And then another year went by, 2014...keeping up with 2013, I went through more than 100 new albums. This year's top records list was a real pain for me. There were so many good records that came out in 2014!
Overall here are my top 50 metal and metal related albums of this year, special attention to the top 25 that made the “cut” (like if anyone really cares).
I said “metal related” because this list is going to include some non-metal stuff, but obviously the vast majority is heavy. And note that I did not list any EPs, compilations or live albums.
The order is indicative as one release is not definitively better than another (Metal/Music is not a competition), so chill-out.
I really like making those lists even if nobody reads them – it makes me reflect on the year that went buy and revisit the emotions that each of those records brought up.
Overall here are my top 50 metal and metal related albums of this year, special attention to the top 25 that made the “cut” (like if anyone really cares).
I said “metal related” because this list is going to include some non-metal stuff, but obviously the vast majority is heavy. And note that I did not list any EPs, compilations or live albums.
The order is indicative as one release is not definitively better than another (Metal/Music is not a competition), so chill-out.
I really like making those lists even if nobody reads them – it makes me reflect on the year that went buy and revisit the emotions that each of those records brought up.
Here they are...
50. Animals As Leaders - The Joy of Motion
49. Black Label Society - Catacombs Of The Black Vatican
48. Hammerfall - (r)Evolution
47. Sinbreed - Shadows
46. Gamma Ray - Empire of the undead
45. Axel Rudi Pell - Into the Storm
44. Skintrade - Refueld
43. Vanishing Point - Distant Is The Sun
42. Primal Fear - DeliveringThe Black
41. Cannibal Corpse - A Skeletal Domain
40. Brainstorm - Firesoul
39. Entombed A.D. - Back To The Front
38. Portrait - Crossroads
37. Unisonic - Light Of Dawn
36. Malrun - Two Thrones
35. Savage Messiah - The Fateful Dark
34. Arch Enemy - War Eternal
33. Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
32. Allen - Lande - The Great Divide
31. DragonForce - Maximum Overload
30. Novembers Doom - Bled White
29. While Heaven Wept - Suspended At Aphelion
28. Wovenwar - Wovenwar
27. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
26. Grand Magus - Triumph And Power
25.Slipknot - 5 The Gray Chapter
24. Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)
23. Opeth - Pale Communion
Addressing the elephant in the room: this is not a metal album. It's prog rock and it's awesome.
Great melodies, musicianship and impressive vocal performance from Mikael Åkerfeldt. Almost every song is strong and there are no fillers. Still, a little bit of heaviness would've been nice!
22. Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed
We have to always cautiously look at those "super groups". In many occasions, it's an uninspired marketing play. But not KBK, of course I'm biased since I do like a lot the voices of Max, Puciato and Sanders. The fact that they smartly alternate vocals and their styles in almost every song is very appealing. Most of the songs are very catchy and enjoyable which makes it overall a great album. With that said, we were expecting more from it, maybe more aggressiveness or creativity.
21. Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls
The Priest is back! And with their best album since Jugulator, and containing the most "classic" songs since "Defenders of the Faith". It does feel they went back in time to record Redeemer Of Souls. Consequently, obviously there is nothing new here - but classic Priest must be in any metalhead's list!
20.Architects - Lost Forever // Lost Together
The metalcore album of the year. Not many nice stuff came out from this sub-genre. But those guys delivered a solid record. Very aggressive and well written while also melodic at times. The balance between the metal and hardcore is perfect.
19. Magnum - Escape From Shadow Garden
Epic! The word to define this great album. Great melodies, huge choruses, very catchy and well produced. Bob Catley's unique voice gives the final touch for this must-have album for epic/power metal lovers.
18. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
An emotional atmosphere of power epicness. That's how I sum up this amazing heavy metal masterpiece for metalheads.
The low build-up of songs culminating with big sounds and choruses is just perfect. Where Greater Men Have Fallen is Dublin's Primordial second best album ever.
