Blog author: Alex Stojanovic
Another great year, gone! As far as new releases go, this has been another excellent year, and we've seen some stellar releases. Like every year, metal fans and musicians worldwide love to put together their Top 10 Albums Of The Year lists and share them with the world. After being a part of Metal Master Kingdom for the past two years, I never got to share my top album picks, but this year, I decided to share my picks with you guys. My list contains a few titles that are already featured on numerous lists around the world, but also a couple of titles that may seem a little under the radar, and are worthy of your attention.
10. LOST SOCIETY - Terror Hungry
Finland's up and coming thrash titans Lost Society may be only two albums in, but they know what it takes to make an exciting thrash album. Their new album Terror Hungry, picks up right where their debut album Fast Loud Death left off musically, but as far as the tone goes, it's darker than the first album. While there is nothing ground-breaking, Terror Hungry is just a solid disc by a band that knows its own strengths. Now I usually prefer a little more variety, but if I need an album with a lot of speed and aggression, Terror Hungry surely satisfies my need for speed when I need it. If you're a fan of frenetic fretwork, gang vocals, blazing drums, lightning-fast riffs and razor-sharp guitar tones, this album is for you.
Finland's up and coming thrash titans Lost Society may be only two albums in, but they know what it takes to make an exciting thrash album. Their new album Terror Hungry, picks up right where their debut album Fast Loud Death left off musically, but as far as the tone goes, it's darker than the first album. While there is nothing ground-breaking, Terror Hungry is just a solid disc by a band that knows its own strengths. Now I usually prefer a little more variety, but if I need an album with a lot of speed and aggression, Terror Hungry surely satisfies my need for speed when I need it. If you're a fan of frenetic fretwork, gang vocals, blazing drums, lightning-fast riffs and razor-sharp guitar tones, this album is for you.
09. MACHINE HEAD - Bloodstone & Diamonds
3 years after their last album Unto The Locust, Machine Head come roaring back with their new album Bloodstone & Diamonds. Their first with new bassist Jared MacEachern, Machine Head really took their time with this album, and I'm glad they did becaue it's very evident that when a band takes 3 or more years to release an album, the results are usually excellent. The album is a real roller coaster with a variety of tempos, and a few surprises thrown in, such as orchestral parts. The first half of the song "Sail Into The Black" should be the soundtrack to a ghost hunting show, it's so eerie, which I love. That being said, I think Machine Head have churned out their finest album to date with Bloodstone & Diamonds.
3 years after their last album Unto The Locust, Machine Head come roaring back with their new album Bloodstone & Diamonds. Their first with new bassist Jared MacEachern, Machine Head really took their time with this album, and I'm glad they did becaue it's very evident that when a band takes 3 or more years to release an album, the results are usually excellent. The album is a real roller coaster with a variety of tempos, and a few surprises thrown in, such as orchestral parts. The first half of the song "Sail Into The Black" should be the soundtrack to a ghost hunting show, it's so eerie, which I love. That being said, I think Machine Head have churned out their finest album to date with Bloodstone & Diamonds.
08. OVERKILL - White Devil Armory
What else can be said about Overkill that hasn't been said already. They kept stormtrooping through adversity and every obstacle that managed to stand in their way and have come out the other side stronger than ever. White Devil Armory is album #17 for Overkill, and is pure evidence that they still have plenty of life left in them. If songs like "Armorist", "Bitter Pill", "Freedom Rings" and "Where There's Smoke" don't make you bang your head and want to start moshing and raising hell in the comfort of your own house, then I don't know what does. Another exceptional album from one of the all-time thrash greats, and it deserves its place on this list.
What else can be said about Overkill that hasn't been said already. They kept stormtrooping through adversity and every obstacle that managed to stand in their way and have come out the other side stronger than ever. White Devil Armory is album #17 for Overkill, and is pure evidence that they still have plenty of life left in them. If songs like "Armorist", "Bitter Pill", "Freedom Rings" and "Where There's Smoke" don't make you bang your head and want to start moshing and raising hell in the comfort of your own house, then I don't know what does. Another exceptional album from one of the all-time thrash greats, and it deserves its place on this list.
