2018 BLACK METAL

TOP 10 BLACK METAL ALBUMS FROM 2018

DO YOU WANNA READ ABOUT WHY THESE ALBUMS ARE SELECTED?

PROMETHEUS

1 - Marduk - Viktoria

Isveçli Black metal efsanesinin 14. Full-length albümü Viktoria. Albümün piyasaya çıkmasından kısa süre önce dinleyiciyle buluşan Werwolf, grubun tutucu fanlarını biraz korkutsa da, albümün tamamı bütün ön yargıları yok ediyor. Bu yılın açık ara en iyi Black Metal albümüydü.

2 - Watain - Trident Wolf Eclipse

2018´i İsveç’in karalığı sardı desek yalan olmaz, tamamen kendine özgü sound’u ve karanlık atmosferiyle Watain, bu yıl kariyerinin en iyi albümünü bize sundu.

3 - Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods

Ve bu yılın tartışmasız merakla beklenen albümüydü, Abbath olmadan Immortal nasıl devam edecek sorusu zihinleri zorlarken, Demonaz ve Horg bütün şüpheleri yok ederek Immortal´in özlenen soğuk ve çiğ sound’unu geri getirdiler.

4 - Abigor - Höllenzwag

Bu yılın Black Metal fanlarını en sevindiren anlarından biri de Avusturyalı Black Metal efsanesi Abigor´un  25 yılı geride bıraktıkları kariyerlerinde 10. Full-length albümü bize sunmaları idi şüphesiz. Kendi çizgisinden sapmadan en ufak Taviz vermeden bugüne kadar gelen grubun bence en iyi albümü.

5 - Funeral Mist - Hekatomb

2018´in en iyilerinde İsveç’ten karanlık bir ses daha. 2004´te Marduk´a dâhil olduğundan bu yana gruba ara veren Mortuus sonunda sessizliği bozdu. 9 yıllık aradan sonra gelen albüm tek kelime ile benzersiz.

6 - Sargeist - Unbound

Depression, Misanthropy, Nihilism, Evil… Black Metal´e ait ne varsa içinde barındıran harika bir albüm. Saf Black Metal

7 - Svartidauði - Revelations of the Red Sword

İsminin telaffuzuyla insani zorlayan; ama müziğinin karanlığıyla hemen etkisi altına alan İzlandalı grup, altı yıllık bir aradan sonra muhteşem bir albümle geri döndü ve 2018 de Black Metal fanlarının en çok meşgul olduğu albümlerden birini piyasaya sundu.

8 - Varathron - Patriarchs Of Evil

Yunanistan denilince akla sadece Rotting Christ gelmemeli, 1988 den bu yana devam eden kariyerlerinde her albümde biraz daha üzerine koyarak, çıtayı daha da yukarı taşıyarak bu güne kadar geldiler. Benim için en önemli albüm Walpurgisnacht´tir. Patriarchs Of Evil albümü de benim için en iyiler arasına girdi.

9 - Drudkh - Їм часто сниться капіж (They Often See Dreams About the Spring)

Her albümü ile fanlarının beğenisini toplayan, Black Metal´e yenilik katabilen ender gruplardan biri Drudkh. Melankoli melodilerinin insani sardığı, başından sonuna dinleyeni kendi dünyasında, kendisi ile bas başa bıraktığı yüksek kalitede bir ürünü kariyerine ekledi.

10 - Angantyr - Ulykke

Underground Black Metal takipçilerinin yakından tanıdığı Angantyr. 6 yıllık suskunluğunu bozdu. İskandinav tarihini ve efsanelerini Black Metal ile başarıyla harmanlandığı 7 parçadan oluşan 2018´in sürpriz albümlerinden birini bize sundu.

NURSUZ

Craft - White Noise and Black Metal

When the topic is Craft, for sure, there is nothing more to say. “White Noise and Black Metal” is a soul paralysis, since its starting, till the end. The album carries gloomy, dark mid-tempo material from FTU times and harmonize with their cosmic, deep and spacey sound. Alarming, repetitive and insistent guitar riffs that are switching in between black metal and rock and roll time to time (ex: The track entitled “Again”). Favourite tracks are “Again”, “Tragedy of Pointless Games” and “Crimson”. It is also possible to feel a bit of “I want to commit murder” and “Demon speed” in some parts, which makes the whole experience deeper and intense. As mentioned by the band, Craft is a plague, the soundtrack for the end of the world!

Kriegsmaschine - Apocalypticists

I just cannot start writing anything without few words about the drummer, Darkside (also Mgla). One of the most creative drumming since last years in Black Metal genre. It is Trans, dark and ambient at the same time. Unbelievable drum parts which are uneasy to catch what is going on. Coming back to album, each song is a unique death machine and there is no escape from its gravity. No more words, most probably the best Black Metal album of 2018!!!