This is such a great album! In a fresh and modern way takes us back to early Rush and Yes. This record makes the list because of two of the 5 songs: Into the Blue (25 min) and the title track (32 min), fantastic songs: full of time changes, solos and great melodies. Clearly I don't even have to mention the quality of those top musicians. The other 3 songs don't keep up, and Shine is a radio friendly attempt. Hence why it has dropped a few points in my list.
16. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
Never thought to be listening to a new Pink Floyd album again! Really enjoyed the experience - a journey through their own sound, almost like a self tribute. Even more satisfying is the fact that makes you want to go back and listen to the really old stuff...Endless River brings back moments from the first albums, from Wish You Were Here and The Wall, and obviously Division Bell. Not exactly original but still who in 2014 writes a 47-min instrumental intro for a 6 min song with vocals ( which is brilliant btw)? Very nice!
15. Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie
Rock N' Roll from the 60's revisited in an elegant way, bluesy guitar solos, keyboards a la The Doors, and and catchy choruses. After a few listens I dare you not to start singing along. The first 7 songs are a hit avalanche, with less inspired final tracks.
14. Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon
Disclaimer: I'm a long term fan! So I listened to it with great expectations but also a certain bias. The first half of it is based on their Wicked World and is really good - probably the song sequence I listened the most this year. Second half looses its power which compromised the overall rating. The vinyl sounds great and Stu Block really grew on this record showing how versatile and good he is. I consider it the power-metal album of the year
13. Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld
I'm long time fan but still I looked at this one with a very critical eye. And I still I loved it. This conceptual album brings 10 tracks that form a cohesive entity of a beautiful power progressive metal. Each track is unique and uses different elements and variations. There's no formula. The constants are: Great vocals, beautiful keyboards and outstanding guitar work on the riffs and solos. All of it without being over-the-top.
12. Threshold - For the Journey
8 tracks of unpretentious, well-written, melodic, cliche-free progressive metal. Great musicians and a suburb and original singer. Simply put, another amazing work from those guys. I heard an interview that they discussed that this could have been a self-titled album. I agree and that's because For the Journey has it all. Heavier tracks, a ballad, an epic 12-min masterpiece, and full of great riffs. All the elements that have been the signature of this great band.
11. Soen - Tellurian
A progressive masterpiece - think (new) Opeth meets Tool! Beautiful and emotional music and amazing vocals by Joel Ekelöf . Not to mention super talented musicians without being over-the-top. Stefan Stenberg is probably the bass player of the year. And the final cherry at the top: great album cover. A must have for progressive music lovers.
10. Exodus - Blood in Blood Out
This is a thrash metal lesson! It's now my favorite Exodus' record. It sounds so direct, classic and yet modern. And what a production! Gary Holt has always been a great guitar player and song writer, but maybe those years playing Jeff's songs and riffs inspired him to make a masterpiece of thrash guitar riffs (and solos). Steve Souza triumphant come back picking up from what he left in Tempo of the Damned. If you are a thresh metal fan, you can't not include Blood in Blood Out in the list, period!
09. Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds
Modern, energetic, brutal, melodic...new MH has it all. It has even more than it should, If there is one problem that prevented this album to be a masterpiece is the 71 min with 12 songs. And that's a problem because the second half clearly looses power and feels like a filler fest. With that said, the first 7 tracks plus Game Over (8 songs, my magic number for a masterpiece) represent the best of what Robb Flynn and his band have presented us during their career. The album contain all the MH trademarks and touches at the different styles they have experiment since their magnificent debut.
08. Sanctuary - The Year the Sun Died
Straightforward heavy metal and yet sounding modern, that's how Santuary is coming back to life. And yet heavily influenced by the Nevermore sound. Therefore, this is nothing really new . But, the riffage and guitar solos are fantastic, the vocals are powerful and unique as you would expected, and the song writing flows like a powerful hit collection. Then again such a traditional heavy album for headbangers gotta be in this list!
07. Ghost Brigade - IV- One With the Storm
High expectations coming to this one, and that's because I loved the previous ones so much. IV-OWTS builds on its predecessors and further explores the beautiful melancholy of Ghost Brigade's sound. It's heavy without being noisy with a lot of time changes and alternating vocal styles. The way some of the songs build up it's magnificent and most of the time culminating with outstanding drumming.
06. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
Ok, it's not as heavy and experimental as early works, but still how good is this? - those guys are some of the best song writers out there! Yes, they are flirting with more accessible territory and sorry but that doesn't make it worse. The guitar work, unbelievable drumming, melodies with heaviness, the vocal changes...and one strong song after the other.
05. Decapitated - Blood Mantra
There's something about this record...when it came out I would use my headphones and listen to it over and over again. All songs are very strong - aggressive, grindy and groovy, modern and straightforward Death Metal.
04. Sólstafir - Ótta
This album is so original, I don't even know how to label it. Of course that doesn't matter, the fact is that it's an outstanding piece of art. An experience that you have to enjoy from start to finish, there are no flaws in this record. Several elements are used and Otta (which means "Fears" in Icelandic) presents a journey with beautiful and heavy ups and downs.
03. Behemoth - The Satanist
You can feel the emotions flowing out of this record. This emotion is the glue between the heaviness, speed and melody that makes this a masterpiece of extreme metal. No fillers, no cliches, 9 tracks in which Nergal poured all the emotions he had to deal with during recent years.
02. Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
When leading Hellhammer and then Celtic Frost, Thomas G. Fischer became one of the godfathers of extreme metal . Now with Triptykon, he continues to push the boundaries of heaviness. While building on the predecessor and first Triptykon record, Melana Chasmata goes beyond what most bands do nowadays. Artistic and emotional, this album demonstrate that you don't need to be loud, noisy, fast to be heavy. Fischer's song writing is remarkable, the combination of his growls, dark lyrics and black riffs all melt into a deep melancholic heavy experience.
01. At the Gates - At War With Reality
I actually didn't expect anything from At the Gates. But after the first listen, I just wanted to listen to it again and again. Another killer come-back album (after 19 years!).
The album opens with an unusual narrative in Spanish, and follows with one of the best songs of the year "Death And The Labyrinth". From then it flows with 45 min of the finest melodic Death Metal. One that has influenced so many death and metalcore bands since 1995's Slaughter of the Soul. When it comes down to it, the songwriting is flawless with crushing memorable riffs all over the place. To that you add, Tomas Lindberg's distinct voice screaming his lungs out with full emotion and then you have a deserved follow-up of the 95's classic album.
50. Animals As Leaders - The Joy of Motion
49. Black Label Society - Catacombs Of The Black Vatican
48. Hammerfall - (r)Evolution
47. Sinbreed - Shadows
46. Gamma Ray - Empire of the undead
45. Axel Rudi Pell - Into the Storm
44. Skintrade - Refueld
43. Vanishing Point - Distant Is The Sun
42. Primal Fear - DeliveringThe Black
41. Cannibal Corpse - A Skeletal Domain
40. Brainstorm - Firesoul
39. Entombed A.D. - Back To The Front
38. Portrait - Crossroads
37. Unisonic - Light Of Dawn
36. Malrun - Two Thrones
35. Savage Messiah - The Fateful Dark
34. Arch Enemy - War Eternal
33. Bigelf - Into the Maelstrom
32. Allen - Lande - The Great Divide
31. DragonForce - Maximum Overload
30. Novembers Doom - Bled White
29. While Heaven Wept - Suspended At Aphelion
28. Wovenwar - Wovenwar
27. Blues Pills - Blues Pills
26. Grand Magus - Triumph And Power
I have never been into Slipknot. But without prejudice, I gave this one a shot. Surprisingly, after one listen I dug it. More importantly, it grew on me after each time. I still not a fan of the scratching sounds and more chaotic songs. But overall Corey Taylor's voice, be it clean or screaming, the pounding drums, the modern heavy feel, the switch between heavy and melodic, all of that makes The Gray Chapter a very ferocious and emotional experience.
I believe this is first album to get these guys back on track since original singer left. The two singers now are in sync and delivering on the expectations. The album is heavy, but also progressive and melodic. Big choruses and catchy passages combined with aggressiveness and good musicianship. Hopefully the next parts of the trilogy will continue their evolution.
Great melodies, musicianship and impressive vocal performance from Mikael Åkerfeldt. Almost every song is strong and there are no fillers. Still, a little bit of heaviness would've been nice!
22. Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed
We have to always cautiously look at those "super groups". In many occasions, it's an uninspired marketing play. But not KBK, of course I'm biased since I do like a lot the voices of Max, Puciato and Sanders. The fact that they smartly alternate vocals and their styles in almost every song is very appealing. Most of the songs are very catchy and enjoyable which makes it overall a great album. With that said, we were expecting more from it, maybe more aggressiveness or creativity.
21. Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls
The Priest is back! And with their best album since Jugulator, and containing the most "classic" songs since "Defenders of the Faith". It does feel they went back in time to record Redeemer Of Souls. Consequently, obviously there is nothing new here - but classic Priest must be in any metalhead's list!
20.Architects - Lost Forever // Lost Together
The metalcore album of the year. Not many nice stuff came out from this sub-genre. But those guys delivered a solid record. Very aggressive and well written while also melodic at times. The balance between the metal and hardcore is perfect.
19. Magnum - Escape From Shadow Garden
Epic! The word to define this great album. Great melodies, huge choruses, very catchy and well produced. Bob Catley's unique voice gives the final touch for this must-have album for epic/power metal lovers.
18. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
An emotional atmosphere of power epicness. That's how I sum up this amazing heavy metal masterpiece for metalheads.The low build-up of songs culminating with big sounds and choruses is just perfect. Where Greater Men Have Fallen is Dublin's Primordial second best album ever.
17. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
This is such a great album! In a fresh and modern way takes us back to early Rush and Yes. This record makes the list because of two of the 5 songs: Into the Blue (25 min) and the title track (32 min), fantastic songs: full of time changes, solos and great melodies. Clearly I don't even have to mention the quality of those top musicians. The other 3 songs don't keep up, and Shine is a radio friendly attempt. Hence why it has dropped a few points in my list.
16. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
Never thought to be listening to a new Pink Floyd album again! Really enjoyed the experience - a journey through their own sound, almost like a self tribute. Even more satisfying is the fact that makes you want to go back and listen to the really old stuff...Endless River brings back moments from the first albums, from Wish You Were Here and The Wall, and obviously Division Bell. Not exactly original but still who in 2014 writes a 47-min instrumental intro for a 6 min song with vocals ( which is brilliant btw)? Very nice!
15. Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie
Rock N' Roll from the 60's revisited in an elegant way, bluesy guitar solos, keyboards a la The Doors, and and catchy choruses. After a few listens I dare you not to start singing along. The first 7 songs are a hit avalanche, with less inspired final tracks.
14. Iced Earth - Plagues of Babylon
Disclaimer: I'm a long term fan! So I listened to it with great expectations but also a certain bias. The first half of it is based on their Wicked World and is really good - probably the song sequence I listened the most this year. Second half looses its power which compromised the overall rating. The vinyl sounds great and Stu Block really grew on this record showing how versatile and good he is. I consider it the power-metal album of the year
13. Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld
I'm long time fan but still I looked at this one with a very critical eye. And I still I loved it. This conceptual album brings 10 tracks that form a cohesive entity of a beautiful power progressive metal. Each track is unique and uses different elements and variations. There's no formula. The constants are: Great vocals, beautiful keyboards and outstanding guitar work on the riffs and solos. All of it without being over-the-top.
12. Threshold - For the Journey
8 tracks of unpretentious, well-written, melodic, cliche-free progressive metal. Great musicians and a suburb and original singer. Simply put, another amazing work from those guys. I heard an interview that they discussed that this could have been a self-titled album. I agree and that's because For the Journey has it all. Heavier tracks, a ballad, an epic 12-min masterpiece, and full of great riffs. All the elements that have been the signature of this great band.
11. Soen - Tellurian
A progressive masterpiece - think (new) Opeth meets Tool! Beautiful and emotional music and amazing vocals by Joel Ekelöf . Not to mention super talented musicians without being over-the-top. Stefan Stenberg is probably the bass player of the year. And the final cherry at the top: great album cover. A must have for progressive music lovers.
