The Sludgelord Presents: Aaron Pickford's Top 25 Records of 2014

25). Bog Oak – ‘A Treatise on Resurrection and the Afterlife’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bog-oak-treatise-on-resurrection-and.html?m=1

24). Disastroid – ‘Missiles’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/disastroid-missiles-album-review.html?m=1

 

23). Godflesh – ‘Decline & Fall’

 

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/godflesh-decline-fall-ep-review.html?m=1

 

22). Space Witch - ‘Space Witch’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/space-witch-st-album-review.html?m=1

21). Serpent Venom – ‘Of Things Seen & Unseen’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/serpent-venom-of-things-seen-and-unseen.html?m=1

20). Tellusian – ‘Collision’

 

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/vinyl-corner-tellusion-collison-album.html?m=1

19). Enabler – ‘La Fin Absolue Du Monde’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/enabler-la-fin-absolue-du-monde-album.html?m=1

18). Telepathy – ’12 Areas’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/telepathy-12-areas-album-review.html?m=1

17). Druglord – ‘Enter Venus’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/vinyl-corner-druglord-enter-venus-album.html?m=1

16). Fistula – ‘Vermin Prolificus’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/fistula-vermin-prolificus-album-review.html?m=1

15). Electric Wizard – ‘Time to Die’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/09/electric-wizard-time-to-die-album-review.html

14). CoC – ‘IX’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/06/corrosion-of-conformity-ix-album-review.html

13). Crowbar – ‘Symmetry in Black’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/05/crowbar-symmetry-in-black-album-review.html

12). Floor ‘Oblation’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/05/floor-oblation-album-review.html

11). Hush – ‘Unexist’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/hush-unexist-album-review.html?m=1

10). Mastodon – ‘Once more ‘Round the Sun’

 The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/06/mastodon-once-more-round-sun-album.html

09). Conan – ‘Blood Eagle’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/conan-blood-eagle-album-review.html

08). Bast – ‘Spectres’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/02/bast-spectres-album-review.html

07). AEges – ‘Above & Down Below’

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/ges-above-down-below-album-review.html?m=1

06). Bongripper – ‘Miserable’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/bongripper-miserable-album-review.html

05). Slomatics – ‘Estron’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/01/slomatics-estron-album-review.html

04). Catapult the Dead – ‘All is Sorrow’

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/catapult-dead-all-is-sorrow-album-review.html?m=1

03). Shellac – ‘Dude Incredible’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StooJzxAfrc

=1). Yob – ‘Clearing a Path to Ascend’- Horn of the Rhino – ‘Summoning Deliverance’

  



The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/08/yob-clearing-path-to-ascend-album-review.html

http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/horn-of-rhino-summoning-deliverance.html?m=1

 

Honourable mentions:  Usnea – ‘Random Cosmic Violence’, Witchthroat Serpent – ‘Witchthroat Serpent’, Inter Arma – ‘The Cavern’, Canaya – ‘Sealed within Walls’, , Gurt – ‘Horrendosaurus’, Slomatics/Holly Hunter Split 7”, , Monolord – ‘Empress Rising’

The Sludgelord Presents: Phil Weller's Top 25 Records of 2014

25) American Heritage – Prolapse

Their swansong and one hell of one at that. Only six original tracks here, with three covers concluding the record but nevertheless merciless.

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/american-heritage-prolapse-album-review.html?m=1

24) Melvins - Hold It In

Melvins plus the Butthole Surfers: Cacophonic chaos

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/melvins-hold-it-in-album-review.html?m=1

23) Yossi Sassi - Desert Butterflies

The ex-Orpaned Land guitarist has crafted a record as beautiful as it is diverse.

http://yossisassi.bandcamp.com/album/desert-butterflies

22) Serpent Venom - Of Things Seen and Unseen

 

Gritty doom metal. Staggering live.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/serpent-venom-of-things-seen-and-unseen.html?m=1

21) With Our Arms To The Sun - A Far Away Wonder

Cinematic and captivating, this mostly instrumental record is full.of moving, experimental prog rock.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/with-our-arms-to-sun-far-away-wonder.html?m=1

20) Truckfighters – Universe

The Swedes have reached a new level of brilliance with a sound truly unique.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/truckfighters-universe-album-review.html?m=1

19) The Vintage Caravan - Voyage

Classic rock with subtle progressive twists and bursting with energy. A very young band too.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-vintage-caravan-voyage-album-review.html?m=1

18) Marty Friedman - Inferno

 

Smattered with guests, these are some inspired collaborations from a fantastic guitarist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTzDR4HdbKI

17) Goya / Wounded Giant - Split EP (2015 Release)

One half is slow, evil doom, the other more succinct and punchy. A perfect split EP.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/goya-wounded-giant-split-12-vinyl.html?m=1

16) Revocation – Deathless

Crisply produced thrash / death metal, they continue to build on their self-titled record with palpable results.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPIRkrb7C0k

15) Collibus - The False Awakening

Prog metal excellence. A cacophony of exceptional guitar work and incredible vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZn938T8iK8

14) Pineapple Thief – Magnolia

 

Simply gorgeous compositions. Perfect for mellow evenings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU7MEhiiitw

13) Floor – Oblation

Sludge pop. Riffs dirtier than a pig in mud but more contagious than Ebola.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/05/floor-oblation-album-review.html

12) Slash - World's on Fire

Slash and Myles deliver huge rock songs once more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSBJL-Wo9xM

11) Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed

Four unique and supremely talented musicians combine and the results are just as we fanatically imagined.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/killer-be-killed-st-album-review.html?m=1

10) Sky Valley Mistress - Rivals, Hounds & Rebel Sisters

Full of fuzz, attitude and swagger.

http://skyvalleymistress.bandcamp.com/album/rivals-hounds-rebel-sisters

9) Æges - Above & Down Below

 

Nasty riffs juxtaposed with soaring, spine-chilling melodies. A fantastic band.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/ges-above-down-below-album-review.html?m=1

8) Witchrider - Unmountable Stairs

A record that's just grabbed me. So groovy, so fun.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/09/witchrider-unmountable-stairs-album.html

7) Corrosion of Conformity – IX

COC do what COC do best. Tarquinius Superbus is one of the songs of the year.

The Sludgelord Review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/06/corrosion-of-conformity-ix-album-review.html

6) Paul Gilbert - Stone Pushing Uphill Man

 

Only one song has vocals, the guitar is the voice here and it sings like an angel. His tones cut right through me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di1tZ5Xmuok

5) Machine Head - Bloodstone and Diamonds

Metal titans in every sense of the word. Now We Die is a perfectly crafted anthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJKReRPG5tM

4) Opeth - Pale Communion

Vastly diverse and original, amass with sublime musicianship, Opeth really are a stunning band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSdO2gooWNE

3) Wild Throne - Blood Maker

 

If only this were a full length record. Absolutely sensational. Short but incredibly powerful.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/wild-throne-blood-maker-ep-review.html?m=1

2) Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

More accessible and psychedelic as they ever have been, but just as alluring. Packed with riffs.

The Sludgelord review: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2014/06/mastodon-once-more-round-sun-album.html

1) Destrage - Are You Kidding Me, No?

Forever astounding, this is pure insanity. Such an ambitious album. Still noticing nuances with every listen. The title track is just unstoppable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-MOnxzhxA