Articles : Prarthana Venunathan’s Best Albums of 2014

I probably say this every year but 2014 has been complete madness for heavy music in all it’s forms and sounds. I’ve listened to SO much music this year I’m pretty sure I don’t remember even half the number plus the quality, and variety of albums that have come out during the length of this year has made it so friggin difficult to actually sit down and do this list without losing a good amount of sanity. It’s truly amazing the kind of music that bands consistently put out and the extent to which they go out of their comfort zone and experiment (lots of those in my list). I will say this though, the albums I chose to go on my End of Year list are ones that are unmatched, the music being absolutely flawless and me, really connecting to it on a much deeper level.

Before I get into my list though, I do need to point out a few bands that almost made it for me this year. Meadows End, a band I discovered on my usual spree of searching for awesome Scandinavian metal – their new album ‘The Sufferwell’ is madness! Abysmal Dawn, Cynic, Bloodbath, Hour Of Penance, Godflesh, Bloodshot Dawn, Hadal Maw, Black Crown Initiate, Opeth are some other albums I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this year especially Cynic’s ‘Kindly bent To Free Us’ and  mighty Hour of Penance ‘Regicide’. Really, no diplomacy here, all these bands have created something that really grabbed my attention and made me respect them even more if that were possible. 2014 however has been a massive year for me when it comes to metal and with a few hints and clues already being thrown around for 2015, I reckon I’m going to have even more trouble with this decision-making process next year as well.

But ramble on I shall not, for here is my list!

 
20. Skálmöld – Með Vættum [Iceland – Napalm Records]

The Icelandic folk metallers made it on to my list due to the sheer awesomeness that is their new album ‘Með Vættum’ . It’s got so much going on and one of the winning factors for me is probably the fact that there are (again) four people contributing their vocals making the resulting music an absolute blast to listen to. ( I seem to have a thing for four-man-vocal-bands). You want Viking metal? Bloody hell these guys are as Viking as it gets! The vocals pound through your skull, the riffs are menacing, the drums thundering in the background yet they’ve managed to maintain a strong element of tradition with lots of folk and doom-ish sections here and there. I also felt like I was on one of the ships on the album cover getting ready to raid another land – the music flows so consistently that you get lost in a completely different world – a world that’s full of metalhead Vikings.
Listen to: ‘Ad Hausti’

19. Hemina – Nebulae [NSW – Bird’s Robe Records]

Hemina are yet another band I discovered during this year and I’m so glad I did! To simply put it, this band is beauty in the form of progressive metal. The Sydney siders released a gem of an album this year which for me was on repeat for quite a while. The cool guitar solos,the rhythmic hook-filled tunes,upbeat drumming and yes, the fact that there are four vocalists in this band is nothing short of musical brilliance. The way the music flows as the tracks change is stunning and for the most part of listening to it, I was perpetually lost in this weird hypnotic trance. Looking forward to more music for this lot!
Listen to: ‘Otherwordly‘

18. Job For A Cowboy – Sun Eater [USA – Metal Blade Records]

Let’s face it, these guys are beasts. I absolutely LOVE where they’ve gone with their new album and looking back to the days of the deathcore stomp on ‘Genesis’, there’s more of an elegant brutality on ‘Sun Eater’.This death metal outfit from Glendale, Arizona have proved that when they do things differently, they do it in the most glorious way possible. It was hard to judge this one because it really stands out and apart from some of the other death metal records I’ve heard this year. The sheer relentlessness still remains with groove-laden riffs and electrifying solos but there’s so much more to ‘Sun Eater’ that you will start to realize as the album progresses. There’s an amazing balance of heavy and slower,ambient sections throughout, the bass is solid and the vocals are of the blood-curdling quality. Albeit an acquired taste, Job For A Cowboy are masters at what they do!
Listen to : ‘Sun of Nihility’

17. Colossvs – Unholy [VIC – Independent]

Melbourne’s Colossvs released a solid album this year which is just in-your-face raw and fierce  metal. I love how dark and pure evil ‘Unholy’ is ( as it rightly should be) – really hardcore stuff with a strong blackened death vibe.  These guys pull off some of  killer, heavy riffs, and Lochlan Watt’s venomous vocals will make you want to pick up the nearest piece of furniture and chuck it as far as possible. I had never heard of this band till Lochlan was announced as the new vocalist and clearly I missed out on something! Massive effort from these boys! The sheep heads on the album cover deserve extra points.
Listen to: ‘Christburner’

16. Decapitated [Poland – Nuclear Blast Records]

It’s Decapitated. Enough said really. I knew from the start I’d have them on my list. ‘Blood Mantra’ is a an aural assault from start to finish with all the right amounts of death, grind and groove. With tracks like ‘Veins’ and ‘The Blasphemous Psalm To The Dummy God Creation’ which boast break-neck speeds on the guitars and drums, enough to instantaneously start a moshpit in your living room, the Polish-men have gone all out on this one. There were some surprises along the way, my favourite being the fact that   the instrumental bliss of ‘Red Sun’ was their choice to close the album. So proud of ‘Vogg’ and his fruitful efforts in continuing to make some of the most beastly tech-death metal you’ll ever hear.
Listen to: ‘Instinct’

15.Troldhaugen – Obszkure [NSW – Independent]

Like I said before, think of a bunch of trolls from the medieval ages going apeshit, growling and creating world-class music in the process. That’s Troldhaugen for you. ‘Carnivale metal’ as they are often called is a reputation they intend on living up to because a carnivale is all you can think of. It’s unlike their first album ‘Ramshackle’ but still maintains their crazy, fun-loving boost of energy and insane approach to music. The instrumentation, song structures and added effects here and there make this album such an exciting listen, you’ll find yourself headbanging while doing some weird sort of troll folk dance at the same time. Obszkurity at it’s finest!
Listen to: ‘Catoptric Contortions’

14.  The Helix Nebula – Meridian [NSW – Independent]

Another winning effort from a hometown band who’s latest EP is a riff-laden, proggy, technical masterpiece; that has six tracks all of which are solid proof of this band’s immense talent. Every track is unique in it’s own way – from the elegant riffage on ‘Sea of Suns’ to the heavy goodness on ‘Sailing Stone’, from start to finish I was stunned at what I heard. For such a young and relatively new band to put out a debut EP of THIS much magnificence is truly something else. The way those deep, relentless bass lines and solos are interwoven with melody is bloody brilliant and in  a very metal way, enchanting. There’s something for everyone on this release but for me, I loved every second of it. Can’t wait for more musical ingenuity from these legends!
Listen to: ‘Convalescence’
Listen to: ‘Sea Of Suns’

13. Killer Be Killed – Killer Be Killed [USA – Nuclear Blast Records]

Four of the greatest musicians decided to get together casually and the result of it? This bad boy. My favourite collaboration of the year and probably one of my favourites of all time, you usually hear split EP’s or a few tracks where artists work together but a whole album! Troy Sanders and Greg Puciato are a wicked combination as is, and then you have the mighty Max Cavalera bringing in that thrashy, heavy groove while Elitch contributes with his versatile style of drumming. Raspy vocals, aggressive growls, sludgy riffs and heavy grooves, this is another album for me this year that didn’t follow a ‘pattern’ so to speak and you know for a fact just by listening to the music that it was just four great guys getting together and trying something new out, something that worked really, really well. Stellar album from the best of the best!
Listen to: ‘Snakes of Jehovah’

 12. At The Gates – At War With Reality [Sweden – Century Media Records]

Every time I listen to At The Gates, I already check job vacancies and flight prices so I can move to Sweden. So my reaction when they release an album of sheer magnificence after almost 20 years? One that I can’t really summarize in 50 words but let me tell you I was bloody excited and they did not disappoint. With ‘Slaughter of the Soul”s reputation of being one of the greatest metal albums ever released, it was hard to believe that they could bounce back from it’s success. Who am I kidding? It’s friggin At The Gates! An album that continues their genre-defining style of choppy melodic riffage, fat bass and of course a few new elements to their signature  melo-death sound. There’s this dark, eerie vibe throughout and really it just has you hooked the whole time. Given that there has been a very very very long gap between their last release and this one, I will admit that I did have a few expectations, and every single one of them were trumped by the Swedes. Glorious.
Listen to: ‘Heroes and Tombs’ (Tomas’ vocals on this one will mess with your head}

11. Sleepmakeswaves – Love of Cartography [NSW – Bird’s Robe Records]

Post-rock perfection from my Sydney lads. There’s so much beauty, emotion, and an array of different sounds that make every single minute of this album  worth the listen and more. Sometimes some albums just put the biggest, stupidest grin on you face when you listen to them and this year, ‘Love of Cartography’ was mine. It’s quite different to it’s predecessor in that the band have given more clarity to the sound they want to deliver. The abundance of synths and bass (always a bonus) and the overall transition on each track is mind-blowing. Of course, that gorgeous melody which remains a constant in their music always has my undying love. That and the ‘unpredictable’ factor – not knowing what’s going to hit you next- is something these guys have mastered perfectly with their brand of truly innovative instrumental music.
Listen to: ‘Something Like Avalanches’

