Perhaps the last of the “big platform” year-end metal lists we will re-post this year, NPR’s Lars Gotrich has today unveiled his line-up of favorite metal albums from the year that’s about to exhale its final breath.
For this of you who’ve been paying attention, earlier this month we jokingly reprinted “just the heavy stuff” from NPR’s overall cross-genre list of the site’s 50 favorite metal albums from 2014 — a list that consisted of one album, Pallbearer’s Foundation of Burden. But although NPR’s resident metal guy only got one slot to fill in that overall list, he got free rein on this new list. And what did he do with all that freedom?
Well, he compiled a list of 10 albums whose hallmark is diversity. Of course, Pallbearer reappears along with one other album that’s becoming (understandably) a near-ubiquitous presence on 2014 year-enders — Triptykon’s Melana Chasmata. But with a nod to High Spirits, he’ll make our man BadWolf a happy camper, and fans of Origin (whose name has appeared almost not at all in the other lists I’ve seen) will likewise be pleased. For myself, I got the biggest grins from seeing Skull Fist, Thou, and Wo Fat (!) on the list. And I’ve also now got some albums I’ve never heard of to go check out (like the one whose cover is partially exposed up above).
So yes, this is an electric grouping and certainly not one that’s devoted to “the usual suspects” this year. To read Lars’ thoughts about each selection and listen to sample songs from each album, go to this location. Here’s the full list (which is unranked):
Gridlink – Longhena
High Spirits – You Are Here
Morbus Chron – Sweven
Origin – Omnipresent
Pallbearer – Foundations of Burden
Riot V – Unleash the Fire
Skull Fist – Chasing the Dream
Thou – Heathen
Triptykon – Melana Chasmata
Wo Fat – The Conjuring
P.S. It turns out that NPR limited Lars to a list of 10. To see his Top 25 list, go here:
http://totalvibration.tumblr.com/post/106612390065/top-25-metal-albums-of-2014
11 Responses to “LISTMANIA 2014: NPR’S “10 FAVORITE METAL ALBUMS OF 2014””
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“[Insert band name here]”? That’s laughable! Gorguts put out the best METAL album this year – don’t deny it. Stop trying to be different – you’re only appealing to hipsters. Have fun with that. I thought i’d found a credible metal music site to frequent. Apparently not – laters!
Thou needs to be on far more lists than it’s been on, in my entirely objective opinion.
I REALLLLLLY need to spend the time with that one. I keep letting it slip my grasp.
Thanks for reading and sharing! Here are the top 25 since NPR only lets me list 10. http://totalvibration.tumblr.com/post/106612390065/top-25-metal-albums-of-2014
Those bastards! (actually, I do love NPR and am constantly amazed that it even still exists)
I added a P.S. to the post to provide a link to your Top 25.
OMG… the Riot V artwork… thats…. beautiful… and life affirming.
Just what I needed as inspiration for yet another new year.
Hey..cool to see Skull Fist get a mention
I love NPR. It’s a bit disappointing to see that Lars included nonsense like Riot V and Skull Fist on his list though.
But he does have some great picks like Morbus Chron, Origin, Thou, Triptykon, and Wo Fat as well.
that artwork is so badass it’s kick boxing my soul.
I can guarantee I know exactly what type of music is contained in that Riot V album just by looking at that cover. Which is awesome by the way.
Also glad to see Wo Fat on here! They haven’t appeared on many lists at all.