Top 10 - 2014 / By Aaron "Five Magics" Price
December 31, 2014
No. 10
Band: Wovenwar
Album: Wovenwar
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2014
Record Label: Metal Blade Records

Spawning from the ash of a murder for hire plot and the death of a band that is currently in the past WOVENWAR did a complete u-turn from what AS I LAY DYING was. The song that made this album stick out and manage to break my top 10 was "Archers" offering not only melodic riffs but being one of the only songs to implement both clean and harsh vocals through the album, and sexy harsh vocals the were.
No. 9
Band: Suicide Silence
Album: You Can't Stop Me
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2002
Label: Nuclear Blast

After the unfortunate death of the late Mitch Lucker and a special memorial show, not to mention time to mourn, SUICIDE SILENCE made a triumphant return with Eddie from ALL SHALL PERISH. Now, I'm a converted fan and Deathcore is still very iffy to me because I'm not a fan of the ear piercing screaming that most of it has but this album really stood out. After seeing the band twice this year and meeting them both times I must say they made me a fan, "Sacred Words" is my favourite song both lyrically and musically by SUICIDE SILENCE and with that this album deserves its spot.
No. 8
Band: AC/DC
Album: Rock Or Bust
General Information
Year Of Formation: 1973
Label: Columbia Records

That's right, AC/DC makes the list. First band I ever saw live, first band shirt I ever owned and first band I knew I loved all these firsts belong to AC/DC and honestly if you like one AC/DC album there's no reason not to like them all. "Rock Or Bust" is different though, it is the first album not to feature Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, instead filling in this shoes is nephew Stevie Young who lays down the rhythm perfectly, thankfully.
No. 7
Band: King Of Asgard
Album: Karg
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2008
Label: Metal Blade Records

The other Viking Metal band King Of Asgard made their return with "Karg" offering not only killer original songs but also an explosive cover of BATHORY's "Total Destruction" what made this even better was getting to chat with Jonas the bands bassist about this whole album and the meaning behind it.
No. 6
Band: Black Crown Initiate
Album: The Wreckage Of Stars
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2013
Label: Entertainment One

One of those bands that are rising insanely quickly is Black Crown Initiate after snagging the opening slot on the 2014 Conquerors Of The World Tour with SEPTICFLESH and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE the fanbase behind these guys blew way up, and understandably so "The Wreckage Of Stars" is an absolute monster of an album.
No. 5
Band: Septicflesh
Album: Titan
General Information
Year Of Formation:1990
Label: Prosthetic Records

Symphonic Metal will always be an all time favourite for me, whether it be RHAPSODY and the Symphonic Power bands or CARACH ANGREN and the more extreme Symphonic bands they always seem to have more depth to them and the latest release "Titan" from SEPTICFLESH was no different. This album shows the power an orchestra can have in metal and just how fucking awesome it sounds with Death Metal over Angela
No. 4
Band: Arch Enemy
Album: War Eternal
General Information
Year Of Formation: 1996
Record Label: Century Media Records

Oh boy was this an album I was pumped for, first the announcement that Angela would step down as the vocalist for ARCH ENEMY follows by surprise, turns out the beautiful Alissa White-Gluz from Canadian band THE AGONIST would take her spot. This was all well and stuff but it's not Angela how good can it be right? Fucking killer! Alissa dominated the vocal spot while each member killed each of their riffs, hits, whatever they do when they write they did it top tier, grade A, Death Metal.
No. 3
Band: Alterbeast
Album: Immortal
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2011
Record Label: Unique Leader Records

This is a band that went under the radar for me until they announced the BLACK DAHLIA MURDER/SUICIDE SILENCE co-headlining tour, that ALTERBEAST would open followed by CHELSEA GRIN. Well whether or not I like each of these bands is one thing, but who the hell are ALTERBEAST? INCREDIBLE, Tech Death at its finest these guys sound like DYING FETUS and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER had some sort of possessed metal baby.
No. 2
Band: Crimson Shadows
Album: King's Among Men
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2006
Label: Napalm Records

These guys live less than an hour away from me, from Brampton, Ontario this is CRIMSON SHADOWS. "Kings Among Men" offers a whole meal of sexy riffs, killer vocals, and bass solos that'll make you do a double take. This album features reworks of their EP "Glory On The Battlefield" and some awesome new songs, making this album a must have from 2014
No. 1
Band: Gormathon
Album: Following The Beast
General Information
Year Of Formation: 2009
Label: Napalm Records

Yes, GORMATHON take my number one, I can't get enough of this album everything about it is what I hoped for plus more. The album was overlooked by many who don't realize that Tony Sunnhag is one of the best vocalists in the metal world right now not to mention the incredible musicianship each member has and demonstrated on each and every song to keep it lodged in your head and wanting more. GORMATHON take MeloDeath to a whole different universe and destroy it (in a good way).
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