2014 was a fucking huge year for metal. So many amazing albums were released this year so narrowing it down to just 10 was almost impossible so this is how I feel about the year right now. Might change later but this is it now. Also gonna throw out a list of honorable mentions as well that I love from the year but couldn’t figure out where to put them.
10. The German PANZER – “Send Them All To Hell”
An amazing combination of the thrash madness of Destruction and the traditional heavy metal sensibilities of Accept
9. OVERKILL – “White Devil Armory”
Blitz and co. return to do what they do and thats thrash hard, they haven’t faulted or lost a step along the way
8. IRON REAGAN – “Spoiled Identity E.P.”
The New-Thrash/Crossover super group released this free E.P. This year prior to their second album and i feel that this is much strong collection of tracks than the actually full length album
7. BODY COUNT – “Manslaughter”
A lot of people will argue that Body Count isn’t metal but i’d argue they are more metal than most metal bands today. This album Ice-T and his crew release their anger and issues with modern society and its a classic from start to finish
6. SEGGRESSION – “Painted In Blood”
The Wollongong bassed band have returned with an amazing straight forward heavy metal album having dropt all the nu-metal elements of past releases to make a truly timeless heavy metal album
5. OBITUARY – “Inked In Blood”
After a successful kickstarter campaign Obituary were able to create a classic Florida death metal album that rings true to the bands roots and shows that they are gonna be around for a long time thanks to now being able to do things on their own terms
4. ALKIRA – “Juggernaut”
After a hugely successful EP South Australian Thrashers Alkira have released their debut full length album and its a pure thrash classic. Tapping into the classic thrash metal sound and giving it their own personal spin this guys have kicked of their career in an amazing way and hopefully have many many more albums of this quality to come.
3. KILLER BE KILLED – “Self Titled”
Pretty sure this one is gonna be on pretty much everyone’s top list of 2014. This is possibly the greatest example of how a super group should sound. Take the best qualities of Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan and old school Sepultura and blend it all together and that’s exactly what this album sounds like. Not a weak track on the entire album
2. EXODUS – “Blood In Blood Out”
With the return of Zetro this is Exodus how its supposed to sound. Its heavy, hard and fast with unrelenting guitars and Zetro spiting vile the whole way. Along with a few little cameos here and there its Bay Area Thrash Metal the way it should be played. Paul Baloff would be proud
1 .TRIPTYKON – “Melana Chasmata”
This album is a true masterpiece. Its a work of art. The man who along with a handful of others is responsible for giving us Black Metal, Death Metal and influencing so many other areas of Extreme Metal returns with his current band to show you that their maybe many imitators but he is the true master. It doesn’t re-harsh any Celtic Frost or Hellhammer albums but you can definitely feel it in there. I could listen to this album on repeat for days.
Honorable mentions go to:
Below – “Across The Dark River”
Ace Frehley – “Space Invader”
Eyehategod – “Eyehategod”
Autopsy – ‘Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves”
Lost Society – “Terror Hungry”
NE OBLIVISCARIS – “Citadel”
In Malice’s Wake – “Visions of live destruction”
Envenomed – “Evil Unseen”
HADAL MAW – “SENIUM”