20 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2018 (So Far)

Despite their residence firmly in the British metal underground, King Goat could be one of the greatest live bands in the entire country at the moment. Their fascinatingly grandiose concert sees the cloaked quintet storm the stage in ominous hoods, armed with the whirling smoke of incense and gorgeously ambient lighting. Imposing frontman Trym stands at the mic, bellowing out patient yet epic melodies while the band’s avant-garde rhythms are juxtaposed by dark, cathartic riffing.

For those who have sadly never had the opportunity to catch these Brighton-based prog/doom stalwarts in living colour, there is a massive silver lining: their sophomore disc Debt of Aeons really is the next best thing, and recaptures their onstage mastery thanks to sublime production and pure, monumental atmosphere.

Mixing the heaviness of Candlemass with the experimentalism and melodies of Mastodon, King Goat refuse to let their gloomy tunes perpetuate sorrow or grief, instead favouring a grooving majesty that continually excites from start to finish. It’s impossible to deny the guttural power of such lengthy cuts as “Doldrum Sentinels” and “Eremite’s Rest” as every second makes you want to leap onto your feet and headbang as violently as possible.

King Goat represent polyrhythmic music colliding with metal’s core, primal values. And that’s just fine by me.