10: Behemoth - The Satanist A band I was largely unfamiliar with before this album. This was one I bought on the strength of the recommendations of several others. I'm glad I did! The Satanist is a metal album full of ominous portents, thrilling crescendos and riffs heavy enough to bring a mammoth to its knees. However, there is also a level of accessibility. I know this one will rank highly among many metal fans.
9: Pink Floyd - The Endless River What can I say that hasn't already been said about this one? An album which more than satisfies on every level. It may be a selection of leftovers but it has been crafted in such a way that makes me glad it wasn't just left as a bonus disc somewhere. It deserves to be an album proper. This is never going to becoming anyone's favourite Floyd album but it is a more than fitting coda to an illustrious career.
8: Matt Stevens - Lucid I was only vaguely familiar with Matt's work at the start of the year. Over the past twelve months, I have obtained all his (solo) work and what a rewarding journey it has been. While I really enjoy Ghost and the other albums, this is by far (in my opinion) his most accomplished work. It's also a real grower; each listen reveals more depth to the album. Stunning.
7: Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child For some years now, Sonata Arctica have been one of my favourite bands. The Days Of Grays (2009) was a triumph indeed and I hoped their next album would live up to the standards set therein. However, Stones Grow Her Name, released in 2012, was a real disappointment and in my opinion, is their worst album by some distance. Fast forward a couple of years to 2014 and the release of Pariah's Child. What a return to form! This mixes the older style faster Sonata Arctica sound, with the more progressive sound of the last three albums. There is one terrible track (X Marks The Spot) but overall, this one is a pleasure and a relief.
6: Steve Rothery - The Ghosts Of Pripyat To me, Steve Rothery has always been the heart of Marillion. However, as he states himself, Marillion is a band with two keyboard players. He needed to make this album and thirty years after a solo album was first mentioned, he released the excellent Ghosts Of Pripyat. There are signs of the old Rothery sound here. It's also an album that works incredibly well live. In that arena, it reaches a new level and becomes more intricate yet heavier. This one has been worth the wait and from what the man himself says, we could have another solo album before the next Marillion album. I, for one, would welcome it.
5: Decapitated - Blood Mantra I became more fully aware of Decapitated at the time Carnival Is Forever was released. The band, of course, have had their fair share of tragedy and I thought Carnival... was an excellent comeback. This one, however, blows its predecessor away. Like many of my favourite albums of 2014, this one clocks in at just over 45 minutes, making the most of every single riff. Who knows if they can ever top this one?
4: Ghost Brigade - IV: One With The Storm Another album I picked up on recommendation. This one was a favourite from the off. The album is totally hypnotic and demands further listens.
3: Gazpacho - Demon I was aware of some of Gazpacho's through seeing them as a support band but I'd never really been tempted to check them out properly before this year. This one got under my skin from the start and only dug in further with each listen.
2: Fen - Carrion Skies As a fan of Fen from the time of their debut album, The Malediction Fields, I've watched this band deliver time after time. Last year's album, the wonderful, Dustwalker claimed the Number 3 spot in my 2013 list. This one goes one better and only just misses out on top spot. The best album they have ever made; Atmospheric Black Metal at its very best.
1: Scar Symmetry - The Singularity: Phase One - Neohumanity I've been following Scar Symmetry since just before the release of Pitch Black Progress. When Christian Alvestam left, I wondered (even with two vocalists) if they could continue, let alone thrive. Dark Matter Dimensions and The Unseen Empire are both solid albums but they failed to excite me in the way the albums with Christian had. For their third album with the dual vocalists, they announced it would be the first of a trilogy. From first listen, this had a chance of being my album of the year. The lyrical concept is good, the playing technically brilliant and the vocals (both clean and growling) exhilarating. At 45 minutes, it doesn't outstay its welcome and I can only hope the next two parts of the trilogy are as good.
Written: December 2014
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