Outre - Hollow Earth

I discovered Outre with “Ghost Chants” (like many people). By being always a big fan of “French touch” by Polish metal of death, ending up with malicious Black metal, Outre has very special place for me. Comparing with “Ghost Chants”, “Hollow Earth” is one more level, there is more chaos, aggression and power in the album. Without any doubt, this album hits the top of the list among devastating Black Metal albums in 2018. Outre keeps the occultist Black Metal atmosphere along with their blasting solid sound and the result is perfection. Another highlight of the album is drumming where in many songs it is easy to recognize that the drumming takes the lead and propels the flow of the whole composition in a seamless way. Il de France style guitars, Polish style hell blasting drumming with multi-dimensional death/black metal vocals. It is also perfect balance of repetition of parts in between so you never feel the songs actually ends. It is also easy to be amazed by the front cover where the monumental artwork perfectly fits with the overall sound and conception. I am completely amazed by the whole album so it is not easy to point out favourite tracks, however “Let the earth be silent” is a total soul reaper. “Hollow Earth” is a great seal for the album, as it is the last track. One of the highlight of the year without any doubt.

Funeral Mist - Hekatomb

First thing to mention before we start speaking about new FM album; don’t expect or compare with “Maranatha”. “Hekatomb” has its own Funeral Mist atmosphere which is usually a perfect combination of rhythmic guitars, sudden stops with razor blade Black Metal guitar parts followed by poisonous vocals. Yes, what a great blend of taste! The track entitled “Cockatrice” - also one of my favourite track from the album - is a good summary of how Funeral Mist composes their unique style of Black Metal. Definitely, one key element is Mortuus on vocals, however, not to forget the drumming as running machine you feel behind you during whole album. It perfectly sustains the flow of poisonous Black Metal of Funeral Mist in the vein. The track entitled “Metamorphosis” is another masterpiece, a classic Funeral Mist track, starting with uncomfortable guitar, followed by simple but powerful beats and sudden chorus enchanting the unholy verses until the exit part with the drum and bass at the end. Last word about the album; yet again, another poisonous masterpiece from Funeral Mist.

“As fallen from the heavens, as granted from above

Forbidden harvest divine, the very flesh of the gods

Succumb now to the spirit and succumb now to the void

And succumb now to the darkness in which you shall evolve”

Svartidauði - Revelations of the Red Sword

Iceland is another surprise for the year. We have discussed a lot about Svartidauði together with Misþyrming in 2018. The album is so powerful and the overall sound is has so much darkness in it, you don’t feel the -time to time- progressive parts as they are entwined in a very smart and sinister way. Rather than separate songs and tracks, the whole album itself is an outstanding masterpiece, a ritual of Black Metal genre and can be listened easily at once despite long tracks (5 to 10 minutes in general). Given by their name, Svartidauði gives the intense menace of Black Death with their unique guitar and vocal patterns structured and accompanied by the fierce drums. Overall sound gives the feeling of depth by the vocals and general ambiance. You can feel the “Deathspell Omega” influence during some transitions. Favourite tracks are, “Wolves of a Red Sun “and “Reveries of Conflagration”.

Marduk – Viktoria

Viktoria may not be the best Marduk album or one of the best among those who are listed above but definitely there is a space in our list when Marduk releases their album and there is no place for disappointment! After watching them live at Brutal Assault Festival this year, my impression about the album has changed a lot and I also cannot be objective if we are talking about Marduk. So, as a result, “Viktoria” goes to the list for 2018.

Ascension - Under Ether

The album starts hypnotising from the first moment. Very well composed guitars riffs are definitely the greatest treasure of the album (This is my personal comments for sure). Vocals are great add on the guitars especially when the drums slow down accompanied by the rolled chords. “Under Ether” is one of the albums to be highlighted on the top of list for 2018.

Sargeist – Unbound

Here is another solid album. Sargeist have released their new album “Unbound” very recently and the album is really a very good piece of Black Metal which will also fit to their great debut “Satanic Black Devotion”. Favourite tracks are “The Bosom of Wisdom and Madness” and “Death's Empathy”. Sargeist shows us once again, that they are the defenders to keep the black flame alive. You will find all you want from Sargeist, in this album which will most probably grow inside you like a malignant tumour.

Portal - Ion

For sure Portal is not the very usual Black Metal stuff, something more experimental, ambient and even “noise” with the recent release “Ion”. It isn't easy to stick to the album for whole 37 minutes, if you are not a big fan of the genre. In general hoarse sound, raw drums that is a bit of guttural in a sense. I find the album quite interesting and it could be good to accept this album as one of the milestones for band’s upcoming transformation (not only in musical aspects). Nikola Tesla would be one of the biggest fan, if he would have a chance to listen to “Ion”.

Watain – Trident Wolf Eclipse

“Trident Wolf Eclipse” came early in January 2018. Again, this album is also not the best of Watain or the best of Black Metal releases in 2018. Watain is always a good blend of Swedish Black Metal and cannot be ignored from the top list. My favourite tracks from the album are, “Sacred Damnation” and “A Throne Below”.