#7 - Top of 2018

Coheed and Cambria - Vaxis Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures (Roadrunner Records)

Coheed and Cambria have done it again! if there wasn't for a certain someone gracing us with an absolute masterpiece (see number 1 of the year), this would qualify as the best prog rock album of the year. However, as they (he) did, Claudio Sanchez and co will have to settle for number 7. But despair not dear progster! For in the latest album of the band we find again all elements that made music fans love (and hate) the band. The epic story! The catchy music! The intricate prog moments! The thrill of singing along "oh oh oh oo" with resident music genius, Mr Sanchez. And remember the thing that made the band huge: real ingenuity in their music which transcends individual genres (from prog to pop and back again).
The album, announced as part 1 of a new pentalogy, introduces new characters in the universe of Armory Wars and as Claudio himself put it "this is about a man and a woman trying to rediscover each other, both in love and in tangible existence. And they’re kind of being guided by the hand of their unborn son. The idea is that they need to help him secure his position as the father of the new universe in which all of these new stories will take place."

As for the songs themselves, there is an abundance of epic anthems to wet your ears for days! From space anthem opener, "The Dark Sentencer", where Vaxis, the son of the protagonists introduces us to the plot. "Unheavenly Creatures" kicks off with a synth and develops into an emotional pop/prog, always banking on the great vocals of Claudio and a very infectious main choral part. "Toys" feels like a mid-00s radio rock power ballad, with an A Capella break leading to a great release in the last chorus bit. "Black Sunday" is a darker song with metal riffing being more predominant here, while "Queen of the Dark" continues on the same vein using more mid-paced melodies, bringing about the energetic and almost aggressive release of "True Ugly". "Love Protocol" veers towards more a more prog-oriented approach while "The Pavilion" has an epic stadium rock feel and Night-Time Walkers experiments with a more electronic approach. "The Gutter" mixes aggression and melody in yet another masterpiece from the band,  while "All on Fire" continuous the same premise but becoming more personal while adding some awesome riffing. "It walks among us" feels like an interlude to the crescendo of "Old Flames", probably the best song of the album and one of that will stand the test of time. "Lucky Stars" which concludes the album, is a  quiet ballad where after the trials and tribulations of the album, the parents of Vaxis are together and happy, leading the way to the 2nd album of the new pentalogy. 


96.4/100

Below are the music videos for "True Ugly", "Old Flames" and "Unheavenly Creatures"

#8 - Top of 2018

Church of the Cosmic Skull - Science Fiction (Independent)

 Church of the Cosmic Skull are one of those rare gems you hope to find while searching for new music and sticks with you from the first moment you give them a listen. This is perfectly complemented with weirdly "cultish" music videos that encapsulate the feeling that the band is trying to convey,  enticing the listener to enter the Inner Sanctum and join the Cosmic Family. Right off the bat, you become immersed in that retro 70s feeling with "Science Fiction", with an awesomely feel-good vibe serving as an introduction to the members of the Church. A bluesy tone is added in "Go By The River" along with some peaceful vocals and classic 70s guitar riffs reminiscent of Deep Purple, which are also prominent in "The Cards That You're Playing" with its gospel choir vocals & melodies. "Revolution Comes With An Act Of Love" is a ballad with the added spice of a Hammond organ, as melodic guitar riffs join a great choral symphony which invites the hapless listener , "all we've got to do is sing along". The catchiest song of the album has got to be "Cold Sweat" (accompanied by a uniquely strange music video), managing to combine even more groovy tunes with musical vibes emanating from the chorus. "The Others" is a tribute to that special Pink Floyd feeling, taking you on a trip to receive the Cosmic Transmission. "Timehole (Gonna Build A Rocket Tonight)" returns to the 70s hard rock sound, with a surprisingly heavier mid-song switch, while "Paper Aeroplane & Silver Moon" is a psychedelic rock song mixed with some the best guitar riffing on the album. "Science Fiction" wraps up with "The Devil Again" that features some excellent church organ and low-key soothing vocals in complete contrast with the lyrical theme of the song, thus ending this spectacular journey through the 70s and re-emerging in the present relaxed and ready to join the family of the Church.


96.25/100

Below is official music video for "Cold Sweat".

#9 - Top of 2018

The Night Flight Orchestra - Sometimes the World Ain't Enough (Nuclear Blast)

It's beyond belief that this album wasn't released back in the '80s.  It is almost as incredible as the way that NFO are able to convey the emotion and cheesiness of the 80s. Sometimes the World Ain't Enough, however, is not simply a tribute to the past, but a genuine contender among the best albums of the era. Let's not forget of course the polished Swedish music mastery of this supergroup, which brings a cinematic quality to every song! From the almost stereotypical AOR of "This Time" and "Turn To Miami", the album offers the epic "Paralysed" with its funk '70s disco vibe and the year's biggest chorus. While flirting with prog rock in the grandiose "The Last Of The Independent Romantics",  it revisits what love is in "Lovers In The Rain" and the dreamy and mysterious theme tune of " Pretty Things Closing In " leads to the incredible sing-along power of the chorus of" Can't Be That Bad ".  "Sometimes The World Ain't Enough" is a timeless classic album. It might truly be the ultimate AOR album for those who don't hear AOR. In other words...

