Top 10 - 2014 / By Jeff Legg
January 7, 2015
No. 10
Band: XThirt13n
Album: A Taste of the Light
General Info
Year of formation: 2013
Label: SAOL

This was one of the albums that I was anxiously awaiting going into 2014. Consisting of Tim Aymar on vocals, Rollie Feldmann on guitar, Joey Torres on guitar, Taz Gardner on bass, and Johnny Osborn on drums, XTHIRT13N delivered a power metal masterpiece that reminds me a lot of old SAVATAGE, as well as classic JUDAS PRIEST, occasionally leaning toward the traditional hard rock sounds, reminiscent of GODSMACK and DISTURBED. Aymar delivers a standout vocal performance on "A Taste of the Light", giving the listener a Rob Halford-esque, upper register tongue lashing, while at times, sounding like a combination of John Oliva (SAVATAGE) and David Draimen (DISTURBED). The guitar tracks are amazing, and track-by-track, take you through a gamut of styles, with power chords, wailing leads and screaming solos. A great album through and through.
No. 9
Band: Dynamite
Album: Blackout Station
General Info
Year of formation: 2012
Label: High Roller Records

I listen to so much music, so often, that's it's rare that I find an album that I listen to over and over and over. "Blackout Station" is one of those rare finds. There is no doubt that you will hear the resemblance to AC/DC in their music, a lot of which has to do with the Bon Scott-esqe vocals that Mattis Karlsson so effortlessly lays down. You'll also hear a lot of the old style, three chord guitar licks that made Angus Young the God he is today, and the sound that is still so recognizable to most fans of rock music. But please don't categorize this band or this album as just another copycat wannabe. I hear as much AEROSMITH, DIRTY LOOKS, KROKUS, and BUCKCHERRY in their songs as I do AC/DC. Those are some pretty good influences to be associated with and any of those aforementioned bands would be proud to release an album of this quality.
No. 8
Band: Laney's Legion
Album: Laney's Legion
General Info
Year of formation: 2011
Label: Perris Records

LANEY'S LEGION's self-titled album is 11 songs chock full of the original Sunset Strip sound that made so many bands rich and famous in the 80's and early 90's and could be best described as Hollywood glam blended with melodic hair-metal. This dynamic "supergroup" consists of Chris Laney on vocals and rhythm guitar, Rob Marcello on lead guitar, Mats Vassfjord on bass, and Patrik Jansson on drums. With classic 80's vocals, standout lead guitars, harmonic choruses, and "the looks that kill", this band is the real deal. After a couple of solo albums, Chris Laney has put together a masterpiece with LANEY'S LEGION and these guys have the full package that they'll need to take this band to the top of the hard rock genre around the world.
No. 7
Band: TwentyDarkSeven
Album: Roar
General Info
Year of formation: 2013
Label: Metalapolis Records

Being a massive fan of the 80's hair band explosion, I'm always searching for great bands brave enough to commit themselves fully to bringing back that classic sound and don't compromise their sound at all for commercial reasons. Let me tell you, I found the savior; TWENTYDARKSEVEN. This German/Dutch quartet, is comprised of Marcus Jürgens on vocals, Peter Wagner on guitar, Alex Jansen on bass, and Hans in 't Zandt on drums, and their sound possesses everything that music once was, back in the 80's, when rock n' roll shook people's souls. And with the release of their debut album, "Roar", these guys are intent on showing the world what the ravenous music industry has been missing for more than twenty years now. TWENTYDARKSEVEN has the potential to become legendary and "Roar" should be hailed as an instant classic and prove to everyone that ROCK IS ALIVE.
No. 6
Band: Blackwater
Album: Blackwater
General Info
Year of formation: 2011
Label: The Path Less Traveled Records

This self-titled masterpiece from BLACKWATER gets my vote for the "Dark Horse" album of the year. Being a huge doom-metal fan, I'm always looking for new bands that bleed sludge, and after the first few seconds of the first track, I knew this band was special. Believe me when I say, this band has the potential to be huge. Their sound is eerily similar to legendary doom stalwarts TROUBLE, one of my favorite bands of all time (ironically, the album was produced by TROUBLE vocalist, Eric Wagner), as well as strong influences from the innovators of the genre, BLACK SABBATH. These kinds of bands don't come around often, but when they do, they're usually here to stay. These guys have a long career ahead of them.
No. 5
Band: 9.7 Richter
Album: Ground Zero
General Info
Year of formation: 2002
Label: Independent

