Best Albums of 2008

16. In Extremo – Sængerkrieg Medieval metal
Mediocre as far as In Extremo goes, but it’s got its moments. The acoustic companion album is actually pretty good, though.

15. Vestigial – Translucent Communion Dark ambient/tribal
I don’t generally go for true ambient music, but this is just dense and dynamic enough to be interesting.

14. Sava – Metamorphosis Medieval
A real step up from their debut. There’s a lot of feeling here which wasn’t in the debut.

13. Vindensång – Terminus: Rebirth in Eight Parts Dark ambient/folk
More folk than ambient really (plus a grab bag of other influences), and enough so to stay interesting through the whole hour and eight minutes of it.

12. Lantlôs – Lantlôs Post-black metal
More black than post (unlike Alcest, for example). It’s a promising start.

11. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter – Licht Metal
A few winning tracks, some filler. And the drums were mixed very loudly. Overall a fun and eclectic album.

10. Mogwai – The Hawk is Howling Post-rock

9. Amenra – Mass IIII Sludge metal
Very heavy, very harsh, but rewarding if you can stomach the intensity.

8. Corvus Corax – Cantus Buranus II Medieval Orchestral
Not much new since Cantus Buranus I, though the Chou Chou Sheng reprise was really cool. The pipe organ pieces on Das Orgelwerk made for a nice companion too.

7. Sonne Hagal – Jordansfrost Neofolk/acoustic
Sounds like a lot more time went into this album than previous Sonne Hagal works. A somber and melancholic acoustic trip.

6. Unheilig – Puppenspiel Dance metal/synth rock
The album was quite long and could have done without some of the filler. But when it’s good, it’s really good. As always, impressive basso profundo and tight production.

5. Mamiffer – Hirror Enniffer Piano/noise
Unique and captivating hybrid of guitar noise and piano-driven compositions.

4. ASP – Zaubererbruder Gothic/folk/medieval metal
Interesting folky turn ASP took with this album. Not as heavy or expansive as Requiembryo, but it’s got some fine tracks.

3. Rome – Masse Mensch Material Martial industrial
As far as I’m concerned, besides the odd Orplid song Rome is the only martial industrial worth listening to.

2. October Falls – The Womb of Primordial Nature Folk black metal
The acoustic sections are catatonically relaxing; the metal is the ultimate driving headbanging music.

1. Eluveitie – Slania Celtic death metal
Leaps and bounds ahead of Spirit. A brilliant fusion of celtic folk melodies and instruments with death metal. Oddly enough, it really works.

Best newcomer: Velnias – Sovereign Nocturnal Black metal
Dirty on the production, but not distractingly so. Expansive and epic compositions.

Best EP: Agalloch – The White Post-industrial folk
Occasionally feels out of place for them, but overall their (semi) acoustic work is as thoughtfully crafted as their metal.