Bear

My top 10 rock/metal releases of 2014 (for now):
 
 
1. Darkspace - Dark Space III I
Darkspace returns with their fourth album after six year, and once again they give us pitch black cosmic mysticism wraped into musical form. The production is a tad cleaner and the music is a tad more melodic this time around, but it still sounds like Darkspace and it still sounds amazing. Album of the year! 10/10
 
2. Black Magic - Wizard's Spell
Great heavy/black metal from Norway. These guys does it the old way. First half is pure black metal influenced heavy/speed metal madness, and the second half is their second demo, and black metal in an 80's fashion. This album is awesome! 9,5/10
 
3. Salem's Pot - ...Lurar ut dig på prärien
There's not a hint of originality or distinctive stamp to be found anywhere on this album, but fuck me if this album isn't damn fine. Salem's Pot delivers 33 minutes of sleazy, occult doom metal of the purest kind. This album could've been used as the soundtrack to Vampyros Lesbos, or many of the other erotic horror films of the 70's. In other words, this is my type of doom metal. I dig! 9,5/10
 
4. Rude - Soul Recall
This is what you get if you'd make a mix consisting of something like 50% Pestilence - Consuming Impulse, 20% Autopsy - Severed Survival, 10% Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 10% Obituary - Slowly We Rot and 10% Death - Leposy. Rude isn't original, but they've got more than enough character to sound unique, and believe it or not - the music is even better than the fantastic cover art. 9,5/10
 
5. Tarot - The Watcher's Dream / Dying Daze / Life and Death
This isn't really metal, but it's three fantastic EPs. Semi-progressive 70's inspired rock. For soeme reason this makes me think of Uriah Heep meets Pagan Altar meets Rainbow. It's a very charming hard rock EPs with a very nice and epic feel to it. I'm digging this so much! 9,5/10
 
6. Funereal Presence - The Archer Takes Aim
Fantastic black metal with lots of character. The closest you'll get to this album is Negative Plane (the sole member, Bestial Devotion, is the drummer of Negative Plane), but it's a lot different from that. 9/10
 
7. Hail Spirit Noir - Oi Magoi
This isn't as good as their debut, but still a lovely album. HSN continues their unique brand of psychedelic/progressive rock and black metal. The production is richer than on the first, but I thought the debut had a better production. It was more laidback and less produced and polished really. The song writing was better to. It was more messy than this. On this album they've kinda tried to separate the black metal and prog/psychedelic rock, while on the first one these genres blended nicely thoughout the album. But that's not a problem, and this is a fantastic album. 8,5/10
 
8. Execration - Morbid Dimensions
This isn't as dark as the fantastic Odes of the Occult, their previous album, but it's still a fantastic album. Well-written, semi-progressive death metal with thints of black, doom and thrash metal. The riffs found on this album isn't very original, but the way they're put together makes everything sound original. It's just odd. This album is almost on par with Odes of the Occult to be honest, and that says a lot. Great album! 8,5/10
 
9. Vintersorg - Naturbål
With Cosmic Genesis, released in 2000, Vintersorg moved away from his well-known folk metal sound and stepped into progressive territory, and lyrically he moved from nature and paganism to cosmos. While there was still elements of both the folk and black metal sound in the music, it was a huge change and while a good album, it's inferior to the three albums relesed before it. With each album he got gradually worse and reached a low with the progressive The Focusing Blur. Not bad, just not very good either. Then came Solens rötter. We were promised an album that would be back to the roots with folky metal and lyrics in Swedish. Well, it was a bit folkier, and it had Swedish lyrics, but it wasn't much that reminded anyone about the good, ol' days. With that album I stopped checking out his new albums. He also got gradually more annoying vocal-wise, and went to become awful in both Vintersorg and Borknagar (both bands got worse with each release anyway, so it did not matter). I accidently came over his promo video for Lågornas rov and it was such a surprise. Once again he was playing around with folky black metal with a progressive and symphonic touch, and it was by far the best song he had done since Ödermarkens son. The album is amazing, and VIntersorg finally sings good again as well. The album feels like the natural follow-up to Ödermarkens son. Well-written and interesting songs with lots of catches, fantastic choruses, a production with a few, lovely faults and great vocals. His best album since Ödermarkens son, and perhaps even better than that, and a natural follow-up without him just copying himself. 8,5/10
 
10. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
Anothe fantastic release by Primordial. Not their best, and this time it basically feels like more of the same, but when you're as good at doing what you're doing as these guys there's no need to change whatsoever. Powerful celtic-folk influenced black/heavy metal with one of the very best metal vocalists of all time. A.A. Nemtheanga isn't the most talented vocalist ever, but only Quorthon comes close to the power and passion in his voice. To be fair, A.A. Nemtheanga alone makes this a superb album! That's how good he is. 8,5/10
 
 
Honorable mentions (albums that easily can get a spot on the list another day): Alcest, Death Vomit, Mysticum, Swallowed, The Deathtrip, Mortuary Drape, Portrait, Spell, Nunslaughter / Acid Witch, The Great Old Ones and Tusmørke (not metal, but fuck that!). Especially Alcest and Death Vomit are really close at getting a spot here.

My top 10 rock/metal releases of 2014 (for now):
 
 
1. Darkspace - Dark Space III I
Darkspace returns with their fourth album after six year, and once again they give us pitch black cosmic mysticism wraped into musical form. The production is a tad cleaner and the music is a tad more melodic this time around, but it still sounds like Darkspace and it still sounds amazing. Album of the year! 10/10
 
2. Black Magic - Wizard's Spell
Great heavy/black metal from Norway. These guys does it the old way. First half is pure black metal influenced heavy/speed metal madness, and the second half is their second demo, and black metal in an 80's fashion. This album is awesome! 9,5/10
 
3. Salem's Pot - ...Lurar ut dig på prärien
There's not a hint of originality or distinctive stamp to be found anywhere on this album, but fuck me if this album isn't damn fine. Salem's Pot delivers 33 minutes of sleazy, occult doom metal of the purest kind. This album could've been used as the soundtrack to Vampyros Lesbos, or many of the other erotic horror films of the 70's. In other words, this is my type of doom metal. I dig! 9,5/10
 
4. Rude - Soul Recall
This is what you get if you'd make a mix consisting of something like 50% Pestilence - Consuming Impulse, 20% Autopsy - Severed Survival, 10% Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 10% Obituary - Slowly We Rot and 10% Death - Leposy. Rude isn't original, but they've got more than enough character to sound unique, and believe it or not - the music is even better than the fantastic cover art. 9,5/10
 
5. Tarot - The Watcher's Dream / Dying Daze / Life and Death
This isn't really metal, but it's three fantastic EPs. Semi-progressive 70's inspired rock. For soeme reason this makes me think of Uriah Heep meets Pagan Altar meets Rainbow. It's a very charming hard rock EPs with a very nice and epic feel to it. I'm digging this so much! 9,5/10
 
6. Funereal Presence - The Archer Takes Aim
Fantastic black metal with lots of character. The closest you'll get to this album is Negative Plane (the sole member, Bestial Devotion, is the drummer of Negative Plane), but it's a lot different from that. 9/10
 
7. Hail Spirit Noir - Oi Magoi
This isn't as good as their debut, but still a lovely album. HSN continues their unique brand of psychedelic/progressive rock and black metal. The production is richer than on the first, but I thought the debut had a better production. It was more laidback and less produced and polished really. The song writing was better to. It was more messy than this. On this album they've kinda tried to separate the black metal and prog/psychedelic rock, while on the first one these genres blended nicely thoughout the album. But that's not a problem, and this is a fantastic album. 8,5/10
 
8. Execration - Morbid Dimensions
This isn't as dark as the fantastic Odes of the Occult, their previous album, but it's still a fantastic album. Well-written, semi-progressive death metal with thints of black, doom and thrash metal. The riffs found on this album isn't very original, but the way they're put together makes everything sound original. It's just odd. This album is almost on par with Odes of the Occult to be honest, and that says a lot. Great album! 8,5/10
 
9. Vintersorg - Naturbål
With Cosmic Genesis, released in 2000, Vintersorg moved away from his well-known folk metal sound and stepped into progressive territory, and lyrically he moved from nature and paganism to cosmos. While there was still elements of both the folk and black metal sound in the music, it was a huge change and while a good album, it's inferior to the three albums relesed before it. With each album he got gradually worse and reached a low with the progressive The Focusing Blur. Not bad, just not very good either. Then came Solens rötter. We were promised an album that would be back to the roots with folky metal and lyrics in Swedish. Well, it was a bit folkier, and it had Swedish lyrics, but it wasn't much that reminded anyone about the good, ol' days. With that album I stopped checking out his new albums. He also got gradually more annoying vocal-wise, and went to become awful in both Vintersorg and Borknagar (both bands got worse with each release anyway, so it did not matter). I accidently came over his promo video for Lågornas rov and it was such a surprise. Once again he was playing around with folky black metal with a progressive and symphonic touch, and it was by far the best song he had done since Ödermarkens son. The album is amazing, and VIntersorg finally sings good again as well. The album feels like the natural follow-up to Ödermarkens son. Well-written and interesting songs with lots of catches, fantastic choruses, a production with a few, lovely faults and great vocals. His best album since Ödermarkens son, and perhaps even better than that, and a natural follow-up without him just copying himself. 8,5/10
 
10. Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
Anothe fantastic release by Primordial. Not their best, and this time it basically feels like more of the same, but when you're as good at doing what you're doing as these guys there's no need to change whatsoever. Powerful celtic-folk influenced black/heavy metal with one of the very best metal vocalists of all time. A.A. Nemtheanga isn't the most talented vocalist ever, but only Quorthon comes close to the power and passion in his voice. To be fair, A.A. Nemtheanga alone makes this a superb album! That's how good he is. 8,5/10
 
 
Honorable mentions (albums that easily can get a spot on the list another day): Alcest, Death Vomit, Mysticum, Swallowed, The Deathtrip, Mortuary Drape, Portrait, Spell, Nunslaughter / Acid Witch, The Great Old Ones and Tusmørke (not metal, but fuck that!). Especially Alcest and Death Vomit are really close at getting a spot here.

Inglourious Basterds - Watched it for like the 5th time, still as great as ever. My favorite Tarantino movie by far. Everything in it is just so perfect, from the cast to the atmosphere and tense / funny scenes. It's a lengthy movie (especially by my standards) but they managed to not make me feel 2.5 hours pass by. Overall, just amazing!
 

Other: Vinyl and tapes, but in special cases I'll with CDs. That means, bads where I am looking to get a complete discography, like Sigh, or favourites that simply haven't released anything on any other format, like Kagrra.
 
 
The majority of the music I buy, I'd say 95% or so, I buy from small distros or labels in Norway, run buy people who earn nothing from doing this. They live for music and the only reason why they're having their own distros/labels is to get music they love out there to people like me. It's not a job where they earn money, but a hobby where they tend to lose money, just like most other hobbies. These are mainly Unborn Productions and Terratur Possessions. Nice, reliable guys who's doing this out of passion. I'd rather support these guys than amazon, CDON or shit like that.
 
3% or so I'd say are from other smaller labels/distros like Dark Symphonies, Blood Music, Virus Productions and so on, but a lot of what these labels release is something I'll get just as easily from Unborn or Terratur for the same kind of money, which makes it a lot easier for me. But every now and then I'll have to order straight from these, which I am more than happy to do as they're run by nice, reliable and helpful people. Some bigger than others, but the biggest are run by very few people, 3-4 at most, and aren't doing this for money, just out of love and passions for the music.
 
2% or so I buy from CDON, amazon or something like that.
 
Buying MP3s are out of the question. I've never done that, and I never will. Physical copies or free MP3s.
 
Every now and then I buy used iteams from random people as well. Or straight from the band when that's an option, but in most cases that only goes for demos.
 
Yeah, that's basically it. I tend to support the underground. Simple as that.

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

Other: Vinyl and tapes, but in special cases I'll with CDs. That means, bads where I am looking to get a complete discography, like Sigh, or favourites that simply haven't released anything on any other format, like Kagrra.
 
 
The majority of the music I buy, I'd say 95% or so, I buy from small distros or labels in Norway, run buy people who earn nothing from doing this. They live for music and the only reason why they're having their own distros/labels is to get music they love out there to people like me. It's not a job where they earn money, but a hobby where they tend to lose money, just like most other hobbies. These are mainly Unborn Productions and Terratur Possessions. Nice, reliable guys who's doing this out of passion. I'd rather support these guys than amazon, CDON or shit like that.
 
3% or so I'd say are from other smaller labels/distros like Dark Symphonies, Blood Music, Virus Productions and so on, but a lot of what these labels release is something I'll get just as easily from Unborn or Terratur for the same kind of money, which makes it a lot easier for me. But every now and then I'll have to order straight from these, which I am more than happy to do as they're run by nice, reliable and helpful people. Some bigger than others, but the biggest are run by very few people, 3-4 at most, and aren't doing this for money, just out of love and passions for the music.
 
2% or so I buy from CDON, amazon or something like that.
 
Buying MP3s are out of the question. I've never done that, and I never will. Physical copies or free MP3s.
 
Every now and then I buy used iteams from random people as well. Or straight from the band when that's an option, but in most cases that only goes for demos.
 
Yeah, that's basically it. I tend to support the underground. Simple as that.

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

caughts these shirts and hat on sale today so i had to pick them up.

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

"Happy New Year! 2015 is 20th anniversary year of Church of Misery. I will make new album with Dave Depraved from US DOOM LEGEND " BLOODFARMERS" and other support musicians in US.
I will go to US in this Spring for this recording and 5th album "And then there were none..." will put out on RISE ABOVE RECORDS in 2015."

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

I spent my near years eve going to the cinema with my girl watching The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, then went home for some beers before we left to the stable to take care of the animals there. Well, my girlfiend did most of the work while I spent my time there cuddling with the three ponies and the cat. Those ponies are the cutest animals ever.
 

"Happy New Year! 2015 is 20th anniversary year of Church of Misery. I will make new album with Dave Depraved from US DOOM LEGEND " BLOODFARMERS" and other support musicians in US.
I will go to US in this Spring for this recording and 5th album "And then there were none..." will put out on RISE ABOVE RECORDS in 2015."

In my opinion, these three are probably the best newcomers in their respective genres and have the potential to become really great bands.
 
1 - Schammasch, "Contradiction"
 
This swiss band formed in 2009. They released their first album in 2010, titled "Sic Lvceat Lvx" which made of Schammasch a very promising band. Well, four years later they confirm their status of "very promising band" to become a serious matter, delivering to us a totally mesmerizing and magical album. Having a few Behemoth influences here and there, their music remains full of creativity and power. "Contradiction" from SCHAMMASCH is a pearl. You guys should definitely give it a listen if you're into extreme metal stuff. This is certainly the most overlooked album of 2014. And by the way, probably the longest album I listened to in 2014 with 85 minutes of pure eargasm.   Sadly there's no link to listen to the full album, but you can find all the songs on YouTube. And I'm not going to chose a favorite song since it'd be a disrespect towards the other tracks on the album, which are all awesome.   Just going to drop two links, a music video and an official stream track : Golden Light & Split My Tongue.   2 - Whispered, "Shogunate Macabre"
 
