The Disc’s Top 10 Albums Of 2014

It’s been a good year for rock & metal…we’ve had many stonkingly great albums & a few that mark career bests for some the bands on this list.

Some honourable mentions:

EyeHateGod – EyeHateGod
Triptykon – Melana Chasmata
1349 – Massive Cauldron of Chaos
Job For A Cowboy – Sun Eater
Bloodbath – Grand Morbid Funeral
The Devin Townsend Project – Z2

Down IV: Part 2 (EP)
Malefice: Gravitas (EP)

All great albums but just lacking something that kept them out of the top 10.

10 – Slipknot – 5: The Gray Chapter

The return of the metal giants came with some serious fanfare, controversy & a whole bundle of pressure. The first new album without iconic members, Paul Gray & Joey Jordison, Slipknot were expected to deliver but would have been forgiven had they not. Deliver they did…almost…The Gray Chapter has plenty to offer long-time Slipknot fans with old school brutality while also stirring in a more Stone Sour-esqe sound (not everyone’s liking admittedly). Listen to: Sarcastrophe

9: Crowbar: Symmetry In Black

When Kirk Windstein announced he was leaving Down to concentrate on a new Crowbar record/tour I was pretty disappointed but I shouldn’t have been as what we got was two stonking records (Down IV: Part 2 was an EP so not featured on this list). Symmetry In Black sees Crowbar back to their best delivering heavy southern doom. Kirk’s voice is on fine form here & it makes for a delightful listen. Listen to: Symmetry In White

8: The Haunted – Exit Wounds

One of the nicest surprises this year was a new Haunted album with classic Haunted singer, Marco Aro. Marking a departure from the sounds of the last couple of albums, The Haunted return to a more brutal & uncompromising style of music & it works exceedingly well. Listen to: Cutting Teeth

7: Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls

Priest’s first album without founding K.K. Downing & their first since the supposed farewell tour is a pure Judas Priest album, classically so. It fits within the Priest catalogue while still sounding modern & fresh. 40 years on they still have it in spades. Listen to: Battle Cry

6: At The Gates – At War With Reality

The first new At The Gates album since 1995 came with a hell of a lot anticipation & question marks. Thankfully the album turned out to be as impressive as anyone could have hoped for. It has that classic At The Gates sound but is a much more polished affair. Listen to: At War With Reality

5: Killer Be Killed – Killer Be Killed

A super-group combining The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato, Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy’s Max Cavalera, Mastodon’s Troy Saunders & former The Mars Volta’s Dave Elitch. Killer Be Killed’s debut album came as a nice surprise mixing elements from all 4 bands & ending with a group of songs combining doom, thrash, hard-core & punk. It’s an excellent album that we can only hope has a follow-up. Listen to: Melting of My Marrow

4: Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun

Arguably Mastodon’s most commercial work to date & definitely their most accessible. That might sound like a negative but it really isn’t as this stands out as one of their best albums, solid all the way through. Many had suggested that the band had hit their creative peak but Once More ‘Round The Sun proved otherwise. Listen to: High Road

3: Cavalera Conspiracy – Pandemonium

Several bands have released their best work this year & Cavalera Conspiracy are one them. The 3rd album from the Cavalera boys is the heaviest from them & will instantly put the listener in the mind-frame of early Sepultura. It never let’s up…constantly beating you over the head with its brutality but never over-staying its welcome. Listen to: Bonzai Kamakazee

2: Machine Head – Bloodstones & Diamonds

Any other year this would be my number 1 album & it only just manages to miss out on top spot. The pressure to top The Blackening has been off since the well received Unto The Locust. No-one expected The Head to better The Blackening yet here they did it with 12 tracks of pure gold. This is a Machine Head at its most complete & most inspired. Listen to: In Comes The Flood

1: Behemoth – The Satanist

The 10th album from the black metal group is just something else. Proving that you can stay true to your roots while still making an unbelievably polished record, Behemoth have been catapulted towards stardom with their best album to date. From start to finish it is uncompromising & incredibly listenable. A turning point for black metal as a whole. As soon as I heard it in full I knew that it would be near impossible for it to be topped this year. Listen to: Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer