2018 is in its death throes. It’s been a hell of a year, one that many of us won’t feel much sorrow about leaving behind. Still, New Year’s Eve does offer us one more chance to set these right and bid farewell with a bang. Therefore, in this Sunday Sesh, we’re building a community NYE playlist to capture the highs and lows, triumphs and agonies of the year in review. Get in here and give us a song!

So was your 2018 a year of challenges or relative ease? Did you succumb to the constant horrors of world news? Did you find personal victories in times of hardship? Did you just spend most of the year trying to tune out all that white noise with metal and booze? What was your year like? Can you capture it in a single song?

I know, just one song?!?! To characterize an entire year? Can it be done? Let’s try. For this Sunday Sesh, I want you to pick the song that best captures 2018 for you. It doesn’t have to be your favorite song of the year. It doesn’t even have to be your most listened track. What I want is the song that gets at the soul of the year, with requisite highs or lows or good vibes or deep regrets. Given the many walks of life you fine readers tread, I’m sure we can generate a multifaceted, wild ride together.

So what’s my pick? Though not my favorite track of the year, nor my most listened, I think it suits a year of joy and sorrow well. My choice is “Egypt – Pharaohs” from Death Karma’s The History of Death & Burial Rituals Part II.

Why this track in particular? For one, the subject matter feels more than relevant. As I’ve noted before, all of Death Karma’s music is an attempt to reconcile the tragedy of death with the dignity of life. In “Egypt,” Infernal Vlad shrieks about the importance of journeys and destinations. In many ways, 2018 felt like an endless journey through miseries. And yet, I also achieved many of my personal goals and found new resolve for actions I can take to help those around me. “Egypt” encapsulates the dual nature of joy and loss many of us experienced this year. Second, the tremolo in this song kicks so much ass and adds a heroic, almost mythic scale to our playlist!

So, what’s your suggestion? What track is doing it for you? Let me know in the comments below.