Around this time last week, our good buddy Chris shared his thoughts on 2018’s best metal to date. And now — surprise! — I’m here to do the same for the NOT-metal side of things.

In my book — with some notable exceptions like Judicator, Amorphis and Wallachia — the metal’s kind been lagging behind all the other stuff so far this year. That’s not to say I’ve heard anything bad from the heavier realm this year; just that I haven’t heard as much that’s really stuck with me as in years past. That, of course, will have cleared up by the end of the year; it always does.

But for now, you’re getting a NOT-metal list and, dammit, you’re gonna like it! Continue reading →