I don't know if it is appropriate to call this band a newcomer since they released an amazing album in 2010, and that was when they only proved they deserve to be taken seriously. But they released "Shogunate Macabre" in 2014 and that was like saying "Hey guys, count on us to make some noise in the coming years". This finnish band was formed in 2001 but they only proved to be promising in 2007 by releasing a demo titled "Wrath of Heaven". "Shogunate Macabre" is an epic album, definitely the best mdm newcomer band in 2014. An awesome samurai metal band.   Here's a link if you wanna listen to the Full album Favourite song : Jikininki   3 - Azrael Rising, "Anti-Gravity"
 
Don't know much what to say about this band since I only listened to their album a few times (however, enough times to say it's a good album). This finnish black metal band released a demo in 2005, a self-titled EP in 2008 and an album titled "Anti-gravity" in 2014. I listened to the album and it left me some good sensations. Good raw stuff and a promising newcomer, let's see what they'll do in the next few years.   Again, no direct link to the full album available but you can listen to all the songs in YouTube.
Favourite song : Acute Occult Hepatitis

No, this isn't a thread just about the bands that formed in 2014, but about all bands who released their first proper release in 2014. Doesn't matter if they formed in 1987 or 2014, as long as 2014 was the year they released their first proper release (album/EP/single).
 
For me it's been four bands/artists who's stood out from the rest of the newcomers in 2014 (as far as I can remember at least), and all these four have made it into my top 10 of 2014 so far.
 
1. Tarot
Tarot formed in 2011 and released their first demo in 2011, but it is not seen as a proper release by main man Will Fried, owner of Heavy Chains and a member of great bands such as The Wizar'd an Dracula. 2014 however saw the band release three EPs, two of them consisting of 3 songs clocking in at 15:10 minutes, while the third consists of four songs clocking in at 21 minutes. I have yet to hear Tarot's two first EPs, called Life and Death and Dying Daze, but the band's third EP, The Watcher's Dream, have gone from being good to become an absolute masterpiece with 50+ listens over the last few days.
 
Tarot plays epic heavy rock with this lovely feeling of some kind of mysticism. Think Uriah Heep ano Demons & Wizards with hints of Dio-era Rainbow, Quartz and Pagan Altar. I made a top 10 meta/rock releases of 2014 early yesterday, and it got the 9th spot. Now,  20 listens later, it's a contender for top 5 releases of the year in all genres. It just keeps growing with each listen. This is how good this is.
 
Listen to the full EP here: https://heavychainsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-watchers-dream
Favourite song: Twilight Fortress. The two last minutes of this song are by far the two best minutes of music release this year. Magnificent!
 
Recommended for fans of Uriah Heep, Rainbow and Pagan Altar
 
2. Cluster Buster
I don't know much about this band beside that the guy behind this is Norwegian, is a fan of 80's exploitaton, horror and action cinema, old school video games and VHS(!!!). Oh, and is a part of the new synth wave/new retro wave that's been growing over the past few years. Cluster Buster is certainly among the best, if not the best, in the genre. Cluster Buster released two albums this year, one being good and one being amazing. Maniac 1980 is my favourite of the two, and it has secured a spot among the top 10 albums of the year.
 
Listen to the full album here: http://future80s.bandcamp.com/album/maniac-1980
Favourite song: Maniac 1980
 
Recommended for fans of Kavinsky, John Carpenter and Perturbator
 
3. Rude
Rude was formed as thrash metal band Forsaker in 2008 by a bunch of guys in their late teens/early 20's, but changed their name to Rude in 2011 after the release of their only demo as Forsaker the same year. When they changed name they also changed genre and started playing death metal in the vein of Pestilence with hints of Autopsy, Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary. The band released a great demo in 2013. But with the release of their debut album Soul Recall, the band took further steps into the death metal realm and released one of the best death meta albums of the 2000's. It's that good.
 
This album is what you'll get if you put 50% Pestilence - Consuming Impulse, 20% Autopsy - Severed Survival, 10% Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 10% Obituary - Slowly We Rot and 10% Death - Leposy in a blender and mix it. Yes, there's not a hint of originality to be found anywhere during the album's 44 minutes, but there's lots of character and quality. Crushing death metal of the purest kind.
 
Favourite song: Haunted
 
Recommended for fans of Pestilence, Autopsy and Morbid Angel
 
4. Salem's Pot
Salem's Pot formed in 2011 and released one demo in 2012 and one in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that their debut album saw the light of day. ...Lurar ut dig på prärien is three songs and 33:30 minutes of sleazy, filthy and occult doom metal of the purest kind. This album could've been the soundtrack to Vampyros Lesbos, or many of the other erotic horror films of the 70's.
 
Cover of the year as well, take from the already mentioned Vampyros Lesbos. So fitting!
 
Favourite song: Creep Purple
 
Recommended for fans of Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath and Sleep
 
 
 
 
Now it's your turn!

No, this isn't a thread just about the bands that formed in 2014, but about all bands who released their first proper release in 2014. Doesn't matter if they formed in 1987 or 2014, as long as 2014 was the year they released their first proper release (album/EP/single).
 
For me it's been four bands/artists who's stood out from the rest of the newcomers in 2014 (as far as I can remember at least), and all these four have made it into my top 10 of 2014 so far.
 
1. Tarot
Tarot formed in 2011 and released their first demo in 2011, but it is not seen as a proper release by main man Will Fried, owner of Heavy Chains and a member of great bands such as The Wizar'd an Dracula. 2014 however saw the band release three EPs, two of them consisting of 3 songs clocking in at 15:10 minutes, while the third consists of four songs clocking in at 21 minutes. I have yet to hear Tarot's two first EPs, called Life and Death and Dying Daze, but the band's third EP, The Watcher's Dream, have gone from being good to become an absolute masterpiece with 50+ listens over the last few days.
 
Tarot plays epic heavy rock with this lovely feeling of some kind of mysticism. Think Uriah Heep ano Demons & Wizards with hints of Dio-era Rainbow, Quartz and Pagan Altar. I made a top 10 meta/rock releases of 2014 early yesterday, and it got the 9th spot. Now,  20 listens later, it's a contender for top 5 releases of the year in all genres. It just keeps growing with each listen. This is how good this is.
 
Listen to the full EP here: https://heavychainsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-watchers-dream
Favourite song: Twilight Fortress. The two last minutes of this song are by far the two best minutes of music release this year. Magnificent!
 
Recommended for fans of Uriah Heep, Rainbow and Pagan Altar
 
2. Cluster Buster
I don't know much about this band beside that the guy behind this is Norwegian, is a fan of 80's exploitaton, horror and action cinema, old school video games and VHS(!!!). Oh, and is a part of the new synth wave/new retro wave that's been growing over the past few years. Cluster Buster is certainly among the best, if not the best, in the genre. Cluster Buster released two albums this year, one being good and one being amazing. Maniac 1980 is my favourite of the two, and it has secured a spot among the top 10 albums of the year.
 
Listen to the full album here: http://future80s.bandcamp.com/album/maniac-1980
Favourite song: Maniac 1980
 
Recommended for fans of Kavinsky, John Carpenter and Perturbator
 
3. Rude
Rude was formed as thrash metal band Forsaker in 2008 by a bunch of guys in their late teens/early 20's, but changed their name to Rude in 2011 after the release of their only demo as Forsaker the same year. When they changed name they also changed genre and started playing death metal in the vein of Pestilence with hints of Autopsy, Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary. The band released a great demo in 2013. But with the release of their debut album Soul Recall, the band took further steps into the death metal realm and released one of the best death meta albums of the 2000's. It's that good.
 
This album is what you'll get if you put 50% Pestilence - Consuming Impulse, 20% Autopsy - Severed Survival, 10% Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 10% Obituary - Slowly We Rot and 10% Death - Leposy in a blender and mix it. Yes, there's not a hint of originality to be found anywhere during the album's 44 minutes, but there's lots of character and quality. Crushing death metal of the purest kind.
 
Favourite song: Haunted
 
Recommended for fans of Pestilence, Autopsy and Morbid Angel
 
4. Salem's Pot
Salem's Pot formed in 2011 and released one demo in 2012 and one in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that their debut album saw the light of day. ...Lurar ut dig på prärien is three songs and 33:30 minutes of sleazy, filthy and occult doom metal of the purest kind. This album could've been the soundtrack to Vampyros Lesbos, or many of the other erotic horror films of the 70's.
 
Cover of the year as well, take from the already mentioned Vampyros Lesbos. So fitting!
 
Favourite song: Creep Purple
 
Recommended for fans of Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath and Sleep
 
 
 
 
Now it's your turn!

I'm looking forward to a lot of albums, and the one I am awaiting the most is with no doubt Sigh's new opus "Graveward".  One things that makes me very, very excited for this album, other than the fact that Sigh is the best band ever, is how Mirai has gone from saying that this will be the most straightforward album since the debut to this being their most complex album ever. There's something about that which just turns me on.
 
 
Other albums I am really looking forward to:
 
Solefald - World Metal. Kosmopolis Sud
A band that has been in constant change ever since the debut album, and that is always creating something unique. There just no bands out there like this. They've released one song from the album called Bububu Bad Beuys, and while it's nothing like I expected. I just love it. Crazy as fuck - but phenomenal.
 
Melechesh - Enki
Their last album, 2012's The Epigenesis, was good but still a huge disappointment, and their least good album ever. Unique, middle-eastern black/death metal unlike any band you've ever heard. Hopefully this will be an album to match either of the albums in their holy trio Djinn, Sphynx and Emissaries. If this is anything like those quality wise we'll have one of the albums of the year here.
 
Negură Bunget - Tău
Negura Bunget's last album, Vîrstele pămîntului, was a huge disappointment to many, I'd say mostly because Hupogrammos and Sol Faur leaving the band and Negru acting like a cunt, because there wasn't a huge change in the music. However I really like the album and I am looking forward to "TĂU, the first part of a musical and visual trilogy about our Transilvanian homeland. TĂU focuses on the natural landscapes, exploring marvelous places, with their myths, legends and traditions, opening a window to the past of these legendary lands.", as the band themself said. Hopefully they'll be able to capture some of the unique atmosphere from their progressive and atmospheric folk/black metal masterpieces Om and 'n crugu bradului.
 
