The Excellent

Links to previous pages:
– TIER 4: MAIN POST & HONORABLE MENTIONS
– TIER 3: THE GREAT

This is the second tier of our 2018 album of the year list.This is the tier where all the excellent albums ended up. These albums are nearly flawless. They will almost certainly blow your mind and have very high replay value. Bar some minor nitpicks and personal preference, most of these albums could have easily been our album of the year. There are a couple of albums we deem to be better than these (obviously), but make no mistake. These coming albums are all absolutely phenomenal in their own right.

Before we kick off this list though, I’ll give a link to the Spotify playlist with all the recommended songs from this tier. Also, the link to the next tier is below. So now that’s out of the way, let’s get to it!

Ancestors – Suspended in Reflections (US-CA)
Style: doom (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official website | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: August
Pick by: Nostrebor68

I am heavily ambivalent towards Post-Metal as a genre. I’ve found bands I like, and I’ve found many I don’t. The focus on texture and climax can do wonders for a song, but it can also cause them to drag marvelously if the execution isn’t on point. Thankfully, Ancestors absolutely nailed it. This delicious combination of Post, Psychedelic, and Doom combines the best features of each genre.The textures and climaxes of post, the oddity and spaciness of Psych, and the emotional weight and atmosphere of Doom are all spread throughout this album in perfect amounts.
Suspended in Reflections is an exemplary album, and not one to be missed by fans of any style of Prog. Even those that don’t often find themselves enjoying Doom, or Post, should give it a try anyway. This isn’t a particularly heavy album, but damn is it beautiful, and this kind of beauty can be appreciated by anyone that simply enjoys music, regardless of genre.

Recommended tracks: Lying in the Grass, Into the Fall, The Warm Glow
Recommended for fans of: Pallbearer, Pink Floyd, YOB

Dragonauta – Entropicornio (Argentina)
Style: black/stoner (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook| Metal-Archives page
Original review: September
Pick by: Dylan

Alongside Dragonauta, back in October there was another album of 83 minutes long which was absolutely dreadful (editor’s note: album by Crypt of Insomnia), to the point that it broke me many times. I barely made it through to the end. After taking a day’s break from any underground stuff, I went ahead and opened Entropicornio. Then I noticed… 80 minutes. And then my expectations were as low as they could be. Yesterday an 83 minute album from the underground broke me, there’s no way this band can pull it off right?
Well surprisingly, it did. When an album is as long as this one is, you need the songwriting to be tight, for it to justify the length. And luckily, very few bands I know are as tight as this one. Not only do Dragonauta play a very unique fusion of Black Metal and Stoner Rock, but they also grab the best of both genres, and make up a fantastic lengthy release. I was constantly amazed by the sheer power of this album, with it’s stoner riffs with a black metal twist, accompanied by aggressive drumming, and a very sludgy bass. The vocals are gritty and atmospheric, and they work wonders to add another layer in this already multi layered album. There’s hardly a moment where Entropicornio is not doing something interesting. Whether it is pulling out riff after riff, or noisy breakdowns that lead up to fantastic climaxes, there’s always something to analyse, which makes an 80 min album feel much shorter.
Definitely a highlight of 2018

Recommended tracks: Voivods of War, Orbital Coffins
Recommended for fans of: Enslaved, Elder, Hands of Despair

Ergo I Exist – The Depths (US-WA)
Style: post-sludge (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: August
Pick by: Dylan

This album is short but killer.
Ergo Exist have a fantastic sound, blending the huge atmosphere of post/shoegaze, with killer sludge riffs and vocals. These guys know how to build up a climax, and destroy you when it comes. With these abilities in mind, you get an album that is simply fantastic, with hardly any weak moments. I’d write more if the album needed more description, but what I’ve described about this band is what you should be expecting when giving them a go, no more, but no less either.

Recommended tracks: Bochladec, Whale
Recommended for fans of: Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Pallbearer

Future Corpse – Culture Ruins Everything Around Me
Style: post-hardcore (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: July
Pick by: Dylan (AND Sam)

Hey everyone, Sam here. Dylan’s gonna write the rest, but I wanted to write an introduction since I’m also very fond of this album. Me liking anything related to -core is extremely rare, but somehow, this band completely blew me away. I won’t go too much in depth, but I just wanted to say that this music is extremely creative and vivid. This record oozes fun. Something about this just puts a very big smile on my face. Now I’ll give the spotlight to Dylan, as he’s dying to praise this album as well:
This record oozes fun indeed! For the fact that there is never ANY moment when you’re blasting Future Corpse that you’re not having a smile on your face.
Have you ever heard At the Drive In? Have you ever wondered what they sounded if they were on crack? (Okay that’s a weird thing to ask but) THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS SOUNDS LIKE. A constant barrage of energy, with an amazing mix, punchy drums, tight guitar work, crisp vocals, and some great thoughtful lyrics. There’s something here for everyone, even a sax! The more you listen to this album, the more things you will find to love.
Simply put, a fantastic core-ish prog metal release.

Recommended tracks: Hyper Normal Living, Culture Ruins Everything Around Me
Recommended for fans of: At the Drive In, Lye by Mistake, Protest the Hero, proggyness + fun

Karma Rassa – Vesna… Snova Vesna (Russia)
Style: atmospheric/traditional (clean vocals, Russian lyrics)
Related links: Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: September
Pick by: Sam

I had been waiting ages to review Kingcrow, proving my loyalty to them as worshipper, and then I found this album. I’m never quite sure what to expect from the subtectonic depths of Metal-Archives, but I know I didn’t expect this. I thought Kingcrow did atmospherical, emotionally tinged prog metal well, but then this came about. This album is gorgeous. The lyrics are in Russian, which is a first in this series. And I think it really helps with the atmosphere. Russian brings a lot of different qualities to English. It can be gruff like Aspid, but this is calm and soothing. I don’t understand the lyrics at all, but the way they’re sung is enchanting.
The instrumental side of the music is also magnificent. The guitars are crisp and warm and the keyboards make you drift. The vocalist also does piano/keys and saxophone, and the way he incorporates them is super tasteful and causes some absolutely spine-chilling moments. Everything on this record is done for the sake of atmosphere, but that is not to say that they forgot about the metal. There are some awesome riffs and solos on this, and even some blast beats on the first track. Just everything about this album kicks ass, from the base to the cream on top. Utterly brilliant.

Recommended tracks: Vesna, Zima, Snova Vesna
Recommended for fans of: Anathema, Pain of Salvation, Steven Wilson, Riverside

Loneshore – From Presence to Silence (Brazil)
Style: melodeath/doom/Opeth (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: September
Pick by: Nostrebor68

From the very first moment I heard Loneshore’s music I was incredibly excited. I hopped into our little review Discord server and insisted that I HAD to be the one to review this album. Why? Because it’s damn wonderful.
Loneshore sounds Opeth had a baby with Altars of Grief’s most recent album. It’s a wonderful slice of slightly blackened death/doom that features some of the best vocals I’ve heard from any band I’ve found since I started writing these. Also the guitar work on this album is simply sublime. The leads are emotive, floaty and at times properly atmospheric and the riffs on are properly beefy, carrying that trademark Doom chug that makes the genre feel heavy in a much different way from other extreme metal. The drumming is serviceable, but most of all this is a guitar/vocally driven album.
This album is still in regular rotation for me, and I don’t expect it to leave anytime soon. If you like any of the bands or genres I’ve mentioned thus far, do yourself a favor and listen, because this album is really, really good.

Recommended tracks: The Quiet Visitor, Until the Last of Hopes, From Presence to Silence
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Katatonia, Altars of Grief, Alcest (a tiny bit)

Maestrick – Espresso Della Vita: Solare (Brazil)
Style: power/traditional (clean vocals)
Related links: Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: May
Pick by: Sam

You can cliiiiiimmmbbb every mountaaaiiinnn. And no matter what they say, I will reach my goooaaalll, reach my goooooaaaaaaallllll!!!!!!!!

