For the past couple of months, I've been catching up on albums released last year, and I'm finally ready to give you a list of the best 10.
2014 was a good year for metal, with album releases by a number of long-time heavyweights and some of progressive favorites as well. In the former category, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Behemoth, Black Label Society, Blut Aus Nord, Body Count, Crowbar, Down, Exodus, Eyehategod, Godflesh, Judas Priest, Lacuna Coil, Machine Head, Overkill, Slipknot, Triptykon and Vader all had releases last year. There was even a Grammy favorite tribute album to the late great Ronnie James Dio. And some fantastic and well-established progressive metal bands also had 2014 releases: Agalloch, Animals as Leaders, Cynic, Mastodon, Opeth, Threshold, Devin Townsend and Vanden Plas.
Despite the albums put out by all of those excellent bands, my list of the 10 best come from relatively new, varied and underexposed acts. I'm putting them in alphabetical order because they're too difficult to rank, but these 10 definitely stood out to me as the top of a great class.
Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution
This Canadian quartet achieves great balance between melodic and technical, brutal and progressive on this fantastic tech-death album.
Conquering Dystopia - Conquering Dystopia
Okay, so maybe it's not completely fair to call this a new or unknown act. I mean it is but guitarist Jeff Loomis has had a pretty full career playing with Nevermore among others. And bassist Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse is no hidden talent either. This album of instrumental metal features blistering neo-classical shredding atop tight, heavy and fast riff-oriented death metal. If instrumental music is your thing, check this out. It's one of the best of that type I've ever heard.
Dimesland - Psychogenic Atrophy
This is zany, left-handed death metal a la Canadian greats Gorguts and Martyr, but originating from California's bay area. There's plenty of jazz and thrash thrown in there too. In fact the only thing you won't find is the kitchen sink... and the melody can be hard to find too. Highly recommended for anyone who likes twisty, experimental music.
Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails
Another San Francisco band. And another great technical death metal album, this one and Beyond Creation's (above) are the two most similar on this list. This one is perhaps a bit more polished and not as overtly jazzy.
Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
Interesting and enjoyable mix of metal styles from Down Under with unusual prominence of the violin reminds me of a modernized and more varied Tristania.
Soen - Tellurian
Another "supergroup" like Conquering Dystopia, this excellent release features a rhythm section of drummer Martin Lopez (of Opeth) and bassist Steve DiGiorgio (of Death, Testament and Sadus) and sits solidly between legendary proggers Tool and Opeth.
Spires - The Whisperer
Grandiose extreme progressive metal from England features long compositions, strong playing, choral and string orchestrations and varied tone. I'm not a fan of the clean vocals, which populate much of the album, but it's such a strong effort otherwise that they're more than made up for.
Troldhaugen - Obzkure Anekdotez for Maniakal Massez
Another Australian band, these guys are obviously having a bit of a laugh. But besides being quirky and irreverent, it's interesting and well-played folk metal with some old-school video game influence thrown in.
Verse Vica - Endeavor
Unfortunately, this awesome band from North Carolina is probably the least-discovered here (along with the equally amazing Dimesland). Their very proggy release is reminiscent of newer and highly successful bands, fellow NC'ers Between the Buried and Me and instrumental act Animals as Leaders. I hope these guys can break out in terms of exposure.
Xerath - III
Another English band, this expansive, symphonic metal reminds me of a more interesting Devin Townsend, both compositionally and vocally. As popular as Devin is, if you like him, check this out. I think it's better.
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