10 Disappointments of 2014

In Flames - Siren Charms

Holy shit is this bad. Look up "sellout" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of this album. Little to no musicianship, lite production, pretty slow overall, not that heavy, it's just really phoned-in and crappy. I've never been more repulsed by an album from a band I like and I felt disgusting for a while just for having listened to it.

After the last few...I didn't even listen to the singles. I've given up on them.
 
I'm gonna tack a new one on since I just relistened to it, Fortiori - Reflection. It's not a bad album, by any stretch. I actually like it. But coming off of the back of Chronicles, which is bestial from start to stop, it just feels...off balance. I know WHY he structured the album the way he did, but the drops in pacing from movement to movement are too dramatic, and the second half comes off as a snooze after the awesome opening.
 
I'm not sure I understand your logic on this. You're not a fan of the band and feel the new record is on par with most of their discography? Does that qualifies as a "disappointment"? For the record, WDA is my second favorite Overkill album.

To me things can be a disappointment based on the standing of the band or the hype beforehand and the fact that I'm hoping to be way impressed. I don't have to be a fan of the band to find an album disappointing in that case. I like to try a huge number of albums regardless of my fandom of the band or music and I'm very open minded to a band winning me over. For a small band I wouldn't even bother posting that I find an album disappointing cause there's no hype or previous history. Don't forget sometimes a good album is still disappointing with the Falconer being the case in point.
 
Opeth - Pale Communion

It came as no surprise to anyone, and its not bad for a 70s retro album. However, I was hoping for more than what they delivered.
 
Timo Tolkki's Avalon-Angels of the Apocalypse. Hard to call it a disappointment since Tolkki is always hit or miss over the last 15 years. But the first one was actually very good I thought, and getting Floor Jansen and Elize Ryd on the same album should have made it awesome. I never thought a songwriter could make them sound boring, but he pulled it off.

On the other hand, he redeemed himself with Allen/Lande I thought. Seems that when he has to do a job, he can still do it well, but when he's trying to be creative, follow his own muse, he just doesn't seem to have it anymore.
 
Opeth - The Pale Communion: Most people dismiss criticism of newer Opeth as being about the lack of heaviness or aggressive vocals; I don't need either. While TPC is an improvement over the last album, both have the same problem for me; they are just not that engaging. I put these albums on and enjoy them for a song or two, but then it just fades into the background. There is just no urgency or anything that really grabs me. If I make it through the whole thing, there is nothing saying to me, "start that over".

Flying Colors - Second Nature & Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope. I list these together because they have a common problem for me. No, that problem is not Mike Portnoy. I love these bands first albums (two in TA's case) but then the follow-ups have been meh at best. I think the problem with these "super group"/project bands is that there is a creative spark at the beginning that can create amazing music in a short amount of time. After that wears off they are still capable of incredible music, but it is not likely going to emerge in a two week recording cycle. Both these bands would benefit from longer writing sessions, but given the schedules of "super groups" that is not likely to happen.

Vanden Plas & Mastodon - Neither of these are horrible albums, but to my ears they are nowhere near their greatness,

Lastly and likely least popular pick here; Evergrey - Hymns for the Broken Like the last two, not a horrible album on its face, but a shadow of their past greatness. This album is s step up from their last two; but that is not a huge accomplishment. I think somewhere along the line it is just retreading the same old ground. That would not be so bad, but IMO they have forgotten how to write an amazing chorus. There are only one or two on the new album that standout. compare that to them in their prime when the albums had both emotion and hooks a plenty. To me the last three albums have Evergrey by numbers. In five years if I am in the mood to listen to Evergrey, I could not see myself ever listening to the last three over any of the albums they recorded in their prime.
 
I also agree on the ENCHANT album. There is absolutely no power in the vocal department and to me that has always been their strong point. Ted sounds like he phoned it on on this one, but the last Spock's Beard album he sounds incredible on which gave me such high hopes for this new Enchant album.

MASTODON album is awesome and super catchy. AT THE GATES rules. my #1 album of the year.

I do agree on the EXODUS and OVERKILL and I didn't even bother listening to the JUDAS PRIEST and several others on the list because the bands are just too far gone for me to care.
 