Such goes the last song of this album, which is puntasticly titled Trainsition. This is an album of extreme wholesomeness, soaring power metal cheese and choo choos. And if you’re active on the Discord, you’ll know this is the obsession of user poler10. On the bird’s virtue, everyone on the Discord has been confronted with the choo choos, and it has divided us all. Either you went on board with this Espresso, soaring on the rainbow with flying unicorns next to you, or you desperately tried to get off as your lactose intolerance went on red alert. This is not for the sad folks out there or the faint of heart, as this is basically the equivalent of a quattro fromagi pizza with extra cheese on top. But as you might have guessed, I am fully on board with the train.
Now you think this album is all cheese and no substance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are good riffs when need be, nifty synth play, soaring vocals with fantastic, highly catchy hooks and very sexy solos. The songwriting is just really tight. Be it the shorter songs, the instrumental passages or the grand epics, Maestrick pull it all off with amazing skill. But what really makes this album is all the different style Maestrick incorporate. Maestrick have an amazing arsenal of sounds. It’s reminiscent of Flaming Row’s Mirage – A Portrayal of Figures or Haken’s The Mountain in how it jumps all over the place. There’s Brazilian folk music, Disney sounds and even Christmas music at some point.
There are a few points keeping this from the highest tier on this list though, most of which can be blamed on the mixing. The lower sounds have an annoying drone in them which can make this album hard to listen to, and the keyboards are often buried in the mix. I also find myself wanting a bit more steel in this. Some more riffs could do wonders for this album. But on the whole these are quite minor qualms and this is just an amazing album to listen to. Keep an eye out for this band, they’re amazing.

Recommended tracks: I Am Living, The Seed, Far West
Recommended for fans of: Haken, Native Construct, Flaming Row, Beyond the Bridge

Sacral Rage – Beyond Celestial Echoes (Greece)
Style: thrash/uspm (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Original review: October
Pick by: Sam

Unlike most others on the list, this is not an album I’ve listened a zillion times to. So why the high placement? Because, even if I have not been in the mood for thrash lately, one must be deaf to not understand that this is a ridiculously good progressive thrash album. Prog/tech thrash is a genre that has largely died out, but this band nailed it. Sacral Rage somehow managed to mix the hooks and vocal power of Heathen, the riffs of Helstar and the maelstrom of technical showmanship of Mekong Delta into one cohesive, original and utterly brilliant package. One can’t help but headbang to the breakneck pace of all the crazy riffs thrown at you. This is all one could possibly ask for in a prog thrash record, and more. Really give this a listen, it’s worth it.

Recommended tracks: everything lol Vaguely Decoded, The Glass
Recommended for fans of: Watchtower, Voivod, Helstar, prog thrash in general

11-09 Stellar Circuits – Ways We Haunt (US-NC)
Style: alternative/djent (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | RYM page
Original review: November
Pick by: Nostrebor68

There’s this huge stigma against djent in the prog community right now, and often it’s somewhat well-deserved. In the early 2010s djent exploded, and a swath of underwhelming periphery copycats flooded the scene. I don’t bash djent as much as most of the community, but I do tend to get quite bored of the bands that rely on that singular guitar sound as only defining feature of their music.
Stellar Circuits doesn’t really do anything new in the grand scheme of things, but the way these guys pull it off just seriously impresses me. They did a fantastic job of layering in the djent when needed, and then pulling back for some absolutely lovely melodic sections. I have no complaints about the instrumentation or the songwriting on this album, really.
In fact, the only critique I have of this band is incredibly minor. I’d love to see a tad more experimentation from them. They have the djent formula down pretty tight, and they deviate from it occasionally, but I’d love to see them pull a full Caligula’s Horse and incorporate those djent sounds into something entirely their own. Otherwise, I fully recommend this album to anyone with an open enough mind to listen to a djent band for 48 minutes, as it’s absolutely worth it.

Recommended tracks: Fell Under a Spell, Sleepless Goddess
Recommended for fans of: TesseracT, Textures, Opus of a Machine

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So, I assume your excitement must be boiling over by this point? Can’t wait to listen to all this? Just wait a little longer, the best is only yet to come:

TIER 1: THE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR