The 2018 ILX Metal n' Heavy Rock Poll VOTING + CAMPAIGNING thread! NEW EXTENDED DEADLINE! Ballots due by Friday, February 15th 11.59pm PST

Everything I voted for will probably make the list, but I definitely want to see Pharaoh Overlord, Sulphur Aeon, Ails and High on Fire do well.

Actually, Sulphur Aeon might not make it! Murky but melodic German Cthlulu death metal! Highly recommended.

https://sulphuraeon-vanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-scythe-of-cosmic-chaos

Not heard of Ails, what do they sound like?

Ludicra without the olde metal influences, pretty much

The Ails album is really good, Kerr

Also TT I'm so glad you're into that Alameda 4 record. I was going to campaign for it myself! Every Alameda album is entirely different. Everybody I knew was into the more acoustic Alameda Duo record but actually the fluxwork surrealism of duch tornada was more my thing. As for Czarna Woda, it's a fantastic record. Superloud rough-hewn prog with some Sonic Youth influence on "Colfax". A big favourite

Alameda 5 out in March

seandalai says we have 17 ballots so far

I'll be voting for sure! Thanks for extending the deadline.

Cosign the Deszcz, a great contrast of melodic music and kind of one-note screaming.

I tell you what; this Usurpress album is not shabby at all. Good call, Simon!

Sunday, a good time to make/start a ballot?

Anyone got any other albums they would like to boost?

'Psalter of the Royal Dragon Court' -Mongrel's Cross - Australian Blackend Thrash that sounds sinister and regal with great, speedy drumming, engaging leads, and riffs that won't leave your head. Good fun!

'Panoptic Horror' -Sepulcher - Norwegian Crust-punky Death Thrash - rollercoaster riffs interspersed with eerie, spooky breaks, giving songs a post-modern feel not unlike Morbus Chron or Execration. Headbanging delight!

I've not kept up this year so what have been the best

Black Metal
Death Metal
Trad Metal
Doom Metal
Thrash Metal
Power Metal (one for the smithy)

albums that came out in 2018?

I still think DMBQ is the best Doom record, but I liked the Dylan Carson and Windhand albums too

Best black metal = prob A Forest of Stars or Ails

why isn't imago campaigning? Has he ran out of things to say?

Oh yeah, no mention yet of Chapel Of Disease? This is really accessible, catchy Death Metal with the kitchen sink thrown in: power metal leads everywhere, bit of 70s prog, bit of rockin' black metal.

I assume Imago and TT are familiar with them as they love similarly legendary funeral doomsters Esoteric but just incase they do't have you guys checked out Mournful Congregation?

High On Fire just won a Grammy beating Deafheaven, Between the Buried and Me, Trivium, and Underoath.

Not a huge fan of HOF but against that competition, right on.

I like some stuff by all those ppl but yeah

Haas I was just coming here to post this

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtuOHkGFn9e/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=2x7z1h6zt3rx

is there no album category for metal?

dont think so

The Brit Awards have never recognised Metal at all.

I remembered metal albums getting awards. Reviewing Wikipedia, apparently, only albums were nominated in 89 (when it was hard rock/metal). Then, weirdly, both albums and songs were nominated and competed against each other for a few years, until it was just albums for a year, and then became just songs.

I haven't heard the High on Fire track but "Honeycomb" was #1 on my tracks ballot in the big poll.

Which High On Fire song won it?

"Electric Messiah"

Remember the year we tried a tracks poll? less than half of the album voters voted for tracks.

What would we all say the best tracks were in 2018?

This little ditty is a cracker.

Imago this must appeal to your esoteric loving self
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXFfAPAjI08

catchy title too

This would've got my #1 vote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWEF-rSQAh8

Tropical Fuck Storm - You Let My Tyres Down was a belter too

This Ails album is really good. Surprised I missed it.

You guys are sleeping on this Earthling Society album. My favourite thing I heard all year. I came across it from JR Moores' Columnfortably Numb feature on the Quietus. I guess it's supposed to be their final album...? Hell of a standing, endlessly delirial space rock, indebted to the usual suspects but also draws on electric Miles and Berlin-era Bowie. It might not quite be proggy enough to sustain the comparison, but fuck if, I'll go there anyways: ====> this year's Kairon; IRSE

Earthling Society - MO-The Demon

https://riotseasonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/mo-the-demon

Errr, "standing" should be "swan song"

How'd you hear about that Usurpress album, Simon? That was really cool. Did they post about it in Rolling Metal?

If anyone hasnt made a shortlist it might be a good idea to start

@DAM I think I learned of it on Angry Metal Guy.

I wanna put in a quick word for JORD by MØL, which does the glittery post-black thing a la Deafheaven, but crammed into tight, hooky songs with actual choruses that hover around the 4-5 minute range. Very glad I found time to return to it.

https://moeldk.bandcamp.com/album/jord-2

I think I played that one from the spotify list.. It was quite good.

Only 9 people have followed the Spotify playlist so its not really worth doing it in the future

I alternated between Apple Music and Bandcamp. Good enough for me.

How is apple music for underground metal?

I don't have Spotify either, else I would have

I haven't noticed much of a difference between Spotify and Apple Music tbh. The stuff that I only managed to find on Bandcamp is available on neither Spotify nor Apple Music as far as I can tell.

couple of days left to vote folks

.

How many ballots we have so far, Oor???

dunno, i pm'd seandalai earlier. Last time I asked it was 17

Who else plans to vote?