End of Year 2014: Favorite Albums

Time again for the obligatory 'end of year' list. By no means is this a best of 2014 list. I certainly do not have neither the time, funds, or critical ear to provide an unbiased comparisons of one record to another. As in previous years, this a list of my personal favorite albums - the ones that left an impression and remain in heavy rotation. 

Interestingly, none of the albums on my list are from American bands. Evidently, none of the US releases left a last mark this year. To be fair, however, I didn't have a chance to give a list to bands like Tombs or Yob, which seemed to garner a lot of favorable reviews. Maybe I'll pick them up in an after-Christmas sale or something...

Anyway, here they are (in ascending order):

In Flames: Siren Charms
This is the beginning of my top/favorite albums of 2014 list. Sweden was well represented this year - Opeth, Scar Symmetry, At The Gates - but I'm starting off with In Flames. Siren Charms is simply In Flames doing what they do best: the collision of chunky riffs, melodic choruses, and vocalist, Anders Frieden's multifaceted delivery. The album, similar in style to their previous, ebbs and flows between stomping melodic metal and tender-sounding moments that pull you close to the speaker. It's catchy enough to get stuck in your head, though you may not always be sure which song you're singing. It’s also worth mentioning that, having recently seen In Flames live, the new material sounds great. Anders and company never fail to deliver whether their showcasing new songs or playing fan favorites from their deep catalog.

In Flames! #metal #concert #worcester #inflameswetrust

A photo posted by GreenChamber (@greenchamber) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:55pm PST

Opeth: Pale Communion

Next on my list is Opeth's Pale Communion. As a follow-up to 2011’s Heritage, the new record finds the Swedish metal crew basking in the grooved glory of proggy nostalgia. The songs are tight, technical, and exquisitely layered. Many people might be tempted to bemoan the lack of 'death' in this death metal band, but listen closely and you'll instinctively understand that this is wholly and truly an Opeth record. Without doubt, it’s probably their most accessible album, full of lush vocals and complex arrangements which push the boundaries into a rounded hard rock sound. The keyboards are pushed forward in the mix and one could spend weeks trapped in Martin Axenrot’s beautiful percussion work. If you’re not up on the latest in metal, but you've got a soft spot for old school prog rock, then there's a lot here for you, too (the instrumental "Goblin," for example... I wonder where they got that idea from  ). Overall, Pale Communion is another excellent outing and one that will surely shine played live, alongside the rest of their deep catalog.

Katatonia: Kocytean

While the digital age has made buying a song or album effortless, there's been push to get people back into record stores to buy physical CDs and, increasingly, vinyl. The metal music scene has responded and you'll find that on a lot of new releases come with a vinyl version. Record labels are also reissuing back catalogs of albums on those giant plastic circles. This year, Swedish goth metal band, Katatonia released a collection of B-side material from past recording sessions exclusively on vinyl (bright orange vinyl - which, by the way, looks pretty cool spinning around on a record player). The six tracks span to back to 2006 and gently walk the tender trails of Katatonia's more melodic side. It's a peaceful listening experience, good for a cold raining day. At the same time, it serves as a reminder that music can (and should) aspire to be more than just a collection of bytes on your phone, jostling for a moment of your precious time. It's good to slow down and watch the music spin.

Katatonia's Kocytean! #metal #vinyl #katatonia #kocytean #rsd

A photo posted by GreenChamber (@greenchamber) on Apr 4, 2014 at 4:42pm PDT

At The Gates: At War with Reality

So far, most of my list has contained bands with 20+ years of bringing metal to the masses. My next choice is another act (from Sweden, again!) that has been around, too. At The Gates, known for death metal perfection in the early-to-mid 90’s, released a high anticipated (and hyped) album, At War with Reality, their first record since 1996. The new album is bristling with a ferocity - thick in its sound and intense in its execution. Absence makes the heart grow fonder - an 18 year hiatus makes fans rabid. I say a record this good was worth the wait. At The Gates delivers the metal world an album that will spin forever, renewing the faith of old fans and earning a new legion of loyal fans.

Ghost Brigade: One with the Storm

I’ll make a geographic move on this next one... All the way to Finland. Ghost Brigade returns with their mixture of hauntingly heavy melodic metal. This year’s One with the Storm came together quietly - at least from the outside. While a lot of bands use social media to bait fans during the course of completing a new record, Ghost Brigade went to the studio with barely a word posted to Facebook or Twitter. The fourth album from the Finnish sextet finds them digging in similar soil, traversing the same graveyards as in previous releases, but more focused and deliberate in their execution. The back-and-forth of harsh growl and melodic vocal is neither cliche nor schizophrenic. The impact is brilliant - at times chilling and peaceful, and at others their sound is thunderous and crushing.

