Sea of Tranquility

(Compiled by Duncan Glenday)

*** Please CLICK HERE to vote for YOUR favorite album of the year !***

(Click on each writer's name below to go directly to his list.)

Summarized List Of The Top 60 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff

Pete Pardo
Butch Jones
Michael Popke
Carl Sederholm
Simon Bray
Steven Reid
Jon Neudorf
Mark Antony Rossi

PETER PARDO

Top 60 Albums of 2018

1. Immortal : Northern Chaos Gods
2. Judas Priest : Firepower
3. Uriah Heep : Living the Dream
4. Lucifer : Lucifer II
5. Amorphis : Queen of Time
6. Corrosion of Conformity : No Cross No Crown
7. Kamelot : The Shadow Theory
8. Sleep : The Sciences
9. Satan : Cruel Magic
10. Voivod : The Wake
11. Primordial : Exile Amongst the Ruins
12. Spock’s Beard : Noise Floor
13. Haken : Vector
14. Seventh Wonder : Tiara
15. Tomorrow’s Eve : Mirror of Creation III - Project Ikaros
16. Michael Romeo : War of the Worlds, Part 1
17. Soft Machine : Hidden Details
18. Pale Divine : Pale Divine
19. Redemption : Long Night’s Journey Into Day
20. Gryphon : Reinvention
21. The Vintage Caravan : Gateways
22. Riverside : Wasteland
23. Saxon : Thunderbolt
24. Tremonti : A Dying Machine
25. The Golden Grass : Absolutely
26. Joe Bonamassa : Redemption
27. Greta Van Fleet : Anthem of the Peaceful Army
28. Riot Horse : Cold Hearted Woman
29. Glass Hammer : Chronomonaut
30. Michael Schenker Fest : Resurrection
31. Chris Caffery : The Jester’s Court
32. Graveyard : Peace
33. Between the Buried and Me : Automata I & II
34. Orphaned Land : Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs
35. Primal Fear : Apocalypse
36. A Dying Planet : Facing the Incurable
37. Dream Child : Until Death Do We Meet Again
38. Unleashed : Hunt for White Christ
39. Hate Eternal : Upon Desolate Sands
40. The Wizards : Rise of the Serpent
41. Hand featuring Slamer : Freeman
42. Xavi Reija : The Sound of the Earth
43. Hound : Settle Your Scores
44. Obscura : Delivium
45. Mark Wingfield : Tales From the Dreaming City
46. The Sea Within : The Sea Within
47. Behemoth : I Loved You at Your Darkest
48. Weedpecker : III
49. Voodoo Circle : Raised on Rock
50. Visigoth : Conqueror’s Oath
51. Crypt Trip : Rootstock
52. Three Seasons : Things Change
53. Borealis : The Offering
54. Red Dragon Cartel : Patina
55. Dwiki Dharmawan : Rumah Batu
56. Graham Bonnet Band : Meanwhile, Back in the Garage
57. Brainstorm : Midnight Ghost
58. The Pineapple Thief : Dissolution
59. Yob : Our Raw Heart
60. Ten : Illuminati

Honorable Mentions (these didn’t make the cut because I received them just as this list was finalized): Metal Church- Damned If You Do, Warrel Dane-Shadow Work, The Skull-The Endless Road Turns Dark