It was hard for me to get into a lot of what I tried out this year. Evergrey, Voyager, Freak Kitchen, Dynazty, H.E.A.T
 
In Flames - Siren Charms

Holy shit is this bad. Look up "sellout" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of this album. Little to no musicianship, lite production, pretty slow overall, not that heavy, it's just really phoned-in and crappy. I've never been more repulsed by an album from a band I like and I felt disgusting for a while just for having listened to it.


In the most respectful way I can say it...who the flim flarm filth still listens to In Flames? I can't see any self-respecting real metalhead listening to them for the longest time. The Nu-metal-isms they've still been kicking for I don't know how long have long-since discarded my ears. It's been a really long time since 'Colony'.

And although Gelotte & Iwers are good dudes, IMO Anders Friden & that drummer are a couple of cunts.
 
Personally, I think Devin Townsend's Z2 is a mild disappointment, at least from the Sky Blue disc. Of the Devin Townsend Project CDs, Sky Blue is definitely the least of them. Particularly disappointing after the awesomeness of Epicloud.
My number 2 CD of the year,especialy the Sky Blue disk
 
Opeth - Pale Communion

It came as no surprise to anyone, and its not bad for a 70s retro album. However, I was hoping for more than what they delivered.

I agree.

They also qualify as a band that just seems to be not putting any energy or passion in their music anymore. Although Mikael can be somewhat forgiven because of the awesome level of stuff they've done in the past.

Although when you somewhat downgrade in ability in the 2nd guitar (Akesson is not bad but he's no Lindgren) and drop down to Poison-level drumming with Axenrot from Lopez...to say you've altered the recipe would be more than a mild understatement.
 
Gus G- I Am The Fire
Anette Olzon- Shine

Oh yeah. Pretty bad and both are capable of better.

HEAT too, although a lot of sites gave the new album amazing reviews. I thought it was pedestrian. I was thrilled when they added Erik Gronwall but now I want the old singer back and Gronwall back doing his solo stuff.
 
In Flames - Siren Charms

Holy shit is this bad. Look up "sellout" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of this album. Little to no musicianship, lite production, pretty slow overall, not that heavy, it's just really phoned-in and crappy. I've never been more repulsed by an album from a band I like and I felt disgusting for a while just for having listened to it.

Not to be a jerk but you are seriously 10 years too late.
It's not really a disappointment when no one has expected anything but a disappointment from them since RTR.
 
I hate to say this, but the Sanctuary was a bit of a disappointment. As some people said, it sounds a lot like a Nevemore disc, which in itself isn't bad - but I wanted Sanctuary.

Didn't care much for the new Cannibal Corpse either. Really liked Torture, Skeletal Domain - not so much.
 
List your most disappointing albums of 2014. I realize some may not have 10 so list what you have.

Brainstorm - Firesoul. Another band that I liked a lot a few years ago but since Downburst the albums have been beyond average.

Judas Priest - Some decent tunes but half the album is super boring and the production is unexcusable. Are they all deaf?

Axel Rudi Pell - Into The Storm. By his own very high standards this album is average to say the least. One of the least good recent ARP albums.


Kenziner - The Lost Horizon. I was expecting so much being a huge fan of their two albums and this comeback had me excited for a while but the lead single was boring and had my alarm bells ringing. The album as a whole whilst competent and well produced didn't have a single song worthy of being on the first two albums and the singer was average as well.

Lordi - Scare Force One

I'm not the biggest Brainstorm fan, but think this one is pretty good.

I really like most of the songs of the new Priest, but it's such a shame the production is so sub-par...

I agree about the ARP. I was expecting more of the same, but usually, I love more of the same by Axel & co. However, I think the production for this album is not as great as usual, and it's the same for the songs. I dn't think it's a bad album though and it still has a few excellent songs IMO.

I think the new Kenziner singer is not the problem, the songs are. I only liked a couple ones.

I really disagree about the new Lordi being a disappointment. For me, they're "back" with this album after some weaker ones and I think it's their best since The Arockalypse. Finally, they started to write catchy songs again.

Guillaume