The Best Rock Music of 2018
Contents
- The Best Rock Music of 2018
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Albums
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Songs
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Artists
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Genres
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Labels
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Festivals
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Tours
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Venues
- The Best Rock Music of 2018: Media
It’s been a great year for rock music, with a lot of great new bands and albums coming out. Here’s a look at some of the best rock music of 2018.
The Best Rock Music of 2018
In 2018, rock music saw a resurgence in popularity, with many established bands releasing new music and touring the world. This was a welcome return for many fans, who had grown tired of the pop and hip-hop domination of the charts in recent years. Below, we take a look at some of the best rock music of 2018.
The began with the release of critically acclaimed albums such as “Freedom’s Goblin” by Ty Segall and White Reaper’s “World’s Best American Band”. In March, progressive rock giants Muse returned with their eighth album “Simulation Theory”, which entered the UK album chart at number one. The album was a return to form for the band, who had strayed into more pop territory on their previous release “Drones”.
In May, Jack White released his third solo album “Boarding House Reach”, which saw him experiment with different sounds and styles. The album was widely praised by critics, with many calling it his best work since his days with The White Stripes. Also in May, Arctic Monkeys returned with their sixth album “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”, which debuted at number one in both the UK and US charts. The album was a marked change in direction for the band, swapping their traditional guitar-based sound for a more synth-heavy one.
Other notable releases in 2018 included “Prequelle” by Ghost, “Villains” by Queens of the Stone Age, “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships” by The 1975 and “American Utopia” by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. Rock music also made a comeback on the live circuit in 2018, with many established festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds expanding their lineups to include more rock acts than ever before.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Albums
2018 was a strong year for rock music, with a number of great albums being released by both established acts and newcomers. Here are some of the best rock albums of 2018.
-The Arctic Monkeys, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino: The Arctic Monkeys’ sixth album is a bit of a departure from their earlier work, exploring a more experimental and electronic sound. Nevertheless, it’s a great album and one of the best rock releases of 2018.
-Death Cab for Cutie, Thank You for Today: Death Cab for Cutie’s ninth album is another strong release from the veteran band. Lyrically introspective and melodically engaging, it’s one of the best albums of the year.
-Weezer, Pacific Daydream: Weezer’s eleventh album is a return to form for the band, featuring catchy hooks and sing-along choruses. It’s one of the most enjoyable listens of the year.
-The Voidz, Virtue: The Voidz’ second album is an eccentric and eclectic mix of styles, blending together punk, pop, and prog to create something unique and exciting. Definitely one of the most interesting albums of 2018.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Songs
2018 was an incredible year for rock music, with a wide variety of artists putting out great songs. Here’s a look at some of the best rock songs of 2018.
“RCome Up and Get Me” by At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In returned after a 17-year hiatus with one of the best songs of their career. “RCome Up and Get Me” is a high-energy anthem that will get you pumped up no matter what you’re doing.
“The Way You Used to Do” by Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age released one of the best rock albums of 2018 with Villains, and “The Way You Used to Do” is one of the highlights from that album. This song is sure to get your foot tapping and your head nodding along.
“I Love You All the Time” by Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal returned with a brand new album in 2018, and “I Love You All the Time” is one of the best tracks on that album. This song is a catchy, feel-good anthem that will have you singing along in no time.
“Mind Eraser, No Chaser” by The Bronx
The Bronx released one of the best punk albums of 2018 with V, and “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” is one of the highlights from that album. This song is a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride from start to finish.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Artists
Some might say that 2018 was a bit of a come down from the highs of 2017, but we beg to differ. This year has seen incredible new music from incredibly talented artists, and we’ve rounded up our favorites for you here. So without further ado, here are the best rock artists of 2018.
The American rock band Greta Van Fleet is composed of brothers Josh (vocals), Jake (guitar), and Sam Kiszka (bass guitar), and drummer Danny Wagner. The band first gained mainstream attention in March 2017 when they released their debut single, “Highway Tune”, which topped several US rock radio stations’ charts. Their debut studio album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army was released on October 19, 2018.
