What a year, I'd say! Many band saw huge changes in their line-ups while managing to keep former quality (or even to increase it). One good example is Sabaton with great Heroes -album. We also saw an anticipated reunion. This year stoner rock is absent from my list although Wo Fat put out an awesome album (and Brant Bjork released new stuff). I just listened so much more these other albums, so it felt proper to leave those two out.Machine Head deserves credits for their new Bloodstone & Diamonds -album. Definitively better than the Locust but stretching to epic 70 + minutes, it is sometimes tranquilizing to listen it through and I dropped it. But Let's cut the crap, here are my picks for 2014.
Albums:
At the Gates - At War With Reality
I think three years ago nobody believed this album would ever be released. Slaughter of the Soul is one of my all-time favorite metal albums and I was a bit skeptical when I heard of the new At the Gates album. Luckily there is no reason to be worried. Despite of 19 years in between, At War With Reality sounds exactly as it should sound: a continuum of SOTS but not any way copying it.
Bloodbath - Grand Morbid Funeral
I was quite excited when I heard Nick Holmes is the new lead growler of Bloodbath. Old dog still knows the trick and he sounds surprisingly evil, just as it should be. Grand Morbid Funeral is an instant classic, old school death metal at its best. Bloodbath sounds refreshed and itself at the same time.
Insomnium - Shadows of the dying Sun
I wasn't particularly fond of the two earlier Insomnium albums. They introduced clean singing in Across the Dark album and it sounded a bit strange. The production in those albums was also horrible. Luckily in Shadows of the Dying Sun all these annoying things have been dealt with and the result is brilliant and beautiful album that also sounds good. The songs works also in live, as I managed to witness thrice this year.
Casualities of Cool - Casualities of Cool
A perfect late night album (or actually two albums) from Devin Townsend and also a project that returned my faith in Devin (which has been missing for many albums). Take bumchaka-beat from Johnny Cash, add some ambient and mix it with that wall of sound so typical for Devin and what do you get: a country music from outer space. Also one of the best gigs this year. Highly recommended album for everyone.
Arch Enemy - War Eternal
It was a bit of a shock to hear Angela stepping aside, I have always liked her superb attitude and natural live charisma, but the fact is that Arch Enemy needed some refreshment. The replacement was almost perfect Alissa White-Gluz form The Agonist. Her energy is easily heard throughout the new album making it one of the most-fun-to-listen albums in this year. Angela, however, is much better live performer since Alissa’s performance is clearly intended to younger audience. I guess this gain some – loose some scenario.
Crowbar - Symmetry in Black
Funny thing, I know this album is good but now that I must write something about it, it is less clear what exactly. If something in Symmetry in Black stands out that would be riffs. They are huge, crushing even. Secondly, the haunting vocals of Kirk Windstein create such an atmosphere from where no light escapes. A bit surprisingly this album stole the sludge crown from EYEHATEGOD this year.
The Haunted - Exit Wounds
I was pretty sure that we saw the end of The Haunted when departure of both Peter Dolving and Anders Björler, but once again I was happily surprised. Marco Aro is just perfect replacement of Dolving. Latest two albums were clear migration toward the In Flames path and Exit Wounds put nice end to it. This album is pure ass kicking metal and I love it. There is so much missed energy in Aro’s performance it is almost purifying. Exit Wounds is straightforward album and yes, not as interesting as The Dead Eye was, but more importantly it is important turning back before point of no return for this band. I’m looking forward to see them live as soon as possible.
Misery Index - Killing Gods
Misery Index is one of my favorite technical death metal bands. They have their unique way to make music and every album is diamond, there aren’t week ones. Killing Gods has been my training sound track from the moment it was released. The power, intensity and speed in this music keep me going.
Archspire - The Lucid Collective
I picked this up from a local metal fanzine recommendation and I love every second of it! Technical death metal is usually fast guitar and complex playing but these guys do twice as fast. Completely insane and so much fun.
Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways
It is interesting how along the document Sonic Highways one can develop a deeper relationship to the music when the ideas and events behind the lyrics are known. I kind of hoped a bit more aggressive and faster Foo Fighters album, but now that I know the story and idea behind making this record, it is just perfect the way it is. I am not making any kind of synopsis, there is a document made for that. It is also worth remembering that everybody is aging and that will affect how you see the world and also what kind of music you want to compose.
Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun
Mastodon continues its path toward more progressive and less metallic, some might say also more commercial sound. Their previous album The Hunter already pointed to this direction, but where it didn’t quite deliver Once More ‘Round the Sun succeeds. This time the album works better as a whole and bands musical identity is easily audible.
Bruce Springsteen - high Hopes
I would be a bad fan unless the new Springsteen album wouldn’t be in my album of the year –list. This was actually better that earlier Wrecking Ball and Tom Morello adds some extra spice on it. There are some warm ups and some cover songs but it contains some true jewels like Harry’s Place (it could easily be a theme from The Sporanos) and beautiful Down in the Hole. Conclusion: world is likely to a bit better place since this came out.
Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Definitively the heaviest album released in 2014. In many ways this is the best album of the year. But to be able to listen to this, one must have a certain state of mind. This has so crushing and dark atmosphere that I often pick something else. The world of Thomas Gabriel Fischer is just dark as the disturbed the artwork of H.R.Giger.
