Introduction

Welcome to Ride Into Glory’s year end round up! The year is rapidly coming to an end and it’s time to look back and reflect on this year’s metal releases. For those new to the site, Ride Into Glory focuses on just traditional metal which means just derivatives of doom metal and classic heavy metal. On this list you’ll only find bands that loosely fit into that descriptor. There’s been quality album after quality album in 2018 so there’s quite a bit for us to sink our teeth into this year!

The Top 10 Trad. Albums of 2018

(10) Black Oath

(9) Wytch Hazel

(8) Angel of Damnation

(7) Ironflame

(6) Outlaw

play a style of doom metal that lies at the intersection between the haunting Italian sound of bands such asandand the epic brand of bands likemarksfourth studio album in 12 years. Throughout their time, they’ve been an incredibly consistent band and this year’s album is no different!combine the 70s hardrock style of bands likeandwith the early NWOBHM and molds it into their own. The killer lead guitars, heartfelt acoustics, and beautiful vocals found onare sure to win you over!From the heart of Germany,are a doom metal band that takes the early sound of groups likeand bring it into 2018 with modern production and epic vocals. The band’s latest offering, Heathen Witchcraft, is a fifty minute journey into the occult and may be the band’s best offering yet!are quickly establishing themselves as one of the best new American power metal bands. Their sound is a perfect blend of elements from both the rougher, riff-driven side of power metal and the melodic, chorus oriented one. Somehow just one year after the band’s debut, they’ve managed to release another album titled Tales of Splendor and Sorrow.latest album builds upon the foundation of the first to deliver an even more cohesive record.

See full review here

Outlaw are the latest in a string of high energy, high quality traditonal metal bands hailing from Finland. The band’s debut album, Marauders, combines the twin guitar approach of 80s Judas Priest and blends in the USPM style melodies. With its killer riffs, varied song structures, and infectious choruses, this album is undoubtedly one of the year’s best.

(5) Black Viper

(4) Satan

(3) Sacral Rage

(2) Lethean

(1) Solstice

Honorable Mentions

Determined to unleash a speed metal onslaught,released Hellions of Fire back in September and I am still not over just how great this debut album really is. The band lived up to their killer demo and then some. If you’re a fan of bands likeandthen do not pass this one up!The living legends are back at it again with the their third post-reunion album. It might as well still be 1983 for these guys because they’re intent on playing metal the old-school way. With fifty minutes of ace songs, Cruel Magic proves thathave still got it.play a unique blend of metal that fuses technical thrash with United States style power metal to create their own deadly blend. Their second album, Beyond Celestial Echoes, further explores their thrash tendencies and takes them in an even more extreme direction. It’s a never-ending flurry of riffs that fans ofandare sure to enjoy!combine victorious epic metal riffs with haunting female vocals to deliver one of the most unique albums of the year.debut is a bold and innovative journey through the epic and melancholic – I have no doubt in my mind that I will be listening to this album in my regular rotation from now on. This is absolutely essential listening.It’s finally here. Twenty long years sincelast album, they’ve graced us with White Horse Hill. It’s everything you would expect from solstice – crushing doom metal riffs, beautiful folk acoustics, and massive, triumphant vocals. The whole epic doom metal package is here without a doubt. Album of the year!

Shoutout to the countless bands that released quality albums this year but didn’t quite make the list! There’s a lot more good metal out there that I encourage everyone to check out – including, but not limited to: Sign of the Jackal, V.O.J.D, Night Gaunt, Hitten, Dawn of Winter, Manacle, The Skull, Gatekeeper, Convent Guilt, Weaponlord, BattleroaR, Road Warrior, Seven Sisters, Haunt, Idle Hands, Storrsson, White Magician, Visigoth, and many others!

Featured EPs and Demos

Below you’ll find the various EPs and Demos from 2018 that deserve to be mentioned right alongside the spectacular full length albums. Many of the releases below highlight promising bands that are set to release albums next year, be sure to watch out for them!

EPs

Chevalier – Chapitre II

Vultures Vengeance – Lyrids…

Shelton/Chastain – The Edge of Sanity

The masters of speed metal are back with another EP this year to prime us for their 2019 debut. Everything that you would expect from Chevalier is here – blistering fast leads, non-stop riffs, dungeon-like production, mountains of reverb, and powerful vocals.bring together epic metal influences likeandinto one awesome mix. Despite being just two tracks, Lyrids is one of the year’s best releases and shows off a band that is destined for something great. Watch out for their debut next year!

See full review here

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. David T. Chastain and Mark Shelton (RIP) recorded kickass material together back in the late 80s and it was resurfaced this year. It’s a perfect blend of the two musicians and serves as a testament to their musical prowess. Fans of either musician owe it to themselves to check this one out!

Royal Orphan – Royal Orphan

Attacker – Armor of the Gods

Demos

Traveler – 2018 Demo

Throne of Iron – 2018 Demo

Smoulder – The Sword Woman

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After decades of inconsistent activity,have finally released their debut offering. The self-titled EP is a throwback to the days of old-school, progressive US power metal – thinkandIt’s an uncommon sound nowadays, but it’s refreshing to hear it in 2018!The last two albums have proved thathave still got it and this year’s Armor of the Gods EP is no different! The band still has that signature aggressive edge they’ve had since the 80s. There’s nothing innovative here, but you know what you’re getting with– straightforward and aggressive power metal.Wow. Words really don’t to this demo justice at all. Killer guitar riffs, powerful vocals, catchy melodies, varied song structures – it has everything I could possibly ask for. Drawing influences from a number of sources includingand2018 demo is simply one of the best. I haven’t been this excited for a band in years!Ignore the incredibly unoriginal name for just a moment here, I assure you thatare one of the year’s most promising newcomers. These guys aren’t here to recreate the wheel and the music isn’t particularly complex – you get straightforward epic heavy metal riffs, memorable melodies, and kickass vocals. Do you really need anything else? Fans ofare sure to enjoy this one.play a style that draws influences from epic heavy metal acts likeand combines it with the Finnish style of doom metal bands such asSarah’s vocals are absolutely some of the most breathtaking I’ve heard this year and add another dimension to the sound. The Sword Woman is a very promising demo that you’ll surely not want to miss!