10. Sólstafir – Otta [Iceland – Season Of Mist]

Something I truly love about bands sometimes is their daring approach to music and their willingness to step out of their comfort zone and experiment which is exactly what the Icelanders of Solstafir have done this time around. The very concept of ‘Otta’ which centres around an ancient Icelandic way of  keeping time, the album has eight beautiful tracks, each one representing one part of a day is so intriguing and the music flows oh-so perfectly. There is such a mesmerizing sound on this album that incorporates so many different elements ranging from the raw and heavy sections, a hypnotic post-rock vibe with ambient keys and an underlying but strong black metal influence. The fact that the entire album is done in their native tongue of Icelandic adds to the metallic charm that this band is known for. Calling ‘Otta’ a masterpiece would be an understatement!
Listen to: ‘Lágnætti’

9. Enviktas – Enviktas [NSW – Independent]

Combining the best of folk metal, black metal, world  and more contemporary music all in one EP, Newcastle’s Enviktas have created some of the most unique music I’ve heard this year. They bring together so many different elements – enchanting melodies, heavy guitars, epic folk-influenced chants, symphonic sections,  that it makes it difficult to really categorize what they play, also proving the brilliant musicianship. To me, any music that has a historical or mythological influence to it is an instant win. You immediately drift away into another world with the array of soundscapes and they make it work! It’s unqiue and there’s a good balance of fast and mid-tempo tracks. The instrumentation is fantastic with the band incorporating so many different sounds ranging from the sipsi and accordion to tin whistles, there’s no shortage of creativity on this EP. The vocals have a strong black metal feel to them. This is just the start for Enviktas and the future looks bloody promising for the Newy lads!

Listen to: ‘In Our Honour’

8. Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds [USA – Nuclear Blast Records]

It’s friggin Machine Head! Really, that’s all I can and want to say but for necessary purposes, I shall say more. This album is almost like the fire spewing out of a really really pissed off Dragon’s mouth. Robb Flynn’s strong vocals force their way through your cranium as does the overall instrumentation.  It’s not your typical Machine Head album especially if you grew up listening to ‘The Blackening’ because the band has clearly experimented with their latest release given that tracks like the gloomy,melodic ‘Sail Into The Black’ and the grooves on ‘Beneath The Silt’ are not typical of Machine Head but they make it work! Added to that the soaring choruses, raging guitar solos and spurts of acoustic and melodic bits just remind you of why Machine Head will always be awesome and kick a lot of bands in the proverbial arse.
Listen to: ‘Now We Die’

7. Septicflesh – Titan [Greece – Season Of Mist]

Symphonic metal + Greek Mythology and Occultism = WIN. This and more can be said about the new album ‘Titan’ from Athenian metal lords Septicflesh which is an absolute banger and really you couldn’t expect any less from these guys. The haunting presence of  a booming orchestral choir (spine-chill inducing), the gurgling brutality of Seth’s brutal growls and the insane blast beat assault of  Fotis, all with a straight up in your face death metal sound make ‘Titan’ really live up to it’s name! The harmony that floats along in each track oh-so-subtly before the heavy parts hit you keeps you hooked to this album right to the last minute, whether you like it or not. This was more of a grower for me but the sheer mix of that theatrical symphonic vibe with metal from the Greeks? That’s an album list topper right there!
Listen to: ‘Order Of Dracul’

6. Mountains Under Oceans – Mountains Under Oceans (EP) [Scotland – Independent]

From being just a band that I found on the 2014 Tech-Fest line up to being on my phone as a part of my daily playlist, this four-piece from Glasgow have absolutely blown me away with the pure bliss that is their debut self-titled EP. From the emotional, eerie melodies,  metallic riffage and atmospheric soundscapes, this band pulls together an array of musical elements that make their music so diverse it’s addictive! Each time I listen to it I feel like there’s something there that I hadn’t heard before, it’s got that mystic charm and unpredictability that I appreciate in the music I listen to. Quite simply, I fell in love with this band the very first time I heard them and needless to say, there was no way in hell I was leaving them out of my list. Bloody brilliant stuff!
Listen to: ‘Memory’