The Night Flight Orchestra are simply the guiltiest pleasure of the year.

96.1/100

Below are the music videos for "This Time", "Can't Be that Bad", "Turn to Miami" and "Lovers in the Rain".

#10 - Top of 2018

Arrayan Path - Archegonoi (Pitch Black Records)

Reaching the top 10 of 2018, the epic power metallers, Arrayan Path, have released their 7th full length album, making it to our Top for a third time (following our Top of 2016 and our Best of Epic Metal list)! The record is split into two discs that are full with epic stories from Ancient Greece, entertaining and giving a taste of Greek lore to the listener at the same time. The melancholic and atmospheric violin intro of "Weaving the Web of Destiny" that turns into an imposing chorus accompanied by Nicholas Leptos' amazing vocals and melodic guitar riffs sets the mood of the album. We are introduced to heavier tunes in the equally majestic "Rod of Asclepius" flawlessly mixing battle cries with orchestral segments. "Seven Against Thebes" slows down the pacing sounding almost like an epic power ballad filled with melodic guitars, while ups the heaviness "Sins of Pandora" with an impressive chorus made sing-alongs! In contrast, "The Words of Menelaus" starts with a mournful tone in the style of "amanes" followed by an amazing guitar interlude and epic clear vocal before the galloping "Bellerophon (Forged by the Blacksmith)" which is packed with EPIC heavy metal guitar riffs. "Thisbe's Blooded Veil" serves as a musical interlude (that seems that is taken from the soundtrack of an adventure movie) gracefully leading to the second disc which blasts its way in with the dramatic "Lion of Amphipolis" the amazingly catchy and menacing "Blood of the Sphinx" with an awesomely simple but effective chorus!  The peak of the album has to be the theatrical "Nemesis" which shifts between melodic singing and songwriting to an unexpected mid-song tribute to "the thunder of Zeus the thunderer" that is bound to stick to your mind for quite a while! Moving on through the captivating album, "Eastern Sands" adds a symphonic tone that weirdly complements the middle-eastern-influenced "Where the Hydra Hides". The record wraps up with two equally majestic songs, the accoustic keyboard-based "King of Argos" that is reminiscent of Rhapsody's "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream" and finally the awesome "Thermopylae 480 BC" which narrates the well-known heroic deeds in Thermopylae, making everyone inpatient for their next epic album!


96/100

Below is the official music video for "Nemesis" and the official lyric video for "Sins of Pandora".

#11 - Top of 2018

Clutch - Book of Bad Decisions (Weathermaker Music)

What can be said about the latest endeavour of southern/stoner/slacker rockers Clutch? The album follows suit from previous releases "Earth Rocker" and "Psychic Warfare", continuing the trend of the band experimenting with different song structures and playfully dipping their toes in variations of the sound that made them famous. They can't go too wrong as the vocals of Neil Fallon and the riffing by Tim Sult, accompanied by the ever-present rhythm section of Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-Paul Gaster are a surefire guarantee of a good-time. And in the "Book of Bad Decisions", the band again delivers with another album good from the bottom to the top. Thus, the band seems to have found the recipe for success in creating groovy compositions that seem destined to dominate any live show they play! After all, they can write anthems effortlessly, with "How To Shake Hands" and "Weird Times" being two of the more distinctive compositions that confirm Clutch's excellence in this area and are distinguished for their functionality and simplicity. At the same time, as noted above, they continue to display a tendency to experiment and mix different stylistic elements. This results to a host of truly memorable compositions, with 'In' Walks Barbarella "(with the excellent use of wind instruments) and" Vision Quest "(with a fantastic piano orchestration) being perhaps the most stand-out tracks. Along with the aforementioned tracks,  "Emily Dickinson", "Ghoul Wrangler" and "Lorelei" (with a very .. soundtrack dynamic) are a set of compositions that would fit seamlessly in almost any previous band release, and once again reaffirm Clutch as one of the best rock acts of any kind out there.


95.5/100

Below are the music videos for "In Walks Barbarella", "Hot Bottom Feeder", "Give Me the Keys", "How to Shake Hands" and "Ghoul Wrangler".