 
 
Another thing that makes me very excited about both the Melechesh and Negura Bunget albums is the fact that neither band is very productive, which makes it even more exciting when they finally release something new. Melechesh have released 5 albums since 1993 and Negura Bunget have released 6 albums since 1994, with one just being a re-intepretation of an earlier album. Heh.

No, this isn't a thread just about the bands that formed in 2014, but about all bands who released their first proper release in 2014. Doesn't matter if they formed in 1987 or 2014, as long as 2014 was the year they released their first proper release (album/EP/single).
 
For me it's been four bands/artists who's stood out from the rest of the newcomers in 2014 (as far as I can remember at least), and all these four have made it into my top 10 of 2014 so far.
 
1. Tarot
Tarot formed in 2011 and released their first demo in 2011, but it is not seen as a proper release by main man Will Fried, owner of Heavy Chains and a member of great bands such as The Wizar'd an Dracula. 2014 however saw the band release three EPs, two of them consisting of 3 songs clocking in at 15:10 minutes, while the third consists of four songs clocking in at 21 minutes. I have yet to hear Tarot's two first EPs, called Life and Death and Dying Daze, but the band's third EP, The Watcher's Dream, have gone from being good to become an absolute masterpiece with 50+ listens over the last few days.
 
Tarot plays epic heavy rock with this lovely feeling of some kind of mysticism. Think Uriah Heep ano Demons & Wizards with hints of Dio-era Rainbow, Quartz and Pagan Altar. I made a top 10 meta/rock releases of 2014 early yesterday, and it got the 9th spot. Now,  20 listens later, it's a contender for top 5 releases of the year in all genres. It just keeps growing with each listen. This is how good this is.
 
Listen to the full EP here: https://heavychainsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-watchers-dream
Favourite song: Twilight Fortress. The two last minutes of this song are by far the two best minutes of music release this year. Magnificent!
 
Recommended for fans of Uriah Heep, Rainbow and Pagan Altar
 
2. Cluster Buster
I don't know much about this band beside that the guy behind this is Norwegian, is a fan of 80's exploitaton, horror and action cinema, old school video games and VHS(!!!). Oh, and is a part of the new synth wave/new retro wave that's been growing over the past few years. Cluster Buster is certainly among the best, if not the best, in the genre. Cluster Buster released two albums this year, one being good and one being amazing. Maniac 1980 is my favourite of the two, and it has secured a spot among the top 10 albums of the year.
 
Listen to the full album here: http://future80s.bandcamp.com/album/maniac-1980
Favourite song: Maniac 1980
 
Recommended for fans of Kavinsky, John Carpenter and Perturbator
 
3. Rude
Rude was formed as thrash metal band Forsaker in 2008 by a bunch of guys in their late teens/early 20's, but changed their name to Rude in 2011 after the release of their only demo as Forsaker the same year. When they changed name they also changed genre and started playing death metal in the vein of Pestilence with hints of Autopsy, Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary. The band released a great demo in 2013. But with the release of their debut album Soul Recall, the band took further steps into the death metal realm and released one of the best death meta albums of the 2000's. It's that good.
 
This album is what you'll get if you put 50% Pestilence - Consuming Impulse, 20% Autopsy - Severed Survival, 10% Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness, 10% Obituary - Slowly We Rot and 10% Death - Leposy in a blender and mix it. Yes, there's not a hint of originality to be found anywhere during the album's 44 minutes, but there's lots of character and quality. Crushing death metal of the purest kind.
 
Favourite song: Haunted
 
Recommended for fans of Pestilence, Autopsy and Morbid Angel
 
4. Salem's Pot
Salem's Pot formed in 2011 and released one demo in 2012 and one in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014 that their debut album saw the light of day. ...Lurar ut dig på prärien is three songs and 33:30 minutes of sleazy, filthy and occult doom metal of the purest kind. This album could've been the soundtrack to Vampyros Lesbos, or many of the other erotic horror films of the 70's.
 
Cover of the year as well, take from the already mentioned Vampyros Lesbos. So fitting!
 
Favourite song: Creep Purple
 
Recommended for fans of Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath and Sleep
 
 
 
 
Now it's your turn!

Okidoki:
 
1) Sukekiyo
 
A dream band-like collaboration of notable musicians from different corners of the vk-related J-music scene (RES, 9GBO, Dir en grey, Kannivalism) surpassed my expectations with their 2014 debut "IMMORTALIS" - each member succeeded in expressing themselves without causing a literal hodgepodge (most users disagree with me here). A new world of avant-garde-y obscurity/"obscenity" (to quote the band) offered by the boys from sukekiyo definitely won't fail in enthralling people with any kind of taste - convenient or inconvenient...
 
Listen to the full album here
Favourite song: vandal
 
2) Schizoid Lloyd
 
Formed in 2007, progressive/avant-garde metal act Schizoid Lloyd went down with a few EPs until their full-length debut on 2014, called "The Last Note in God's Magnum Opus". If you are a huge friend of Unexpect or even California-era Mr. Bungle, and don't really mind slight Dream Theater-y influences, try to find yourself an hour for a soundscape of pure schizoid madness and clusterfucks!!
 
