Album of the Year, 2014

[Kenneth R.]

Go.



In no order, so far:
1. Ghost Brigade - IV
2. Soen - Tellurian
3. Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
4. The Future Sound of London - Environments V
5. Nightingale - Retribution

Honorable mention:
Anathema - Distant Satellites
Devin Townsend - Casualties of Cool
Insomnium- Shadows of the Dying Sun
Spiritual Beggars - Earth Blues

 

[Indestructible]

Good thread bro! In no order, I'd say

1. DragonForce - Maximum Overload
2. Avalon - Angels of the Apocalypse
3. Adrenaline Mob - Men of Honor
4. HammerFall - (R)evolution
5. Overkill - White Devil Armory

 

[Durakonis]

I haven't listened to most of the albums of this year, (I've been quite picky, in other words.); yet I can make a list anyway. In no order, and from different genres:

1- Hemina - Nebulae
2- Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals - Netherworld (Path 1)
3- Voyager - V
4- Melodius Deite - Voyage Through the World of Fantasy
5- IQ - The Road of Bones

Honorable Mentions:

1- Threshold - For the Journey
2- Sffera - Mar De Niebla
3- Rick Miller - Heart of Darkness
4- Seabound - Speak in Storms
5- Opeth - Pale Communion
6- Falconer - Black Moon Rising

Note: Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel would most probably be in my list, if I had listened to it.

 

[donKyle]

haven't listened to the new ghost brigade yet, will have to check that one out! I feel like it's too early for me to make a list, but in no order:

Ne Obliviscaris- Citadel
Spectral Lore- III
Widek- Outside the Universe
Insomnium- Shadows of the Dying Sun
Devin Townsend- Casualties of Cool
Saor- Aura
Cuckoo's Nest- Everything is not as it was Yesterday
Fallujah- The Flesh Prevails (i almost didn't wanna put this)
Ifing- Against this Weald

Disappointments
Agalloch- The Serpent and the Sphere

 

[Kenneth R.]

I had high hopes for Agalloch too. And I might add Insomnium, I'm on the fence about that one. Honorable mentions I suppose.

 

[Durakonis]

I think both Agalloch and Insomnium (and also Mastodon) did quite good albums, but not to my taste. Neptunian Sun and Empyrium's albums were more interesting for me.

 

[ABQShredHead]

I wasn't even aware of most of these. I guess I have some work to do...

Joe Bonamassa album was a bit of a disappointment.

 

[symphonyXjapan]

Ne Obliviscarus.....uhhhhh.....they have a new album out!?

Holy fuuuuk where have I been? I didn't even know they were working on a new album nonetheless had a new one out. Have to go check this out right away!

 

[Phanto]

Current Top 3:

The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
At The Gates - At War With Reality
Iamthemorning - Belighted

Runner-ups:

Dream the Electric Sleep - Heretics
First Aid Kit - Stay Gold
Anathema - Distant Satellites
Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool
IQ - Road of Bones

I still have a lot to listen to, especially in indie/folk and prog rock.

If Lumsk releases their super amazing album, it will be album of the year for sure. Probably album of the decade. I'm not kidding.
Just listen to this (sorry, can only find shitbook videos):
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=730644313623890 (dat voice)
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=740171922671129
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=807657742589213
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=840353469319640

Nightingale sounds great. I guess we'll see next week.

 

[Islandstone]

1- Hemina - Nebulae

Good to see some recognition of this gem of an album.

My top 3, so far:

1. Evergrey - Hymns for the Broken
2. Distorted Harmony - Chain Reaction
3. Hemina - Nebulae

 

[EyeballKid]

Sabaton - Heroes
Opeth - Pale Communion

 

[Indestructible]

Also really liked Road of Bones by IQ, a brilliant return. Well-made album and they really took the time to make it sound good

 

[Krondor]

Argh! It's this time of the year already?! I cannot believe it's almost 2015 ...
I've only listened a couple of albums from 2014 so I gotta check these out. Thx in advance!

 

[Phanto]

Argh! It's this time of the year already?! I cannot believe it's almost 2015 ...
I've only listened a couple of albums from 2014 so I gotta check these out. Thx in advance!

yeah I gotta catch up with some of the albums mention in this thread as well.

 

[Kenneth R.]

Soen is easily now my #1. Absolutely flawless.
#2 Ne Obliviscaris

 

[Phanto]

Why is it always the swedish bands that goes woosh over my head? You'd think that stuff would be on my radar.
Gonna listen to Soen tomorrow and return with a verdict.

EDIT: oh, and I can see why people like the new Elvenking. very catch, in that super-guilty-pleasure-power-metal kind of way.

 

[Progbass]

I listened the new Soen album yesterday and yea its quite interesting. Even there is some Tool and Katatonia influences there but it still manages to sound fresh.

 

[Krondor]

I also checked Soen yesterday and really liked it. Sometimes it felt like there was a bit too much going on at times, but I know this will grow on me the more I listen to it. Tabula Rasa and Ennui were my favourites tracks based on that first listen.

 

[Sauna]

As far as the instrumentation goes Soen is cool, but the singer I think is shockingly terrible. It's not just the thorougly mediocre voice either, it's the accent, the way he handles the vocal melodies, everything. You make an obvious comparison with Maynard James Keenan, for example, and it's like night and day. A shame since the other guys can definitely handle their business.

I do like the last song of the first album, though.

 

[Phanto]

I kinda like the vocals, but I understand the critique.

It sounds like Leprous or one of those bands, but better.

A great album but it doesn't take the #1 spot for me.