Halfway through 2018, we’ve already heard some great new music. Here’s our unranked mid-year list of 10 of the year’s best albums so far.

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Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Singularity stands as a collection of tracks that connects rugged techno, choral music to acoustic piano and celestial ambient. Very nice for endless gazing into starry skies (WRM – SftDS review).
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Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins
A remarkable return to form after a disappointing album, this Irish metal band is sure to end somewhere near the top of this year’s lists (RP – SftDS review).
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Shame – Songs of Praise
It’s summer and I still got a lot of pent-up energy. So take it to the floor and let’s rock (WRM – SftDS review).
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Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs
On Unsung Prophets, Orphaned Land return to the sound that made them so popular in the first place, with a perfect marriage between heavy metal, death metal and traditional sounds (RP – SftDS review).
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Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens
Jericho Sirens is an infurious, fierce and energetic comeback album. Froberg’s vocals shatters bones, guitars will cut you in half and the drums feel like punches in the face (WRM – SftDS review).
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Summoning – With Doom We Come
The Swiss duo doesn’t release many albums, but when they do you can count on a remarkable collection of songs. With Doom We Come is no exception (RP – SftDS review).
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Yo La Tengo – There’s a Riot Going On
Yo La Tengo dives into the depths of the human mind. The dreamy premises and subtle soundscapes are unique (WRM – SftDS review).
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Tribulation – Down Below
Down Below is one of the early highlights of 2018, featuring shorter songs with a sense of immediacy to them. A good blend of death metal and rock ‘n roll (RP).
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Nils Frahm – All Melody
All Melody is a good example of how classic meets electronica, and thus is a celebration of Frahm’s core competence: melting his own unconventional imagination into modernity (WRM – SftDS review).
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Ghost – Prequelle
Prequelle might be Ghost’s most commercially sounding album yet, but it might also be their best and is sure to increase the band’s popularity (RP).
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Catch y’all later,

Wander Meulemans & Ralph Plug – 070718

Further listening: