Over the past few years on Soundscape, we’ve listed our top three albums and gigs once the year has come to an end. This time, however, when I came to deciding my top threes…I hit a stumbling block. In years gone by, I’ve always managed to narrow my choices down after some struggling, but this time round, it just didn’t seem right to cut any out! So without further ado, here’s the five albums and gigs that kicked ass for me in 2018!
Albums
1. Verikalpa – Taistelutahto
To put things simply, Taistelutahto is utterly fantastic. Whilst I deliberated long and hard about the ordering of my other favourite albums of the year, it was honestly a no-brainer that this album was going to be my highlight of 2018. It’s tight, enthusiastic, memorable, punchy as fuck…and not to mention a whole lot of fun! Taistelutahto features ten killer tracks that pack a massive punch and will get stuck in your head, and it’s one of those albums you keep coming back to for one more round as it just has a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. It sounds so fresh and polished; and it’s clear that Verikalpa has spent a long time perfecting this piece of art – they actually formed over ten years ago and this is only their first release, so you can certainly say that good things come to those who wait when it comes to Verikalpa. What’s also great is that I also got the chance to catch them live at Nummirock and I can safely say that the songs are just as good in a live environment as they are on CD. Oh, and they’re super nice guys too, so what more can you want? If you somehow have managed to miss me raving about this band then seriously, if you only check out one thing from this list, then make sure it’s Taistelutahto.
Tracks to check out: Viinapiru, Pahan laulu
Our review
Purchase link
2. Lik – Carnage
After being rather impressed with Lik’s debut album Mass Funeral Evocation, I was rather eagerly awaiting new material from this band and they definitely didn’t let me down with their second album, Carnage. Quite simply, when it comes to old-school death metal, Lik have got it nailed and Carnage is just face-meltingly awesome. The sheer amount of energy and momentum to the music is stunning, with the band not letting up from start to finish (much like they do in a live environment!) and the snarled vocals from frontman Tomas are top-notch. If you’re into your death metal, then this is an album for you.
Tracks to check out: The Deranged, To Kill
Our review
Purchase link
3. Atlas – Primitive
Honestly, I’d have been disappointed if Primitive HADN’T made it into my yearly picks. I was completely blown away by their Birthright single in March, and then again by their single The Catalyst in May – so I was expecting big things from their debut full length album, Primitive. Thankfully, Atlas didn’t let me down and delivered an absolutely massive album full of earworms that will be stuck in your head for ages, and I’ve honestly lost track of the amount of times I’ve found myself humming along to fragments of tracks from this album! Primitive is extremely powerful and firmly marks Atlas as a band you really need to keep an eye on.
Tracks to check out: Skinwalker, Pareidolia
Our review
Purchase link
4. The Eternal – Waiting For The Endless Dawn
I haven’t been this excited about a doom album since I first discovered Kuolemanlaakso in 2014! Okay but seriously, Waiting For The Endless Dawn is absolutely killer. The emotive performance and all-round melancholic vibe to the music is spinetinglingly beautiful, and the balance between aggression and melody is just right. Exceptional and exquisite from start to finish, it’s clear that The Eternal have mastered what works for them (this is their sixth full-length release!) and everything sound so polished and well-constructed. Waiting For The Endless Dawn has it all, and is one of those special albums that doesn’t come around often.
Tracks to check out: In The Lilac Dusk, I Lie In Wait
Our review
Purchase link
5. Harakiri For The Sky – Arson
Harakiri For The Sky is a band that seems to improve with every album of theirs – and when you take into account the fact that their self-titled debut was stunning, that might perhaps convey how incredible Arson is – it really takes things to the next level. Arson is a masterfully performed beautiful piece of work that will give you goosebumps, and the way the soaring guitar melodies sound alongside with the powerful harsh vocals is simply perfect. This album has everything and it’s an utterly mesmerising listen – prepare to get lost in the beauty of this piece.
Tracks to check out: Stillborn, Fire Walk With Me
Our review
Purchase link
Live shows
1. Glittertind – John Dee, Oslo 12/01
The gig was actually the first one I attended in 2018 but as soon as the introduction of the opening song Olav Engelbrektsson kicked in, I knew that this show was going to be the highlight of my year. This show was so special that even twelve months later, I still can’t find the words to adequately describe how special that show truly was. The setlist was fantastic, the performance gave me goosebumps from start to finish (especially the rendition of Sundriven) and the night was everything I could possibly want from a live performance. This was a truly special show, and one I won’t be forgetting for a very long time to come.
2. Kuolemanlaakso – Kulttuuritehdas Vernissa, Vantaa 01/12
It felt like the longest wait in the world to see Kuolemanlaakso again after last seeing them in July 2015, but it was definitely worth the wait. The set was succinctly powerful and massively tight, with plenty of great inclusions from their stunning back catalogue – particular highlights being Minä elän and Tuonen tähtivyö. This band’s music means a lot to me, so it was definitely a pleasure to hear a lot of my favourites performed in a live environment. Kuolemanlaakso may not play live often, but they always make it count when they do.
3. King Satan – Fabrica, Bucharest 20/04
It was a very last-minute decision to take this trip to Bucharest – I was really eager to see King Satan again after being so impressed by them last year and basically, this gig slotted in nicely between two consecutive days off at work! It was a real treat to see King Satan again after familiarising myself with their debut album, and their live show completely floored me again. King Satan sound excellent on CD, but their live shows are out of this world and the music hits you so much harder – you definitely need to see them live in order to fully appreciate how incredible they actually are.
4. Turmion Kätilöt – Stadionlava II, KuopioRock 26/07
I knew Turmion Kätilöt were going to be great at KuopioRock, especially since they kicked major ass at Nummirock the month before, but this performance kicked that one out of the park. I’ve seen this band play live a bunch of times now and they never disappoint, but this set was something else. It just had that special sparkle and really saw the band firing from all cylinders. There was just a great feeling all-round too – hometown shows are the best.
5. Vorna – Yo Talo, Tampere 12/10
I know I just said this, but hometown shows are the best. It was so nice to see Vorna play their ten-year anniversary show with so many friends (including some friends I’d actually introduced to the band!) and it felt so rewarding to see them get such a rapturous response. From the incredibly moving performance of Itsetön, to the inclusion of both a brand new song and the first song they ever wrote (Snowcovered Land), the set had everything and it was a treat to witness. I’m so proud of how far this talented band has come since I first discovered them in 2013, and I’m very excited for what 2019 and their third full-length release will bring.