#12 - Top of 2018

Amorphis - Queen of Time (Nuclear Blast)

On number 12, we have the new album by Amorphis, the Finnish melodic heavy metal band with a long history of amazing albums since the beginning of their career back in the 90's (with one of them previously gracing our Top of 2011). "The Bee" introduces what the band is skilful in, harmonically combining the melodic aspect of Tomi Joutsen's clear and mellow vocals with his heavier growls while the music perfectly follows in line those changes with some memorable guitar riffs. "Message in the Amber" has a more epic twist adding volume to its sound and showcasing amazing songwriting from Esa Holopainen,  while different members of the band contributing to different songs creating an overall unique outcome. "Daughter of Hate" adds a darker note to the record with a heavier sound that blends uniquely with an imposing chorus, saxophone sounds (by Jørgen Munkeby) and spoken words in Finnish (by Pekka Kainulainen), while "The Golden Elk" (with its mixture of violins, guitars and other traditional organs) and "Wrong Direction" (with a stronger keyboard sound) lean on the band's easily trademark melodic sound. The more atmospheric "Heart of the Giant" has a middle-eastern feel to it created using an orchestra and a chorus to expand on the sound in order to compliment the ever shifting vocals. The album is ever-changing with "We Accursed" and "Grain of Sand" being  more classic melodic death songs that are not lacking in twist with the former having a prog-ish mid-song twist full of keyboards and the latter being full of interesting melodic guitar riffs. The most "catchy" and memorable song of the record has to be "Amongst Stars" where we have a guest appearance by Anneke van Giersbergen (from more bands that I can count including The Gathering, Ayreon, Devin Townsend etc.), who blends wonderfully with Joutsen's clear and growl vocals adding an even more melodic touch to the record!
The ambient but pompous "Pyres on the Coast" might be the last track but there are two awesome bonus tracks, the imposing and melancholic "As Mountains Crumble" (constantly moving from acoustic to prog keyboards and epic tunes) and the equally atmospheric "Brother and Sister" for those looking a bit more of the Amorphis!


95.25/100

Below is the official music video for "Among Stars" and the official lyric video for "The Bee".

#13 - Top of 2018

Ghost - Prequelle (Loma Vista)

The journey of the weirdest superstars of the decade continues, as Ghost released their 4th full-length album, to critical and commercial acclaim. The album continues on the same creative vein with the previous work of the group, mixing 80s pop rock and metal - lite elements along with satanic imagery and lyrics, while preserving an overall fun factor that has made the band as popular as it is. The album has 9 tracks (+ intro), that keep the listener on its feet while at the same time the band successfully transcends mere imitation and establishes its own musical identity, more strongly than ever, clearly demonstrating that they are their own superstars right now.  Tracks like "Rats", "Dance Macabre", "Faith" and "Life Eternal", are among the best the band has ever written and while theatrics still remain a focal point for the band in this age of image, this would still be a great album regardless of all that. There are multiple superstar collaborators in the album (Mikael Åkerfeldt [Opeth], Vincent Portare [Avicii]) and a stellar production by Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies), whose work might be the true superstar of the album as the production mixes modern and old-school evoking enthusiasm and nostalgia at the same time. Ghost are not overrated, nor are underrated. They are correctly rated as one of the hottest acts of this decade!

95.2/100

Below are the music videos for "Rats"  and "Dance Macabre".

#14 - Top of 2018

Judicator - The Last Emperor (Independent)

Judicator ascend to 14 of the 2018 Top Albums with their fourth full-length release The Last Emperor. The US-based power metallers are reminiscent of Blind Guardian but succeed in adding their own twist by weaving an interesting quick-paced record that never lets the listener lose interest. Starting with the titular song "The Last Emperor" and its melodic guitar intro, the epic atmosphere is set as if told by warriors amidst a battle. "Take Up Your Cross" has a galloping drum bit (by Jordan Ecless) supporting it throughout the song blending perfectly with the sing-along chorus and strong clear vocals by John Yelland (giving off Hansi vibes)! The heaviness and volume are levelled up with "Raining Gold" which is also full of amazing guitar riffs (and an awesome mid-song guitar interlude blended with sword crossing sounds). "The Queen of All Cities" is one of the album highlights with more theatrical vocals, acoustic guitar interludes (that wonderfully connect different parts of the song) and great songwriting spanning over nine minutes of melodic epicness. And then during the song "Spiritual Treason", the perfect guest appearance is made by none other than Hansi Kürsch (of Blind Guardian) which is the ultimate counter-part for Yelland's vocals thus gracing us with an awesomely melodic power metal song with a chorus that will stick to your mind (like a classic Blind Guardian song)! "Antioch" is another personal favourite starting with an acoustic intro before blasting into galloping riffs and clear high pitched vocals. Wrapping up the record, "Nothing But Blood" is an instant classic power metal song with great electric guitar tunes while "It Falls to Jerusalem" has a more melodic vibe allowing for the focus on the storytelling by both amazing clear and group vocals! The power-metal epicness is flawlessly depicted by the cover artwork (Marc Whisnant) which wraps everything together for an excellent release!


95.1/100

Below is the official music video for the "King of Rome".