Top Live Albums

Opeth-Garden of the Titans

The Neal Morse Band-The Similitude of a Dream-Live in Tilburg 2017

King Crimson-Live in Vienna

Allman Brother Band- Peach Picks-Cream of the Crop 2003

Fates Warning- Live Over Europe

Joe Bonamassa-Blues Explosion Live

Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette- After the Fall

Whitesnake-The Purple Tour

Haken- L-1VE

Dusan Jevtovic-Live at Home

Mike Antonelli & Friends- Live Sessions

Arild Andersen-In-House Science

Yes featuring ARW- 50th Anniversary Live at the Apollo

Slivovitz-LiveR

Dialeto-Live with David Cross

Martin Turner-The Beauty of Chaos-Live at the Citadel

Mr. Big- Live in Milan

Alcatrazz-Parole Denied-Tokyo 2017

Keith Jarrett-La Fenice

Sonar-Live at Moods

Top Concerts of 2018

Uriah Heep- Tarrytown, NY

Judas Priest/Saxon/Black Star Riders-Newark, NJ

Gov’t Mule-Albany, NY

Foreigner/Whitesnake/Jason Bonham-Saratoga, NY

Armored Saint-Poughkeepsie, NY

Helloween-New York, NY

Judas Priest/Deep Purple-Bethel, NY

Glenn Hughes-Poughkeepsie, NY

Larry Carlton-Beacon, NY

Robben Ford-Washington, DC

BUTCH JONES

Top 25 Albums of 2018

1. Judas Priest : Firepower
2. Alice In Chains : Rainier Fog
3. TesseracT : Sonder
4. Haken : Vector
5. Hyro The Hero : Flagged Channel
6. Alkaloid : Liquid Anatomy
7. Skyharbor : Sunshine Dust
8. Deseized : Paradigms
9. The Night Flight Orchestra : The World Ain’t Enough
10. Orange Goblin : The Wolf Bites Back
11. Overkill : Live In Overhausen
12. Devil’s Hand : Devil’s Hand
13. Saxon : Thunderbolt
14. Haken : L+1VE
15. Ghost : Prequelle
16. Snowy Shaw : White Is The New Black
17. Red Dragon Cartel : Patina
18. Metal Church : Damned If You Do
19. Opeth : Garden Of The Titans: Live At Red Rocks
20. Ihshan : Amr
21. Voodoo Circle : Raised On Rock
22. Thundermother : Thundermother
23. Greta Van Fleet : Anthem Of A Peaceful Army
24. The Pineapple Thief : Dissolution
25. Riverside : Wasteland

MICHAEL POPKE

TOP 10 OF 2018

1. Spock’s Beard : Noise Floor
2. The Pineapple Thief : Dissolution
3. Judas Priest : Firepower
4. Redemption : Long Night’s Journey into Day
5. Warrel Dane : Shadow Work
6. Michael Romeo : War of the Worlds-Pt1. 1 (TIE)
6. Mike LePond : Silent Assassins: Pawn and Prophecy (TIE)
8. Phideaux : Infernal
9. Saffire : Where the Monsters Dwell
10. W.E.T. : Earthrage
11. Neal Morse : Life & Times

Honorable Mention

• David Fitzpatrick: Parachutes in Hurricanes
• Devil’s Hand (featuring Mike Slamer & Andrew Freeman): Devil’s Hand
• Far Corner: Risk
• Gazpacho: Soyuz
• Lords of the Trident: Shadows from the Past

Reissues/Live

1. The Neal Morse Band: Morsefest! 2017-Testimony of a Dream
2. Steven Wilson: Home Invasion-In Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
3. Devin Townsend Project: Ocean Machine-Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv
4. Rikard Sjöblom’s Gungfly: Rumbling Box (2006-2016)
5. Chris Cornell: Chris Cornell + Tom Petty: An American Treasure (Dearly-departed TIE)
6. Phil Collins: Plays Well with Others
7. Fates Warning: Live Over Europe
8. Various Artists: Switched on Eugene
9. Steve Hackett: Wuthering Nights-Live in Birmingham
10. Angel: The Casablanca Years

Honorable Mention

• Opeth: Garden of the Titans-Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Bohemian Rhapsody
• Ben Sidran: Ben There, Done That-Live Around the World (1975-2015)
• Virgin Steele: Seven Devils Moonshine
• Wisconsin Vinyl Collective: Volume II

