THAT DRUMMER GUY'S TOP 10 EPICS OF 2018

Simply put, this is a list of the best songs that are over 10 minutes long. This is something generally for the prog fans or the doom metal fans or the stoner fans to enjoy. If you like your songs short, poppy, and easy to make love to; this is not the list for you (unless your into that, then *HIGH FIVE*) Let's get right into it!

10.) Mike LePond's Silent Assassins- Pawn and Prophecy- Pawn and Prophecy
Time: 21:38
FFO: Progressive Metal, Power Metal

Legendary bassist of Symphony X, Mike LePond has made a remarkable name fro himself outside of SX not only guesting on some great albums from great bands and playing live shows with great artists outside of SX; but he has a killer band known as Silent Assassins, where he gets to show off more of his Power, Prog, Classical, and Metal influences. This 21+ minute epic title track showcases so much of what he and the rest of the band (including some great guest spots) Everything from what you'd love to hear in Symphony X to brutal metal moments to pure orchestrated epicness to the middle section that's....well I'm not ruining it for you, I'll just say it'll make you smile. This song is such a great thing of beauty and worthy of a listen.

9.) Hands of Despair- Body And Souls- Well of the Disquieted
Time: 16:00
FFO: Progressive Black Metal

This sixteen minute epic from this fantastic Canadian band take you on a musical journey of the deepest reaches of your black soul and sends it to hell. The melodies and harmonies used amongst the evil riffs and haunting vocals are matched up so perfectly. The song also features some amazing guest spots throughout that if you know your Canadian Metal, you'll pick up on immediately. Such a fantastic band and album with this Epic as a real highlight. It's required listening if this intriguing to you in any way.

8.) Mournful Congregation-  Picture Of The Devouring Gloom Devouring The Spheres Of Being- The Incubus of Karma
Time: 22:05
FFO- Funeral Doom Metal

Mournful Congregation may be my favorite funeral doom metal band and if you need a reason why; I have a little over 22 minute reason why right here. This song will literally eat your soul, joy, and happiness away in the best way possible. It is slow, brooding, moody, and darker than you could anticipate. Of course that is what any funeral doom metal band should hope to achieve. If this something you could even manage comprehending, you need to check it out. Just please make sure that you are in the right state of mind to do so. It's that dark...just trust me....

7.) Redemption- Long Night's Journey Into Day- Long Night's Journey Into Day
Time: 10:31
FFO- Dark Progressive Metal

I have so much more to say about this band when the Best Albums of 2018 lists start flowing, but I'll try to keep this short. Tom Englund is one of my favorite singers of all time. Redemption is a band that means so near and dear to me; seeing that these two hiveminds are now together as one for Redemption makes me so happy and this 10 minute plus epic is a prime example why exploring so much of what dark progressive Metal can and should be. If for any reason you checked out Redemption in the past and were not interested before, just give this song a chance and see if it changes your mind.

6.) Wolfheart- Everlasting Fall- Constellation of the Black Light
Time: 10:25
FFO- Melodic Death Metal

It goes without saying that Finland has the best bands for Melodeath. It's not even up for debate. Per capita, there is no one stronger. And Wolfheart continues to prove that statement right and Everlasting Fall is a prime epic to prove it so. Starting off slow, heavy, symphonic, it builds and builds and buulds into absolute melodic chaos. The whole album is stellar, but this song is simply magic. Listen and understand why.

5.) Wills Dissolve- On This Cold November Night- The Heavens Are Not On Fire
Time: 11:41
FFO- Progressive Death Metal, Post Metal, Doom

This band is one of my favorite discoveries of 2018 and this song brilliantly shows off why that is so. Conveying inspiration from bands like Isis, Novembers Doom, Swallow The Sun and Opeth, this whole album is filled to the brim with melancholic masterpieces. This song in particular is a great starting point as to understanding what this band has in store for you.

4.) Lux Terminus- The Courage To Be- The Courage To Be
Time: 20:57
FFO- Progressive Rock, Fusion, Instrumental

This band is a hard sell for the brutal, angsty kid in all of us. But for those that just want to kick back, relax and hear three beyond excelled master musicians writing music that is not only complex, but perfectly inspired and written with songwriting in mind (rather than just chops); Lux Terminus may just do it for you. The title track in particular, captures some of the greatest emotions on the album from beautiful to heavy to mindblowing. Knowing the backstory and concept of the album, the title track really makes you appreciate live and all it has to share with us. I'm glad I stuck around and live in an era where this just released.

3.) Panopticon- Snow Burdened Branches- The Scars of Man on the Once Nameless Wilderness (I and II)
Time: 11:24
FFO- North American Folk Metal (Black Metal, Folk, Americana)

This band is one of, if not my favorite Black Metal band going. This double album is actually a bit different as the Black Metal and Folk/Americana sides are actually separated by disc. This song still features some of the folkish elements I love, but really showcases the power of the nature inspired band and really, how really messed up the world so far; BUT, it gives you hope that we can change it for the better. This is required listening for any heavy music fan.

2.) Yob- Our Raw Heart- Our Raw Heart
Time: 14:24
FFO- Doom Metal, Post Metal

Another album I have to much to say about, but that will come in time. For the title track it grabs your heart and doesn't let go. Mike's Scheidt's vocals on this song are so powerful and sorrow filled. The song maintains the same slower tempo throughout but it matches the tone of the song and album perfectly. Knowing the back story of what Scheidt has gone through in recent times, it'll be hard not to tear up during this song, I know I did. Absolute power driven doom metal 

1.) Witherfall- Vintage- A Prelude To Sorrow
Time: 11:06
FFO- Progressive Metal, Power Metal

It really couldn't have been any other song this year, expect the other epic off this album, but I kept this to one band each. Simply put this album is something I'll be talking about more soon, but the this epic is about the moment of the band losing one of my best friends in the world, Adam Sagan, and drinking the sorrows away. There's so much more that could be said and will be said, but for just this song, it's so powerful, moving and brilliantly written, it's the best Witherfall song to date; after checking it out, I hope you agree.

Alright kids, that is ten absolutely stellar epic songs from 2018. Some fast, some slow, some heavy, some beautiful, some all of those things. While we live in a world where everyone's attention spans are shortening, I hope you can strive to fight that and give at least one of these songs a try if it's something of interest. These ten songs alone are over 2 and a half hours, which is about 5-6 pop albums, put your mind and ears to good use!

- Josh Rundquist (That Drummer Guy)