07. CANNIBAL CORPSE - A Skeletal Domain
Cannibal Corpse are on a roll with another incredible slab of limb-sawing brutality, but took it to a more darker and sinister level. A Skeletal Domain is to me, the best produced and best written Cannibal Corpse album since 2006's Kill. Producer Mark Lewis brought a much more pristine production to the Cannibal Corpse sound. It goes to show that death metal bands don't need distortion and low tunings to sound aggressive. Tempos change seamlessly throughout the tracks. The guitar tone is so incredibly rich, it makes the riffs more crushing and groovy, making it impossible not to headbang. This is one of 2014's most potent and essential death metal releases!
Cannibal Corpse are on a roll with another incredible slab of limb-sawing brutality, but took it to a more darker and sinister level. A Skeletal Domain is to me, the best produced and best written Cannibal Corpse album since 2006's Kill. Producer Mark Lewis brought a much more pristine production to the Cannibal Corpse sound. It goes to show that death metal bands don't need distortion and low tunings to sound aggressive. Tempos change seamlessly throughout the tracks. The guitar tone is so incredibly rich, it makes the riffs more crushing and groovy, making it impossible not to headbang. This is one of 2014's most potent and essential death metal releases!
06. KILLER BE KILLED - Killer Be Killed
Killer Be Killed: The supergroup featuring Max Cavalera, Greg Puciato, Troy Sanders and Dave Elitch released their much anticipated self-titled debut studio album in May of this year and the reception has been really positive. Right from the opening vocal line and riff of the opening track "Wings Of Feather & Wax", I knew that this album contained magic. Greg, Max and Troy all trade off on vocals, which is something you don't hear very much in metal, and each vocalist brings a different element. Max brings the aggression, Troy brings the melodicism and Greg brings both. Tracks like "Wings Of Feather & Wax", "Face Down", "Melting Of My Marrow", "Curb Crusher" and "Dust Into Darkness" feature huge captivating hooks and melodies, giving you the urge to bang your head and sing along. There's something for everybody here, which is how it should be.
Killer Be Killed: The supergroup featuring Max Cavalera, Greg Puciato, Troy Sanders and Dave Elitch released their much anticipated self-titled debut studio album in May of this year and the reception has been really positive. Right from the opening vocal line and riff of the opening track "Wings Of Feather & Wax", I knew that this album contained magic. Greg, Max and Troy all trade off on vocals, which is something you don't hear very much in metal, and each vocalist brings a different element. Max brings the aggression, Troy brings the melodicism and Greg brings both. Tracks like "Wings Of Feather & Wax", "Face Down", "Melting Of My Marrow", "Curb Crusher" and "Dust Into Darkness" feature huge captivating hooks and melodies, giving you the urge to bang your head and sing along. There's something for everybody here, which is how it should be.
05. JUDAS PRIEST - Redeemer Of Souls
Following the sudden departure of founding guitarist K.K Downing and the new addition of guitarist Richie Faulkner, expectations for the new Judas Priest album were high. The band embarked on their Epitaph tour, and wrote new music on and off the road. The result: Redeemer Of Souls. A modern twist on Judas Priest's classic sound. While the previous album Nostradamus didn't go over as well with a majority of fans, it was appreciated by most fans, but it wasn't what hardcore Judas Priest fans have hoped for, so this time around, the fans spoke, the band listened, and they delivered in spades. Songs like "Dragonaut", "Halls Of Valhalla", "March Of The Damned", "Crossfire" and "Battle Cry" are full-on assaults of classic Judas Priest. The second I heard the title track when it was first released, I knew I had to buy this album. Redeemer Of Souls is as important to the Priest catalog as Hell Bent For Leather, British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance, Defenders Of The Faith and Painkiller.