CARL SEDERHOLM

TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2018

1. Hamferd : Tamsins Likam
2. Insect Ark : Marrow Hymns
3. Conan : Existential Void Guardian
4. Windhand : Eternal Return
5. Chrch : Light Will Consume Us All
6. My Silent Wake : There was Death
7. Leonov : Wake
8. Eagle Twin : A Thundering Heard
9. Anaal Nakraath : A new Kind of Horror
10. Yob : Our Raw Heart
11. Skeletonwitch : Devouring Radiant Light
12. Morne : To the Light Unkonwn
13. Barren Altar : Entrenched in the Faults of the Earth
14. Necronomicon : Unleashed Bastard
15. Druid Lord : Grotesque Offerings
16. Clamfight : III
17. Necropanther : Eyes of Blue Light
18. Hooded Menace : Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
19. Vanishing Kids : Heavy Dreamer
20. Trappist : Ancient Brewing Techniques

SIMON BRAY

BEST OF 2018

1. Ian McNabb : Our Future in Space
2. Night Flight Orchestra : Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough
3. Powerwolf : The Sacrament of Sin
4. Michael Schenker Fest : Resurrection
5. TeN : Illuminati
6. Amorphis : Queen of Time
7. Nita Strauss : Controlled Chaos
8. Jason Becker : Triumphant Hearts
9. Steve Perry : Traces
10. Dimmu Borgir : Eonian
11. Uriah Heep : Living the Dream
12. Lovebites : Clockwork Immortality
13. Nashville Pussy : Pleased to Eat You
14. Judas Priest : Firepower
15. FM : Atomic Generation
16. Magnum : Lost on the Road to Eternity
17. Anvil : Pounding the Pavement
18. Rick Parfitt : Over and Out
19. Black Stone Cherry : Family Tree
20. Amaranthe : Helix
21. U.D.O. : Steelfactory
22. Blackberry Smoke : Find a Light
23. Kissin’ Dynamite : Ecstacy
24. Behemoth : I Loved You at Your Darkest
25. Deicide : Overtures of Blasphemy
26. Johnny Gioeli : One Voice
27. Mary’s Blood : Revenant
28. Kalidia : The Frozen Throne
29. Warkings : Reborn
30. Leaves’ Eyes : Sign of the Dragonhead