5. Eluveitie – Origins [Switzerland – Nuclear Blast Records]

Ah yes, Eluveitie. The Swiss 8-piece bring together the gorgeous mysticism of the extinct Gaelic language with the historic beauty of Celtic mythology and the charming yet powerful tunes of folk metal to create an absolutely stunning album. I love this band for their authenticity, their love for their heritage and culture and for the fact that on the album you can hear every single member, each standing out in their moments of spotlight.New fiddle player/violinist Nicole has proved her worth in the band, Anna Murphy growls, Chrigel Glanzmann continues to be the beast that he is. The guitars switch from powerful speeds to stunning melodic sections where the folk element really stands out while Merlin Sutter blasts the shit out of his drum kit. The production makes this one all the more worth the listen. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to describe how much I love them and how their music makes me feel ( most of the time like I’m in the middle of battle wearing a kilt and screaming in ancient tongues).
Listen to: ‘The Call Of The Moutians’

4. Insomnium – Shadows of the Dying Sun [Finland – Century Media Records]

There’s not much I can say about Insomnium that I haven’t already said over and over again. With the release of ‘Shadows of the Dying Sun’ this year, the band proved once again why they are one of Finland as well as the world’s greatest melodic death metal bands. Filled with beautiful, melancholic riffs that send chills down your spine, that perfect combination of mesmerizing cleans interwoven with Nillo Sevanen’s beastly growls and galloping blast beats  creating music of epic headbangable quality. With tracks like ‘Black Heart Rebellion’ with a  black metal feel to the more emotional, upbeat tracks like ‘Ephemeral’ and ‘Colliding Worlds’, there is something in it for everyone. Bottomline: I friggin love Insomnium. Forever and ever. Musical ingenuity at it’s finest, these Finnish metallers can do no wrong.
Listen to: ‘While We Sleep’

3. Ne Obliviscaris – Citadel [VIC – Season Of Mist]

Ne Obliviscaris deserves to be on the top of everyone’s lists.From day 1 I’ve loved this band to no end and their latest release ‘Citadel’ is no exception to this love. It’s magnificent, maintains that signature elegant heaviness, the melodic wails of that beautiful violin, blast beats, the balance of clean and harsh vocals – it’s all there. Even though I have a soft corner for ‘Portal of I’, this one is nothing short of a masterpiece. They have continued to be themselves while experimenting with new sounds. There’s a continuous flow of progressive extreme metal throughout the 48 minutes. I’m so proud of how far these guys have come and now they’re all set to dominate the world!
Listen to: ‘Painters of the Tempest: (Part II) Triptych Lux’

2. Fallujah – The Flesh Prevails [USA – Unique Leader]

Fallujah was, without a doubt going to be right at the top of my list right from the start. ‘The Flesh Prevails’ is not just an album, it’s a bloody masterpiece that captures the technicality, originality and if I could say elegant brutality that this band manages to pull together in all of the music that they put out.  The production is absolutely flawless and it’s the perfect album to listen to if you want the best of both progressive/atmospheric and death metal. The way they blend heavy with ambient is insane to the point that you don’t really even know how to react what you’re listening to except gawk at your screen ( which is pretty much what I did for the first few listens) These blokes have redefined metal with this record and right at the top is where they ought to be. Fallu-YAH!!!!!!
Listen to: ‘Carved From Stone’

1. Behemoth – The Satanist [Poland – Nuclear Blast Records]

The moment I listened to those first haunting notes of ‘Blow Your Trumpet, Gabriel’, I knew for a fact that nothing in the world could top the likes of these mighty Polish black metallers. From start to finish, this album is packed with the evil, dark and crushing sounds created by Nergal, Orion and Inferno.With tracks like ‘Messe Noir’ and ‘O Father, O Satan, O Sun’  , this album encapsulates the true essence of what Behemoth stand for – pure, relentless, and fierce black metal. The fact that Nergal literally stared death in the face and emerged more brutal than ever makes this album all the more powerful and significant, especially to long time fans.  ‘The Satanist’ stands out from all the rest bar none, because it is a symbol of how metal can conquer anything. HAIL SATAN!
Listen to: ‘Blow Your Trumpet, Gabriel’ (NSFW)

Related Posts

• 

  HJELVIK – Welcome to Hel
• 

  AC/DC – Power Up
• 

  Depravity – Grand Malevolence
• 

  Pioneering Aussie metal drummer Matt ‘Skitz’ announces 2021 national tour.