Kayla Hutton's Top Ten Albums of 2018

Well kiddies, it's time for me to sound off on my favorite releases from 2018. […]

December 15, 2018

Well kiddies, it's time for me to sound off on my favorite releases from 2018. There is a method to the order of the list as it begins with death metal and heads towards industrial as the electronics are added and then progresses into the lighter stuff. If you aren't familiar with some of these bands you could be missing out on some of the craziest yet powerful music around, so check em out. Here we go.

Band : Display of Decay
Album: Art in Mutilation
Genre: Death Metal

General Info:

Record Label: Gore House Productions
Formed: 2007

If you are a death metal enthusiast and looking for a new thrill, this is it. For being around since 2007, a little over 10 years, these guys have a perfectly ripe and harmonious balance of established style. From pit anthems to intricate playing identifiable sound and raspy deep growls, every reason you love death metal is inside the tracks that lay within "Art in Mutilation."

No. 9

Band : Monstrosity
Album: The Passage of Existence
Genre: Death Metal

General Info:

Record Label: Metal Blade
Formed: 1990

Formed in 1990, and part of the defined Florida death metal scene its always a toss up when a band that has pulled back resurfaces. I am happy to report that MONSTROSITY didn't regurgitate a prior album or restructure themselves beyond recognition. They evolved with the times and improved upon the skills they have demonstrated in the past. They have grown, yet they do remain a force to be reckoned with.

No. 8

Band : The Algorithm
Album: Compiler Optimization Techniques
Genre: Electronic Progressive Metal

General Info:

Record Label: FiXT Records
Formed: 2009

Formed in 2009,THE ALGORITHMstyle is characterized by an unusual combination of electronic dance music with progressive metal. If you want to be impressed, watch the video for "Pointers". The guy is playing guitar and all over the synth. This isn't some 4/4 timing. This is crazy fast, technical, mind blowing music. It's somewhat proggy, mixed with extreme metal and then throw in some seriously sick electronics that rumble subwoofers and shake the neighborhood. No vocal tracks, just music.

No. 7

Band : Zeal & Ardor'
Album: Stranger Fruit
Genre: Avant Garde Metal

General Info:

Record Label: MKVA records
Formed: 2013

An avant-garde metal musical project started and led by Manuel Gagneux, a Swiss-American musician. Formed in 2013, the band mixes sounds of negro spirituals with black metal. This guy has a soulful and at times haunting vocal sound. No matter the obscurity of the lyrical content, the guy does it with passion and style.

No. 6

Band : Distant Dream
Album: Your Own Story
Genre: Post Rock/Progressive

Record Label: Independent
Formed: 2005

Not really a band, more of a project with a revolving door of musicians making collaborative contributions. The music is atmospheric, semi-sad paced liked doom metal, and brilliant like prog. Having formed in 2005 and 4 albums released there is no shortage of musical diversity and skill in this album or the ones prior.

No. 5

Band : Paradise Lost
Album: Host (Remastered)
Genre: Gothic Metal

General Info:

Record Label: Nuclear Blast
Formed: 2008

Formed in 1988 and originally a gothic death metal bandPARADISE LOST changed it up a bit as Nick's vocals went from grunty to clean and the band drew back from metal and implemented electronics. I never got the DEPECHE MODE comparison, but the sound was still dreary and dark. As much slack as they got for the release of "Host" in 1999 and the follow up "Believe in Nothing" these were great albums. The remaster fixes all the production issues when it comes to handleing electronics and makes "Host" a smooth listen.

No. 4

Band : The Enigma TNG
Album: Parallel Universe
Genre: Hybrid Industrial Metal

General Info:

Record Label: Independent
Formed: Unknown

This guy is an electronics genius. Having done remixes for KORN, EVENESCENCE, SLIPKNOT, DISTURBED, SKRILLEX and collaborations with Adrian von Ziegler. He creates a vast variety of music including industrial, metalstep, trance, and dethstep. His epic electronics pair well with brutal metal making the dark darker and the heavy heavier.

No. 3

Band : Rave the Reqviem
Album: Fvneral
Genre: Industrial Metal

General Info:

Record Label: Out of Line
Formed: 2011
Formed in 2011 these guys bring a mix of modern electronics and metal fused to bring a newer form of industrial music. While they have gone more commercially friendly in their sound they still are amazing, powerful and dark. "Illumintate Me" being the best track, featuring a heavy and stompy intro and as always the female vocalist is angelic.

No. 2

Band : Dance with Dead
Album: Loved to Death
Genre: Synthwave

General Info:

Record Label: Independent
Formed: 2013

Take two guys that played in metal bands and combined that with horror like 80's synths and you've got DANCE WITH THE DEAD. Consider them a lighter version of THE ALGORITHM. No vocals, all metal and synthwave. Formed in 2013 and boasting seven albums, all independently released, these guys keep the atmosphere dark and the guitars heavy.

No. 1

Band : Data Rock
Album: Face the Brutality
Genre: Electronic Rock

General Info:

Record Label: YAP Records
Formed: 2001

DATAROCK is an 80's recreating synth-rock band hailing from Norway, a place known more for its black metal. The band says the album's title comes from a phrase they had heard prior and that, "coming from a city of black metal, and with a background in punk and trash metal, we found the title so utterly wrong for DATAROCK.And the end result is "Face the Brutality". Not metal, but for those who have a great sense of humor about all things being "brutal", these guys are fun and dripping with 1980's nostalgia.