STEVEN REID

Top 50 of 2018

1. A Forest Full Of Stars : Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes(Psychedelic, progressive, black metal that’s bold, beautiful, terrifying and captivating)
2. Judas Priest : Firepower(Vintage metal from a vintage band in vintage form - who honestly saw this coming?)
3. Seventh Wonder : Tiara(Dare I say the best progressive metal act around? I think I do!)
4. Northward : Northward(The coming together of Pagan’s Mind guitarist and Within Temptation’s singer sounds like neither. Commercial and exciting)
5. Onmyouza : High-handed Wisdom King(Crazy, eclectic Japanese metal that’s too good to ignore)
6. Evership : Evership II(The best kept secret in US American prog rock. Evership are retro cool)
7. W.E.T. : Earthrage(Another year, another top 10 entry for Jeff Scott Soto. Melodic rock bliss)
8. Dee Snider : For The Love Of Metal(Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed writes a stunning comeback for the ‘retired studio artist’ Dee Snider. Surprise of the year)
9. Shinedown : Attention Attention(Shinedown do as Shinedown is. Back on top form)
10. Dead City Ruins : Never Say Die(Basically this is Black Sabbath for a new age. Mighty indeed)
11. Uriah Heep : Living The Dream(The singularly most consistent band in rock do it again. Another belter that sounds fresh, current yet thoroughly Heep)
12. The King Lot : A World Without Heroes(Scottish melodic rockers live up to the hype of album number one with an even better follow up)
13. Galahad : Seas Of Change(Political, challenging, rewarding. Unsung British proggers never disappoint)
14. Dukes Of The Orient : Dukes Of The Orient(The long anticipated return of Asia’a John Payne was worth the wait. This is like the GPS follow up that never was)
15. Mob Rules : Beast Reborn(Beast Reborn? This Euro power metal beast never went away)
16. Eureka Machines : Victories(Poppy, punky, powery, rock. Eureka Machines should be a household name)
17. Therapy? : Cleave(Like the follow up to Troublegum two and a bit decades on. Stunning)
18. Riverside : Wasteland(Considering what Riverside have been through, Wasteland is the achievement of the year)
19. Albums like this don’t arrive very often these days) :
20. Metal Church : Damned If You Do(Mike Howe and Metal Church are just meant to be together. Damned proves it yet again)
21. Frequency Drift : Letters For Maro(An unassumingly enigmatic twist on prog rock proves most rewarding)
22. Of Mice & Men : Defy(One of the few bands capable of moving from the ‘kiddie crowd’ into being a genuine metal band. Defy is a real statement)
23. Jean Michel Jarre : Equinox Infinity(Hardly vintage Jarre, but still an engaging collection from the synth master)
24. Subsignal : La Muerta(Nobody combines prog and melodic rock so blatantly, or so well)
25. Myles Kennedy : Year Of The Tiger(Laid back and stripped back, the voice of Alter Bridge delivers in the solo setting)
26. Audrey Horne : Blackout(Still going under the radar, Kiss inspired hard rockers Audrey Horne should be huge)
27. Coheed & Cambria : The Unheavenly Creatures(A real return to form for these avant-prog rockers)
28. Kino : Radio Voltaire(Unexpected return for progressive supergroup surprises no one by being rather excellent)
29. Jason Becker : Triumphant Hearts(Becker’s story is inspiring, and his star studded music is equally invigorating)
30. Neil Campbell : The Outsider - News From Nowhere(Acoustic guitar work par excellence!)
31. Rick Parfitt : Over And Out(Posthumous solo album from the Status Quo man is one of the best things to come from that camp for many a year)
32. James Christian : Craving(House Of Lords frontman spreads his wings once more and hits the heights)
33. Maverick : Cold Star Dancer(80s rock done with style and panache. Big things are expected)
34. Riot V : Armor Of Light(Riot V continue to honour the legacy of Mark Reale with their majestic US power metal)
35. Ginger Wildheart : GASS Mark II(Ginger goes solo and eclectic. It’s a beautiful sight)
36. Spock’s Beard : Noise Floor(You don’t get many surprises from SB these days, but you know you’ll get consummate progressive rock)
37. Clutch : The Book Of Bad Decisions(It’s Clutch. It grooves and grabs. It’s that simple)
38. Fernando Perdomo : Out To Sea(Expansive prog from another under sung outfit)
39. Yuka & Chronoship : Ship(Beautiful collision of styles results in progressive excellence)
40. FM : Atomic Generation(UK melodic rockers FM don’t worry about fads. No one else sounds like this and FM thrive on that fact)
41. Magnum : Lost On The Road To Eternity(Hardly pushing the envelope but Magnum rarely disappoint)
42. Joe Satriani : What Happens Next(Another Satriani guitar masterclass)
43. Blueminded : When Lights Fade(A sideways step from a band who threatened to be AOR masters. Good without blowing the doors off)
44. Roxanne : Radio Silence(Attitude soaked and memorable, Roxanne are a tantalising prospect)
45. Strangefish : The Spotlight Effect(Comeback prog excites for what might come next)
46. The Tangent : Proxy(Another excellent Tangent album. Maybe a little safe, but certainly sound)
47. 3rdegree : Ones & Zeros Vol 0(One of the best US progressive acts of recent years continue that trend)
48. Laura Meade : Remedium(IZZ lead singer doesn’t take the safe road on her solo outing)
49. Stryper. God Damn Evil : (Refusing to live off past glories Stryper are still the premier Christian metal act out there)
50. Dean Baker : Constellations(Jarre and Vangelis inspired outing from Galahad’s keyboard player turns out to be more than just a simple homage.)

