Church of Australian Metal

[Slammed]

I was thinking about my top 10 Aussie albums for this year last night and although I know some wont be good enough to make the list I think there is about 20 albums that could potentially make the list.

 

[CiG]

I was just thinking about that myself, I'm definitely doing one. Might start it tonight as I doubt much more will come out in the last month of 2018 that isn't already available digitally.

 

[Slammed]

I still have one or two to listen to before making the list but I'll definitely get around to it in the next few weeks, or maybe a few more.

 

[CiG]

Top 10 Australian Albums of 2018:

1. Rawhead - Spineless Pigs
2. Road Warrior - Power
3. The Stuntcox - Diggin' Up Our Roots
4. Tyrannic - Ethereal Sepulchre
5. Solemn Ceremony - Solemn Ceremony
6. Convent Guilt - Diamond Cut Diamond
7. Black Majesty - Children of the Abyss
8. Nocturnal Graves - Titan (their best album yet IMO)
9. Mongrel's Cross - Psalter of the Royal Dragon Court
10. Psycroptic - As the Kingdom Drowns

HM:

Black Magick SS - Spectral Ecstasy
Cemetery Urn - Barbaric Retribution

 

[Krow]

Not that I don’t think BMSS is probably better than all of that stuff but I’m hoping Mongrels Cross and Solemn Ceremony are both good. I’ve got those on the way to me now. I also need that Road Warrior and Covent Guilt bit I haven’t found them stateside yet.

 

[CiG]

BMSS is definitely not better than all of that stuff, especially not Solemn Ceremony. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[CiG]

It might bump out Psycroptic though, need to listen to it a couple more times.

 

[Slammed]

Road Warrior is a PITA to get anywhere unless you listen to it on their bandcamp page, it's either massively overpriced or it's out of stock. Convent Guilt, having listened to it again since it came out, might not even make my top 10. It's not as good as the first and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are a real fan.

 

[jimmy101]

Oh nice, new Psyc is out.

 

[Krow]

Road Warrior is a PITA to get anywhere unless you listen to it on their bandcamp page, it's either massively overpriced or it's out of stock. Convent Guilt, having listened to it again since it came out, might not even make my top 10. It's not as good as the first and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are a real fan.

That’s a shame about Convent Guilt. First album was awesome.

 

[CiG]

Second album is still pretty awesome, just the vocals feel a bit weak this time around, everything else is a musical improvement.

 

[Slammed]

I'm not convinced, but it's good to have varying opinions

 

[CiG]

Good call on the Black Majesty album btw, I wasn't honestly expecting it to make my list and with more time will likely bump Convent Guilt down and move itself into the middle of my list. Really powerful stuff.

 

[Slammed]

I was a little surprised by BM, they have good pedigree but something just kept telling me that the new album was going to be weaker but it wasn't. I'm still a few weeks away from doing my list but I think mine might be made of more mellow stuff than previous years.

 

[Satanstoenail]

Still rules.

 

[CiG]

"Loose" and "Sphagnum" are my favourites from that EP, I never did get around to checking out their full length though.

 

[Satanstoenail]

The full length also rules

 

[Slammed]

Aussie Top 10 2018

1. After Burner – After Burner

Debut hardcore thrash better than I've heard recently from a debut Aussie band​

2. Greystone Canyon – The Wheel Still Turns

A lot more mellow that I often listen to with metal but some decent songs and tunes on here​

3. Black Majesty – Children Of The Abyss

Damn good power metal release which was a pleasant surprise this year​

4. Taipan – Night Visions

I'd struggle to go past any Taipan release. I've known the band forever and this is classic old school metal​

5. Roadkill – Ruled By Machines

Some might consider this more Aussie pub rock than metal but I think worth of a mention in metal because it does have some harder rocking tunes.​

6. Southeast Desert Metal – Break The Silence

I like where these guys are heading, not super heavy but still damn good listening.​

7. Hidden Intent – Fear Prey Demise

Straight out thrash, a good release but not really anything new and exciting enough to boost it above 7th​

8. Espionage – Digital Dystopia

Loved this on first listen, but subsequent listens I've dropped it down. I like the drumming in parts and I like some of riff work but there is something in it that doesn't allow me to up vote it higher.​

9. Convent Guilt – Diamond Cut Diamond

This album is growing on me as I listen to it more and in time might even rank higher. I much prefer the second half of the album though​

10. Lethal Vendetta – No Prisoners No Mercy

Another one I liked more on first listen and could well loose places over time.​

HM's

Witchskull – Coven’s Will

I really liked the sound of this for the first few songs but it seemed to lack substance to the end​

Devil Electric – Devil Electric

Some good riffage and not too bad singing but the album needs t be heavier.​

Maniaxe – Canticles Of Corruption

Think the growls on this let the album down. Either needs to be clean vocals or a better growler.​

On My Command – Apparitions

I thought I'd like this more than I did. It's not terrible or anything but it's definitely not a high rater.​

Vulturous – Slave To The Shadows

Liked the music, the riffs and stuff but not the vocals.​

Deathlahem – The Birthplace Of Deth

Good but not great.​

Star Eternal – Archetypica

Ayreon style prog/power, good but not as good as Ayeron.​

Road Warrior – Power

Not a bad album, a bit boring in a few songs, but it's not enough to get into the top 10
​

Any album not already released for 2018 is automatically a shit album and can't be rated

 

[CiG]

Convent Guilt made it but Road Warrior didn't? That's a twist ending.

 

[Slammed]

I just can't get into Road Warrior enough. I don't hate it but there just isn't enough in it to keep me interested for the whole album.

Convent Guilt wouldn't have got on the list if I hadn't bought it. If I hadn't bought it I'd have never listened to it twice. But after listening to it a few times now I think it ends really solidly,