Following the sudden departure of founding guitarist K.K Downing and the new addition of guitarist Richie Faulkner, expectations for the new Judas Priest album were high. The band embarked on their Epitaph tour, and wrote new music on and off the road. The result: Redeemer Of Souls. A modern twist on Judas Priest's classic sound. While the previous album Nostradamus didn't go over as well with a majority of fans, it was appreciated by most fans, but it wasn't what hardcore Judas Priest fans have hoped for, so this time around, the fans spoke, the band listened, and they delivered in spades. Songs like "Dragonaut", "Halls Of Valhalla", "March Of The Damned", "Crossfire" and "Battle Cry" are full-on assaults of classic Judas Priest. The second I heard the title track when it was first released, I knew I had to buy this album. Redeemer Of Souls is as important to the Priest catalog as Hell Bent For Leather, British Steel, Screaming For Vengeance, Defenders Of The Faith and Painkiller.
04. ACCEPT - Blind Rage
When it comes to keeping your music exciting and fresh while sticking to one formula for your entire career, Accept know how it's done. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Ever since reforming in 2009 and releasing three tremendous studio albums with current vocalist Mark Tornillo, Accept have shown no signs of slowing down, and just keep getting better with each successive album. While Blood Of The Nations and Stalingrad are both masterpieces of metal, I believe that their new offering Blind Rage surpasses the two albums. Mark Tornillo's melodic vocals are in the spotlight a lot more here than on the previous albums. Blind Rage as a whole, is a classic heavy metal lesson. I mean come on, it's Accept. Every element that has helped earn Accept the title of "German Metal Gods" is present, from the massive riffs of Wolf Hoffmann and Herman Frank, to the dark choir chants and the huge anthemic choruses. Accept brought nothing but brilliance for 35 years and are still going strong!
When it comes to keeping your music exciting and fresh while sticking to one formula for your entire career, Accept know how it's done. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Ever since reforming in 2009 and releasing three tremendous studio albums with current vocalist Mark Tornillo, Accept have shown no signs of slowing down, and just keep getting better with each successive album. While Blood Of The Nations and Stalingrad are both masterpieces of metal, I believe that their new offering Blind Rage surpasses the two albums. Mark Tornillo's melodic vocals are in the spotlight a lot more here than on the previous albums. Blind Rage as a whole, is a classic heavy metal lesson. I mean come on, it's Accept. Every element that has helped earn Accept the title of "German Metal Gods" is present, from the massive riffs of Wolf Hoffmann and Herman Frank, to the dark choir chants and the huge anthemic choruses. Accept brought nothing but brilliance for 35 years and are still going strong!
03. PRETTY MAIDS - Louder Than Ever
Extremely crunchy riffs, giant hooks, huge choruses and the biggest and catchiest melodies are what I've always been attracted to, and Pretty Maids have a plethora of those. The band's 2014 release Louder Than Ever, is a collection of re-recordings of old tracks from the late 90s and early 2000s, as well as four new songs written from scratch. Pretty Maids have incredible versatility with heavy stompers, soft ballads, and tracks that are borderline thrash. Their choruses are designed for arenas and stadiums, they're so huge. This is easily one of the best melodic heavy metal albums I ever bought. If you're a fan of 80s hard rock bands like Def Leppard, Dokken, Ratt, Motley Crue, Poison, Skid Row and even Bon Jovi, then I highly suggest you check out Pretty Maids. You will not be disappointed.
Extremely crunchy riffs, giant hooks, huge choruses and the biggest and catchiest melodies are what I've always been attracted to, and Pretty Maids have a plethora of those. The band's 2014 release Louder Than Ever, is a collection of re-recordings of old tracks from the late 90s and early 2000s, as well as four new songs written from scratch. Pretty Maids have incredible versatility with heavy stompers, soft ballads, and tracks that are borderline thrash. Their choruses are designed for arenas and stadiums, they're so huge. This is easily one of the best melodic heavy metal albums I ever bought. If you're a fan of 80s hard rock bands like Def Leppard, Dokken, Ratt, Motley Crue, Poison, Skid Row and even Bon Jovi, then I highly suggest you check out Pretty Maids. You will not be disappointed.
