I have the feeling it becomes harder and harder for me to come up with top lists every year since I don’t get the chance to delve in as deep in all the musical releases as I’d like. I guess that’s called growing up, right? The last few years my favorite albums of a certain year were only discovered the months after New Year as I got a chance to go through other people’s top lists. I presume 2018 won’t be different. Still, there are some albums that have stuck with me this year and were already being played on repeat quite a few times throughout the year.

5. Sorrow Plagues – Homecoming

Sorrow Plagues is the brainchild of the British David Lovejoy who blends atmospheric black metal with the ambient progressive metal you see featured elsewhere here on my top 10 list. Two genres I didn’t think would blend well, but thanks to Lovejoy for proving me wrong! Especially the guest saxophone appearance on the song Homecoming is absolutely mesmerizing. With the live band Lovejoy has gathered around him, I can also add that I greatly enjoyed their first show on Belgian soil during the 5 Shades of Black show in Kavka (review).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coaDE95kgQQ

4. Heretoir – The Circle

Fans of Alcest will definitely appreciate Heretoir‘s sophomore album The Circle that blends atmospheric black metal with post-rock and shoegaze. With the beautiful cover artwork by Fursy Teyssier (Les Discrets & Amesoeurs) and some guest vocals by Alcest mastermind Stéphane “Neige” Paut, it is clear where this German band draws its influences from.

3. Danheim – Mannavegr

There are quite some one man projects in my top 10 list this year. In the year that I was blown away by the magic of Midgardsblot it is no surprise that Danheim kept stuck in my mind as well. Danheim is a Nordic folk/Viking inspired project from the Copenhagen-based Danish producer Mike Olsen, a man with 8 years of experience in electronic and ambient music. He focuses on Nordic Folk, Viking age inspired music and atmosphere with a certain nordic authenticity. Danheim‘s music is dark yet melodic, intense yet authentic. Mannavegr is my go to album if I just want to enjoy a quiet evening and let my mind wander.

2. Heilung – Lifa (Live at Castlefest)

Spoiler alert: Heilung’s performance at Midgardsblot in Norway this summer is featured in my top 3 of live performances of 2017 as well. Their show at Castlefest in the Netherlands was the one before that and immediately their very first live performance ever. It takes some confidence to immediately shoot a live DVD at your first ever performance. So if you want the visuals that go with this musical project go visit the next page after reading about my number one album!

1 . Distant Dream – It All Starts From Pieces

Poland and his one-man progressive acts… We already had Maciej Dawidek‘s Widek and Hidden Dimensions on this year’s list and also the honour of the number one spot goes to his fellow countryman Marcin Majrowski of Distant Dream. Call it atmospheric/ambient progressive metal, I don’t know what describes this musical style the best, but It All Starts From Pieces is just everything I look for in music these days. It’s captivating, relaxing, varied, … This album was my therapy throughout 2017.

If you’re still with me, let’s check out my favorite live shows of 2017!