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.
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.
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.
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.