02. EXODUS - Blood In, Blood Out
With Steve "Zetro" Souza back in the fold, it's no wonder that Exodus' Blood In, Blood Out was one of 2014's most anticipated releases. Even the guest apperances of Testament's Chuck Billy and Metallica's Kirk Hammett (who was a founding member of Exodus) make the album even more brilliant. Gary Holt's ability to bust out neck-destroying riffs is still there. Elements of Bonded By Blood, Fabulous Disaster and Tempo Of The Damned are heard all over the album, and that should please every Exodus fan. While the album still contains the signature thrash aggression the band have blessed the world with, we get to see the melodic side of the band in a few places like on the tracks "Wrapped In The Arms Of Rage" and "My Last Nerve". From headbanging stompers to pit-starting ragers, Blood In, Blood Out encompasses everything Exodus has done in their 30+year reign in the thrash scene and more.
With Steve "Zetro" Souza back in the fold, it's no wonder that Exodus' Blood In, Blood Out was one of 2014's most anticipated releases. Even the guest apperances of Testament's Chuck Billy and Metallica's Kirk Hammett (who was a founding member of Exodus) make the album even more brilliant. Gary Holt's ability to bust out neck-destroying riffs is still there. Elements of Bonded By Blood, Fabulous Disaster and Tempo Of The Damned are heard all over the album, and that should please every Exodus fan. While the album still contains the signature thrash aggression the band have blessed the world with, we get to see the melodic side of the band in a few places like on the tracks "Wrapped In The Arms Of Rage" and "My Last Nerve". From headbanging stompers to pit-starting ragers, Blood In, Blood Out encompasses everything Exodus has done in their 30+year reign in the thrash scene and more.
01. SAVAGE MESSIAH - The Fateful Dark
UK melodic thrashers Savage Messiah have split the difference between their crushing and thrashing debut Insurrection Rising and their melodic and ambitious sophomore effort Plague Of Conscience, and gave the best of both worlds and more on their new album The Fateful Dark. There's a multitude of reasons why this album is my top pick for this year, but I'll give a couple. The excellence in the songwriting and musicianship is a great testimony to the acclaim the album received from fans and critics. The brilliance and versatility showcased in Dave Silver and Joff Bailey's guitar work with simplicity, intricacy, melody, harmony and aggression, make them one of the most exceptional guitar duos of the 21st century. Seriously, they can give a lot of the classic guitar duos a run for their money. Dave Silver is one of the finest voices in modern metal, where he brings the classic blend of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, with a bit of 80s James Hetfield thrown in. If you're a fan of aggressive heavy thrash and beautifully epic, soulful and catchy melodies, you'll love Savage Messiah! The eclecticism makes it an instant classic, and that's why The Fateful Dark is crowned my favourite album of 2014.
UK melodic thrashers Savage Messiah have split the difference between their crushing and thrashing debut Insurrection Rising and their melodic and ambitious sophomore effort Plague Of Conscience, and gave the best of both worlds and more on their new album The Fateful Dark. There's a multitude of reasons why this album is my top pick for this year, but I'll give a couple. The excellence in the songwriting and musicianship is a great testimony to the acclaim the album received from fans and critics. The brilliance and versatility showcased in Dave Silver and Joff Bailey's guitar work with simplicity, intricacy, melody, harmony and aggression, make them one of the most exceptional guitar duos of the 21st century. Seriously, they can give a lot of the classic guitar duos a run for their money. Dave Silver is one of the finest voices in modern metal, where he brings the classic blend of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, with a bit of 80s James Hetfield thrown in. If you're a fan of aggressive heavy thrash and beautifully epic, soulful and catchy melodies, you'll love Savage Messiah! The eclecticism makes it an instant classic, and that's why The Fateful Dark is crowned my favourite album of 2014.
Of course, a list wouldn't be complete without a few honourable mentions. So many stellar releases come out each year, and there's always those few albums that come really close but don't quite make the cut, but you don't want to just ignore them, and that's the case with the following five runners-up.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS (No Order)
| Arch Enemy War Eternal  | Primal Fear Delivering The Black  | DragonForce Maximum Overload  |
| Hatriot Dawn Of The New Centurion  | Iced Earth Plagues Of Babylon  | AC/DC Rock Or Bust  |
With that said, thank you very much for checking out my list. Cheers to a fantastic 2014, and we look forward to an even greater 2015! Horns high metalheads!
RSS Feed
