Daniel Cordova
Allegaeon Apoptosis
Like Baroness, Allegaeon saw some line-up changes since their last album and also adapted accordingly. Their new bassist propels them in ways I never expected. Then the band just continues to out-shred most of the other scene while remaining melodic and catchy as fuck. They’re a band that continues to release an album that outdoes themselves.
Baroness Gold & Grey
Baroness are a band that has grown so much. They’re still definitely grounded in their proggy sludge roots, but Gold & Grey has the band including so many more elements and techniques that are atypical for them. In all honesty, they could’ve just re-recorded an old album with Gina Gleason dueling vocals with John, as she does on this record, and this would’ve been high in my heart.
Brutus Nest
This Trio’s last album, Burst, came in a close second on my end of year list in 2017. It was just such a refreshing and varied offering from a band. I honestly feared the band would wind up repeating too much of the same with their sophomore follow-up. Good golly was I wrong, and so happy to be wrong. Nest solidifies this band as one of the modern greats.
Cellar Darling The Spell
Cellar Darling are a band that surprised me. A band that leads with “folk metal” doesn’t often hold my attention. However, the band is all over the place musically, they include atypical instruments (like hurdy-gurdy and flute), then the voice of Anna Murphy is just so good. They wound up being a perfect storm for where my metal brain is right now.
Devin Townsend Empath
Dev is almost always a sure thing on my album of the year lists because so much of what I enjoy now was shaped by his early output. He still manages to surprise me though. Empath was nothing but twists and turns I never expected from him. This album is a showcase of an artist’s creative evolution and will be a hard one to beat.
