Dec 082014
 

 

(In this post NCS contributor KevinP rolls out his personal list of the year’s best EPs and albums. To read his reviews of many of these albums, you can find them collected at Metal Bandcamp via this link.)

Another year stacked with quality releases.Β  There were so many, I neglected my family half the year to listen to them all. Β  I also decided to include EP’s this time around.Β  So let’s dispense with the blather and get to it.

TOP 5 EP’S

 

5.Β  (tie) AscensionDeathless Light / Cult of Fire ČtvrtΓ‘ Symfonie OhnΔ›Β (The Fourth Symphony of Fire)

https://www.facebook.com/Ascension.Germany
http://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/deathless-light
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cult-Of-Fire/101579073262511
https://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/cult-of-fire-vltava

 

 

 

 

 

4.Β  Nader SadekThe Malefic:Β  Chapter III

https://www.facebook.com/naderflesh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsCPIfirDuA

 

 

 

 

3.Β  Antiversum – (demo)

https://www.facebook.com/antiversum
https://soundcloud.com/antiversum

 

 

 

 

2.Β  BolzerSoma

https://www.facebook.com/pages/B%C3%96LZER/108657105834227

 

 

 

 

1.Β  Universe217Ease

At 21 minutes this is almost a tease. I want more dammit. It ain’t brutal or fast, just the most powerful and emotionally dripping thing you can imagine.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Universe217/128661547232566
http://universe217.bandcamp.com/album/ease

 

 

 

TOP 25 ALBUMS

 

25.Β  PyreHuman Hecatomb

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PYRE/183665955062494
http://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/album/human-hecatomb

 

 

 

 

24.Β  AutopsyTourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autopsy-Official/162194133792668

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUrsdHth250

 

 

 

 

23.Β  NecrophagiaWhiteWorm Cathedral

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Necrophagia-official/138659442831318
http://necrophagia.bandcamp.com/album/whiteworm-cathedral

 

 

 

 

22.Β  Dark FortressVenereal Dawn

https://www.facebook.com/officialdarkfortress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBeH8CFYK1Y

 

 

 

 

21.Β  Legion of the DamnedRavenous Plague

https://www.facebook.com/LOTDOfficial

 

 

 

 

20.Β  Fides InversaMysterium Tremendum et Fascinans

https://www.facebook.com/fidesinversa
http://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/mysterium-tremendum-et-fascinans

 

 

 

 

19.Β  NightfellThe Living Ever Mourn

http://nightfell.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

 

18.Β  Thy Darkened ShadeLiber Lvcifer I: Khem Sedjet

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thy-Darkened-Shade/391172430930927
http://wtcproductions.bandcamp.com/album/liber-lvcifer-i-khem-sedjet

 

 

 

 

17.Β  Morbus ChronSweven

https://www.facebook.com/morbuschron

 

 

 

 

16.Β  CoprolithDeath March

https://www.facebook.com/coprolithmusic

 

 

 

 

15.Β  LoudblastBurial Ground

https://www.facebook.com/Loudblast.official

http://listenable-records.bandcamp.com/album/burial-ground

 

 

 

 

14.Β  Master’s HammerVagus Vetus

http://www.mastershammer.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIC8SA5g1aI

 

 

 

 

13.Β  Blut Aus NordMemoria Vestusta III – Saturnian Poetry

https://www.facebook.com/blutausnord.official
http://dmp666.bandcamp.com/album/memoria-vetusta-iii-saturnian-poetry

 

 

 

 

12.Β  Hideous DivinityCobra Verde

https://www.facebook.com/hideousdivinity

 

 

 

 

11.Β  VanhelgdRelics of Sulphur Salvation

https://www.facebook.com/vanhelgd
http://pulverised.bandcamp.com/album/relics-of-sulphur-salvation

 

 

 

 

10.Β  Temple of VoidOf Terror and the Supernatural

Ever wondered how it feels to be steamrolled by a total pro bulldozer? Now’s your chance to find out.