The best EP in 2014 is:
Bruce Springsteen – American Beauty
Best gig:
The title goes to Peter Gabriel performing So-album back to front at Hartwall Arena.
That’s all folks, happy holidays!
Albums:
At the Gates - At War With Reality
I think three years ago nobody believed this album would ever be released. Slaughter of the Soul is one of my all-time favorite metal albums and I was a bit skeptical when I heard of the new At the Gates album. Luckily there is no reason to be worried. Despite of 19 years in between, At War With Reality sounds exactly as it should sound: a continuum of SOTS but not any way copying it.
Bloodbath - Grand Morbid Funeral
I was quite excited when I heard Nick Holmes is the new lead growler of Bloodbath. Old dog still knows the trick and he sounds surprisingly evil, just as it should be. Grand Morbid Funeral is an instant classic, old school death metal at its best. Bloodbath sounds refreshed and itself at the same time.
Insomnium - Shadows of the dying Sun
I wasn't particularly fond of the two earlier Insomnium albums. They introduced clean singing in Across the Dark album and it sounded a bit strange. The production in those albums was also horrible. Luckily in Shadows of the Dying Sun all these annoying things have been dealt with and the result is brilliant and beautiful album that also sounds good. The songs works also in live, as I managed to witness thrice this year.
Casualities of Cool - Casualities of Cool
A perfect late night album (or actually two albums) from Devin Townsend and also a project that returned my faith in Devin (which has been missing for many albums). Take bumchaka-beat from Johnny Cash, add some ambient and mix it with that wall of sound so typical for Devin and what do you get: a country music from outer space. Also one of the best gigs this year. Highly recommended album for everyone.
Arch Enemy - War Eternal
It was a bit of a shock to hear Angela stepping aside, I have always liked her superb attitude and natural live charisma, but the fact is that Arch Enemy needed some refreshment. The replacement was almost perfect Alissa White-Gluz form The Agonist. Her energy is easily heard throughout the new album making it one of the most-fun-to-listen albums in this year. Angela, however, is much better live performer since Alissa’s performance is clearly intended to younger audience. I guess this gain some – loose some scenario.
Crowbar - Symmetry in Black
Funny thing, I know this album is good but now that I must write something about it, it is less clear what exactly. If something in Symmetry in Black stands out that would be riffs. They are huge, crushing even. Secondly, the haunting vocals of Kirk Windstein create such an atmosphere from where no light escapes. A bit surprisingly this album stole the sludge crown from EYEHATEGOD this year.
The Haunted - Exit Wounds
I was pretty sure that we saw the end of The Haunted when departure of both Peter Dolving and Anders Björler, but once again I was happily surprised. Marco Aro is just perfect replacement of Dolving. Latest two albums were clear migration toward the In Flames path and Exit Wounds put nice end to it. This album is pure ass kicking metal and I love it. There is so much missed energy in Aro’s performance it is almost purifying. Exit Wounds is straightforward album and yes, not as interesting as The Dead Eye was, but more importantly it is important turning back before point of no return for this band. I’m looking forward to see them live as soon as possible.
Misery Index - Killing Gods
Misery Index is one of my favorite technical death metal bands. They have their unique way to make music and every album is diamond, there aren’t week ones. Killing Gods has been my training sound track from the moment it was released. The power, intensity and speed in this music keep me going.
Archspire - The Lucid Collective
I picked this up from a local metal fanzine recommendation and I love every second of it! Technical death metal is usually fast guitar and complex playing but these guys do twice as fast. Completely insane and so much fun.
Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways
It is interesting how along the document Sonic Highways one can develop a deeper relationship to the music when the ideas and events behind the lyrics are known. I kind of hoped a bit more aggressive and faster Foo Fighters album, but now that I know the story and idea behind making this record, it is just perfect the way it is. I am not making any kind of synopsis, there is a document made for that. It is also worth remembering that everybody is aging and that will affect how you see the world and also what kind of music you want to compose.
Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun
Mastodon continues its path toward more progressive and less metallic, some might say also more commercial sound. Their previous album The Hunter already pointed to this direction, but where it didn’t quite deliver Once More ‘Round the Sun succeeds. This time the album works better as a whole and bands musical identity is easily audible.
Bruce Springsteen - high Hopes
I would be a bad fan unless the new Springsteen album wouldn’t be in my album of the year –list. This was actually better that earlier Wrecking Ball and Tom Morello adds some extra spice on it. There are some warm ups and some cover songs but it contains some true jewels like Harry’s Place (it could easily be a theme from The Sporanos) and beautiful Down in the Hole. Conclusion: world is likely to a bit better place since this came out.
Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Definitively the heaviest album released in 2014. In many ways this is the best album of the year. But to be able to listen to this, one must have a certain state of mind. This has so crushing and dark atmosphere that I often pick something else. The world of Thomas Gabriel Fischer is just dark as the disturbed the artwork of H.R.Giger.
The best EP in 2014 is:
Bruce Springsteen – American Beauty
Best gig:
The title goes to Peter Gabriel performing So-album back to front at Hartwall Arena.
That’s all folks, happy holidays!
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