Reissues

1. Angel: The Casablanca Years (7CD)
2. Tom Petty: An American Treasure (4CD)
3. Mott The Hoople: Mental Train (6CD)
4. Marillion: Clutching At Straws (Deluxe) (4CD/bluray)
5. Thrills: First Thrills/Magical Hands From Kingdom Come (2CD)
6. Jon Butcher Axis: Jon Butcher Axis
7. Marillion: Brave (Deluxe) (4CD/bluray)
8. Jean Michel Jarre: 40 Years Of Music (2CD)
9. Eureka Machines: Rarities (2CD)
10. Drive, She Said: Real Life (remix/remaster)

Live Albums

1. Little Steven: Soulfire - Live
2. Accept: Symphonic Terror - Live At Waken
3. Marillion: We Are One Live At The Royal Albert Hall
4. Martin Turner Ex-Wishbone Ash: The Beauty Of Chaos Live At The Citadel
5. Toby Jepson: Live Acoustic
EPs/Mini-Album
1. Y&T: Acoustic Classix Vol. 1
2. Fish: A Parley Of Angels
3. Jon Schaffer’s Purgatory: Jon Schaffer’s Purgatory
4. The National Orchestra Of The United Kingdom Of Goats: Empress
5. Victorius: Dinosaur Warfare - Legend Of The Power Saurus
6. Lebrock: Real Thing
7. Jim Lea: Lost In Space
8. Source: Source
9. Dorian Sorriaux: Hungry Ghost
10. Hell’s Gazelles: Take Your Medicine
11. The Howling Tides: The Howling Tides
12. Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors: Traitors Club Year 1
13. Andy Basiola: Behind The Illusion
14. The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing: Double Negative
15. The Deep: Watching You
16. Greyhawk: Ride Out
17. Secret Society: The Induction
18. Ledger: Ledger EP
19. Collateral: 4 Shots
20. Fight The Fury: Still Breathing EP

Live Band

1. Steven Wilson (Glasgow)
2. Punky Meadows & Frank Dimino Of Angel Play Angel (Edinburgh)
3. Riot V (Glasgow)
4. The Wildhearts (Glasgow (SWG3))
5. Sons Of Apollo (Motherwell)
6. Bastille (Reorchestrated) (Edinburgh)
7. Ginger Wildheart (Acoustic) (Edinburgh)
8. Heavy Pettin’ (Edinburgh)
9. The King Lot (Motherwell)
10. The Kris Barras Band (Dundee)
11. Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors (Glasgow)
12. The Wildhearts (Glasgow (Academy))
13. Terrorvision (Glasgow)
14. Dodgy (Glasgow)
15. The Swamp Born Assassins (Glasgow)
16. The Main Grains (Glasgow)
17. Ferocious Dog (Glasgow)
18. Black Cat Bone (Dundee)
19. Warrior Soul (Glasgow)

JON NEUDORF

Here are my favorite releases of 2018

1. Riverside : Wasteland(An emotional rollercoaster ride of an album with good reason. Fantastic)
2. Haken : Vector(Excellent progressive metal with a few new twists)
3. The Sea Within : The Sea Within(A stellar modern prog album from Roine and company)
4. Perfect Beings : Vier(Quirky prog at its finest)
5. Judas Priest : Firepower(Just a great disc, especially at this stage of their career)
6. Carptree : Subimago(One of the best progressive rock bands in the business and they prove it with this album)
7. Yuka & Chronoship : Ship(Stunning symphonic progressive rock)
8. Aaron Brooks : Homunculus(A very nice mixture of pop and prog)
9. Ryan Parmenter : One Of A Different Color(A wonderfully quirky affair)
10. Samurai of Prog : Archiviarum(Classy progressive rock from one of my current favourite bands)
11. Spock’s Beard : Noise Floor
12. Paul McCartney : Egypt Station
13. Project Patchwork : Reflection
14. Kino : Voltaire
15. Karmamoi : The Day Is Done
16. Fates Warning : Live Over Europe
17. Haken : L-1ve
18. Devin Townsend : Ocean Machine �" Live At The Ancient Roman Theatre Plovidiv
19. Steve Hackett : Wuthering Nights �" Live in Birmingham
20. Sisare : Leaving The Land
21. TumbleTown : Never Too Late
22. Armonite : And The Stars Above
23. Sundrifter : Visitations
24. Freedom Hawk : Beast Remains
25. Jet Black Sea : The Overview Effect
26. The Gardening Club : The Riddle
27. Ben Craven : The Single Edits
28. The Kentish Spires : The Last Harvest
29. Crystal Palace : Scattered Shards
30. Black Space Riders : Amoretum Vol. 2
31. The Aaron Clift Experiment : If All Goes Wrong
32. High Priestess : High Priestess
33. Krakow : Minus
34. Pymlico : Nightscape
35. A Perfect Circle : Eat The Elephant
36. Art Of Illusion : Cold War Of Solipsism
37. Unkh : Innerverse
38. Beerwolf : Planetfall
39. Plainride : Life On Ares
40. Seasons Of Time : Welcome To The Unknown
41. Downriver Dead Men Go : Departures
42. Black Space Riders : Amoretum Vol. 1
43. Strandberg Project : Progressive Construction
44. David Cross : Crossing The Tracks
45. Ape Machine : Darker Skies