10. Exodus - Blood in Blood Out
This is a thrash metal lesson! It's now my favorite Exodus' record. It sounds so direct, classic and yet modern. And what a production! Gary Holt has always been a great guitar player and song writer, but maybe those years playing Jeff's songs and riffs inspired him to make a masterpiece of thrash guitar riffs (and solos). Steve Souza triumphant come back picking up from what he left in Tempo of the Damned. If you are a thresh metal fan, you can't not include Blood in Blood Out in the list, period!
09. Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds
Modern, energetic, brutal, melodic...new MH has it all. It has even more than it should, If there is one problem that prevented this album to be a masterpiece is the 71 min with 12 songs. And that's a problem because the second half clearly looses power and feels like a filler fest. With that said, the first 7 tracks plus Game Over (8 songs, my magic number for a masterpiece) represent the best of what Robb Flynn and his band have presented us during their career. The album contain all the MH trademarks and touches at the different styles they have experiment since their magnificent debut.
08. Sanctuary - The Year the Sun Died
Straightforward heavy metal and yet sounding modern, that's how Santuary is coming back to life. And yet heavily influenced by the Nevermore sound. Therefore, this is nothing really new . But, the riffage and guitar solos are fantastic, the vocals are powerful and unique as you would expected, and the song writing flows like a powerful hit collection. Then again such a traditional heavy album for headbangers gotta be in this list!
07. Ghost Brigade - IV- One With the Storm
High expectations coming to this one, and that's because I loved the previous ones so much. IV-OWTS builds on its predecessors and further explores the beautiful melancholy of Ghost Brigade's sound. It's heavy without being noisy with a lot of time changes and alternating vocal styles. The way some of the songs build up it's magnificent and most of the time culminating with outstanding drumming.
06. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
Ok, it's not as heavy and experimental as early works, but still how good is this? - those guys are some of the best song writers out there! Yes, they are flirting with more accessible territory and sorry but that doesn't make it worse. The guitar work, unbelievable drumming, melodies with heaviness, the vocal changes...and one strong song after the other.
05. Decapitated - Blood Mantra
There's something about this record...when it came out I would use my headphones and listen to it over and over again. All songs are very strong - aggressive, grindy and groovy, modern and straightforward Death Metal.
04. Sólstafir - Ótta
This album is so original, I don't even know how to label it. Of course that doesn't matter, the fact is that it's an outstanding piece of art. An experience that you have to enjoy from start to finish, there are no flaws in this record. Several elements are used and Otta (which means "Fears" in Icelandic) presents a journey with beautiful and heavy ups and downs.
03. Behemoth - The Satanist
You can feel the emotions flowing out of this record. This emotion is the glue between the heaviness, speed and melody that makes this a masterpiece of extreme metal. No fillers, no cliches, 9 tracks in which Nergal poured all the emotions he had to deal with during recent years.
02. Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
When leading Hellhammer and then Celtic Frost, Thomas G. Fischer became one of the godfathers of extreme metal . Now with Triptykon, he continues to push the boundaries of heaviness. While building on the predecessor and first Triptykon record, Melana Chasmata goes beyond what most bands do nowadays. Artistic and emotional, this album demonstrate that you don't need to be loud, noisy, fast to be heavy. Fischer's song writing is remarkable, the combination of his growls, dark lyrics and black riffs all melt into a deep melancholic heavy experience.
01. At the Gates - At War With Reality
I actually didn't expect anything from At the Gates. But after the first listen, I just wanted to listen to it again and again. Another killer come-back album (after 19 years!).
The album opens with an unusual narrative in Spanish, and follows with one of the best songs of the year "Death And The Labyrinth". From then it flows with 45 min of the finest melodic Death Metal. One that has influenced so many death and metalcore bands since 1995's Slaughter of the Soul. When it comes down to it, the songwriting is flawless with crushing memorable riffs all over the place. To that you add, Tomas Lindberg's distinct voice screaming his lungs out with full emotion and then you have a deserved follow-up of the 95's classic album.
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