2014 has been a
fantastic year for extreme metal, the return of bands such as At the Gates,
Behemoth and Godflesh sent a ripple of excitement through the metal community.
I had the pleasure of hearing some outstanding albums this year, a few of which
I’ve been lucky enough to review for The Sludgelord. So here are my top 25
albums of 2014.
25. Sigiriya ‘Darkness Died Today’
Badass stoner rock
that’s sure to get your pulse racing and head swirling.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/03/sigiriya-darkness-died-today-album.html
24. Kampfar ‘Djevelmakt’
Kampfar are Norwegian
and play black metal, therefore I’m interested. Once opening track Mylder kicked in I knew this was going
to be exactly what I hoped it would. This was one of the first albums I
reviewed this year back in January and one that’s not been forgotten.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/kampfar-djevelmakt-album-review.html
23. Godflesh ‘A World Lit Only By Fire’
Godflesh are back!
And what a return, the pioneers of industrial metal demonstrate just why they
are regarded as so.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/11/godflesh-world-lit-only-by-fire-album.html
22. Ghost Brigade ‘IV – One with the Storm’
Heavy in places,
gentle in others and extremely catchy. This is an album I’ve heard only
recently and it’s on repeat.
21. Graves at Sea/Sourvein Split
This choice is mainly
down to the two tracks that Graves at Sea offer, particularly Betting on Black.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/graves-at-seasourvein-split-ep-review.html
20. Saille ‘Eldritch’
The third release
from the Belgian epic black metallers Saille, a well thought out album, based
upon pieces of horror/occult literature
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/12/saille-eldritch-album-review.html
19. Bast ‘Spectres’
A band that utilizes
black and doom metal to form a wonderful hybrid of sound, an enthralling
release from Bast.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/bast-spectres-album-review.html
18. Eastern Front ‘Descent into Genocide’
Often described as
‘war torn black metal’, Eastern Front show massive potential with this gripping
sophomore album. Great band live too.
17. Conan ‘Blood Eagle’
The heaviest bastard
band in the UK doom scene Conan do what they do best with this album, make
seriously heavy music. And it’s nothing but monumentally awesome.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/conan-blood-eagle-album-review.html
16. Opeth ‘Pale Communion’
Death metal for Opeth
is now pure nostalgia, accept its departure and bathe in the proggy wonder of
‘Pale Communion’.
15. Myrkur ‘Myrkur’
One woman black metal
outfit Myrkur delighted me with this hauntingly beautiful debut. Not to pay too
much attention to the ‘woman’ thing as that should have nothing to do with the
musical integrity, but it’s really cool to see a female putting out incredible
black metal.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/09/myrkur-st-ep-review.html
14. Solstafir ‘Otta’
Bit late to the party
with this Icelandic band, but ‘Otta’ brought Solstafir to my attention.
Stunning album.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/10/solstafir-otta-album-review.html
13. At the Gates ‘At War With Reality’
If you don’t compare
this to ‘Slaughter of the Soul’ then it’s a fantastic album and a fine return
to form.
12. Voices ‘London’
Formed by ex members
of Akercocke, Voices are in a league of their own with ‘London’, a weird and
wonderful extreme metal album that is captivating from start to finish.
11. Ashes
‘Hrēow’
The last and best
album from one man black metal outfit Ashes.
10. Primordial ‘Where Great Men Have Fallen’
Took me a few listens
to get there with this album, the first two tracks are incredible but it does a
trail off a little. However, it’s Primordial and therefore awesome.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/12/primordial-where-greater-men-have.html
9. Orange Goblin ‘Back from the Abyss’
A band that rarely
puts a foot wrong, have proven that once again by this year’s release ‘Back
from the Abyss’. Heavy Lies the Crown
is one of the best songs they’ve ever done.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/09/orange-goblin-back-from-abyss-album.html
8. Behemoth ‘The Satanist’
For me the best
Behemoth album they’ve released, Blow
Your Trumpets Gabriel and Ora Pro
Nobis Lucifer are monstrous tracks.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/behemoth-satanist-album-review.html
7. Death Penalty ‘Death Penalty’
Gaz Jennings (ex
Cathedral) is back with new band Death Penalty, and what a debut. This album is
all about Jennings and the power of the riff, air guitars at the ready.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/death-penalty-st-album-review.html
6. Triptykon ‘Melana Chasmata’
A massive step up
from the previous album, also Tom G Warrior is a God.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/04/triptykon-melana-chasmata-album-review.html
5. Blues Pills ‘Blues Pills’
I was immediately
sold on this band after hearing the EP, and their debut album affirms how
amazing they are. That voice!
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/blues-pills-st-album-review.html
4. Winterfylleth ‘The Divination of Antiquity’
Soaring riffs,
uplifting choral vocals and epic melodies prove just why Winterfylleth are at
the forefront of British black metal, and their latest offering is possibly
their strongest release so far. Whisper
of the Elements and Forsaken in Stone
are massive tracks, goose bumps guaranteed.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/10/winterfylleth-divination-of-antiquity.html
3. Anathema ‘Distant Satellites’
Their death metal
days are well and truly in the past but Anathema continue to produce stunning
music and ‘Distant Satellites’ is a prime example.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/07/anathema-distant-satellites-album-review.html
2. Pallbearer ‘Foundations of Burden’
An incredible follow
up to ‘Sorrow and Extinction’, with crushing riffs and impassioned vocals this
is a beautifully crafted piece of doom metal. The opening riff to Worlds Apart says it all.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/pallbearer-foundations-of-burden-album.html
1. Grand Magus ‘Triumph and Power’
Despite being
released in January, this immediately became my album of 2014, nothing was
going to top the fist pumping heavy metal power that Magus showcase in their
latest release. Triumph and Power, Steel
Versus Steel and The Hammer Will Bite
standout, however not a single tracks falls short. Grand Magus epitomize heavy
metal, all hail the Swedish gods of metal.
The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/grand-magus-triumph-and-power-album.html
