2018 Album Favorites: Anteater Reviews 'Em

[Anteater]

Another great year of music. I tend to find a lot of stuff across the spectrum that goes under the radar, so hopefully you'll find a few gems among this bunch. Happy Holidays.

~ Derek

30. Karmic Juggernaut - The Dreams That Stuff Are Made Of
29. Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury
28. Dead Can Dance - Dionysus
27. Tropical Fuck Storm - A Laughing Death In Meatspace
26. Mr. Fingers - Cerebral Hemispheres
25. Lemmings Suicide Myth - Lemmings Suicide Myth
24. Rivers Of Nihil - Where Owls Know My Name
23. The Manhattan Transfer - The Junction
22. Palest Hue - City Underground
21. Sophie - Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
20. VOLA - Applause Of A Distant Crowd
19. Red Sun Rising - Thread
18. Soft Machine - Hidden Details
17. Avantdale Bowling Club - Avantdale Bowling Club
16. Mitch Murder - Selection 5
15. Miracle - The Strife Of Love In A Dream
14. Subsignal - La Muerta
13. Sigh - Heir To Despair
12. Young Gun Silver Fox - AM Waves
11. Deep Space Destructors - Visions From The Void
10. Wayfarer - World's Blood
9. Kikagaku Moyo - Masana Temple
8. The Black Queen - Infinite Games
7. R+R=Now - Collagically Speaking
6. The Bad Dreamers - Songs About People Including Myself
5. Kindo – Happy However After
4. 공중도둑 [Mid-Air Thief] – 무너지기 (Crumbling)
3. Bart & The Bedazzled - Blue Motel
2. Shmu - Lead Me To The Glow
1. Perfect Beings - Vier

Honorable Mentions

[Anteater]

30. Karmic Juggernaut - The Dreams That Stuff Are Made Of

Genre(s): Psychedelic Rock, Zeuhl, 70's Prog, Jazz Rock, Math Rock

Sounds Like: Yezda Urfa, Family, Flower Travellin' Band, Mars Volta, early 70's Yes, Frank Zappa

At times coming off as though Jon Anderson of Yes jumped ship and went on a drug-fueled studio rampage with Frank Zappa or the guys from Primus, a pure spirit of experimentation drives the high adrenaline sound of Karmic Juggernaut's debut. From the spacey old school artwork to the hypersonic guitar buzzsawing reminiscent of, say, Blue Cheer or Flower Travellin' Band, there's no mistaking where these guys' hearts lie. But once you see their full schizophrenic yet beautiful potential released on gems such as 'Robotnik' or the feverish 'On Your Mark', it is really hard not to get sucked in.

While the mainstream media makes a big deal about bands like Greta Van Fleet, these guys are a much better example of a talented group of guys bringing the best aspects of 70's acid rock into our present with ablomb.

[OccultHawk]

Totally stoked for this!

[Zhanteimi]

This is going to be so fuckin' gooooood.

[Anteater]

29. Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury

Genre(s): Black Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Free Jazz

Sounds Like: Gorguts, Deathspell Omega, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

Jazzy in the classic New York City tradition but something of a whiplash inducing metal experience as well, I've been a fan of Imperial Triumphant's approach since they stormed into the spotlight with Abyssal Gods a few years ago. This however, sounds leaps and bounds to me above where they started: the dichotomy between their brassy dexterity and their brutal chops is certainly a highlight, but what ends up growing on you is the songwriting itself, especially centerpiece 'Chernobyl Blues' that spends half its runtime coming off a John Zorn ambient progression before exploding into a howling orgy of pure fury that'll blow you back in your chair if you weren't expecting it. Needless to say, this is not your typical BM outing by any stretch of the imagination: purists beware.

[Blarobbarg]

Originally Posted by Anteater

29. Imperial Triumphant - Vile Luxury

Genre(s): Black Metal, Avant-garde Metal, Free Jazz

Sounds Like: Gorguts, Deathspell Omega, Bohren & Der Club Of Gore

Jazzy in the classic New York City tradition but something of a whiplash inducing metal experience as well, I've been a fan of Imperial Triumphant's approach since they stormed into the spotlight with Abyssal Gods a few years ago. This however, sounds leaps and bounds to me above where they started: the dichotomy between their brassy dexterity and their brutal chops is certainly a highlight, but what ends up growing on you is the songwriting itself, especially centerpiece 'Chernobyl Blues' that spends half its runtime coming off a John Zorn ambient progression before exploding into a howling orgy of pure fury that'll blow you back in your chair if you weren't expecting it. Needless to say, this is not your typical BM outing by any stretch of the imagination: purists beware.

This was one of my all time favorite releases of the year. It pushes so many boundaries at once, it is simply mind blowing.

[Anteater]

^ An absolute stunner for sure!

22. Palest Hue - City Underground

Genre(s): Psychedelia, Paisley Underground, "Laurel Canyon" Pop, Acid Rock

Sounds Like: Gordon Lightfoot, Fleetwood Mac (1968 - '73) The Doors, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express

These guys are so deep underground you'd have to get a bulldozer to drag them out of the mausoleum. Released to little fanfare earlier this year, I only discovered this remarkably groovy debut thanks to windsock on another thread, and since that point I find myself returning to it's strange, affecting atmosphere often. It sounds both like and so unlike anything that's out there that it's hard to pin down their exact musical coordinates. The singer is the easiest reference point for me - he's the long lost cousin of both Jim Morrison and Gordon Lightfoot, and his wistful, soulful approach to these cavernous little pieces is quite something to behear. While the best 'hook' of the album is reserved for opener "Maybe In Time', there's also touches of Tropicalia and the darkness of early 70's acid folk seeped into the DNA of 'On The Corner' and even a little early Chicago (sans horn section) punch to closer 'She Waits'.

Phenomenally moody yet crackling with underlying energy, these guys have amazing potential and I think this is just a taste of what's to come.

[windsock]

Originally Posted by Anteater

22. Palest Hue - City Underground

Ayyyy

[Psychedout]

Originally Posted by Anteater

^ An absolute stunner for sure!

22. Palest Hue - City Underground

Genre(s): Psychedelia, Paisley Underground, "Laurel Canyon" Pop, Acid Rock

Sounds Like: Gordon Lightfoot, Fleetwood Mac (1968 - '73) The Doors, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express

These guys are so deep underground you'd have to get a bulldozer to drag them out of the mausoleum. Released to little fanfare earlier this year, I only discovered this remarkably groovy debut thanks to windsock on another thread, and since that point I find myself returning to it's strange, affecting atmosphere often. It sounds both like and so unlike anything that's out there that it's hard to pin down their exact musical coordinates. The singer is the easiest reference point for me - he's the long lost cousin of both Jim Morrison and Gordon Lightfoot, and his wistful, soulful approach to these cavernous little pieces is quite something to behear. While the best 'hook' of the album is reserved for opener "Maybe In Time', there's also touches of Tropicalia and the darkness of early 70's acid folk seeped into the DNA of 'On The Corner' and even a little early Chicago (sans horn section) punch to closer 'She Waits'.

Phenomenally moody yet crackling with underlying energy, these guys have amazing potential and I think this is just a taste of what's to come.

Funny you mention Lightfoot. The album was recorded in a garage in Lightfoot's hometown of Orillia, Ontario.

[OccultHawk]

I listened to Karmic Juggernaut - The Dreams That Stuff Are Made today. The parts that sound a lot like Yes really appealed to me.