Royal Blood is an English rock duo formed in 2013 in Brighton, East Sussex. The band’s sound is reminiscent of and influenced by modern hard rock bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and The White Stripes. They have released two studio albums: Royal Blood (2014) and How Did We Get So Dark? (2017). Their eponymous debut album was released in August 2014 to commercial and critical success. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
The Struts are an English rock band from Derby, Derbyshire, England. Formed in 2009, the band consists of lead vocalist Luke Spiller, guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott and drummer Gethin Davies.[1] They are currently signed to Interscope Records[2] in the United States[3] and Polydor Records[4] in their native United Kingdom.[5] First coming to prominence with a 2016 tour supporting The Rolling Stones,[6][7] they have also opened for Guns N’ Roses,[8][9][10] Foo Fighters,[11][12] Motley Crüe[13][14][15]
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Genres
There are many genres of rock music, but the best of 2018 can be narrowed down to a few main categories. These are indie rock, alternative rock, post-rock, and math rock.
Indie rock is characterized by its use of unconventional sounds and smaller scale production. This genre has been growing in popularity in recent years, with bands like The 1975 and Car Seat Headrest leading the way.
Alternative rock is a more general category that includes a wide range of styles. This year, we’ve seen some great examples of alternative rock from bands like Greta Van Fleet and The Struts.
Post-rock is a subgenre of alternative rock that emphasizes atmosphere and texture over traditional song structure. This year offered some great examples of post-rock from bands like Russian Circles and Mogwai.
Math rock is a subgenre of alternative rock that is characterized by complex time signatures and unusual rhythms. Bands like Nails and Tera Melos have been pushing the boundaries of math rock this year.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Labels
It’s been a great year for rock music, with plenty of new releases to choose from. Here are our picks for the best rock albums of 2018, from established acts like Arctic Monkeys and Muse to newcomers like Dream Wife and Girlpool.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Festivals
The best rock music of 2018 includes a wide range of festivals, from the huge Coachella in Indio, California to the more intimate Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Here are our picks for the top 10 rock festivals of 2018.
1. Coachella: Indio, California
2. Bonnaroo: Manchester, Tennessee
3. Lollapalooza: Chicago, Illinois
4. Download Festival: Donington Park, England
5. Glastonbury: Somerset, England
6. Reading and Leeds Festivals: Reading and Leeds, England
7. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience: New Orleans, Louisiana
8. Musink: Costa Mesa, California
9. Afro Punk Fest: Brooklyn, New York
10. Montreux Jazz Festival: Montreux, Switzerland
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Tours
As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back at the best rock music of 2018. From huge stadium tours to critically-acclaimed albums, it’s been a great year for rock music. Here are some of our highlights:
-Guns N’ Roses: Not only did they reunite for a hugely successful world tour, they also released a new album, “Appetite for Destruction: Locked N’ Loaded.”
-U2: One of the biggest tours of the year was U2’s “eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE” tour, which saw them perform to over 2 million fans worldwide.
-Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl and co. were back with a vengeance in 2018, releasing their ninth studio album, “Concrete and Gold,” and embarking on a North American tour.
-Pearl Jam: Pearl Jam celebrated their 30th anniversary with a huge North American tour, which included stops at some of the most iconic stadiums in baseball history.
– Nirvana: The iconic grunge band announced plans to release a deluxe version of their classic album “Nevermind,” which will include remastered versions of the album’s tracks and never-before-heard demos.
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Venues
When it comes to rock music, there are a lot of great venues out there. Here are some of the best rock music venues of 2018:
The Best Rock Music of 2018: Media
The best rock music of 2018 was a mix of traditional rock and roll, alternative rock, and indie rock. Some of the best-selling and most popular albums of the year were by artists like Hozier, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Imagine Dragons. The Grammy Award for Best Rock Album went to The National for Sleep Well Beast.
One of the biggest stories in rock music this year was the return of Tool after a 13-year hiatus. The band’s highly anticipated album, Fear Inoculum, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It was also one of the year’s most acclaimed albums, with many critics calling it a masterpiece.
Other critically acclaimed albums released this year include Greta Van Fleet’s Anthem of the Peaceful Army, Pillars Of Creation by Stone Temple Pilots, and A Black Mile To The Surface by Manchester Orchestra.