This Will Destroy You's Chris King lists his favorite albums of 2018

This Will Destroy You New Others Part One

Texas post-rock greats This Will Destroy You went four years with no new album after releasing 2014’s Another Language (though they stayed active in other ways), but they finally followed it this year with not one but two new albums, New Others Part One and the surprise-released New Others Part Two.

Now that the year is coming to a close, we asked the band what new albums they loved this year, and guitarist Christopher Royal King sent a very eccentric list of his 10 favorite albums (with commentary on each one) that are not at all the albums you see on most year-end lists. His list ranges from electronic music to death metal to ambient music and beyond, and you can check out the whole thing below.

CHRIS KING’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2018

Dedekind Cut – Tahoe
Lush and heavy and expansive all at the same time on this ambient masterpiece.

Group Listening – Clarinet & Piano: Selected Works V.1
Graceful, minimal classical arrangements that have a distinct permanence

Arp – Zebra Floating
Euphoric electronic noodles with delicate movement and energy.

Carl Stone – Electronic Music from the Eighties and Nineties
Excellent collection of the Los Angeles composer’s live electronic and new age based work.

Kilchhofer – The Book Room
Beautiful, rhythmic noise sketches creating a uniquely transformative experience.

Iku – Body Horror
Majestic, free form collage electronics with an old world feel. a great universe to get lost in.

Essaie Pas – New Path
The one techno record you need to listen to. A richly dense and gritty dystopian trip.

Kate NV – для FOR
LP creates its own universe and keeps you locked in. bubbling electronics and warm tones continue throughout.

Daniel Aged – S/T
Silky smooth funk heavy bass lines with tasty electronics. Light some candles.

Oliver Coates – Shelley’s on Zenn-La
Strange, complex, and mesmerizing – this experimental electronic record really grabbed at me

Superstition – Surging Throng of Evil’s Might
Ruthless and punishing old school death metal demo from the fantastic label 20buckspin.

E RUSCHA V – Who Are You
Clever and flourishing electronic patterns erupting into hallucinogenic ambient pop arrangements.