https://www.facebook.com/TempleOfVoid
http://templeofvoid.bandcamp.com/album/of-terror-and-the-supernatural

 

 

 

 

9.Β  InfestusThe Reflecting Void

One man black metal band so well-rounded and expertly crafted, it sounds like the meeting of multiple minds at work.

https://www.facebook.com/infestus.official?ref=br_tf
http://dmp666.bandcamp.com/album/the-reflecting-void

 

 

 

 

8.Β  Ne ObliviscarisCitadel

With expectations for their follow-up through the roof, they somehow managed to pull it off and create a truly worthy successor.

https://www.facebook.com/NeObliviscarisBand
http://seasonofmist.bandcamp.com/album/citadel

 

 

 

 

7.Β  EmptinessNothing But the Whole

So fresh, so different, so damn good. It’s a crying shame that many people won’t take the time to absorb this gem.

https://www.facebook.com/Emptiness.be
http://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-but-the-whole

 

 

 

 

6.Β  TriptykonMelana Chasmata

Did you think Tom G and company would fall on their face the second time around? I didn’t either.

https://www.facebook.com/triptykonofficial

 

 

 

 

5.Β  VallenfyreSplinters

Makes their debut sound like child’s play. Everything you loved the first time around turned up to 10.

https://www.facebook.com/Vallenfyre

 

 

 

 

4.Β  SwallowedLunarterial

Evil, filthy, and downright scary. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Swallowed/182683111776451
http://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lunarterial

 

 

 

 

3.Β  Hail Spirit NoirOi Magoi

Oddball brilliance like this doesn’t come around that often. When it does, make sure you hear it.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hail-Spirit-Noir/260062670728238

 

 

 

 

2.Β  AenaonExtance

To think that I almost didn’t give this album a chance, until Theo (Hail Spirit Noir) suggested I do. Progressive black metal that’s not traditionally proggy, but more jazzy.

https://www.facebook.com/aenaonofficial
http://auralmusic.bandcamp.com/album/extance

 

 

 

 

Jacobo Cordova (Majestic Downfall)

1.Β  Majestic Downfall – (split album w/ The Slow Death)

Most of the music I hear falls into two categories: 1) Things I love instantly, but tire of quickly (since there is little to discover over the long run). 2) Things I’m not sure about immediately, but over many listens I grow to love and they stand the test of time.

This album was neither. As soon as I heard it I knew there was something special. But after repeated spins I grew to appreciate it even more. A stunning achievement on so many levels.

https://www.facebook.com/majestic.downfall
http://chaos-records.bandcamp.com/album/split

 

  32 Responses to “BEST ALBUMS AND EP’S OF 2014: A LIST FROM KEVINP”

  1. I just checked out Fides Inversa thanks to your post. Good stuff! The same goes for Coprolith.

    And The Slow Death is a brilliant band. I bought their sophomore effort last year. Great record. Need to check this out and Majestic Downfall as well.

    • This was my introduction to The Slow Death, and while I didn’t make my list, it was certainly enjoyable. The new song off the upcoming album sounds great as well. Too bad about one of the bsnd members sudden passing last week πŸ™

      • Great to know TSD have a good fanbase! RIP Gregg, he was actually a very close friend of mine and I have to go to his funeral next week. Needless to say it’s a complete tragedy, he was such a kind and wonderful person. **sigh**

  2. It’s about time that somebody mentioned Master’s Hammer. I found out about their new one through your post on it, so thanks for that. Also, I’m really surprised that I haven’t seen Hail Spirit Noir pop up on more lists. Looking forward to checking out more of these.

  3. Missing a few things like Horrendous and Funereal Presence, but still a nice list.

    • Funeral Presence is certainly good (I featured it in a previous article of mine) but was a bit too underdeveloped in spots to hold up against everything else that came out.

      I simply don’t get the love for Horrendous. People rave about it but comes across as so ordinary I’m confused πŸ™‚

      • Im with you on Horrendous. I see it on a lot of lists and its about half as good as The Chills.
        Oh well. To each their own. One persons clunker is the next persons gold.

