25. Conan – Blood Eagle
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There is no band like Conan. Brutal, crushing, heavy, uncompromising; if you get a thesaurus and find alternatives for these words, you can write your own mini blurb! Another epic slab of metal from one of Liverpool ’s finest.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/conan-blood-eagle-album-review.html
24. Darkest Era – Severance
Irish inspired epic metal that is both soaring and impassioned. There are moments of great soloing and consistently passionate vocals throughout.
23. Skyharbor – Guiding Lights
Second album from India
22. Mount Salem
Excellent female fronted doom metal with obvious nods to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath throughout.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/03/mount-salem-endless-album-review.html?m=1
21. Sunn O))) + Scott Walker – Soused
A collaboration that raised more than a few eyebrows, however the coming together of these two musical greats had a great impact. Heavy, dark and brooding, the lyrics are worth the trip alone.
20. Ancient Ascendant – Echoes & Cinder
20. Ancient Ascendant – Echoes & Cinder
19. Dripback – Failed Futures
Pure filth from London
18. Agalloch – The Serpent & The Sphere
Atmospheric black metal from a true trailblazer of a band; whilst tagged as black metal, there is so much more at work here. Beautiful and sparse interludes as well as dense guitars and snarling vocals.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/05/agalloch-serpent-spire-album-review.html?m=1
17. Crowbar – Symmetry in Black
Crowbar doing what Crowbar do. With Kirk Windstein back in the fray with no other commitments musically, the band sounded urgent and heavier than ever on their 2014 effort.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/05/crowbar-symmetry-in-black-album-review.html
16. Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden
The second best doom album of this year in my opinion, but still an absolute monster of an album.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/pallbearer-foundations-of-burden-album.html
15. Savage Messiah – The Fateful Dark
Great British thrash metal that hit all the boxes for fans of early Metallica etc.
14. Yob – Clearing The Path To Ascend
Epic doom from one of the greatest purveyors of the genre. 4 tracks; 60 minutes. Strap yourself in for the ride!
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/yob-clearing-path-to-ascend-album-review.html
13. Grand Magus – Triumph & Power
Traditional heavy metal with embattled lyrics’ top notch neck wreckers are rife here!
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/grand-magus-triumph-and-power-album.html
12. Orange Goblin – Back From The Abyss
One of England
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/09/orange-goblin-back-from-abyss-album.html
11. Limb – S/T
Label mates with Black Moth at the excellent New Heavy Sounds, Limbs collection of sludgy riffs and punishing vocals are a great concoction.
10. Blues Pills - S/T
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Blues Pills are a band that came my way courtesy of the guys at The Sludgelord. I’ve had the chance to review their earlier releases and cover live shows. With a voice as piercing and powerful as any other before her, and a protégé of a guitarist laying down solos and riffs to put many to shame, Blues Pills are a band that deserve every ounce of praise they get.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/blues-pills-st-album-review.html
9. Anathema - Distant Satellites
Is there any limit to the beauty that Anathema can create? The follow up to 2012’s stunning Weather Systems hit all the right boxes and created another collection of stunning compositions that both excited and tugged on the heart strings.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/07/anathema-distant-satellites-album-review.html
8. Alcest – Shelter
An early 2014 release that has sound tracked a lot of my year. This is shoegaze excellence that is built for sunsets and the mellower moments in life.
7. Opeth - Pale Communion
After the much maligned Heritage, Opeth nailed the progressive style they so dearly yearn for. The whole album is a thing of grandeur, with the best drumming I think I’ve ever heard on an album.
6. Sunn O)))/Ulver – Terrestrials
Terrestrials was the sound of two of my favourite bands coming together to create a short ‘album’ of atmospheric excellence. Both bands’ styles are clear throughout but they merge well together.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/sunn-o-ulver-terrestrials-review.html?m=1
5. Bast – Spectres
Spectres was an early contender for album of the year for me. The whole album is heavy and crushing with some stunning progressive metal sections, fused expertly with black metal nuances.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/bast-spectres-album-review.html
4. Black Moth - Condemned to Hope
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/black-moth-condemned-to-hope-review.html?m=1
3. Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Tom G Warrior again scaled the heights of metal with Triptykon’s new release. Haunting and heavy throughout, the album is a trip into the depths of darkness with plenty of moments of pure beauty.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/04/triptykon-melana-chasmata-album-review.html
1. Behemoth - The Satanist
1. Winterfylleth - Divination of Antiquity
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Winterfylleth and Behemoth are literally neck and neck in my opinion. The Satanist is a classic album that will live on for years and years, and be a constant benchmark. Likewise, Winterfylleth created a masterpiece of esoteric and atmospheric black metal that was unique and inspring.
The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/10/winterfylleth-divination-of-antiquity.html
