We’re almost there! Another year gone, another about to begin. As we start to look forward to what 2019 might bring us, we also take a traditional look back at everything 2018 had in store for us. We listened to things, we saw things and we wrote about them. Here’s our look at what we liked best.
Ralph’s 2018 List of Oh Damn All Of It’s Very Loud Once Again
2018 was a bloody difficult year when it comes to music with a real shortage of standout releases and a lot of interchangeable when it comes to making lists. I discovered a lot of, for me, new stuff through my parents’ old record collection, but since those don’t count, here’s what I really enjoyed to this year:
10. Chthonic – Battlefields of Asura (SftDS review)
9. Varathron – Patriarchs of Evil
8. Powerwolf – The Sacrament of Sin (SftDS review)
7. Sigh – Heir to Despair (SftDS review)
6. Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs (SftDS review)
5. Summoning – With Doom We Come (SftDS review)
4. Therapy? – Cleave (SftDS review)
3. Tribulation – Down Below
Sweden’s Tribulation finally hit their sweet spot when they shortened their songs to bite-sized chunks of black ‘n roll. A terrific record that nags at me a bit for not having reviewed it.
2. Primordial – Exile Amongst the Ruins (SftDS review)
These Irishmen never really disappoint. One album is better than the other, of course, but Exile is the most consistent and coherent collection of songs they’ve released maybe since To the Nameless Dead.
1. Ghost – Prequelle (SftDS review)
I don’t know what it is about Ghost, but they never cease to amaze. Prequelle is another highlight, successfully marrying a pop sensibility with Blue Öyster Cult-like rock music and a lot of theater. A thrilling ride through and through, I can’t seem to get enough of Prequelle yet.
Concerts of 2018:
- Rotting Christ – De Helling, Utrecht, 27-1-2018 (SftDS review)
- Roger Waters – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, 20-6-2018 (SftDS review)
- Guns N’ Roses – Goffertpark, Nijmegen, 5-7-2018
Anticipated for 2019:
- Cellar Darling – Untitled New Album (Expected first half of 2019)
- Beast In Black – From Hell with Love (Expected 8-2-2019)
- Rotting Christ – The Heretics (Expected 15-2-2019)
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Wander’s 2018 Marvelous Music List
I heard a lot of great songs this year but when it comes to full albums I have to agree with my friend above: this year there were no albums that stood out. Dr. Dog and Foxwarren did a nice job in the genre of highly listenable indie pop and Hot Snakes and Shame revived my interest in hard rock. Oh before I forget, there only one release I didn’t mentioned before but did made to my list: Shuta Hasunuma & U-zhaan. These two Japanese musicians combine South Asian drums with electronica. You will have to check it out for yourself when the browse through the rest of my year list. Here we go:
10. Dr. Dog – Critical Equation (SftDS review)
9. Hot Snakes – Jericho Sirens (SftDS review)
8. Foxwarren – Foxwarren (SftDS review)
7. Shame – Sons of Praise (SftDS review)
6. Shuta Hasunuma & U-zhaan – 2 Tone
5. Jon Hopkins – Singularity (SftDS review)
4. Connan Mockasin – Jassbusters (SftDS review)
3. Yves Tumor – Safe in the Hands of Love (SftDS review)
Yves Tumor peels off his skin by piling up one low bitrate synth ather the other. This autobiographical work is a thrilling plunge into the mind of someone who struggles with the blurriness of today’s reality.
2. Low – Double Negative (SftDS review)
Double Negative is Low’s darkest album to date and there not an easy listen. Yet rays of light bursts through the heavy static making it utterly beautiful piece of music when you not scared to see the world for what it is.
1. Yo La Tengo – There’s a Riot Going On (SftDS review)
Yellow vests who are looking for a riot won’t find it here. Yo La Tengo’s dreamy premises and subtle soundscapes are timeless. Its strength is in stillness. There’s a Riot Going On is another classic to an already very impressive back catalogue.
Concerts of 2018:
- De Beren Gieren – LantarenVenster, Rotterdam, 24-2-2018
- The Necks – Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 25-3-2018
- Roger Waters – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, 20-6-2018 (SftDS review)
Anticipated for 2019:
- Pedro The Lion – Phoenix (Expected 18-1-2019)
- Flying Lotus (Expected in 2019)
- Priests (Expected in 2019)
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Wasn’t that something? So with that to cap off the year, it’s time to get festive one last time, open the champagne bottle and ring in 2019 with the people you love with and, of course, with music. Have a good one, and see you on the other side.
Wander Meulemand & Ralph Plug – 311218
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