  4. I guess I’ll finally get around to listening to that TSD/MD split. I thought one of Jacobo Cordova’s other bands- Zombiefication- put out one of the best albums of the year; as they did last year.

  5. The ČtvrtΓ‘ Symfonie OhnΔ› is (or will be) certainly one of the strongest releases this year. Magnificent.

  6. This is a great list! Glad to see Hideous Divinity, Emptiness,Dark Fortress and Swallowed on here, and especially Thy Darkened Shade (my AOTY). I actually haven’t yet heard your top 2 albums but that will be fixed very soon! They both sound like something I’d enjoy

  7. I really like Temple of Void! I wish death metal as a whole would move toward that sound and drop the ‘core nonsense. Fantastic list.

    • Death metal has been there and back again aleady. The last few years have seen a revival of sorts for old school death metal, to the point where it kind of peaked.

      Check out some of the previous end of year lists on the site for some good old fashioned death metal

    • ..a few to get you started Hooded Menace, Coffins, Swallowed, Incantation (you must explore this band if you like death metal) Vainaja, Solothus, Ectovoid, Dead Congregation

      • Such a great list of recommendations. πŸ™‚

      • Thanks for the recommendations. Hooded Menace I discovered recently. I’ve heard bits and pieces of Coffins and Incantation. Sounds like I need to brush up a bit. Seprevation were one of my new go-to bands for good ol’ fashioned DM this year. But I’ll make it a point to aquaint myself with some of these.

        • There’s another list coming tomorrow from a musician that will give you more death metal to explore. πŸ™‚

        • Seprevation put out a very good album this year, but they play a very thrashy style of death metal..closer to bands like Deceased and early Death.

          Theres tons of bands to dig into here, but if youre really looking for music like Temple of Void you want to check out death metal that was directly inspired by bands like Autopsy, Incantation (a personal favorite) or anything thats considered death/doom

          The underground Finnish scene is an especially good place to look for this kind of death metal (Convulse, Rippikoulu, Krypts) and Id also recommend Dark Descent Records catalog as they tend to sign a lot of these kinds of bands

          ..and dont forget the Swedish scene (the Stockholm one, not the Gothenburg one) with bands like Dismember, (early) Entombed and Unleashed..that Sunlight Studios sound has inspired countless awesome bands

          • I just started on Skinless and Exhumed. “Necrocracy” has been tantalizing my ears for a few months now. Brutality are also a recent find from the Florida scene. They have a new album coming out next year as well. The Stockholm scene you describe I’ve listened to here and there, but it sounds like it demands another go. Thanks!

  8. this is an awesome list, great to see Legion of the Damned on here : )

  9. Solid list. A lot of stuff that’ll probably be on my list too, and stuff I need to check out before making mine πŸ™‚

  10. The Slow Death are a great band, and Gregg would have been proud to see that they made number one. Thank you. πŸ™‚ I can imagine him blushing right now with that big grin of his. He’s sorely missed and still very well loved. Not looking forward to the funeral. I’ll miss his random phone calls and his laugh, his hugs and him turning up on a random weekend with mars bar cheesecake and staying the night. R.I.P Gregg. He was a wonderful, kind and gentle soul.

  11. Best list I’ve seen so far, fresh collection of monstrous music. Made a spotify playlist of the top albums available (Majestic Downfall/Slow Death not currently on Spotify), available here:
    https://play.spotify.com/user/coolesq/playlist/7uwt3wIHth7QFQbfkLhwwn

  12. I appreciate the list, greats like Blut Aus Nord and Hail Spirit Noir are great to see. Just wanted to ask
    if you heard the new Nightbringer Ego Dominus and if so, how you felt about it. I am a little biased to discordant metal with extreme emotional intensity. Thus, I really enjoy Heteroertzin, Arizmenda, Dodsengal, void meditation cult. ect.

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