Listen to the full album
Favourite song:
 
3) Wagakki Band
 
Traditional Japanesque (note: folky instruments too) folk rock/pop/hard rock act (you name it!), consisting of popular niconico musicians and some underground vk names, never failed in impressing newcomers very positively (as we can already witness it in MH ). Albeit their 2014 full-length debut, "Vocalo Zanmai", being a vocaloid cover album, Wagakki's unique ability of transcending convenient, but highly interesting ideas related to "Japanesque" genre overcame the lowest expectations and managed to mark one of the strongest debuts in this decade. A friend of Kagrra's or Onmyoza's sound? MUST-TRY 4 YOU!
 
Favourite song:

CAT5's Favorite International Releases of 2014






Hours Were The Birds by Adrianne Lenker
 
Sample: Lighthouse

 This was a pretty random bandcamp discovery iirc. I've always been a sucker for
  sweet female vocals in folk/singer-songwriter music, and this is the album that most
thoroughly fulfilled that need for me this year. Obscure, but good.


Totem by Bâton Rouge
 
Sample: Train De Nuit

French emo band Baton Rouge's first album Fragments D'eux Mêmes was
 one of my favorites back in 2011 - it was intense, melodic, and straight to
the point. Train De Nuit is an entirely different beast, though. It's more
fleshed-out, and the melodies take their time to build, but when
everything finally clicks, it's a rewarding listen


Earthbeat by Be Forest
 
Sample: Airwaves

One of my more fortuitous discoveries from hanging out on plug.dj.
Forest plays a brand of dream-pop that often floats off into a brume of shoegaze,
yet is constantly anchored by earthy, commanding drums. One of those
albums that I can turn on and just be swept away by the atmosphere 
without having to listen too intently.


Black Messiah by D'Angelo
 
Sample: Ain't That Easy

It's been 14 year's since D'Angelo's last album, and although I was
probably a bit too young to appreciate his music at that time (age 13),
the "Black Messiah" is a more than welcome addition to my playlist now.
Gritty, organic soul music that easily reminds me of classics like
Al Green and even Prince.


Hard Believer by Fink
 
Sample: Pilgrim

Fink's style of soulful/bluesy folk tunes were originally pretty friendly and
easily digestible, but over the years his sound has become progressively darker
and experimental around the edges. Hard Believer continues this trend,
and while some of the songs get a bit too self-indulgent, repeat listens have
revealed to me that almost each track works well on it's own instead of 
in the convoluted context of the album.


LP1 by FKA twigs
 
Sample: Two Weeks

I actually didn't expect to like FKA twigs. I thought she'd be another kelela -
nice vocals over crappy, sparse beats - and then pegged as some glorious
"experimental r&b" goddess. I'm glad I was wrong. The production on LP1 
is actually the most interesting thing about it. It's got all of the minimalistic
qualities of trap-influenced r&b, but there's an idm-like ingenuity
behind it all. Definitely an album better appreciated in headphones 
or with a good set of speakers.


Chiaroscuro by I Break Horses
 
Sample: Faith

I haven't gotten around to hearing this duo's first album yet, and I often see
them described as "electrogaze" (electronic shoegaze), but I'd describe
this album a bit differently. It sounds more to me like dark, hazy electrpop with
an affinity for the 80's. Whatever you wanna call it, it's a sound that I've 
found myself more drawn towards this year.


You Can Do Better by Johnny Foreigner
 
Sample: In Capitals

Hailing from England, Johnny Foreigner play raw, energetic, and straightfoward 
  indie-rock with punk spirit. It's an album I like to throw on when I want to hear
something bright and uplifting, but that also rocks at the same time.


Moving On by Kan Wakan
 
Sample: Sawdust

 Cinematic pop music with smoky female vocals and an emphasis on live
instrumentation? Always a good recipe in my book, and Kan Wakan
   made wonderful use of those ingredients. Unfortunately (or fortunately?),
this album is a one-off, as vocalist Kristianne Bautista is no longer in the band.


My Little Ghost by Kidkanevil
 
Sample: All Is Not Lost (feat. Cuushe & Cokiyu)

If everything about this release seems very "Japanese" to you - from 
 the album cover to the featured artists - then you're not far off the mark.
My Little Ghost was released through the Japanese music label flau, although
some ppl might associate Kidkanevil more easily with his role in the UK
electronic/trip-hop band Stateless. Interestingly, My Little Ghost is more in 
 the realm of ambient, IDM, and glitch than it is Kidkanevil's favored
genre of hip hop. He absolutely excels at these other styles, though.


Across by Kilo Kish
 
Sample: Curious

If I had to offer an American equivalent to Japanese artists like daoko
or Izumi Macra, then Kilo Kish would be the first to come to mind. She
creates the same kind of innocent-sounding alternative hip hop and employs
a similarly careless and unassuming flow. She also "sings" without really
having a singing voice (just like the Japanese artists i just mentioned), 
but it's all done very charmingly. The production is super chill too.


The Golden Echo by Kimbra
 
Sample: Madouse

 When the The Golden Echo came out, I was fortunate enough to listen to
it along with , and since we were both already fans, our
hype was over 9000. The Golden Echo completely surpassed all of my
expectations. Kimbra's ability to hop from style to style (with style) -
whether it's trap, disco, or psychedelic soul-influenced - is on par with 
her contemporary Janelle Monáe.