9.7 RICHTER's "Ground Zero" is a "balls to the wall", heavy metal/power metal album that absolutely needs to be heard far and wide. Hailing from Bucharest, Romania, the band consists of Cosmin Aioniţă on vocals, Adrian Rus on guitar, Lucian "Trigger" Gruia on guitar, Marius Caliman on bass, and Adrian Mihai on drums. Their instantly infectious sound is in the same vein as HALFORD and/or JUDAS PRIEST, the same style of metal that has vaulted many talented bands into the stratosphere over the last few decades. 9.7 RICHTER possesses all of the same tools as some of the greats before them and appears to be the next in line, and with the right promotion behind them, become a headliner right out of the gate.
No. 4
Band: Apostle of Solitude
Album: Of Woe and Wound
General Info
Year of formation: 2006
Label: Cruz Del Sur

APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE delivered my doom "fix" of the year with "Of Woe and Wounds", to me, their best album to date. The music is Doom Metal in its purest sense and they bring to the table a sound that could be described as a mixture of BLACK SABBATH and ALICE IN CHAINS. All of the instruments are down-tuned to perfection and gallop along in masterful harmony, at times at a head-banging tempo, while at other times, they drizzle at the speed of cold honey. Chuck Brown's vocal range is vast and spot on, and has moments in his lower register that eerily reminds me of Layne Staley (ALICE IN CHAINS). The guitars are haunting and heavy as hell, and will consume every bit of strength in your body by the time you're done with this record. The bass and drums sealed the deal for me, delivering a bottom end that will destroy your sub-woofer, if you get too crazy. Wrap this all together, and you have a huge slab of lead.
No. 3
Band: Astral Doors
Album: Notes From The Shadows
General Info
Year of formation: 2002
Label: Metalville

ASTAL DOORS has quietly become one of my favorite power metal bands, ever. So it's not surprising that "Notes From The Shadows" was one of the albums that I anticipated the most going into 2014. And it didn't disappoint. The phenomenal seventh offering from ASTRAL DOORS picks up right where "Jerusalem" left off, and I personally feel it contains some of the best-written songs in their discography. The music is melodically powerful and has no weak moments anywhere on this 11-track release, solidifying the fact that bands like DIO, RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, JUDAS PRIEST, and BLACK SABBATH have heavily influenced their souls over the years. These guys are as talented as anyone in heavy metal and should one of the biggest bands in the world. I absolutely love this band!!!
No. 2
Band: Exorcism
Album: I Am God
General Info
Year of formation: 2006
Label: GoldenCore Records

Possessing the dark and heavy sounds made famous by the likes of DIO and BLACK SABBATH, "I Am God" gave me chills from the opening riff of the first track. I strongly believe that this album is one of the most important Heavy Metal releases of the last decade. I say this with the fear that if an album this good can't attain greatness, all of the groundwork laid down by the founding fathers (BLACK SABBATH, OZZY, DIO, JUDAS PRIEST, etc.) may forever be left in ruins. With one of the most talented group of musicians on the planet, EXORCISM quenched my thirst for the old school style of metal that is void in the music industry these days. "Voodoo Jesus" and "I Am God" are two of my favorite songs of all time, and I haven't had an album touch my soul this deep since "Holy Diver" back in 1983. HORNS HIGH!!!
No. 1
Band: Texas Hippie Coalition
Album: Ride On
General Info
Year of formation: 2004
Label: Carved Records

This was my album of the year from the day it released and I've listened to the album, cover to cover, what seems like a hundred times. Waving their Red Dirt Metal flag high, TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION released their fourth full-length album "Ride On" in 2014 and proved that their brand of southern fried metal is here to stay. Mixing the raw power of PANTERA with an infectious ZZ TOP-style groove, this album leaves the rest in the dust. By adding the songwriting prowess of guitar player Cord Pool to the mix, and with singer Big Dad Ritch delivering the best vocals of his career, this Band of Outlaws is prepared to continue their assault on the hard rock genre. If the Dallas Cowboys claim to be "America's Team", then I herby announce that the TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION is "America's Band".
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