MARK ANTONY ROSSI

Top Releases --- 2018

1. Judas Priest : Firepower
2. Voivod : The Wake
3. Amorphis : Queen of Time
4. Spectral Wound : Infernal
5. Deafheaven : Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
6. Accuser : The Mastery
7. Black Majesty : Children of the Abyss
8. Lizzy Borden : My Midnight Things
9. Rexoria : Queen of Light
10. U.D.O. : Steelfactory

Summarized List Of The Top 60 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff

1. Judas Priest : Firepower
2. Spock’s Beard : Noise Floor
3. Riverside : Wasteland
4. Amorphis : Queen of Time
5. Haken : Vector
6. Uriah Heep : Living the Dream
7. U.D.O. : Steelfactory
8. Voivod : The Wake
9. Seventh Wonder : Tiara
10. W.E.T. : Earthrage
11. Rexoria : Queen of Light
12. Michael Romeo : War of the Worlds, Part 1
13. Neal Morse : Life & Times
14. Redemption : Long Night’s Journey Into Day
15. The Pineapple Thief : Dissolution
16. Haken : L+1VE
17. Michael Schenker Fest : Resurrection
18. Saxon : Thunderbolt
19. Jason Becker : Triumphant Hearts
20. Metal Church : Damned If You Do
21. Kino : Radio Voltaire
22. Yuka & Chronoship : Ship
23. Rick Parfitt : Over and Out
24. The Sea Within : The Sea Within
25. Greta Van Fleet : Anthem Of A Peaceful Army
26. FM : Atomic Generation
27. Magnum : Lost on the Road to Eternity
28. A Forest Full Of Stars : Grave Mounds and Grave Mistakes
29. Hamferd : Tamsins Likam
30. Ian McNabb : Our Future in Space
31. Immortal : Northern Chaos Gods
32. Riverside : Wasteland
33. Alice In Chains : Rainier Fog
34. Insect Ark : Marrow Hymns
35. Night Flight Orchestra : Sometimes the World Ain’t Enough
36. The Pineapple Thief : Dissolution
37. Conan : Existential Void Guardian
38. Powerwolf : The Sacrament of Sin
39. Lucifer : Lucifer II
40. Northward : Northward
41. Spectral Wound : Infernal
42. Ten : Illuminati
43. Windhand : Eternal Return
44. Chrch : Light Will Consume Us All
45. Deafheaven : Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
46. Onmyouza : High-handed Wisdom King
47. Warrel Dane : Shadow Work
48. Accuser : The Mastery
49. Alkaloid : Liquid Anatomy
50. Carptree : Subimago
51. Corrosion of Conformity : No Cross No Crown
52. Evership : Evership II
53. Mike LePond : Silent Assassins: Pawn and Prophecy (TIE)
54. My Silent Wake : There was Death
55. Black Majesty : Children of the Abyss
56. Kamelot : The Shadow Theory
57. Leonov : Wake
58. Nita Strauss : Controlled Chaos
59. Skyharbor : Sunshine Dust
60. Aaron Brooks : Homunculus