WHAT A YEAR! Turns out, there was a ton of good music released in the past year. I had a tough time ranking it all and unfortunately, had to limit my list to 10 top choices. Of course, there will be some honorable mentions at the end. Without further delay...
#10 / At the Gates / At War with Reality
Best Tracks: The Circular Ruins / The Book of Sand (The Abomination)
Such a long time since this band debuted. A solid and heavy record - one that I'll be exploring for some time.
#9 / U2 / Songs of Innocence
Best Tracks: Every Breaking Wave / Sleep Like a Baby Tonight / The Troubles
The best FREE album I've ever received! This kind of snuck up on me, and to be honest, it took me a while to want to get into it. This is a very intimate album and has some especially memorable tunes, right up there with some of their early 90s work. I love a good U2 record, and I hope Bono and Co. will continue bucking the trend.
#8 Black Label Society / Catacombs of the Black Vatican
Best Tracks: Angel of Mercy / Beyond the Down / Scars
Zakk keeps playing and we fans keep reaping the rewards. While not as good as 'Order of the Black' IMO, this is still worthy of the name. Solid tracks and production plus Wylde's signature riffing. Victory.
#7 Down / IV Part II
Best Tracks: We Knew Him Well / The Sufferer's Years
Phillip Anselmo. The guy oozes metal. If he keeps this up along with his Down bandmates, their legacy could rival that of the almighty Pantera - at least as far as creative output goes. A sludgy companion piece to Part I, the only negative is that Kirk Windstein doesn't appear on this album, having returned to continue Crowbar. Still, a great EP and I can't wait for the next installment.
#6 Arch Enemy / War Eternal
Best Tracks: War Eternal / As the Pages Burn / Time is Black
Alissa White-Gluz takes over for Angela Gossow on lead vocals. Great metal record with spectacular riffing/rhythm.
#5 Killer Be Killed / Self titled
Best Tracks: Melting Of My Marrow / Curb Crusher
Outstanding 'Supergroup' album featuring members of Cavalera Conspiracy, Mastodon and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Hits you like a ton of bloody bricks..and then leaves a trail of viscera.
#4 SepticFlesh / Titan
Best Tracks: Burn / Order of Dracul / Promethus / Bonus Orchestral tracks
I'm a bit late to the game on this band. A testament that I only recently acquired this in the last two months, and it still cracked the Top 5. Moody, atmospheric metal perfectly blended with bombastic orchestral arrangements. This could be the soundtrack to an epic movie featuring barbarian hordes marching on vampire robots equipped with rocket launchers and fire. It's big, mean and crisply produced. Go for the deluxe edition that features 5 bonus instrumental tracks of orchestra material. Awesome.
#3 Machine Head / Bloodstone & Diamonds
Best Tracks: Now We Die / Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones / Sail Into the Black / In Comes the Flood / Imaginal Cells
Robb Flynn and Co. are the most consistent metal band on the planet. They don't take much time off and they seem to top each album with the next one. That's hard to do in today's musical landscape, even when your songs average 6-8 minutes in length. Just one hell of a heavy metal band. Stupendous record.
And now, we come to it...for the first time ever, we have a TIE at the top spot! I just couldn't decide between the two, and to let one have the position would be a disservice to the other. So here it comes...
#1a. Slipknot / 0.5 The Gray Chapter
Best Tracks: Sarcastrophe / The Devil in I / The Negative One / Killpop / Skeptic / Goodbye / Nomadic / If Rain is What You Want
The death of Paul Gray (and to a lesser degree, Joey Jordison's departure) -- left a hole that it took the better part of 6 years for the remaining members to crawl out of. The result is a tangible manifestation of this new group's literal blood, sweat, and tears. It is obvious that they miss their deceased mate. It is also obvious that Taylor doesn't miss a chance to comment on the disgusting and dark in our world. The Fire is back. Prepare for Hell.
#1. Behemoth / The Satanist
Best Tracks: Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel / basically the entire album
We are witnessing a band at the height of their creative zenith. Adam "Nergal" Darski has defeated leukemia and now he aims to defeat everything else. No doubt where their allegiances lie, and while I don't necessarily adhere to their message, I can respect and admire the way they go about their craft. There is hardly a time when I listen to a particular song - it's almost always a full album listen when I put this in. Each track is its own monster, while still flowing flawlessly into the next. Tight production and a willingness to experiment just enough has kept this on constant rotation in my cd player. Co-Album of the Year. Well done.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Mastodon / Once More 'Round the Sun
The Raid 2 - Original Score Soundtrack / Joseph Trapanese, Aria Prayogi & Fajar Yuskemal
X-Men Days of Future Past - Original Score / John Ottman
Cannibal Corpse / A Skeletal Domain
Exmortus / Slave to the Sword
Interstellar - Original Score / Hans Zimmer
300: Rise of an Empire / Junkie XL
Lone Survivor - Original Soundtrack / Explosions in the Sky & Steve Jablonsky
Overkill / White Devil Armory
Pantera / Far Beyond Drive 20th Anniversary Remaster
Godzilla - Original s\Score / Alexander Desplat
Predator 2 - Expanded Edition Score / Alan Silvestri
The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies Original Score / Howard Shore
That's all folks! Here's to a creative and good music filled 2015!
