TOP 50 METAL ALBUMS OF 2014

 

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It’s that time of year, where I face a legitimate heavy metal Sophie’s Choice and somehow narrow all of the extreme releases I’ve enjoyed this year down to 50. 2014 treated me beautifully, with my very first screenplay sale, a continuing dream gig at Decibel Magazine, my own column dedicated to independent bands at About Heavy Metal, and several other projects I’ll discuss in more detail soon. I KNOW YOU CAN’T WAIT. But for now, it’s time to celebrate the end of the year the way journalists and critics know best: LISTS.

There are a slew of truly solid albums not listed here, and honestly, my rankings have fluctuated nearly every day for the past two months since I handed in my initial Top 40 list to the editors at Decibel Magazine. I have no doubt that if I look at this list in another year or decade, hell, even another week, the rankings could shift and shuffle depending on my mood, the cereal I eat, how crowded the subway is that morning, etc. Feel free to inform me how lousy my selections are, how overrated band A is, how album B is obviously the top selection of the year, and how I’ve terribly under-represented genre C.

2014 Top 50 Metal Albums of the Year

1.   YAITW – When Life Comes to Death

2.   Horrendous – Ecdysis

3.   Drunk Dad – Ripper Killer

4.   Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden

5.   Morbus Chron – Sweven

6.   Thou – Heathen

7.   YOB – Clearing the Path to Ascend

8.   Nux Vomica – S/T

9.    Cripple Bastards – Nero in Metastasi

10.  Bastard Feast – Osculum Inflame

11.  Black Anvil – Hail Death

12.  Septicflesh – Titan

13.  Midnight – No Mercy for Mayhem

14.  Vallenfyre – Splinters

15.  Giant Squid – Minoans

16.  Coffin Dust – The Cemetery, My Kingdom

17.  Down – IV: Part Two

18.  Atriarch – An Unending Pathway

19.  The Skull – For Those Which Are Asleep

20.  Wo Fat – The Conjuring

21.  Eyehategod – S/T

22.  Sea of Bones – The Earth Wants Us Dead

23.  Trap Them – Blissfucker

24.  Incantation – Dirges of Elysium

25.  Orange Goblin – Back From the Abyss

26.  Triptykon – Melana Chasmata

27.  Anguish – Mountain

28.  Baptists – Bloodmines

29.  Tombs – Savage Gold

30.  Opeth – Pale Communion

31.  Torch Runner – Endless Nothing

32.  Couch Slut – My Life as a Woman

33.  Funerary – Starless Aeons

34.  Wild Throne – Blood Maker

35.  Mutilation Rites – Harbinger

36.  Bongripper – Miserable

37.  Gatecreeper – S/T

38.  Dead Congregation – Promulgation of the Fall

39.  The Oath – S/T

40.  Secret Cutter – S/T

41.  Cult Leader – Nothing For Us Here

42.  Godflesh – A World Lit Only by Fire

43.  At the Gates – At War with Reality

44.  Gurt – Horrendosaurus

45.  Drawers – S/T

46.  Atta – S/T

47.  The Atlas Moth – The Old Believer

48.  Vampire – S/T

49.  Agalloch – The Serpent and the Sphere

50.  1349 – Massive Cauldron of Chaos

If you haven’t checked it out yet, go buy issue #123 of Decibel Magazine, where the whole staff selects the Top 40 Extreme Albums of the Year.

You can also check out a few of my other picks for the year listed on the 2014 Heavy Metal Awards at About Heavy Metal.

Check out all the other lists popping up around this time also and feel free to send Tweets about my questionable metal taste over to @MisterGrowl.

REVIEW: IVAN MIHALJEVIC & SIDE EFFECTS - COUNTERCLOCKWISE

My first time listening to Ivan Mihaljevic & Side Effects I thought, “These guys just need to play a show with Mr. Big.” Then there it is, right in there biography, they’ve played gigs with multiple members of the band famous for “To Be With You.” As a guy who will fight someone to the brink of death about the merits of the mighty Lean Into It album, these Croatian rockers can even give Mr. Big a run for their hairspray money. On their third album, Counterclockwise, Ivan Mihaljevic & Side Effects channel the monster ballad abilities of Extreme and ‘80s Kansas and combine them with the heavy progressive rock of Dream Theater and clean-singing Opeth with great success.

Let’s address this right away: Ivan Mihaljevic has a voice that can part the clouds and summon sunlight. He has serious pipes and belts these songs out with searing passion and soul. He over-sings a little on “Gilded Cage” but the rest of these songs bow to the majesty of his vocal cords. He nails some notes that just floored me, plus provides sizzling six-string solos. The rest of the band is similarly skilled and can flat out play with impressive cohesion and chemistry. Marko Karacic’s slap bass really steals the show when they play heavy funk, like on “Build Your Destiny.” Then there’s resourceful drummer Alen Frljak, who provides solid, intricate support that is so essential for music this technical. This is a supremely talented trio of musicians, but it would matter very little if they couldn’t write songs.

Luckily for us all, they can. With enormous radio-friendly choruses and guitar hooks that lure you in with deceptive grace before kicking into hard-edged rock, these are songs that demand to be heard and will have you singing along after one listen. “Driving Force” and “Gift of Life” both feature some of the darker moments on the album but Mihaljevic guides the songs to the light with his dependable croon, keeping each song focused and melodic even when the double-bass pummels and the guitars crunch. But for me the real highlight is “Eclipse,” an epic that absolutely earns its length and has endless sonic ideas. From the sweeping, orchestral intro there’s a true sense of tragedy. The song shifts with great confidence and range, morphing fluidly from progressive metal with momentum and teeth to heartfelt solos to a haunting march that ends the song. This track alone could convert non-believers to the power of Ivan Mihaljevic & Side Effects’ eternally-burning triumphant rock.

Counterclockwise may turn the clock back to pay homage to some past guitar heroes, but it still feels fresh and modern. While the length of some of their best songs don’t easily translate to radio success this band is the whole package and their polished, eclectic rock is waiting to conquer you. Set your clock: Now is the time to be conquered.

Check out their music over at their official website:  http://www.ivanmihaljevic.com/