Myrkur: Mykur EP

Combining the starkness of black metal with ethereal, often beautiful vocals, Myrkur, the self titled EP by Dannish musician Amalie Bruun, pushes the genre-bending envelope. Drawing on a myriad of musical influences, Myrkur paints the stark Scandinavian landscape with a warmth that keeps you enraptured. The US take on black metal is often gritty, full of fuzz and dirt. From across the Atlantic, Myrkur reminds us of the genre's arctic roots while broadening the depth of its reach.

Solstafir: Otta

With their latest album, Icelandic band Sólstafir creates a sonic universe as textured and riveting as the land from which it's born. Soft and sweet, heavy and hypnotic, Otta elegantly mirrors the ebb and flow of the tide on a volcanic beach. Within these enchanting rhythms, you can feel the sting of arctic wind and the beauty of a midnight sun.

Behemoth: The Satanist

In the years since Behemoth's last album, frontman Nergal has battled free speech and leukemia. Released in February, The Satanist is still in heavy rotation on my listening schedule. It's been a long year with a lot of bands putting out stellar records, but for me, The Satanist stands alone. Nergal and company find the groove within the blast beat of heavy metal. Each song blisters with tight, technical rhythm and voracious vocals. Start to finish, you'll sway, headbang, and roar alongside this massive force. The Satanist is a record that doesn't need to be topped - a rare gift from the metal gods that exceeds expectations at all levels. In fact, it might be perfect.

#Behemoth closing out their set with 'O father...' #metal #nemhcf

A photo posted by GreenChamber (@greenchamber) on Apr 4, 2014 at 4:26pm PDT

GreenChamber's Favorites of 2013

I know, I know, when the temperature drops and the Christmas decorations go up, every writes up a list of the “best” music from past 12 months. But hey, it’s fun to look back on the year (or the parts you remember) and reflect on the joyous tunes that got you through the dark winter, sweltering summer, and holidays with your family. This year, as I read through the multitude of other lists posted out there, I also notice how much music I’ve missed. Evidently, my theme for 2013 was to latch onto just handful of albums. I admit that I still have plenty of music from last year in heavy rotation. Even so, I decided throw together a little list of my own for your enjoyment while you’re finishing last-minute Christmas shopping (I wear a medium t-shirt, anything black). So here goes: a random list of five albums that I picked up this year and haven’t put down yet.

Katatonia - Dethroned and Uncrowned. Brooding with the dark elegance that Katatonia is renowned for, Dethroned embarks on a journey to reimagine the entire Dead End Kings album, stripping each track its gothic bones and building layers back up, gently guided by Jonas Renske sweet croon. The softer and more delicate that Katatonia’s sounds become the heavier they feel. Here’s hoping they bring their Dethroned tour to the US in 2014.

Soilwork - The Living Infinite. It’s hard to deny the ambition of Soilwork’s latest - a 20-song effort that showcases their driving, hard Swedish metal sound, tinged with subtle nods to some of the black and doom sounds that surely have served to influence them over the years. No, they didn’t need to put out such a lengthy record and certainly took a risk by doing so. Over the span of 20 songs, you could forgive (and probably expect) things to go soft somewhere around the middle. Hell, plenty of bands do it over of the course of 12 songs. Fortunately, Soilwork churn through each and every song with intent and passion, ensuring enough hooks and aggression to keep you battered track after track.

Amorphis - Circle. Departing from the epic Finnish folklore that served at the basis for past album, Amorphis choose to create their story with this year’s Circle. Blast beats, folk-tinged flourishes, and Tomi’s brutal growl make this a complete Amorphis album. The Finnish group continues to demonstrate the prowess and energy that years of crafting death metal can produce. The album is dense and rich, as the guitars are pushed forward, leaving the vocal to tear through the curtains - which Tomi achieves through guttural growls and distinctive harmonies.

DevilDriver - Winter Kills. I will be forever drawn to DevilDriver’s music. There’s something about the swagger and blistering rage that erupts throughout each song. Every album offers hints of different influences or directions that they could take, while swerving down the line of pummeling American death metal. Their relentless touring schedule means there’s always an opportunity to see how they do it all live and how songs, both new and old, consistently swirl into an inevitable circle pit.

Windhand - Soma. I read the reviews when this album was released and was intrigued enough to pick it up for myself. Soma is dark, dirty, and immensely isolating. The sound is gritty and scratches deeper with each passage. The repeated riff structures batter against you like a relentless wave, picking up the debris and sand from the ocean floor and showering it against your cold, bare skin. And while there is little daylight in this place, there is beauty buried beneath the noise. Just let it wash over you, to cleanse the ache away and start over again.