The description sounds good. I thought "Meta" was a bit too flat; it didn't have the dynamic songwriting and sonic excitement of "Sgurr" which was much brighter in tone and more eclectic. TC has always succeeded when trying the "everything and the kitchen sink too" approach, as much as any other band which has remained genuinely metal while doing so. I do appreciate that they change things up with each album, however. The result has been this band has succeeded in making as many kinds of good metal as five other "average" good bands.

Listening to the song: toot toot all aboard the hype train!

Eight years have passed since the release of “In The Light Of Darkness”. Eight years in vigilant slumber.
Eight years we have whetted the Reaper’s scythe to once more herald our triumphant return. We are back to punish the world with the wrath of death and the force of darkness.
We are pleased to announce that Unanimated has signed a worldwide 3 album deal with Century Media Records!
Our fourth studio album is scheduled to be released in the second half of 2018

Most of these bands are either working on new material or at least are due to release something in the near future.

Alice In Chains new album could probably see a late 2018 release.
Seconding Sulphur Aeon and Hyperion. Both "recent" bands that are top tier in their respective genres.
Imperial Triumphant, one of the best things to happen to BM IMO, can't wait for more chaos.
Inferi are working on new stuff. Killer band, way underrated.
New Judicator would be great, both their previous albums rule.
Wrathage should be releasing an EP very soon. Their 2015 album was awesome.
God Of Atheists is Asgeir Mickelson all-star project and theoretically should be ready soon. Stupid name, yeah, but the line-up makes me drool, go check it.
Batushka need to release a follow-up to that monster of a debut.
Esoteric, it has been way too long... hurry up! Same goes for Carpe Noctem.

I'm sure there's way more, this is just at the top of my head ATM.

Now, for the dreams/hopes...

Tool
Anata
Lykathea Aflame
Amogh Symphony
Demonoid
Arafel

Amorphis - Queen Of Time (May 18) I'm super excited for this one.

I'm quite excited for the upcoming Vredehammer record.
Should be released later on this year. Both previous offerings are great, explosive, riff-happy blackened death (or whatever) with some thrash here and there for good measure (specially the second album).
Anyone else into these guys? Don't remember anyone mentioning them. They seem to tour quite a bit, though. Hopefully they'll get more exposure.

Fuuuuuck Ihsahn & Thy Catafalque at the same day. Probably the best day of 2018.

But artwork is really ugly, especially that fur thing on the throne(not that the horns looking any better)...

Fans of melodic doom/death should not pass up the new and debut album from Texas based Hinayana. The single is really good and I have the feeling that the whole album will slay. It's a strong song:

https://hinayana.bandcamp.com/album/order-divine-2

After listening to their latest song, Mater Dolorosa, I can confirm that I am looking forward to Augury's new album, Illusive Golden Age. Other than that, I've compiled somewhat of a list:
New Augury - Spring 2018:
So yeah, I listened to Mater Dolorosa and my face blew off. I need more of Dominic "Forest" Lapointe's bass.

New Inferi - "Early 2018"
Been big on Inferi since The Path of Apotheosis, let's see if they can top that masterwork.

New Alkaloid - Sent in to label, should be very soon (Early 2018)
I don't know why people seemed to dislike their previous album so much. The Malkuth Grimoire is one of my recent favourites, and I spin it daily on my commute to uni. I am looking forward to another 75-minute album. (Perhaps)

New Sigh - Recording almost done, a few seasons down the line maybe?
Sigh is interesting, I'd love to see where Mirai Kawashima's insane mind takes us next. Their new guitarist who also did the 'Graveward' recordings is someone I'm looking forward to hearing more from, too.

Other than that, I believe that new Obscura, Irreversible Mechanism and Beyond Creation albums are coming up. I wonder if Obscura will still be interesting (to the same extent) now that Tom Geldschläger's leads are out of the picture (not to discredit Rafael, Tom is just so unique), same with Beyond Creation without Forest on the bass. Irreversible Mechanism is just awesome space shred, and I love space shred.

I have jammed both new Augury and Inferi. The new Augury is pretty good, but new Inferi? Whewwwwww... it's gonna blow people away!

Nick, stop making it hard to wait for the albums hahaha

Witch Mountain, female fronted doom metal from Oregon, are releasing their 5th album, called Witch Mountain, on May 25. This is their first album with new singer Kayla Dixon.

Press release with stream of single Burn You Down: http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2018/03/12/witch-mountain-self-titled-release

I really like Burn You Down, Kayla sounds fantastic, and the music is great too. Really looking forward to this.