Nabuma Rubberband by Little Dragon
 
Sample: Let Go

I've been stalking following Yukimi Nagano ever since I first heard her soulful
croon back in 2006 via her various jazz/nu-jazz collaborations. When I
discovered she had a band called Little Dragon in 2007, I was pretty excited.
Although that quickly devolved into utter disappointment upon hearing 
Little Dragon's debut album - sparse and awkward electronic music that just
made you uncomfortable listening to it. Fast-forward 7 years and 4
albums later - LITTLE DRAGON FINALLY HAS FINALLY GOTTEN IT RIGHT.
Yukimi's vocals are still the highlight, but this time the music and 
songwriting are equally excellent.


The Sky as Well as Space by Memory Map
 
Sample: Superhuman Child

  Memory Map is actually associated with Japan's Zankyo records, so it should
  come as no surprise that these guys play the kind of technical and inventive
 indie-rock that would be welcome there. I'm actually pretty surprised at how
obscure this band seems to be and the fact that I've never seen any 
of my indie buddies mention 'em before.


Composite by Monogrenade
 
Sample: L'aimant

Gorgeous orchestral indie-rock/pop from the French-Canadian ensemble
Monogrenade. This is their 2nd album after 2011's Tantale, 
and it's even better. Super lush soundscapes and impossibly chill.


Graveyard Whistling EP by Nothing But Thieves
 
Sample: Itch

I'm pretty shocked this band isn't bigger. They're signed to a major label (RCA),
but it doesn't look like they've made any significant waves yet. Whatever the
case, their songwriting is top-notch when it comes to pop-rock and their
vocalist has a uniquely piercing croon. Not sure how they're received 
in the UK, but I can imagine this boding well in the American mainstream.


OOM VELT by Salt Cathedral
 
Sample: Holy Soul

Just last year Salt Cathedral were a whimsical, math-rock band, but they've
since lost 3 members and have continued as an electronic duo. Their
sound has translated extremely well, mostly thanks to the ethereal vocals 
of Juliana Ronderos; which really carries the band.


Maui Tears by Sleepy Sun
 
Sample: The Lane

Spaced-out and voluminous psychedelic-rock from California. Maui Tears is
the band's 4th album and is hands down my favorite thus far. What I enjoy
the most here is how immersive the music is while still remaining accessible 
and not getting lost within itself.


Early Riser by Taylor McFerrin
 
Sample: Already There (feat. Robert Glasper & Thundercat)

First album from producer/multi-instrumentalist Taylor McFerrin out on
Brainfeeder - the same label as beatsmiths like Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta,
Teebs, etc. Super chill electronic/broken beat with jazzy overtones; featuring
a handful of guest vocalists and musicians. Early Riser is ridiculously 
smooth and might be one of the most flawlessly flowing albums I've ever heard.


Sun Structures by Temples
 
Sample: Colours To Life

Temples are a 60's psychedelic-rock revivalist band that play the style
to the letter. They don't offer a refreshing take on the genre and they don't
attempt to redefine the rules, but nonetheless, Sun Structures has 
thoroughly sated my ears this year.


Follow the Path by The Shaolin Afronauts
 
Sample: To the Water

 To the water is a behemoth double album with the first disc full of awesome
afrobeat grooves and the 2nd disc a more subdued venture into eastern
flavored funk that wouldn't be out of place in a 70's kung-fu flick. With 21 
tracks in total, I wouldn't recommend listening to both discs in one sitting.


Foreign Languages by tide/edit
 
Sample: Odd & Even

Ironically, some of the best post/math-rock bands have been coming out
of almost every other Asian country but Japan lately - yet most of
these newcomers have been inspired by Japan's scene. Such is the 
case with tide/edit from the Philippines who site toe as a major influence.


Manipulator by Ty Segall
 
Sample: The Crawler

I've always been attracted to rock music that draws from the psychedelic
and stoner sounds of the 60's and 70's, and Ty Segall's Manipulator
is like an aural smorgasbord of those eras. At 17 tracks long, the album
might appear to blend together during protracted listens, but I've found 
myself constantly discovering new jams upon revisits.


Warpaint by Warpaint
 
Sample: Biggy

Warpaint caught my attention back in 2010 on their first album The Fool,
but they weren't able to sustain it through an entire album. And while
their sound still manages to avoid being easily pigeonholed, the band's
songwriting has become somewhat less elusive and more viable than 
before. Not a challenging listen at all, but a definite grower.


Deep Fantasy by White Lung
 
Sample: Face Down

@Jigsaw9 first introduced me to White Lung with their album
back in 2012 and they've returned bigger and better than ever on 
Deep Fantasy. Still the intense female-fronted punk band with 
razor-wire riffage that I fell in love with.

The runners up

 

The Mirraz - この惑星のすべて / 




 

Sarah Àlainn - Sarah / 




 

Ferri - ∞ / 




 


MACO - 23 (Plus) / 





 

The mixed vocals

 

Boris - NOISE / 






 

陰陽座 - 風神界逅 / 雷神創世




 

The honourable mentions

 

KAMIJO - Heart




 

DIR EN GREY - ARCHE