released in 2011 and is limited to 666 copies.
Number 3. Orkblut - The Retaliation 1995
The “Orkblut” EP is 24.5 min long with 11 tracks 6 of them are instrumental. I guess you could call it a concept album, basically the story is about a warrior who remembers his pagan origins. The EP wasn’t available on vinyl until 2006 and has 3 standalone releases this one picture disc vinyl limited to 200 copies also the standard black vinyl (400 copies) with a cardboard sleeve as does the black/white splatter one (100 copies) have.
Number 4. Supreme Immortal Art 1998
This album I feel is very underrated Abigor has always had their own sound, but if you like Emperor around 1994-97 I think you should give this album a listen. Sadly this has never been released on vinyl except for the vinyl compilation "1994 - 1998: The Complete Hörnix Recordings". I really hope to own that one day because Abigor are extremely sparse to say the least with releasing vinyls.
I could sell my Abigor collection of (vinyls and CD's) their first 6 releases and easily afford that vinyl box set but I don't know if I ever would do that...
Number 5. Apokalypse 1997
This very awesome EP has 6 tracks done in 17 minutes performed perfectly. Straightforward brutal Black Metal with no fuss and also a rawer sound than their previous releases. If you like "Zyklon-B - Blood Must Be Shed" (1995) or "War - Total War" (1997) this is a must have in your collection. Hell it should be in your collection anyway. Only available on vinyl in... You should know by now...
Number 6. Verwüstung / Invoke the Dark Age 1994
The magnificent debut album by Abigor I can't belive such an amazing album is number 6 on my list but that's how brillant Abigor are. It's a great record to start with if you're unfamiliar with them. It's great to see how much the band progressed over a short period much of the material on this album can be found on their demos. This record wasn't available on LP until 2006 the one I have is limited to 200 copies with black & white splatter there's also a standard black version 300 copies. They also changed the cover artwork from the original CD usually hate that but I actually prefer this artwork. Got very lucky when I got this LP awhile ago I paid about 30 euro for it.
Number 7. Channeling the Quintessence of Satan
For this album longtime vocalist Silenius was replaced with Thurisaz. They still sound very much like Abigor musically because Silenius didn't write any music for the band but even if Thurisaz does a great job one still miss Silenius because he was part of their best releases. It sounds like a great follow up to its predecessor "Supreme Immortal Art" that was released 15 months earlier so if you like that one you should enjoy this one. This is the original Napalm Records CD from 1999 the album has never been released on vinyl and is not included in the vinyl box set. I really hope to spin the vinyl someday one can only wish.
Number 8. Leytmotif Luzifer (The 7 Temptations of Man) 2014
This is a A5 digibook release of the album and was their first release on the Italian record company Avantgarde Music. It was also the first full length Abigor album in 16 years that Silenius does vocals on he is just a session member and also his Summoning band mate Protector does backing vocals. As I write further down the number 1-7 are in a league of their own but still this is the best Abigor album in 15 years. Actually don't have the vinyl there's 3 different versions of the release so if I get a good deal on it I'll definitely pick it up.
Number 9. Satanized (A Journey Through Cosmic Infinity) 2001
A bit of a controversial pick for some maybe but I really like this one. Longtime original member T.T. aka. Thomas Tannenberger (drums, keyboard, bass & guitar) had left the band. The member took on silly aliases original member and guitarist P.K. aka. Peter Kubik called himself Virus 666 P.K. vocalist Thurisaz added LiD to his name and new drummer Moritz N. This was to be the bands last album for awhile because 2 years after its release they quit. But in 2006 P.K. and T.T. joined forces once again. This is the original Napalm Records CD the "Satanized" album have never been released on vinyl.
So that was the list it's predominantly releases from their 90’s discography even if I really like both
“Leytmotif Luzifer” and “Satanized” the number 1-7 records are in a whole different league in terms of quality. Abigor have since the new millennium been sort of hit or miss. I wouldn’t say any release are crap but my expectations is set very high whenever they release something new. For example the albums "Fractal Possession" (2007) and "Time Is the Sulphur in the Veins of the Saint - An Excursion on Satan's Fragmenting Principle" (2010) were both very disappointing, of course there's some exceptions on those albums, but compared to my favorite 9 they cannot compete with. Also the EP's or singles released by Abigor in the 2000's aren't even close to "Apokalypse" or "Orkblut".
Decided not to include their demo compilation “Orgio Regium 1993-1994” from 1998 that have 8 songs from 4 of their demos (it would also fuck up my collage) bur it’s a must have if you like Abigor. Hope this can serve as a guide for people that’s unfamiliar with the excellence of Abigor you could of course go directly to the best albums but I would go chronological route.
These are a few of my Abigor promos (also some Summoning and others) that I've scanned from my old magazines and fanzines. Probably have even more but I scanned these ones more then a year ago and I didn't want to go through my BIG pile of old mags once again. Napalm Records really did great promos in the 90's and released many excellent albums back then.
